News from Hutton Rudby: 1875 & 1876

York Herald
Thursday 21 October 1875

from an account of the Quarter Sessions at Northallerton

The Chairman, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said he was sorry he could not congratulate them upon any decrease in the extent of crime in the Riding, as there were no fewer than twenty-nine cases to be disposed of at these Sessions.  Although the number did not exceed the usual amount, yet the crimes charged against the prisoners were of a very grave character.  There were three cases of housebreaking, sixteen of stealing, two of unlawful wounding, three of uttering counterfeit coin, one of indecent assault, one of unlawful shooting, one of horse stealing, and two of obtaining goods under false pretences.  This was indeed a very serious list of offences.

And one of the offences was committed in Hutton Rudby.  Perhaps this was a prank that went wrong?  At any rate, the accused was acquitted. 

Robbery from the person at Hutton Rudby

James Honeyman (22), greengrocer, was indicted for stealing a purse containing £3 and several articles of wearing apparel from the person of Jonathan Fairburn, at Hutton Rudby, on the 4th inst.  Mr Darnbrough prosecuted, and Mr Thompson defended prisoner. 

Prosecutor is a labourer, and resides at Appleton Wiske, but on the day in question he was at Hutton Rudby, where he met the prisoner and two men named Passman and Barr.  Several public-houses were visited, and at length the prosecutor became intoxicated.  They each got a bottle of spirits and walked together along the high road towards Crathorne, after going some distance they sat down on the bank side and partook of the spirits. Prosecutor fell asleep, and on awaking found he had been robbed of his money and other property. 

Passman and Barr accompanied the prosecutor and the prisoner on the road, and saw the robbery committed whilst watching through an adjoining fence.  To them the prisoner offered half a sovereign to purchase their silence, but they declined, and gave information to the police. 

Evidence was called for the defence to show that Passman had seen the prisoner's father and said to him that he, Barr, and Honeyman were in trouble, and that they must go to the prosecutor and make it up.  Passman also told the prisoner's father that he did not see the robbery committed. 

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

The following report probably relates to the Mr Sherwood named in the Tree Planting map and notes.

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough
Monday 24 July 1876

Hutton Rudby

MR WM JEFF is instructed to SELL BY AUCTION, on MONDAY, July 24th, 1876, at the house of Mr J R Sherwood, Butcher, &c, under power of a bill of sale, the whole of his HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE and effects; also, that well known GREY COB, 14 hands high; Spring Roller, Spring Cart, Harness, New Straw Cutter and other Implements, &c, &c.
Sale at Two p.m. prompt.