DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0103
ABRAHAM THORNTON.
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doubt on my mind but that the tracks of the man and woman,
which I noticed in the field, were made by the shoes of the
prisoner and the deceased. From the gate to where the
footsteps of the man led there was no road. A person pur-
suing the man’s footsteps from the gate would be led into the
Chester road, considerably before he got to Tyburn-house.
A person going to Castle-Bromwich by the regular turnpike
road, must have passed Tyburn-house, and several other
houses. By turning to the right, a person might get to
Castle-Bromwich over the fields, upon trespass, and so avoid
passing Tyburn-house. There is no foot-path that way, ex-
cept a bit of a road that turns off by Samuel Smith’s, which
is used by the market people, and leads to Occupation-bridge,
and crosses the Canal by the side of Adams’ piece. In pur-
suing that road a person could either get to Mr. Holden’s,
by walking upon the towing path, or along the road.
James Simmonds sworn. Examined by Mr. Perkins.
I am a labourer. I was at Penn’s Mills on the morning of
the 27th of May last. I accompanied two or three persons
to the pit; the first thing I observed was a bonnet, a pair of
woman’s shoes, and a bundle. I then dragged the pit with
a heel-rake and a pair of long reins, three or four times, and
succeeded in bringing up the body of Mary Ashford. There
were some leaves and mud about her face. This was about
eight o’clock in the morning.
John Webster, Esq. sworn. Examined by Mr.
Clarke. I am the proprietor of a considerable manufactory
at Penn’s Mills. I recollect the body of Mary Ashford
being extricated from a pit on the morning of the 27th of
May; it was just brought to the edge of the pit when I
arrived. As near as I can judge it was about eight o’clock.
I ordered the body to be immediately taken to Lavell’s house,
and the bonnet, bundle, and shoes with it. I examined the
ground on all sides of the pit, and, about forty yards from it,
observed a considerable quantity of blood—as much as I
could cover with my extended hand, On examining the spot
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79
doubt on my mind but that the tracks of the man and woman,
which I noticed in the field, were made by the shoes of the
prisoner and the deceased. From the gate to where the
footsteps of the man led there was no road. A person pur-
suing the man’s footsteps from the gate would be led into the
Chester road, considerably before he got to Tyburn-house.
A person going to Castle-Bromwich by the regular turnpike
road, must have passed Tyburn-house, and several other
houses. By turning to the right, a person might get to
Castle-Bromwich over the fields, upon trespass, and so avoid
passing Tyburn-house. There is no foot-path that way, ex-
cept a bit of a road that turns off by Samuel Smith’s, which
is used by the market people, and leads to Occupation-bridge,
and crosses the Canal by the side of Adams’ piece. In pur-
suing that road a person could either get to Mr. Holden’s,
by walking upon the towing path, or along the road.
James Simmonds sworn. Examined by Mr. Perkins.
I am a labourer. I was at Penn’s Mills on the morning of
the 27th of May last. I accompanied two or three persons
to the pit; the first thing I observed was a bonnet, a pair of
woman’s shoes, and a bundle. I then dragged the pit with
a heel-rake and a pair of long reins, three or four times, and
succeeded in bringing up the body of Mary Ashford. There
were some leaves and mud about her face. This was about
eight o’clock in the morning.
John Webster, Esq. sworn. Examined by Mr.
Clarke. I am the proprietor of a considerable manufactory
at Penn’s Mills. I recollect the body of Mary Ashford
being extricated from a pit on the morning of the 27th of
May; it was just brought to the edge of the pit when I
arrived. As near as I can judge it was about eight o’clock.
I ordered the body to be immediately taken to Lavell’s house,
and the bonnet, bundle, and shoes with it. I examined the
ground on all sides of the pit, and, about forty yards from it,
observed a considerable quantity of blood—as much as I
could cover with my extended hand, On examining the spot
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