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Preston Chronicle
Saturday July 9 1842

Sudden Death
An inquest was held on Monday last at the Hag-gate public-house, in Briercliffe-with-Extwistle, on the body of Alice Prawson, aged 33 years. On Friday night week the deceased went to Briercliffe to attend a summons which her husband had got for poor-rates which he was owing to that township and in which he resides. She appeared to be in good health at the time, and she did not demand any relief nor complain of poverty, her husband being in good employ, but merely that the rate bill should be paid. Immediately on leaving the house at which the meeting was held she dropped down in the lane. Verdict, "Died by the Visitation of God."

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday March 25 1848

Petty Sessions Monday March 20 -
Few cases of interest were brought before the magistrates this day, but we briefly notice what transpired.- James Wilson, carrier between Burnley and Preston, was brought up for being asleep in a cart, at the bottom of the Manchester New-road, on the evening of the 17th March. There was another person also asleep with him in the cart; but as the magistrates considered that the costs were rather heavy, amounting to 10s., Wilson was only fined 6d. - John Voaback, a German, who is in the habit of letting out pianos and other instruments to poor girls, natives of his country, was charged with violently abusing and assaulting Mary Ann Sleet, on the 13th inst., in Water-street, Burnley. Mr. Pinder, solicitor, appeared for the defendant, and very ingeniously tried to shake the evidence of several witnesses who appeared on behalf of the complainant, but without effect. He succeeded, however, so far as to elicit from the witnesses the fact that the girl had upon several occasions used improper language to the defendant and his wife, in consequence of Voaback not having paid up her wages according to agreement. Mr Stansfeld repeatedly urged the parties to retire and settle the matter between themselves, but to no purpose; and at last Voaback was ordered to enter into his own recognizance of £20 to keep the peace for twelve months. Of course the bench could not enter into the question of the wages de to the poor girl, but recommended her to apply to the county court. - Mr. Adam Robinson, railway contractor, was fined 1s. and costs, amounting to 12s.6d., for assaulting a young woman named Mary Barnford, behind the Clock Face public-house, on Tuesday evening, the 13th inst., having several times struck her with a whip. It appeared that a number of persons had congregated about the stables belonging to the defendant, and as he did not know there was a right of road to some cottages behind the Clock Face, he had urged them to go away, but on their refusal he had applied his whip to some of them, and, amongst others, to the complainant, who it appears was simply passing on her road home. The parties had assembled in consequence of some fracas which had occurred with the housekeeper. Mr. Stansfeld recommended the complainant and defendant to settle the matter out of court, but on the latter refusing, the bench adjudicated as above. - Henry Baldwin, grocer, and Jas. Pollard, green grocer, were ordered to pay the costs, amounting to 5s.6d. each, for having in their possession some short weights. As it did not appear that the parties had any fraudulent intention, the bench thought the payment of costs would be a sufficient warning.

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday April 1 1848

Petty Sessions

Stealing Wearing Apparel
George Bottomley and William Hindley, of Burnley, both young men out of work, and whose looks evidenced that they had been sadly short of the necessaries of life, were charged with stealing one new shirt, the property of Henry Ashworth, of Habergham Eaves. It appeared from the evidence of the plaintiff's wife, that on Saturday, the 25th instant, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, she had placed the shirt in question on a hedge about twenty yards from her house, for the purpose of drying it; that shortly afterwards Hindley came to her house craving charity; and that about two o'clock in theafternoon she went to fetch the shirt, but found that it was gone, when information was immediately given to the police. Police Sergeant Parker deposed, that information having been given at the office of the robbery, the men were on the look out; that about nine o'clock the prisoners came to the station to ask for a night's lodgings, when, having some suspicions, he charged them with the robbery, and said that the shirt had been owned. Upon stripping Bottomley, he found that he had the shirt on, as he knew it by the description which had been given. Bottomley at first said he had obtained the shirt form his sister at Bury; but, subsequently, both he and Hindley confessed that the shirt had been stolen from the hedge named. Mr. Ashworth deposed to the identity of the shirt. The magistrates asked the prisoners what they had to say in their defence, after giving them the usual caution. Bottomley said that he certainly had taken the shirt, and being totally without one, he had put it on, but that Hindley was privy and accessory to the transaction. Indeed, Hindley had said that if Bottomley did not take it he certainly would, a he was almost without one; and, moreover, had only one sleeve on his coat. Hindley said, that when the shirt was stolen he was in another part of the field, and that he had no hand in taking the shirt; but he did not deny Bottomley's statement respecting the remarks he had made. Ultimately, the bench decided upon committing Bottomley for trial, but thought the evidence was not sufficiently clear against Hindley, and therefore discharged him. Mr. Superintendent McCabe then asked the bench whether Hindley would not be committed under the vagrant act, inasmuch as he, along with Bottomley, had asked for a night's lodgings, when he had found 11½d. in his pocket. The magistrates, however, discharged him.

Assault
John Burrows, of Habergham Eaves, was charged by Ellen Acornley, the wife of William Acornley, of the same township, with abusing and violently assaulting her on the evening of Friday, the 24th instant. Mr. Hartley appeared for the defendant. A number of witnesses were examined, who gave the most contradictory evidence; but although the case occupied the court nearly an hour, it was of such a trumpery character that the magistrates very properly discharged the defendant, ordering each party to pay their own expenses. The quarrel originated in some trifling difference between the respective parties. The plaintiff appeared to have proved the "better man," and to have actually broken a broom stick upon the defendant's back, while he was fighting with her husband. Mr. Thursby thought there "were six in one case and half a dozen in the other."

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday September 15 1849

On Monday last, before Messrs. Whittaker, Clayton, and Fort, magistrates, Richard Airy, and Michael Gordon, boiler maker, Habergham Eaves, were fined 5s. for fighting; Robert Howarth, labourer, was fined 5s. for being drunk; Thomas Kelly, and John Simmons, were ordered to pay 5s. 6d. each, for fighting; George Rulteup, coach painter, Burnley, was fined 5s. and costs, for bing drunk and disorderly; Elizabeth Pilkington was committed for fourteen days to hard labour, for disorderly conduct; Robert Mercer, and George Pickup, farmers, of Ighten-hill Park, were summoned by Mr. Croft, for non-payment of water rates, - some paid outside the court, and the remainder were ordered to pay. James Smith, brishmaker, was committed for trial for stealing a silk handkerchief from the house of William Hopkins. -Thomas Chadwick, aged 63, of Marsden, was committed for trial, for stealing an iron saucepan from the shop door of Joseph Brown, ironmonger. A policeman saw him take it.

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday March 24 1849

Drunk and Disorderly

Aaron Tattersall, of New Town, Habergham Eaves, and Richard Varley, of "The Green," Colne, were, on the information of P.C. Stevenson, and P.C. Dykes, fined 5s. each and costs, for being drunk and disorderly, on Tuesday, the 11th inst.

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday March 24 1849

Absent From Work

Mr. Samuel Smallpage, manufacturer, charged Jane Kierley with absenting herself from her work without leave, for several days. The magistrates conceiving that the young woman had some just reason for leaving her employ, recommended her, in the first instance, to forfeit the amount of wages due to her (13s.,) and then to summon her employ to the county court for that amount.

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday March 24 1849

St Patrick's Day

Patrick Kelly was bound over to keep the peace for being drunk and fighting in the public streets, on the evening of his name-sake's birth-day. Pat, in his defence, said that he and his sister, accompanied by another countryman, went into the Thorn Inn "to wet his Shamrock," in honour of the saint, and that when they came out they were a little refreshed, and some fellow cam up and took liberties with his sister, which insult he was determined to revenge, when Sergeant Parker came up and took Patrick into custody, the others running off as fast as they could. Parker was unable to follow the rest, as he had three other prisoners in his charge at the time.

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday March 24 1849

Vagrancy

Catherine Williams, Margaret Henry, and Ann Henry, three notorius vagrants, were taken into custody on Saturday night by Sergeant Parker, for begging in the public streets, and were committed to the House of Correction for fourteen days. -William Wilkinson, on the information of P.C. Horan, was charged with a similar offence, on Sunday last, but was discharged on account of his age, being 74 years old. -Christopher Myers, a person of dissolute habits, was charged with sleeping in an out-house belonging to Mr. Nash, of the Red Lion Inn, and committing damage therein &c. The offence was proved by Mr. Nash's servant, who brought him to the police-station, and he was committed for fourteen days. -John Harrison, a stout, able-bodied young man, was committed for a like period, for begging in the streets. The prisoner came up to Sergeant Parker, and begged earnestly for a trifle, as "he had not a farthing in his pocket" wherewith to pay his lodgings; on which Parker, who was in disguise, took him into custody, and found fourteen pence (but certainly no farthings,) in his pockets.

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The Preston Guardian

Saturday March 24 1849

Assault Case

Mary Hargreaves charged John Ennis, the keeper of a beer-shop in New Town, Habergham Eaves, with having come into her house and assaulted her. Two other men, of the names of Abraham Hacking and Hiram Read, were implicated in the charge. Ennis, the principal defendant, alleged, in his defence, that the complainant had sent two persons into his house to insult a soldier's wife who lodged with him. The whole case was of a trumpery character, and the magistrates immediately discharged Hacking and Read, but ordered both the complainant and the defendant (ennis) to find two sureties of £10 each, and themselves to be bound in £20 each, to keep the peace for twelve months. A very proper decision, "there being six in one and half a dozen in the other".

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Preston Guardian

Saturday 22 January 1853

Petty Sessions - (Before Geo. Stansfield, W.T.Whitaker, J. Healis, and R.Holden, Esqrs.) - The following persons were charged by Mr. James Fletcher, the surveyor of highways for the parish of Rough Lee, with neglecting to repair the highway: Jno. Smith, Joseph Pilkington, Thomas Kershaw, A.Shaw, and John Cook. Smith was dismissed, but the others were ordered to repair the road. - On Thursday last, Ann Donaldson was charged with stealing a quantity of wearing apparel on the 5th inst. She was committed for trial.

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Preston Guardian

Saturday 25 October 1851

Caution

On MOnday last, at the Petty Sessions, Burnley, Mr. Robert Forrester, station master and collector, at Portsmouth, near Todmorden, charged Thomas Holt, a miner, of Worsthorne, with being drunk at the station, on the evening of Sunday, the 12th instant, and with having used abusive and insulting language, to the annoyance of the persons who were waiting for the train; and also with having refused to leave the station when requested to do so by Mr. Forrester. He was fined 10s. and costs, which amounted to 11s., making in all 21s, which penalty we hope will act as caution to such obstructives as Thomas Holt.

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Preston Guardian

Saturday 6 April 1844

Caution To Carters

On Monday last, at the Petty Sessions, Burnley, Sidney Butterfield was fined in 6d. and costs, for riding his cart without reins on the 29th March last, on the turnpike road between Burnley and Padiham.

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Preston Guardian

Saturday 30 April 1853

Petty Sessions

The following cases were brought up for hearing before John Heelis, Ralph Holding, James Roberts, and George Stansfield, Esqrs. -Lawrence Farrar was brought up charged by James Greenwood, assistant overseer for Habergham, with having refused to support his mother. After an ennquiry, he was ordered to pay 1s. 6d. per week.
Wilful damage Peter Grundy, together with eight others, was brought up charged with trespass and wilful damage, the complainant being John Crosssley. The defendants put in a plea for right of road, and after some deliberation, the magistrates dismissed the case.
Breach of Turnpike Act The following were brought charged by P.C. W.Kirk with riding along the Padiham road without reins, viz.:-Henry Hind, Jas. Haworth, and Joseph Pilkington. The charges being proved, they were each fined 10s. and costs.
Breach of Beer Act Robert Fielding was brought up charged with a breach of the beer act, P.C. G.W. Sutton being the witness in proof of the charge, which charge being proved, the defendant was fined 20s. and costs. A similar charge was brought against James Hill, who was ordered to pay costs.
Assaults Robert Smith was charged with an assault against Massey Layfield. Upon an investigation, Smith was ordered to pay costs. -John Schofield was also charged by Benjamin Dean with an assault upon him, for which he was fined 10s. and costs. A similar charge was also preferred against him by Joseph Dean, for which he was again fined 10s. and costs. - James Dean was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and was fined 5s. and costs. -Several other cases were brought before the bench and were summarily disposed of.

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Preston Guardian

Saturday 24 December 1852

Petty Sessions
Before Geo. Stansfield, J. Heelis, and T. Whitaker, Esqrs.)

Drunkenness. John Kelly and J. Howard were fined 5s. and costs for being drunk and disorderly in the street. On the same day upon which this circumstance occurred, these gentlemen had the honour to figure largely in the stocks, which fact clearly shows that this method of correction has not had in this instance a curative effect.
Wilful Damage. Geo. Thistlethwaite charged Thomas Holt with upsetting the furnace put upon the road leading to Fulledge, where the commissioners are at present engaged in laying water pipes. The case was clearly proved, and Holt was accordingly fined in 2s. and costs.
Such mischief as this might lead to serious consequences; the Surveyor, accordingly acted very wisely in rendering assistance in preventing such foolish freaks.
Trespass. John Ripax and James Bowker, were charged with trespassing in search of game. The case was adjourned until next Monday.
Assaults. Patrick Nicholson was charged with assaulting William Maxwell. The charge being proved, Nicholson was fined 5s. and costs William Stanworth was also charged with assaulting James Fletcher. The charge was fully proved, and Stanworth was discharged on paying costs.

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Preston Guardian

Saturday 24 February 1855

Burnley

False Beams and Weights

At the petty sessions, held on Monday last, the following parties were fined:- Henry Allen, butcher, falsebeam, half an ounce against the purchaser, and deficient weights, twenty shillings and costs. -Joseph Maxwell, grocer, one pound half an ounce light, half a pound two drachms light, five shillings and costs. -jude Yates, flour beam and scales, three quarters of an ounce against the purchaser, five shillings and coss. -James Steir, butcher, beam and scales, half an ounce against the purchaser, five shillings and costs. -Robert Coates, butcher, unstamped weights, five shillings and costs, and forfeit weights. -James Heys, grocer, beam and scales, an ounce and a half against the purchaser, twenty shillings and costs, and forfeit beam. -John Diggle, grocer, beam and scales, two ounces against the purchaser, twenty shillings and costs.

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