Horse Stealing

Henry TUCK stood indicted for stealing a brown cart horse, value 20ls, the property of Mr Edward SLETT, of Chatteris, in the Isle of Ely.

The prosecutor deposed, that on the evening of the 12th of August, the horse in question was safe, with many others, in an enclosed ground, in the parish of Chatteris. The following morning it was missed.

The case was clearly proved. Verdict – Guilty. Sentence of death recorded.

Source - The Times, Wednesday, Apr 07, 1830; pg. 6; col B
Transcribed by Lyn Todd

Ely. Monday, April 5 Before Mr Serjeant STORKS, Chief Justice of the Isle

MANSLAUGHTER

Joseph STOCKS, aged 27, was indicted for having feloniously killed and slain one William LAMB, on the 19th of September last, at the parish of Chatteris, in this Isle.

Mr PRYME and Mr JENYNS conducted the prosecution: Mr GUNNING was counsel for the prisoner.

It appeared that the prisoner and the deceased, who were both very respectable tradesmen in Chatteris, were brothers-in-law, and members of a club called the “Tailors’ Club,” which held its meetings once a fortnight at the ‘Wheatsheaf.’ On Saturday, September 19, they were at the club-meeting with others of its members, where the utmost harmony prevailed, and “not an angry word or look passed between them,” from first to last. They left the public-house in company, a little after 11 o’clock, in the utmost amity and good humour with each other. In a short time however, two of the witnesses were alarmed by a great noise in the street, and got out of bed and ran to the window to see what was the occasion of it; on their way to the window they heard either a blow or a kick, and an immediate cry of “Murder”.

When they reached the window, they perceived a man, who afterwards proved to be Lamb, the deceased lying on the ground, and the prisoner said to Lamb, “If you say any thing disrespectful of my father, I’ll give it you, for he’s been a kind friend to you, and that you know”: whereto Lamb replied, “What’s your father to me? He’s no friend of mine”. The witness seeing and hearing this, and thinking it was a drunken brawl, returned to bed, and as they left the window another blow and another cry of “Murder” were heard. Shortly after this the two persons were seen walking together along the road, Stocks being a little ahead, and swearing at Lamb to come on faster; he however continued to walk very slowly, and in a few minutes staggered to the rails beside the road, on which he laid his folded arms, put his head on his arms, and groaned piteously. About this time a man named BIRT came up, and the prisoner requested his assistance in conveying Lamb home, observing “he’s not quite sober, and he must not be left here, poor fellow”. Accordingly, the prisoner and Birt locked their hands, and set Lamb upon them, and carried him betwixt them for some distance, when the prisoner took him alone, and carried him ‘pick-a-back’ someway farther.

The most extraordinary mode of carriage ever heard of was then adopted; for Birt stooped down, took hold of Lamb’s legs, and threw him over his back, with his head downwards, having still hold of his legs, and in this manner he was carried two furlongs. In this manner countrymen sometimes carry refractory pigs, or the carcass of a sheep. When they reached Lamb’s house, he was placed in a chair, and presently grew so unwell that a surgeon was sent for; but before he could arrive, Lamb had breathed his last. He continued sensible till his death, and called Birt and the prisoner by their names, but never gave the least intimation of having been hurt by the prisoner, or indeed by anyone. He died; and after his death two surgeons opened his body and discovered that his death had been occasioned by a rupture of the spleen, and the consequent escape of about three quarts of blood into the abdomen. Not the slightest bruise or wound of any kind was found on any part of the body, nor were the liver, or the kidneys, or the pancreas, or any of the parts surrounding the spleen, injured in the least degree. The witnesses for the prosecution all concurred in giving the prisoner the highest character for humanity and kindness of disposition, and in saying that there had never been the least quarrel or any word between himself and the deceased. The surgeons said that they did not think the rupture of the spleen could have been occasioned , or materially if at all increased by the strange and awkward manner in which the deceased was carried by Birt for a quarter of a mile.

Mr Gunning called the Rev. Dr. CHATFIELD, vicar of Chatteris, and several others, who gave the prisoner the highest character for the excellence of his disposition, and uniform kindness of his manners. The Doctor had been the means of procuring his discharge from the army, and had taken him formerly into his service.

The learned Chief Justice minutely and carefully summed up the whole of the evidence in this mysterious case. It was certainly extraordinary that no external injury should be found on the body of the deceased, but the surgeons had said that, in their opinion, a rupture of the spleen might be occasioned by a blow or a kick, and yet no other part be at all injured. The case had been left in much obscurity; but it appeared thet the two blows at least were heard to be given by one person to another, and the jury would have to say, under all the circumstances, if they were given by the prisoner to the deceased, and if the injury to the spleen had been occasioned by them.

The jury, after deliberating some time, found the prisoner Guilty.

His Lordship, after a very kind and feeling address, sentenced him to be imprisoned for the period of two months, but not to be kept to hard labour.

The trial excited great interest, the prisoner and his family being so universally respected.

Source - The Times, Saturday, Nov 16, 1833; pg. 3; Issue 15324; col E
Transcribed by Lyn Todd

Incendiarism - Isle of Ely – CHATTERIS , Nov 14th

Thursday night the 7th instant, between 9 and 10 o’clock, a most alarming fire broke out in a straw stack, on the premises of Mr William CURTIS, of Chatteris Mill-end, near to the road leading to Somersham. The engines were soon on the spot, and every effort used to stop its progress. The wind being high, the flames soon caught the barn, which contained deals, wheat & etc, and in a few minutes reached some hovels and stacks of corn, and a stack of hay, which were completely consumed. During the progress of the flames, every exertion was used by the people to save the property and buildings (particularly by the females, rich and poor). Water soon became scarce, and before the flames had become extinct, a line of people was formed from the premises of Mr Curtis to those of Mr WELDON, about 300 yards, which was kept up until the extinction of the fire. The buildings near the premises were by good management saved. Much praise is due to the working class, whose exertions in checking the fire reflect great credit, and who were assisted by the gentry and tradesmen of every denomination. It is strongly suspected to be the act of an incendiary. Mr Curtis was insured with the exception of some deals, which were partly consumed. – Cambridge Chronicle.

Sunday morning, about 6 o’clock, a fire was discovered on the side of the road leading from Chatteris to Horse Way and Manea, in a small wheat cob, belonging to Mr H WRIGHT, surgeon, Chatteris, which was consumed; fortunately, the wind was not too high, and there were no other stacks very near the spot. This is also suspected to be the act of an incendiary. – ibid.

Source - The Times, Friday, Mar 04, 1836; pg. 5; col G
Transcribed by Lyn Todd

Norfolk Circuit. Ely,Wednesday, March 2 Before Mr Serjeant STORKS, Chief Justice of the Isle.

William PALMER, aged 18, was indicted for assaulting John PALMER, a constable, in the execution of his duty. Mr Gunning stated the case.

The prisoner, it appeared, was a young farming labourer, living in the parish of Chatteris, in the Isle of Ely, and much given to fighting and drinking. In the same parish lives a poor old man of the name of BRIGGS, who is stone blind. On 28th of January lats, Briggs was walking down the street of the village, when it was his misfortune to meet the prisoner, who was in a state of quarrelsome intoxication. The prisoner forthwith laid hold of the old man, and gave him several severe blows on the face, an act of cowardice and brutality which roused a lad of 10 years old to interfere in favour of the person assailed. Him also the prisoner next attacked, but the boy escaped and ran for the prosecutor, who is one of the constables of the place. On his arrival, the constable repeatedly, but fruitlessly endeavoured to prevail on the prisoner to go quietly home, first by gentle persuasion, next by ungentle threats, and lastly by taking him by the arm and leading him towards his own house. The prisoner however refused to be persuaded or forced, and the prosecutor then began to lead him towards “the cage”. Finding the united efforts of himself, Briggs and the boy insufficient to take him to the cage, the constable put handcuffs on him; but it was not until he had been put and tied into a wheelbarrow and wheeled off, that the prisoner allowed himself to be put into that place of confinement. During the time they were putting the manacles on him the prisoner repeatedly kicked, beat, and bit the constable, which constituted assault complained of.

The prisoner made no defence, and was found Guilty.

On inquiry of the gaoler, it appeared that the prisoner had of late spent most of his time in prison under summary convictions for assaults, and that he was discharged from a two months imprisonment for beating his father only a week before the present outrage.

The learned Judge, after an address which made an impression on all his auditory, except the prisoner, sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept at hard larbour for six months.

Source - The Times, Tuesday, Jul 23, 1850; pg. 7
Transcribed by Lyn Todd

Norfolk Circuit - Cambridge July 22 - Crown Court (Before Mr Justice Patterson)

Thomas Dirkin, the elder and younger, Michael Ginty, and Martin Dowling, were indicted for cutting and wounding Edward Jones on the 29th of May, at Chatteris, with intent to disable him or to do him some grievous bodily harm. Mr Henry Mills appeared for the prosecution; Mr Naylor defended the prisoners.

It appeared that the prosecutor was engaged by his master, Mr Evans, a contractor on the Chatteris drainage, to watch certain tools necessarily exposed to depredation during the progress of the works. At the same time several Irishmen were employed by Mr Evans, and lodged on straw beds, thrown up for their accommodation in a barn, near to which Jones was stationed. On the night of the 29th the prosecutor was thus engaged, when a body of about 12 rollicking Irishmen came up, and amongst them the four prisoners. When these got to the side of the prosecutor, one of the Dirkins struck him with his fist in the face, and another, Ginty, brought him to the ground, with a savage blow on the ear, with a long-handled water-scoop, which completely ‘unsensed’ him. After this the four men gathered round him, and kicking him severely, left him in a state of insensibility. When he recovered himself he discovered that he was in the ditch, and that his cap and two half crowns had been taken away. Having crawled to the nearest house, the poor man gave the alarm, and shortly after the four prisoners were selected by a police-man from the body of Irishmen in the barn, on the ground that they had ‘blushed’ and were embarrassed when called upon to give an account of themselves. The prosecutor, however, at the time had a very vague and indistinct recollection of the features of those who assaulted him; but when he had entirely recovered from the injuries he distinctly identified Ginty, Dowling, and the younger Dirkin as among the four; while he had a ‘strong idea’ that the elder Dirkin was the fourth man. In addition to his oath it was shown that under Ginty’s bed was found a new scoop with marks of blood on it, which appeared to have been recently but imperfectly effaced by water, and under young Dirkin’s bed was discovered the cap of the prosector. His Lordship having left it to the jury to say whether they were satisfied of the identity of the prisoners with the men who had assaulted the prosecutor, the Jury, after some deliberation, acquitted the elder Dirkin, and found the other prisoners Guilty of a common assault only.

Sentence deferred.

Source - The Times, Monday, Sep 19, 1864; pg. 7; col F
Transcribed by Lyn Todd

The Great Fire At Chatteris.

The amount of the damage occasioned by the great fire at Chatteris on Wednesday is now variously estimated at from £10,000 to £15,000. The principal sufferers are the following :
J. BULL, furniture, farming stock, bone-mill, stock-in-trade & etc.( insured by Manchester and Royal exchange)
H. BEEBE, grocer and baker, stock-in-trade and furniture, ( Royal)
W. BROWN, builder, stock-in-trade (uninsured)
W. BEARD, part of furniture, farming stock, hay, corn, straw & etc ( London & Liverpool)
_.CHAPMAN, grocer, stock-in-trade and part of furniture ( Royal)
William CLARK, Fen Plough, furniture & stock-in-trade ( Norwich Union)
J.MARCHANT, seven cottages, farm stock, barn, all out buildings & etc. ( Royal Exchange & Norwich Union)
W. MARCHANT, grocer and baker house, stock-in-trade, furniture, outbuildings & etc. (Sun & London & Liverpool)
_RAYMENT, hay, corn, outbuildings & etc. ( Phoenix)
W & J SEARS, four cottages, barn, all outbuildings
T. SUMMER, millwright, stock-in-trade….turf etc. (not insured)
W. SEWARD, farmer, house, farm buildings, farm stock, corn, furniture & etc., four cottages (Atlas)
R. THIMBLEBY, farming stock, corn, & etc. ( insured in the Yorkshire)
W. Triple, miller, farming stock, corn, and outbuildings ( the Sun)
J.WORTH, house, barn and buildings etc.
The majority of the smaller and humbler sufferers [are] uninsured, and in a very sad plight.

Source - Cambridgeshire Times on 18th Aug, 1893.
Transcribed by Dave Edwards

American Visitors

Every summer Chatteris has the pleasure of seeing on a visit an old townsman from the New World.

At this date Mr. James BLACKMAN, late of Mepal, living in Wenny road, has a son William returned from Evansville, who left this neighbourhood 35 years ago, and is now in business for himself as a florist, and is doing well. He is brother to Mr. George (alias Tom) BLACKMAN at Mr. DAINTREE's.

William has not been to Chatteris for 21 years, and he still finds his father, who is 84 years of age, in robust health. Mr. William BLACKMAN is now an old and highly respected inhabitant of Evansville, and relates a wonderful influx in years past of Chatteris families in his city, the older branches of which are in many cases dead, and their children, born in America, are now the native citizens of Evansville, amongst other places in the same country.

Mr. BLACKMAN has in his employ Daniel RUSTON, who lived foreman at Normoor under the late Mr. Alfred S. RUSTON, J.P., until his death, and who left for America with his brothers, Richard RUSTON, Edward RUSTON, Alfred RUSTON, and Farmer RUSTON, the two latter now being dead. Three brothers named SABERTON, of Wood street, also went there; George and Robert SKINNER, the latter now dead; Robert HALL, son of Mr. HALL, of the Willey Farm, went there a few years ago and died; a family named CROFTS 40 years ago, left for Evansville; another named SWANSON, whose children are now living; other people named PECK, BERRIDGE, Thomas GORDON, Jonathan OSBORN, brother to Mr. Jonathan OSBORN, of New street; John GUNTON, brother to Mr. Thomas GUNTON, railway porter; Edward TABOR, proprietor of the Evansville Journal, who died about 10 years ago; Thomas SMITH, watchmaker, of Park street, who died and left a widow, afterwards married a man named STUFFINS, who left here 21 years ago; Joseph KIGHTLEY is still living there, his brother, who also went, being dead; John MARCHANT and his sister, who afterwards left for the Western States; a man named WARTH, who died perhaps 15 years ago, and whose daughter married a gentleman named SORNSON.

Besides all these and many others from Chatteris, there were two other families of RUSTON's whose younger generations are citizens of Evansville. In fact there were such a number at one time here, that one part of the town was christened "Slade Lode", and Mr. BLACKMAN affirms that much credit is due to many of the Chatteris families who left here, for they have since held honourable and responsible positions both in the city government and the churches.

Mr. BLACKMAN is returning by the new steamer, Lucania, which leaves September 2. Mr. ASPINALL is the shipping agent. Mr. BLACKMAN's daughter, aged 25, accompanies him for the benefit of her health.

Mr. BLACKMAN says that the family names mentioned do not include probably more than one half of Chatteris people who have migrated to Evansville. This is only an example of how the great continent of America has been built up by families from all parts of the world.

Last week Mr. ASPINALL issued a ticket for the return of Mr. William NAYLOR, who took back with him to Montreal a member of another family, named KIGHTLEY, viz., Arthur, aged 18, son of Mrs. Maud KIGHTLEY, and who knows what prospects may be established by these two young Chatteris men? The Lucania, which takes Mr. BLACKMAN, is a very fine new vessel, which makes its maiden voyage on the above date.