On my quest to track down the Dickinson/Dickenson family, I chanced upon a court report.
"William Dickenson (41), labourer, was indicted for having stolen an iron bar, the property of Francis Watt, Esq., of Bishop Burton, and a bag, the property of Richard Nelson. Guilty; two months' imprisonment in the House of Correction, hard labour. Previous conviction proved."
Bridlington Free Press - Saturday 06 July 1867, page 3.
As this took place on the other side of the country, almost certainly not someone I'm interested in. But I couldn't help looking at the other court reports. They reveal a society a world away from the Victorian world of costume drama.
Most of the convictions were for fairly minor thefts, just like William Dickenson. Resulting in quite hefty jail sentences.
"Maria Rawson (18), described as a servant at Driffield, was indicted for having stolen pair of boots, the property of a young woman named Elizabeth Chatham. Mr. Preston prosecuted. The girl was bailed from prison on the 28th March last, and the recognizance was respited until the present sessions on account of illness. The accused was found guilty, and sentenced to three mouths’ imprisonment.
Charles Thompson (22). engraver, was indicted for that he did, being the bailee of a gold watch and a gold pin, the property of Richard Oxley, at Beverley, on the 6th of April last, convert the same to his own use. Mr. Thompson prosecuted. Sentenced to twelve mouths’ imprisonment, previous conviction, Hull, haring been proved against him.
John Watson (40), a slater, was sentenced to six month’s imprisonment for having, on the 24th May last, uttered a counterfeit half-sovereign at Bridlinglon Mr. Thompson prosecuted.
A married woman, named Martha Miles (38), was indicted for having stolen, on the 22nd June last, silver watch and appendages, the property of Robert Bewell, residing at Bridlington. Mr. Preston prosecuted. The accused was sent to prison for six weeks.
William Dickenson (41), labourer, was indicted for having stolen an iron bar, the property of Francis Watt, Esq., of Bishop Burton, and a bag, the property of Richard Nelson. Guilty ; two months' imprisonment in the House of Correction, hard labour. Previous conviction proved.
Elizabeth Moleson (21) was sentenced twelve months imprisonment for having stolen a cloth Jacket the property of Richard Hudson of Bridlington Quay, on the 24th of May."
Bridlington Free Press - Saturday 06 July 1867, page 3.
Some unlucky bastards got pretty long sentences:
"William Robinson (28), groom, charged with stealing, on the 3rd April, 1865, a saddle belonging to William Kirkwood, Patrington, and also with stealing a saddle and bridle, the property of Thomas Hoskinson, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. Prisoner had been previously convicted.
"At the Middlesex Sessions, on Tuesday, a notorious character met the just reward of his misdeeds. He was convicted of obtaining money by false pretences, and it was stated that in 1854 he was indicted for perjury, and in 1865 for stealing a bill of exchange. He had been five times bankrupt, three times insolvent, and compounded with his creditors as recently as last November. One of his favourite tricks was to undertake to get acceptances cashed, and having done so to hand over a sovereign, promising to pay the rest at early day, a device by which he escaped a criminal prosecution. The Judge, in passing sentence, said that the prisoner belonged to a numerous class who lived by swindling, and, as an example, sentenced him to five years’ penal sevitude."
Bridlington Free Press - Saturday 06 July 1867, page 3.
Note how many had previous convictions and were presumably habitual criminals. Seven years, though, for stealing two saddles?
Some got off
"John Skelton (48), carrier, was indicted for having stolen, at Pauli, the 21st March last, two pounds of butter, the property of Edmund George Cautley. Mr. Thompson prosecuted, and Mr. Peel defended the prisoner. Not guilty.
Jesse Page, schoolmaster, was charged with having indecently assaulted Charlotte Kisime, of Cherry Burton, on the 26th April last, and also Jane Ann Flowers and Mary Ann Sanderson.—Not guilty.
Ann Eliza Gray and Hannah Jane Sanridge were indicted for having stolen 17s 6d the property of Henry Wombwell, musician.— Not guilty. "
Bridlington Free Press - Saturday 06 July 1867, page 3.
I don't really want to think about what the schoolmaster might have been up to. Why did he get off?
Other cases are more tragic:
"Case Bigamy. —At the Bow Street Police Court, on Tuesday, Edward Martindale. aged 29, cabinet maker, residing at 5, Marl-place, Dartford, Kent, was placed at the bar on the charge of unlawfully intermarrying with Maria Dorset, at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field, his wife being still alive. It appeared that the defendant, on the 9th of March last, was married to Maria Dorset, the daughter of Mr. William Dorset, coachman, Epsom, and they had been living together at Dartford. At the time of his marriage and now he has a wife and one child living in York or some other part of this country. He admitted these facts, and by way of excuse for his second marriage, said that he was very young when he first married, that his wife was six years older than himself and she had been keeping company with another man since their marriage. The defendant was remanded on bail."
A Sad Case.—A few days ago, sea captain, who has spent most of his life ploughing the briny ocean, arrived in Selby, where his wife and family have resided for many years, with the idea that, having accumulated a nice little fortune, he could spend the rest of his life on shore with his partner and children, and enjoy the fruits of his dangerous avocation. Much to his surprise, however, on arriving at home, he found that his wife had left home a week previously, taking with her the youngest child, and upwards of £800, the savings of years at sea. The captain liad unfortunately left the money in the bank at the call of either his wife or himself, so that on anything happening to him at sea, his wife would have difficulty in obtaining the money. No clue has been obtained of the absent one. "
Bridlington Free Press - Saturday 06 July 1867, page 3.
I wonder what Martindale did when he got out.? Did he go back to living with Maria Dorset? As for the captain's wife, what did she do with the other children? £800 was a large amount of money back then. The equivalent of many years of wages.
Finally, something altogether more sinister:
"Patrick Lyons and John Finn, who were charged with having been concerned in the Timble Bridge murder were again examined before the Leeds police magistrates on Thursday. Evidence was given to show that Finn was in his lodgings the time of the murder and was discharged. The other prisoner was remanded."
Bridlington Free Press - Saturday 06 July 1867, page 3.
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Indeed, £800 was something close to £100K in today's money. Poor old sea captain.
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