Documents relating to the assault of John Harrison

Alleged Highway Robbery.

Isaac Crowther, a lad, was charged with assaulting and robbing John Harrison a quarryman of Southowram. The prosecutor, (a middle aged and rather thick set man) left Halifax to return home, stopping at Mrs Jenning's public house in Southowram Bank – the Pineberry Tavern – where he had a pint of ale and four-pennyworth of whiskey.

He had some mutton in a handkerchief, and some peas also in a handkerchief.

The prisoner left the public house with him at twelve o'clock when they were turned out of the house at shut-up time.

When they had gone some distance the prosecutor discovered he had lost his mutton. He went back but could not get it.

When they came as far as the water trough, the prisoner seized him by the calf of his leg, threw him down and sat upon him. He was so careful of his peas that he paid no heed to the prisoner who was rifling his pockets. He had £3 in a purse, consisting of two half sovereigns, eight half crowns and twenty single shillings. A man came up called Gill and lifted the prosecutor onto his legs and another man came up and told them

they could have Crowther at any time

for he was known.

Later, finding Crowther at the top of the hill, the prosecutor seized him and he and Gill took him to the house of Constable Brier. The constable went with them to the place where the affair had happened and found a pocket handkerchief and the precious peas, and, behind a stone, the purse containing the money but eight single shillings were missing. Mr Bairstow, for the defence, said it was ridiculous to suppose that a strong man like the prosecutor should be overpowered and robbed by such a mere lad as the prisoner.

The Bench thought that although the case was one of strong suspicion, yet there was not evidence sufficient to convict the prisoner, and dismissed the case, cautioning the prosecutor to go straight home another time and not to stay about drinking