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« on: Wednesday 26 September 12 13:34 BST (UK) »
03 Jan 1857 Lancaster Gazette
JUDGES' LODGINGS, Saturday Magistrates present :— W. Ford, Esq., chairman ;B. P. Gregson, E. Dawson, W. B. Bolden, J. C. Satterthwaite, and J. Edmondson, Esquires. GROSS CASE OF ASSAULT. John Alston, of Carnforth, was charged by Ann Lamb, the wife of Cuthbert Lamb, of the same place, platelayer, with having assaulted her on the 31st of October last. Mr. J. Sharp appeared for the complainant and Mr. C T. Clark for the defendant. Ann Lamb, on examination, said she lived in a cottage near the line of railway at Carnforth, about half a mile from any other house. About eight weeks ago John Alston came to our house: he has a piece of land near, which he cultivates. The land is perhaps 100 yards from the house, and he has been in the habit of borrowing things from her. It was on a Friday that the defendant came. At the time I was wiping the eggs for the market, and he asked me if I wanted any one to help me with the eggs. I said I did not. He then came in and shut the door. (Witness here described the manner in which the defendant threw her down, and grasped her throat with both hands. The other details are unfit for publication. The capital offence was not committed.) Alston afterwards got his back against the door, and would not let me go out. I pulled down the parlour window, and called to a man who was working in a field, whose name, I think, was Robert Jackson, but I am not sure about his name. Alston could not see him coming, but I said that Jackson was coining towards the house. I told Alston that I would tell my husband when he came home. I felt the grip on my throat for three or four days afterwards. Cross-examined by Mr. Clark. — lt was about 10 o'clock in the morning, and I did not expect my husband home before 12 o'clock. Alston and I had never been alone together before this, and I never gave him cause or wished him to take liberties with me. I did not tell my father in law, because I did not know how he would take it. I was afraid. I laid this information in consequence of the scandalous tales which had got about concerning my character, and which were put out by Alston. Re-examined. — l took these proceedings that these scandalous tales might be cleared up. My little boy and girl were at school. My father in law lives about a mile from me. Alston appeared sober. Cuthbert Lamb, the husband of the last witness, deposed that his wife told him about what had happened as soon as he came in to dinner. Witness did not like to meddle with the defendant, because he was afraid that Alston would do him an injury. (Alston seems to be a desperate character.) Robert Gibson, the man who was called by the complainant to assist her, said he was at work for Alston at the time, and saw the defendant leave the house at the time in question. Heard Mrs. Lamb call out to him. She said, “Come and take this man of yours away." — This was the principal evidence, after which Mr. Clark addressed the magistrates for the defence, and the bench determined to commit the prisoner for a common assault, and inflicted the extreme penalty of £5, and in default Alston was committed to the House of Correction for two months.
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