[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 06 Mar 1824 - Cumberland Spring Assizes (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 06 Mar 1824   (p. 2, col. 4 – p. 3, col. 5)

 

CUMBERLAND SPRING ASSIZES. 

 

[continued] 

 

CROWN CALENDAR. 

 

STEALING IN A DWELLING-HOUSE. 

 

JAMES M'KIE, aged 18, was put to the bar, charged with having stolen a great coat and a cloak on the morning of Thursday last, the
4th instant, from the Blue Bell Hotel, in this city, kept by Nancy IRVING, the property of Edward JACKSON. He pleaded not guilty. 

 

Mr. COURTENAY said the prosecutor in this case is a Commercial traveller. He arrived at Carlisle on Wednesday night, put up at the
Blue Bell, and left the stolen property in the Travellers' room, and next morning it was missed, and subsequently found upon the
prisoner, as would be stated in evidence. 

 

Edward JACKSON, the prosecutor, sworn.—I arrived in Carlisle on Tuesday evening, and put up at the Blue Bell Inn. I had a cloak and
great coat, which I left in the Travellers'-room, when I went to bed, immediately adjoining the bed-room, on the first floor of the
house. Next morning, these articles had disappeared. The Blue Bell is kept by Mrs. IRVING, a widow. 

 

Prisoner declined asking any questions. 

 

By the Court.—I understand Mrs. IRVING's name is Nancy; but I have not certain knowledge of it. 

 

Thomas YOUNG, a police-officer, sworn.—I don't know what Mrs. IRVING's christian name is. About two o'clock, on Thursday morning, I
went to ATKINSON's, in Jollie's buildings, and found the prisoner at the bar, with the great coat on which I now produce, having his
hand on a cloak lying beside. I asked where he got them? He said he bought them of a woman of the town, that he had given her a note
for them, and that she ran away when she got the money. I apprehended him, and took him, with the assistance of another officer,
named MULLENDER, to whom I gave the cloak, to a place of confinement. The Blue Bell is in the parish of St. Mary. 

 

John Lowry MULLENDER.—I do not exactly know Mrs. IRVING's christian name. The cloak which I now produce is that given to me by
YOUNG. 

 

Mr. JACKSON identified both coat and cloak. The value of the articles is about £5 10s. 

 

Mr. Wm. NANSON, solicitor—I know Mrs. IRVING very well; her name is Nancy. 

 

The prisoner said he had no questions to put: he wished to say nothing in defence; nor had any witnesses in this country. 

 

Mr. Justice HOLROYD.—The prisoner was indicted for stealing to the amount of 40s. in a dwelling-house; but if the Jury thought the
value was not clearly made out, they had the power of doing away with the capital charge by finding the prisoner guilty of stealing
only. He had given no account how he came by the property, and the law presumed that he had stolen it; for the story of the woman
and the note would not, probably, have any great weight on their minds. 

 

Verdict—Guilty of stealing to the amount of 40s. 

 

His Lordship immediately sentenced the prisoner.—You have been found guilty of stealing to the amount of 40s. and upwards, and your
life is forfeited to the laws of your country. Your life, however, will be spared; but it is necessary that your punishment shall be
severe, in order to inspire other persons, inclined to commit similar offences, with a salutary dread of the law. It was a very
short time before the assizes that you perpetrated your crime, and at a moment when you must have expected the arrival of the
commission for the punishment of offenders who might be found guilty before it. What your future destination may be, I cannot at
present say: whatever lenity may be shewn, I trust that it will not be misplaced; but that you will in your future life endeavour to
make some amends for the past. The Court orders judgment of death against you to be recorded, which will not have the effect of
taking your life.—The prisoner thanked his Lordship very warmly for his lenity. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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