Star. — 1817-09-09 (London, England)

LANCASTER ASSIZES. SEPTEMBER 8.  Friday the Pendleton murderers, William Hdd'ers, and the three Alhcrtfts, one of whom is the father, the other the brother, and the youngest the son, were, after a trial of twelve hours, found Guilty. The evidence was wholly circumstantial. They were tried for the murder of a Mrs. Ramtden, and Harnah Partington, efie servants of Mr. Littlewood, of Penditto's, near Manchester. It was proved that tl•oy got into the house between three and four o'clock in the afternoon of April 2f3th, and that after robbing it, and carrying away some plate, linen, and a cOn. siderable quantity of bank notes and gold, they murdered (as it is supposed) with a blotch:A.% cleaver and the kitchen poker the unfortunate domestics abovenamed. The robbery and minder were committed in mid-day, iu a populous village, and within two miles of Manchester.  The Jury, in two minutes, returned their verdict-James Ashcroft the elder, David Ashcroft, James Ashcroft the younger, and William Holden—Guilty. James Ashcroft the elder addressed the Court as follows:--" This is murdering us in cold blood.— GOD will reveal this injustice. I pray earnestly that he would now send two Angels to declare upon that table who committed this noirder. We areinnocent, and i will declare so to the last."  I)4vid Ashcroft invoked Con, and protested his innocence in the same manner.  James Ashcroft the younger-64 If I must suffer death for a crime I never committed, I,implote your Honour to look in mercy on my poor wife and children."—(Here a tremendous shriek burst from a fe. male in the crowd, who, it nas Nand, was his un• fortunate wife.) William Holden.—(flinging one arm towards Heaven, and the other towards his earthly Judge)— " There is a GOD yondor who knows that we are innocent, and whdwill make amends for this." The awful sentence of death was then pronounced. They were ordered (or execution on Monday. The JUDGI declared th4t no sensible person who had heard the evidence could have a doubt of their guilts that he owed it to justice to say, that he considered the, verdict the only one an intelligent Jury could have', ,'returned.  The moment sentence was pronounced. James 'Ashcroft the elder waved his right band with a white bundle in it over his head, and exclaimed aloud— " Glory to GOD I" David Ashcroft said—" He hoped GOD would not 'allow the injustice done to them to be always unknown."  James Ashcroft the runlet said—"" He would meet a Higher Judge with a conscience clear of this guilt." William Holden vociferated, in a wild tons— " There is Mr. Nadir', and there is Mr. Fox, ( Attorney for the prosecution), and before they leave the earth. Goa will punish them !" Tnus they were hurried away from the Bar, while every person in Court Will penetrated with a chi:ling horror at such a dreadful scene.  Aissitall and SaoXeld, convicted of murder at Lancaster last Thursday, were executed on Saturdar.— Both confessed their guilt. Nuttall, after he was brought out, and before the rope was tied rrlod his neck, looked,coolly round upon the immense concourse of spectators. Atter his face had been covered, and the rope adjusted, he made an effort to obtain *a greater freedom of his right arm, moved the cap up so tar as the tip of his nose, and thus, while the hangman was fastening the rope about Scholfield's neck. turned a fearful aspect again upon the multitude.— He took several minutes in dying. Scbolfield never moved, and died quiet'', and almost instantaneously. Both seemed quite firm and composed. Nuttall was an uncommonly goodicsoking fa h.