The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-08-17 00:00:00

BURGLARY

James Nuttall, aged 28, William Heywood, 27, and
Thomas Clegg, 21. were indicted on a charge of having
burglariously broken and entered the dwelling-house of
Mary Petty, at Oldham, and having stolen therefrom a ham
and a shoulder of bacon, the property of Ann Fawcett.
The prisoner Nuttall pleaded guilty, the other two pleaded
not guilty. Dr. Brown conducted the prosecution ; Mr.
Wilkins the defence of Heyward and Clegg.
Sarah Bradshaw being sworn, said, that on the 14th of
May last she was in the service of Miss Mary Petty of Old-
ham. She made up the wash-house door that night. There
was a little lead window to the pantry, leading into the
kitchen. She left two shoulders of bacon and a ham belong-
ing to Mrs. Fawcett, Miss Petty's sister, in the pantry. In
the morning early she was alarmed by the watchman, and on
going down she found the prisoner Nuttall in the pantry.
He was in the habit of bringing meat to the house. The
window was cut, and opened from the bottom sufficiently
to admit a man.

Miss Petty said that she went to bed on the 14th of May,
about eleven o'clock ; she was the last up, and all was then
safe.

Robert Jackson, a watchman, heard a crash of windows
breaking, at Miss Petty's that morning, and saw Heywood
inside the yard. He went over the wall. Witness struck
him with his stick ; but he escaped. On his way back he
found a boot, which was claimed by Nuttall.
William Stafford, another watchman, went into the yard
at half-past one o'clock that morning, and saw Heywood in
the coal-yard. He ran out, and got away. The pantry was
forced open so as to admit a man through it. Was never
nearer to him than five or six yards.

Jonathan Mellor, a police•officer, heard a noise near Miss
Petty's, as of persons fighting. Witness saw a man in the
pantry, and two others running away. Witness afterwards
went to the house where Clegg lived. It was about two
o'clock, and he was dressed all but his coat. He denied be-
ing with the other two parties. On his way to the lock-up
he said he had been with them till about ten o'clock, but not
after. A coat was afterwards brought, which was dirtied,
and he put it on. Jackson said that he had hit one of the
men, and that he would be marked by the blow.

Joseph Wild, constable, went in search of Heywood, from
the description given of one of the men by Jackson. Found
him living in a cellar, at two o'clock in the morning of the
15th of May. He was undressed in bed. Witness told him
he was charged,with stealing a ham and a hand of bacon. He
denied that he was at Miss Petty's. He put on his clothes,
and he (witness) remarked that his clothes were soiled and
muddy. Heywood's master came to see him about some
wages, and told him he had got into the scrape he was in by
keeping bad company. He replied that he only watched
them, and helped to hand it along the wall.
Hannah Lord said Clegg lodged with her. The whole of
the prisoners were there on the night previous to the robbery.
Nuttall went out for some ale, and the others went out to
look for him, but did not find him, and returned. Heywood
went out between twelve and one. Clegg went to bed about
two, when it was getting daylight. Just before going to bed
Heywood and Clegg went into a hollow in a field and knelt
down, but she could not say what they were doing.

Mary Thompson went on the following morning into the
field where the hollow was for the pig, and found it had rooted
up a ham and a piece of bacon. She gave the ham to the
constable Wylde, and two children took the bacon and de-
livered them to him.
Wylde said he received them.
Sarah Bradshaw afterwards saw them and identified them.
Miss Petty also identified them. They were left with her
to he dried.

Mr. WILKINS addressed the jury in behalf of the two

prisoners

His LORDSHIP summed up, and the jury returned a ver-
dict of guilty against the prisoners. Nuttall addressed the
Court to the effect that he had been drinking with the others
and got drunk • but that he had no recollection of taking any
thing. He added that the other two had nothing to do
with it.

His LORDSHIP sentenced him to be transported for four-
teen years. The sentence of the others was deferred as it
was expected that some persons would speak in their behalf,
with regard to character.