Catalogue description Prisoner name: George Askew, Samuel Marshall and George Morley. Prisoner occupation:...

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Details of HO 17/38/39
Reference: HO 17/38/39
Description:

Prisoner name: George Askew, Samuel Marshall and George Morley.

Prisoner occupation: All framework knitters, of Mansfield Woodhouse [Nottinghamshire].

Court and date of trial: [Magistrate Edward Unwin at Sutton-in-Ashfield], 8 March 1836.

Crime: Committing wilful damage, namely throwing down some walling, a fence and a haystack variously the property of Colonel John Need, Charles Neale, Mr Middleton and [Mr] Whelpdale on 29 February 1836 at Mansfield Woodhouse.

Initial sentence: To make good the damage and each fined £1 13s 4d plus costs, with one month or three months imprisonment with hard labour in default thereof, the fine to be mitigated by one half if the prosecutors' intercession is successful.

Annotated (Outcome): 'Nil - Upon the report of the committing magistrate which is satisfactory - and the petition not to be believed'.

Petitioner(s): Two petitions from Mary Goodwin (brother of convict Askew), supported by a statement of case with five affidavits appended including her own and those of Mary Slaney (witness's mother) and Joseph Goodall (witness's employer) both confirming his idiocy, and that of Jane Askew (mother of convict Askew).

Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Convicted solely on the evidence of George Slaney, stated to be an 18-year-old idiot deemed incapable of giving evidence; he was induced to give false evidence by constable Thomas Mettham and a man named John Walker Saxton offering him a sovereign and a good supper; victim (and magistrate) Colonel Need allegedly stated that witness Slaney was unfit to give evidence; contrary to normal practice, the committing magistrate did so without the victims attending the trial.

Other papers: Copy of the trial evidence; magistrate's report on the case; magistrate's decision; further report by the magistrate on the veracity of the petitions; cover sheet; letter from Edward A Johnson ([governor] of the Southwell House of Correction [Nottinghamshire]) transmitting three copies of the magistrates warrant for imprisonment; two letters from Mary Goodwin (wife of Edward Goodwin and brother of convict Askew) pursuing a reply from the Home Office to the statement and affidavits; deposition by Joseph Alcroft.

Additional Information: The convicts were held in Southwell House of Correction [Nottinghamshire].

Date: 1836 Mar 16 - 1836 May 4
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department: Ew 39
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

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