The National Register.
London, England, 1817-09-15 00:00:00

VIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

The prisoner tolda long story about the two marriages, and
their quarrels lately as to the support of the two children. He
had paid Ts. fid. to the first husband for three wicks he had
them. He took them back. because they were ill used..—
Guilty.
The Learned Judge then proceeded to pronounce sentence
on the convicts. They were brought up and sentenced as
foUows

John Nuttall and Henry Schofield were addressed in terms
of great solemnity and feeling, and ordered for esecution on
Saturday.

FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 5.
James Ashcroft the elder, aged 53, David Ashcroft (his
brother), aged 48, James Ashcroft the younger, aged 32, W.
Holden, aged 47, and Jnhn Robinson aged 53, charged with
the murder of Margaret Marsden and Hannah Partington in
the dwelling house of Thomas Littlewood, at Pendleton, near
Manchester, on the 28lli day of April last pleaded not guilty.
At seven o'clock the Court was excessively crowded. With
in the bar the Counsel could with difficulty find room to sit or
stand. Without the bar all was one entire mass, that stood
and moved as if inseperable. At eight o'clock precisely, the
trial commenced. There were several challenges. After a
Jury was sworn, the eldest Ashcroft flung his hand upwards
with a theatricat•air, and exclaimed—Not guilty ; his brother
followed his example, and his son, and Holden. Robinson
scarcely raised his hand to Ashcroft's shoulder.
Mr. Cross, in a speech of great force nod pathos, opened
the case. It was his painful duty to detail, and their not less
painful du►y to investigate, the circnmstances of a murder,
the most atrocious which the experience of any of them had
observed. That the deed was perpetrated was not matter of
question; their only task was to select the perpetrators. Be.
fore lie should detail the evidence he melt say, there was no-
thing to bring guilt home to Robinson. If therefore incidental
proof did not come out in course of trial, they must acquit
Min. The evidence against the elder Ashcroft made it neces-
sary to tell them, that the law pronounced the man who in any
way aided or assisted the murderer as equally guilty with Mtn
who actually inflicted the fatal wound. Lord nacre was found
guilty, and hanged, for the murder of the gamekeeper, while
he himself was in another part of the park hunting the deer.
He 110 W described the ground, and the evidence. Thomas
Littleton has a house in Pendleton, on the side nearest Man-
chester, and on the west side of the road as you go into Man-
chester from Lancaster. It fronts to the south. Its cast gable
is towards the turnpike road, and has two windows in it. It
is sonic distance from the road, yon first pass a piece of waste
ground, you enter then au iron gale, you go along a gravel
path, pass along the front of the house, and by the kitchen-
window, which is in the south west corner of the front, you
then enter into a yard at the west end of the house. In one
corner oldie yard there is a pump, and in the diagonally op.
posite corner is a lobby into the north west corner of the house.
A yard within the eutrace of this lobby is the door into the
house. In the kitchen there is but one window to the south,
and the shutters leave the whole of the lowes posies uncovered
the dresser is ander the window, the fire is on she east side.
Immediately Isehind the house is a burying .ground,and in the
burying-ground a chapel. On the other side of the burying-
ground runs a path from the road, parallel with the gravel
path in front of the house. Considerably in front of the house
is Mr. Watkin's (the Quaker's) house, from whose windows
one can have a full view of the flout of Mr. Littlewood's.—
Going now eastward from the house, and passing along side
the gravel walk, out at the iron gate, through the waste piece
of ground into the road, yon have Pendleton on your left, and
Manchester on your right; before you is a field through which
a cart road passes, and of importance in this trial as the Three-
smoked Field ; h is considerably off the road, and rather rises
as you go to it front the road ; the path rises as you go from
the road to Littlewood's house, so that the Three-nooled Field
commands a full view of Littlewood's house and premises,
about a quarter of a mile distant. Going along to Manches-
ter, you come to the two mile-stone almost as •'uu pass oppo-
site to Littlewood's. A few-yards further ou you pass the
Black. Horse public house on your rigid and at the one mile-
stone, the Horst and Shoe also on the right. Now, Gentle.
men, you will find the four prisoners, on the evening of Fri.
day, the 23th of April, net together in a public house in Man.
(Mester, nut drinking and making merry, bet engaged in
cool, deliberate, serious, important consultation. You will
find them next day, the total day, walking backwards and
forwards near Mr. Littlewood's horse, sometimes together,
sometimes separate, now here , now there, at one time in the
public road, at another time in the private path. Holden is
seen in the kitchen between one and two. The yowl); woman
that saw him will swear to him. At two o'clock another young
woman saw the kitchen window shut, when the murder most
have been committed. About three young James Ashcroft,
David Ashcroft, and Holden are seen coining out at the iron
gate with b Iles in their hands. 'f :ley will be sworn to.
They are seen again in the 'hack Horse, and the Horse Shoe
In the evening young Ashcroft is seen on a play ground, flush.
ed probably with intoxication, displaying a Minitel of notes
anti handfuls of gold. But here I most state the deeds perpe.
trated within the house. The family consisteel of Mr. and
Mrs. Litticwood, Mrs. Marsden, an ancient lady, long in the
family, and, what is of importance, long before wril•..nown to
the Ashernfts, and a beautiful )(mug girl, the unfortunate
Hannah Partington. Littlevi owl had a grocei 's shop in
Manchester, to which lie and his wife regularly went every
Saturday !naming, when there is always a market in Manches-
ter. They did so on the g,th, and left Mrs. Marsden mud
Hannah l'artingtan in the house. Mr. Littlew•ood had a very
considerable sum of money in the house, which lie kept 111 a
drawer that he never locked. In this
in gold. All the money was taken away. The display of
property, therefore, made by young Ashcroft is 'pregnant with
suspicion, especially when yen will fiord it proved that lie
could not pay 2s. the day heiore. lint old Ashcroft is still un-
touched. He is sects deliberating awl w•a:king with the rest,
but lie is not connected with Littlewionl's house. Thiv man
then, confined in the same cell with one charged with felouy,
but proved folly innocent, holds freipient coils ersat Mos on the
subject with his fellow prisoner, amid with that impatience to
unlade a wilily conscience which criminals feel, and which
prompts them to make disclosures. however foul time demi, or
fatal the secret to their associates. lie relates to hi•m that he
kr et watch in the Three • 'looked Field, while the others exe-
cooed the *Mori ins art of murder. 'tins diselosure will be
verified to you upon oath, when the real character of the wit.
near will befillly made know II to on. These circumstances will
derive confirmation from the coot t adietory confessions of the
prisoners, and the anxiety of Hidden to conceal the shirt he
had on. It iiiiist be admitted that the property has not becii
traced. There were no marks 101 the umes or the goid. Oaly
a is. piece was taken away, 41111 a 7s. piece %Iasi:01111.1 011 001:
111 the prisoners. Neither is any mark of blood mound upon
their cloatbs. The evidence consists of the CiICIIIII3hIIIgeb

t9l

have deailed. If they satisfy your minds that the prisoner*
are guilty you will of course find your verdict accordingly,
however, painful the task : if you can reasonably doubt the
force of all the evidence that will be laid before you, God for..
bid I should urge you to convict the prisoners.
Several witnesses were then examined at great length.—
Their evidence confirmed the aboventatemeut of She Counsel
for the prosecution.
The Chief Baron summed up the evidence in a very lumi-
nous addressof more than.an hour and a half. Towards the
conclusion of it. David Ashcroft begged to be allowad.to say
something farther. The chief Baron said it was quite imps►
lar, but he wculd certainly indulge bum. He then threw out
many incoherent charges against the evidence for the prose-
cution, and begged to have Mr. Wright, a Magistrate Ina
Mr. Witherton, a constable, examined to contradict Mary
Hallows.

The Judge said he would allow it, bat insisted that Mr..
Williams, the Counsel for the Ashcrofts, and M. Starkie, the
Counsel for Holden, should be sent for.
After a considerable interval, Mr. Williams appeared witb_
out wig or gown, and after he had conversed for a consider-
able time with his Lordship and with the prisoners, David
Ashcroft said he would leave the case as it was to God Al-
mighty, VA.., he !toped, would direct his Lordship and the
Jury to do justice.
James Ashcroft the elde►--O! may God by ins Holy Spi-
rit inspire the Jury to perceive the truth, and to give a true
verdict, for we are all innocent of this murder. _ _

The Chief Baron.—l'll listen to any thing for which ynti
can offer evidence; but you must not be allowed to make
speeches of that kind. His Lordship then concluded by a
very impartial and solemn peroration.
The Jut y in two minutes returned their verdict. James
Ashcroft the elder, Davis} Ashcroft, James _Ashcroft the
younger, and William Hulden—Guilty. John Rubinson
Not Guilty.
James Ashcroft the elder.—This is murdering us in col&
blood. God will reveal this injustice. I pray earnestly that
he would now send two angels to declare upon that table who
committed this murder. We are innocent, and I will deelara
so to the last.

David Ashcroft invoked God, anti protested his irutocenac
io the same wanner.

James Ashcroft the younger.—lf I Inuit suffer death for a
crime I never committed, I implore your honour to look in
mercy on my poor wife and children. (Here a tremendous
shriek burst Isom a female in the crowd, who it was found, *aa
his nnfortunate wife.)
William Holden.—Silence, silence! (flinging one arm to-
wards Heaven, and the other towards his earthly judge.l
There is a God yonder who knows that we are innocent, and
who will make amends for this.
The Chief Baron.—Mr. Shattlwarerth proceed.
The prisoner now again repeated their protestations of in-
norence, and declared all the evidence against them to be
perjuries and lies.
The awful sentence of death was then pronounced. They
were ordered for execution ou Monday next. 'Dm Judge de-
clared that no sensible person who had beard the evidence,
could have a doubt of their guilt ; that he owed it to justice
to say, that be considered the verdict the only one au Mel*.
gent Jury could have romped. The moment sentence
was pronounced, James Ashcroft, sen. waved his right hand
with a white bundle in it over his head, and exclaimed aloud.
"Glory to God !" David Ashcroft said, he hoped God would
not allow the injustice done to them to be nlways unknown.—
J. Ashcroft, full. said, lie would meet a higher Judge with •
conscience clear of this guilt. Wm. Holden vociferated in
a wild tone. 0 There is Mr. Nadin, and there is Mr. Fox
(Attorney for the prosecution), and before they leave the
earth God will punish them." Thus they were hurried away
from the bar, while every person iii Court was penetrated
with a chilling horror at such a dreadful scene.

The trial la-strd from eight in the morning till eight at

- -
night.
The Chief Baron, in discharging Hie Jnry, said, ha owed
them his best thanks. He had never seen any Jury exercise
so muck diligence, attention, and accuracy, as he had observ-
ed in that Court (iring all the trials.
Sentence was then passed upon the rest of the convicts.—
Knowles was called up last, and sentenced to six mouths' hard
!Amor in the liouse tor Correction. John Thompson Pilking-
toil, Julie Wild, Johst Ashworth, and Jenny Cheetham, •ett-
kneed to be hanged for forgery on the Bauk of England
were assured that no mercy would be extended to them. 'flied
mas Arm:lrons, convicted of having set fire to the cotton-milt
seas told he could expect no metey ; his look and appearance
were beyond the power of description ; amid the lamentations
of his associates he never uttered a groan.
There were altogether 33 who received sentence of Deaths

A Don TURNED HIGHWAYMAN.—Mrs. Knight and another
lady gave information of being robbed by a dog in the fol.
lots ng singular manner :—She stated, that herself and sister
were returning, about six o'clock the preceding evening,
from St. Pancras-chnrch, towards Battle-bridge, a hairy (Lig,
resembling a drover's dog, unaccompanied by any reru*,
jumped suddenly up front the road side, and laying hold of
her ridicule with his teeth, forcibly snatched it from her, anit
made his escape. The ridicule contained a pound note, a
sovereign, eighteen shillings in silver, a silver thimble, a pair
of silver spectacles, and sevetal other articles. The cousta.
hle stated, that a dog, answering the same description. lia.l
attacked a poor wonirn near the Veterinary College, and rob.
ed her of a bundle, containing two shirts, some hatailkervhic fa
and other things, with which he ran away. There were sr.
veral other charges against the same d 0,,, who is suppose,'
to lie trained up to the business, anti that ins master intiwt bo
at some place not far distant. The officers undo ttook to be
on the alert to apprehend this depredator.
On the 27th ult. a young man, a fanner's servant. r: siding as
cutton-on-the.hill, in the neighbourhood of Derby, in .t mot:tent of
tksiamden •y, rut a period to his exist.. .ire its a eery zing,dar way.
Being employes' with his master's team in carrying gravel on die
road, he sent a hoy who was assisting hint, tbrwanl or. sonic trifling
premier; he then bent his whip and hat lawn together at a distance
of a tow yards tend deliberately placed himself in a longitudinal di-
rection with his face dintawanl,, his hands bunt utal:rneath his face,
in the track of one of the wheels of the Mi. wiech passing over his
head. back, thigh, and 1. eatisell instantaneous death. lt is sup-
posed an imprudent connexion with a fellow servant was the cause
this desperate act.
tletoxs.—The gardener of W. Salmon, Esq. of P...nlin^..eretrts,
near Cowbridge, cut from eight plants growing, to three light frames.
the latter end of .lutt:! no les, titan thirty-three heate;fuf oh 1 sts, of
the l'antakstpe kind, Oiler, which an experiment was tried by twessitlg
down the plants within eleven ine!,es of the stalk. tit: lotus Lint
goody tliNturhed, plentiful watered, and covered WWI
and there are now above thirty 11114043/ 1.130 rt iu the frs...e nasalg
ready or sating.