William Yorke

342

Maureen Withey on 4th December 2025

Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions. Wlliam York, John Tunnell, John Whitsey, and Elizabeth Whitsey, charged with entering the dwelling-house of George West, at Dallington, and stealing a gun and one copper tea kettle. —The same John Mawby, William Yorke, John Tunnell, John Whitsey and Elizabeth Whitsey, stood further charged with entering the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Walton, at Boughton, and stealing two earthenware figures and other articles.  Mr. Macaulay appeared for the prosecution, and commenced by stating that he should offer no evidence against the woman Whitsey. According to the principles English law, she could not be found guilty, having acted under'the duresse of her husband. The. jury were therefore directed to acquit Elizabeth Whitsey.   ...  Mr. Miller then addressed the Jury for the prisoners.  .... But he put it to the jury whether the fact of the three prisoners, Mawby, Yorke, and Turnell, being found on bed in Whitsey's room, was sufficient to connect them with the robbery. As to Whitsey himself, there was absolutely no connexion proved between him and the property, for he was not in the house when it was found.  As to the other prisoners, not one article of property was found upon them, and whatever might be the suspicion attaching to them, there was no proof that they knew of its being there. The learned counsel called  George Vialls, a pork butcher, who gave Mawby a good character. Mr. Johnson, of Tanner street, had known Tunnell for seven or eight years, and gave him also a good character. Caroline Burgess, of Kingsthorpe, who had known Whitsey from his  youth, stated that he had always been a good character. … The jury found all the prisoners guilty. The chairman, in summing up, said that the that the grand jury had found true bill against two of the prisoners hi another similar case, and there were other reasons for believing that they were far from deserving the good character that had been given of them. They were sentenced to Ten years' transportation. Northampton Mercury, 23 Oct 1841

342

Maureen Withey on 4th December 2025

Discovery of a Gang of Burglars.—We are glad to be able to announce the detection and apprehension of part of a gang of thieves who have for some time past been committing some daring depredations in this town  and neighbourhood. On Monday night last the house of Mrs. Walton, of Boughton, was broken open, and robbed d robbed of various articles. Suspicion having fallen upon a man named Whitsey, a brickmaker, living at Kingsthorpe, Mabbs, one of the County Police, stationed at that place, proceeded to his house the following morning. He was away from his home at his work, but three young men of Northampton, the eldest we believe not more than 18 or 19 years of age, whom Mabbs had seen during the night of the robbery at Boughton feast, were found in bed. Their names are William York, John Mawby, & John Tunnell. A second search took place the same evening by Spencer & Yeo, two active constables, the former of the Borough and the latter of the County Police, and during the day property stolen from the house of Mrs. Walton, of Boughton, Mr. West, of Dallington. and the workshop of Mr. Charles Longland, carpenter of Wellington Place, in this town, was found, a portion of Mr. Longland's tools, although not the most valuable, being found secreted under the boards. Other property, supposed also to have been stolen from different individuals, was also found on the premises. Another search was made the following day, when a bible, belonging to Mr. Kirby, of Leicester-street, in this town, whose house had recently been entered in the night-time, was found on the premises. On York's feet were also found pair of boots, which were identified as having been stolen from the premises of Mr. Martin, also of Leicester-street. The three prisoners, together with the wife of Whitsey, underwent an examination before the County Magistrates on Wednesday, when the male prisoners were fully committed for trial on the charges of breaking into the houses of Mrs. Walton and Mr. West. The female was admitted on bail. It is to be regretted that Whitsey, who was at work at the brick-yard adjoining the New inn on the road from this town to Kihgsthorpe, laving received intelligence of what was going on at home, made oft immediately. He was met at the time making his way expeditiously Northampton, in same dirty state as when at work at the brick-yard  and we hear has hitherfo eluded the search of the officers. In the event of a verdict of acquittal being returned at the Quarter Sessions next month, the prisoners will detained on the charges connected with the Borough. Northampton Mercury, 11 Sep 1841.