[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 21 Feb 1824 - Murderous Assault (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

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

 

MURDEROUS ASSAULT. 

 

[continued] 

 

Nearly the whole vial of the assailants' fury was poured out upon the unfortunate senior ALLISON. He was struck to the earth at the
commencement by several desperadoes who fell upon him all at once: they knocked off his hat and wig; inflicted a great many cuts
upon his head, some of which penetrated to the skull and wounded it; one of his hands was much hurt, one of his toes dislocated,
independent of many minor injuries on other parts of his person. How low long he lay under this terrible operation he knows not,
because sensation naturally fled from before such painful inflictions; but he at last, he cannot tell how, staggered away from the
spot which he had deluged with his blood, and reached the extremity of Rickergate, where he fell from weakness and suffering;
happily, however, he was seen by Jane WILSON, whose attention had been excited by the noise on the bridge (she having heard a cry of
"D-n him, throw him over the bridge,") and was conveyed to Mrs. BUSHBY's, a frightful spectacle-without hat or wig, cut in all
directions, and streaming with gore. When Mr. ANDERSON, the surgeon, came to him, he was so near dead that his pulse had ceased, and
he continued in a state of total insensibility during the greater part of the night; but by skill and attention he gradually came
round, and though now very dangerously ill, a rational hope may be entertained of his recovery. John ALLISON was subsequently borne
home by three men, belonging to Stanwix, who hastened to the spot on hearing the tumult at a distance. They found him reclining on
the steps, as before-mentioned, in a sadly disabled state, also bleeding at many a vein as well as his father; but the injury is not
likely to be fatal.* Not one of the offenders is yet in custody. A man named ROBINSON, having been seen on the bridge, was
apprehended, and examined at the Public Office on Wednesday; he showed, however, pretty satisfactorily that, like those who bore
home John ALLISON, had been attracted to the bridge by the noise, and the Magistrates discharged him on his promise to appear
whenever called upon. None of the assailants were known to the sufferers. We believe that the name of one only has been ascertained
(an Irishman), and he has for the present absconded. 

 

The Magistrates have taken depositions, and the Collector will send them to the Board of Customs. It is probable that a reward will
be offered for a discovery of the offenders, and the outrage may possibly lead to the adoption of more effectual measures for the
prevention of smuggling in this quarter. It is usual, too, on such occasions, we understand, to inquire into the conduct of the
officers. We shall not anticipate the result of such inquiry-but we cannot help making the obvious remark, that if the person with
the pistols had not been in quite so great a hurry, he might have turned the tables, and prevented much of the suffering inflicted
upon his companions. 

 

We submit to our fellow-citizens the propriety of sending up a petition to the Legislature, or a memorial to the Lords of the
Treasury, expressive of the multiplied evils of the extensive smuggling carried on since the reduction of the Scotch duties on
whiskey; whence the House or their Lordships will at once see the necessity of some legislative arrangement. Perhaps the only
effectual preventive would be a permission to introduce Scotch spirits into England at a duty which shall take all temptation from
the contraband dealer. At present, men, women, and children-in many cases whole families-are engaged in the demoralizing traffic,
whereby they fit themselves for even graver offences, and spread drunkenness and consequent poverty and discomfort among the
numerous manufacturing and labouring population of the English border like a pestilence: so much the more pernicious that its
operation is twofold-moral as well as physical. 

 

Since writing the preceding, we learn that a meeting of the Brewers and Spirit-merchants of Carlisle was held on Thursday evening at
the house Mr. GILKERSON in Rickergate, when it was resolved to memorialize the Lords of the Treasury, to induce their Lordships to
take into their serious consideration the loss sustained by the memorialists and others, by the illegal introduction of whiskey from
Scotland since the reduction of the duty on Scotch spirits: and it would be politic, perhaps, were persons interested in other
Northern towns to do the same without delay. Carlisle is peculiarly exposed to this most injurious species of traffic, being only
about eight miles from Sarkfoot, in the vicinity of which place the whiskey is in general procured. The illicit importation is
supposed to amount to the enormous quantity of from eight to ten thousand gallons a week. The general price is 6s. per gallon; hence
it finds its way into the meanest cottages, and alarmingly affects the health and morals of the working classes: it is retailed
chiefly by persons of the lowest class, who are not licensed victuallers-a great deal of it under the name of rum, being coloured
for the purpose of deception. About Christmas last, ten puncheons of whiskey were sold for this market by one person at Springfield.
Something must be done. At present the revenue officers are totally unable to stem the torrent: to make the attempt is to place
their lives in the most imminent hazard. 

 

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* The substance of Mr. ANDERSON's deposition before the Magistrate was-that he found Marmaduke ALLISON in a very weakly and
exhausted state, his pulse gone, and he apparently dying. He had many wounds upon different parts of his head and face; a large one
upon his under lip, another upon his right cheek, about an inch and a half long; another about two inches long on the left side of
his forehead, penetrating into the bone; another on his forehead, and another on the crown of his head; also a severe contusion upon
the back part of his head; the great-toe bone of his right foot fractured, and his left hand much injured by a blow. That he found
John ALLISON very severely wounded upon his nose and his right temple; a cut was upon his left eye-brow, and six other wounds upon
the head and face. Neither of them at the time could give any distinct account how they came by the injury. 

 

 

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