Croft in the News-Crime & Punishment

The subject of this week’s Croft in the News is Crime and Punishment. All articles are from the Warrington Guardian.
There are some to make you smile, but also some that will make you truly grateful we live in our modern world.

Saturday 15th July 1865
Kirkdale Quarter Sessions

Caroline Leigh pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of boots, the property of Elizabeth Brimelow, at Warrington, on the 15th of May. She was ordered to be imprisoned for a month, and afterwards sent to a reformatory for five years.
William Brown, 18 years of age, was charged with having, at Warrington, stolen six pigeons, the property of Joseph Wareham and sent to gaol for six months.
Margaret Maloney pleaded guilty to a charge of having, at Ashton, on the 24th ult., unlawfully wounded William Crook, and was sent to gaol for three months.
​Peter Donaghan pleaded guilty to having stolen thirteen pigeons, the property of William Anderton, at Golborne, on the 5th ult., and was ordered to be imprisoned for three months. 

County Petty Sessions

Nugent Fairhurst, labourer, was fined 5s and 11s costs for being drunk and disorderly in Mill House Lane, Croft, on Sunday 18th June.
John Yates, Labourer, for being drunk and disorderly in Croft village, on Sunday, 18th June, was fined 5s and costs.
Thomas Stringer, for a similar offence in Croft, on Sunday 18th June was fined 5s and costs.
James Webb was ordered to pay costs for having been asleep whilst in charge of a horse and cart on the highroad at Hollins Green on the 17th June.
James Swindle was fined 2s 6d and costs for a similar offence at Glazebrook, on the 19th June.
​Robert Leigh was ordered to pay costs for being at a distance of 100 yards from his horse and cart, at Penketh, on the 13th June.

Saturday 24th January 1903
County Petty Sessions

John Gilfedder, Little Tower, croft, pleaded guilty to having been drunk and refusing to quit the Joiner’s Arms, Croft, on January 17th. The licensee, Mrs. Jackson, stated that she had to call in the police and the defendant had to be forcibly ejected. Gilfedder was so rough outside that he had to be locked up, and he was bailed out the following day. The Chairman said the Bench wished to protect the publicans, and defendant would be fined 10s and costs.
John Curley, of Burtonwood, was fined 2s 6d and costs for having been drunk on the 17th January. This was his 30th appearance.

Saturday 20th December 1873
County Petty Sessions

James Yates, of Croft, was charged with riding on his cart asleep, at Rixton, on the 26th ult., P.O. Turner said he was on duty at Hollins Green, when he saw a horse and cart on the highway, apparently with no one in charge. He found defendant lying asleep at the bottom of his cart, and it was with great difficulty he succeeded in waking him. Fined 1s and costs.
John Hurst, an old man, 64 years of age, living at Croft, was charged with having, on the 7th December, attempted to commit suicide at Croft, by hanging himself. Superintendent Jackson said prisoner was a farmer living at croft. On Sunday morning, the 7th inst., prisoner’s son missed his father from the shippon, where he should have been engaged in milking. After having made a search for him, he succeeded in finding his father suspended by a rope from the neck. He was cut down, a doctor sent for, and prisoner’s life was saved. Had he not been immediately cut down after he was discovered, it would have been impossible to have saved his life. Prisoner now acknowledged the offence, but promised to conduct himself better in the future. He was bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £20 and two sureties of £10 each.