[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 21 Feb 1824 - Murderous Assault (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 21 Feb 1824   (p. 2, col. 4-5)

 

MURDEROUS ASSAULT. 

 

We have repeatedly adverted to the growing evil of whiskey smuggling along the whole extent of the Northern Cumberland border, but
particularly in and about Carlisle, where, we are sorry to say, the dealers in the most pernicious trash ever swallowed in the shape
of contraband spirits find a ready market, and immoralities and debaucheries are the daily consequences. In addition to these common
fruits of the system, we have now to record the particulars of an attendant outrage which falls short of murder only inasmuch as the
the [sic] victim is unexpectedly recovering, though 

 

                    "With twenty gashes on his head; 

                    The least a death to nature." 

 

On the afternoon of yesterday week (Friday the 13th), Marmaduke ALLISON, and Thomas NIXON, both of Rockliff, officers of customs,
came to Carlisle for the purpose of depositing in the Custom House some smuggled whiskey which they had seized in its transit from
Scotland; they afterwards called on the sons of the former, in Rickergate, and took some refreshment. Soon afterward, Mr. BULMAN,
clerk to the Collector of the Customs, called upon them, and they agreed to wait until he returned from Stanwix, where he resides.
About eight o'clock he returned, and he, Mr. ALLISON, his son John ALLISON, (not an officer,) and Mr. NIXON, went over Eden-Bridge,
and turned down the footwalk leading to Etterby; but here the elder ALLISON feeling unwell, he went back to Rickergate, and the
other three proceeded by the footpath to the Etterby road, then turned towards Stanwix. and thence off to the left on the Glasgow
road. Having gone onward in this direction some few hundred yards, they unexpectedly fell in with old Mr. ALLISON and his son
Marmaduke, who informed them that they had just seen forty or fifty persons forward upon the road, coming to Carlisle with whiskey;
that some of them knew Mr. A. and had the audacity to jeer him by asking him to partake of their liquor: but as their kindness was
declined, thy all speedily dispersed over hedge and ditch, as if by signal, and ALLISON and his son returned towards Stanwix, and
met, as stated, NIXON, BULMAN, and John ALLISON. After a short conference, the whole halted a little, and up came two of the
smugglers, who appeared to have been separated from the rest on account of their sudden dispersion: these men attempted to run away
by the old road leading to Stanwix, as soon as they saw into what company they had unwittingly fallen, but were pursued and deprived
of a few quarts of whiskey; and they finally succeeded in escaping. Just as this affair was over, the Dumfries coach passed towards
Carlisle. The officers thought it probable that some of the outside passengers were whiskey dealers, they hastened after it, and
presently heard it stop. They got up to it in time to see two women and a man in a light-coloured great coat descend, and their
actions at once indicated their character. The whole had whiskey upon them. From the women a considerable quantity was taken, but
the man escaped in the bustle before he could be eased of his burthen. Sometime afterwards, the party again went on the look-out
over the Bridge, and while on their way, the man who had escaped from the coach came up behind the hindermost, and had uplifted a
bludgeon with the evident intention of felling him to the ground, when another, happening to turn round at the critical moment,
instantly presented a pistol at him, and the fellow was once more indebted to his legs for a rapid retreat. Soon after twelve
o'clock, the five persons before mentioned, again went over the Bridge towards Stanwix. On passing the opening leading to the
cattle-market, they saw several men, by whom they were recognized and abused. They said nothing in return, but proceeded; and when
they got about half way over the large bridge, they were suddenly and most violently assailed by at least twenty fellows, armed with
bludgeons. NIXON, though fortified with a brace of pistols, and the younger ALLISON, ran at the outset, and escaped with a whole
skin to Eden Terrace, where they took refuge in a house by entering, sans ceremonie, at the back-door. BULMAN was violently knocked
down and cut about the head, but he sprung up and gallantly fought his way through his numerous opponents. John ALLISON was also
knocked down, and severely beaten, and those who attacked him stole his hat. He got up and retreated towards Stanwix; and anxious
for the safety of his father, he again approached the scene of action, was once more knocked down, and severely cut about the head;
but again escaped to the end of the bridge, and took refuge on the steps of one of the houses at Eden Terrace, where he became so
weak with loss of blood as to be for some time insensible to what was passing around him. The worst is yet to come. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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