Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1874-01-01 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE HIGHWAY ROBBERY WI FU VIOLENCE AT STOCKTON. The. prisoner', .John Henry Payer and Jame& Carabine, were broaght up at the Stockton Police Court, on Monday, on refnand, charged with highway robbery with violence on the person of Thomas Morgan, on the 11th Deoember.—Proseontor hod been at a funeral at Portrack, and returned to the house where the deceased had lived, and had some drink, remaining there till ten o'clock. He then want to Patrick Cook's, and while there he took his watch out, and removed the outer ease. He had the case on the seat beside him. After winding the watch up, he put it in his pocket, leaving the ease lying, and left the house, intending to cross the ferry to South Stockton. Not being well acquainted with the neiahbourhoo I, he mOsed his road, and got out at the cad of Portrae.klaue. Finding he was out of his proper 601103 P, he saw the prisoners standing on the road, and . asked the road to the ferry. Pryor replied, " W(11 show you the mild to the ferry," at the same • time taking Lim by the arm and coat collar, the other man taking hold of him behind, and shored and dragged him towards Portrack-lake, almost exhausting him. On g.dtieg near the lake, Pryor snatched his watch and guard out of his pocket, took prosecutor by tha arms and legs, and threw him into the lake, where lie sunk fast for some considerable ime before he could move. On getting out, he was so benumbed with cold and exbaneted that he sat down for a short time, where he was found by P.C. Garry, who brought him to the police-etation, and got him cleaned andltied. rue then complained eat he had been robbed, and gave a description of. the men who robb3d him. On the following night the prisoners offered the 'watch for sale at Mr Headlam's, watchmak. r, Stockton, who refused to purchase it, on account of its being without the outer case. They then wept down to Hutchinson's public-house-, in Silver-street, where they offeretia for sale to a men named *Donald, who refused to buy it at first. *Donald left the house and went to the Royal Oak. The prisoners followed him, and again offered it to him, Pryor saying he had to fightla pitched battle, and was short of money. He ultimately gave lOs for it. They then went back to Hutehinson's, and whilst there, *Donsiti'was showing the watch to Margaret Douthwaite, a servant, who remarked that her fellow-servant could sport her gold watch, but she had none. M`Donald then said he would make her a present of that one, he had only given 10a Ler it. He handed it to her, when she perceived it hal no outer case. Carabine then said "Keep it squash about that watch, as it is a stolen one." Mrs Hutchinson, overhearing this, ordered the servant to give the watch up again, which she did. The prisoners dhortly after left the house. Next morning, *Donald suspecting that the watch was stolen, and finding also that his purse . had been stolen, sent to Pryor to give him his money back, as they had sold him a stolen watch. On Sun, day Pryor went to him and asked for the watch back. 6 W Donald replied, "1 have found eat the owner, and ; am not going to give it up." Pryor then said," Make , away with it ;" and "If he aud you don't keep it , square, and they get hold of me, I will get six or seven years. If you keep it square I will give you , all the money back—lOs to-night, and the remainder ; by instalments." *Donald had then heard of Morgan being robbed of a watch without the outer ease, and took the watch to Cook's. Inspector Harrison haying heard of the watch, went into Cook's house at the time when they were looking at the watch. He took possession of it and fitted it in the outer case. 'The Inspector then went after Pryor, and found he hal gone to Durlington. He wrote to Superintendent ; Rogers, telling him where he was likely to be found, , and he was taken into custody at Darlington, and 6 afterwards removed to Stockton. Carabine was apprehended on Friday. The prisoners were committed to take their trial at Durham Assizes on the charge of highway robbery with violence. It is probable they will be indicted for attempted murder.