Three Tuns Inn, Stow on the Wold

GAROTTE ROBBERY AT STOW:

John Williams, miner, aged 30. John Martin, a horse-dealer, aged 22, and William Jones, labourer, aged 23, were indicted for stealing on the 24th October, with violence, from the person of Richard Beckley, a purse containing £33, at Stow on the Wold. Mr Symons prosecuted; Mr Skinner defended Williams and Martin; and Jones was defended by Mr Powell.

The prosecutor stated that he was a shoemaker at Witney. He had a stall at Stow fair in October last, and he sold shoes during the day. He put the money, which amounted altogether to £33 into a leather purse, and put it into his left hand trowsers [sic] pocket.  At six o’clock he packed up his shoes, and having had tea at the “Three Tuns” about half past six he left that house, and was proceeding towards his stall, when after he had passed three men, the tallest of them (Martin) slipped behind him and placed his arm tightly around his neck, while one of the others put his hand into his left hand pocket, and the third one into his right hand pocket. Martin said – “Jack, have you got it,” and he knocked prosecutor down, saying – “Take that, you —–” and they ran off, having got the purse. He gave information to the police, and was afterwards shown the three prisoners at the police station. He identified them as the men who had robbed him.

The wife of the prosecutor corroborated a portion of her husband’s testimony, adding that the prisoner Williams came to the stall in the course of the day, and she asked him to buy a pair of shoes.

John Turner, of the “Three Tuns” deposed to seeing two men running away, followed by the prosecutor, who was almost exhausted. It was dark, so he could not see plainly their clothes.

Superintendent Seys deposed that the day after the fair he arrested Martin and Williams, who were in a room with a number of others, and were pointed out by the prosecutor. He told them of the charge, and they denied having committed the robbery, although they admitted they were at Stow fair. He arrested Jones on the following day. Martin had six sovereigns in his possession. He found the purse in Jones’s box.

By Mr Powell; neither of the policeman I showed with the prisoners to the prosecutor had their uniform on, except their trousers. The prosecutor was recalled, and he stated that he had seen the prisoners in the course of the day loitering about the stall. This closed the case for the prosecution; and Mr Skinner addressed the jury on behalf of his clients in an able speech, contending that the fact of identity was not made out sufficiently clear to warrant the jury in convicting them.

Mr Powell, also addressed the jury of the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence of identification; and his Lordship having summed up, the jury after a brief consultation, stated that they did not consider the evidence sufficiently strong to convict the prisoners, they therefore acquitted them.