DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0098
80 KIRBV’s WONDERFUL MUSEUM.
cer procured assistance, and both the men were secured,
and brought to the above Office, when the account the fel-
lows gave of themselves was, that they worked together on
Canals. They had been in company together on Wednes-
day afternoon, had tossed up with half-pence for money,
and afterwards for their clothes : the tall man, who was
hanged, won the other's jacket, trowsers, and shoes. They
then, in the most wanton manner, and worse than brutes,
tossed up who should hang each other. The short one won
that toss, and they got upon the wall—the one to submit,
and the other to carry their savage conduct into execution
on the lamp-iron. They both agreed in this statement.
The tall one, who had been hanged, said, if he had won the
toss, he should have hanged the other.
Mr. Nares and Mr. Birnie, the Magistrates, both express-
ed their horror and disgust at such conduct and language ;
and ordered the man who had been hanged, to find ball
for the violent and unjustifiable assault on the officer, and
the short one for hanging the other. Neither of them being
provided with bail, they were committed to Bridewell for
trial, at the next Clerkenwell Sessions, which took place
September 14th, 1812, when Thomas Shelton was put to
the bar, charged with having assaulted and violently beaten
William Croker, an officer of the police, in the execution
of his duty.
William Croker*stated, that at a late hour of the night,
as mentioned in the indictment, as he was going his rounds
in company with another patrole, he perceived a man hang-
ing from a lamp-iron. This was in the neighbourhood of
Camden Town. The novelty of the sight brought him to
the spot, and just as he had approached it, the rope or ban-
dage, by which the person was tied up, gave way, and he
fell to the ground, when the witness came up and instantly
seized him; upon which he assailed the prosecutor with
fury, struck him, knocked him down, and, but for the inter-
cer procured assistance, and both the men were secured,
and brought to the above Office, when the account the fel-
lows gave of themselves was, that they worked together on
Canals. They had been in company together on Wednes-
day afternoon, had tossed up with half-pence for money,
and afterwards for their clothes : the tall man, who was
hanged, won the other's jacket, trowsers, and shoes. They
then, in the most wanton manner, and worse than brutes,
tossed up who should hang each other. The short one won
that toss, and they got upon the wall—the one to submit,
and the other to carry their savage conduct into execution
on the lamp-iron. They both agreed in this statement.
The tall one, who had been hanged, said, if he had won the
toss, he should have hanged the other.
Mr. Nares and Mr. Birnie, the Magistrates, both express-
ed their horror and disgust at such conduct and language ;
and ordered the man who had been hanged, to find ball
for the violent and unjustifiable assault on the officer, and
the short one for hanging the other. Neither of them being
provided with bail, they were committed to Bridewell for
trial, at the next Clerkenwell Sessions, which took place
September 14th, 1812, when Thomas Shelton was put to
the bar, charged with having assaulted and violently beaten
William Croker, an officer of the police, in the execution
of his duty.
William Croker*stated, that at a late hour of the night,
as mentioned in the indictment, as he was going his rounds
in company with another patrole, he perceived a man hang-
ing from a lamp-iron. This was in the neighbourhood of
Camden Town. The novelty of the sight brought him to
the spot, and just as he had approached it, the rope or ban-
dage, by which the person was tied up, gave way, and he
fell to the ground, when the witness came up and instantly
seized him; upon which he assailed the prosecutor with
fury, struck him, knocked him down, and, but for the inter-