11th March 1831

Stamford Mercury

Crown Court. 

Before the Hon. Baron Vaughan. 

The Court opened at eleven o'clock on Monday

Baron Vaughan observed that he was much gratified to see so numerous an attendance the magistrates and gentlemen of the county, determined to support the laws of the land, and thus render the best homage to the government under which they lived. Although this was the first occasion on which he had been called upon to assist the Grand Jury in the administration of justice, still he flattered himself that he should not be received or regarded as altogether a stranger: he had been in the habit of attending the assizes at Lincoln for years as barrister, and had the satisfaction of perceiving during that long period how excellently the duties of jurymen were fulfilled in that court: and though the catalogue of crime that day presented to their notice was one of a most fearful and unprecedented nature, yet he was persuaded that it was not to be ascribed to the want of diligence on the part of the magistrates, of vigilance in the police, or want of attention to the wholesome restraints of prison discipline. It was subject for congratulation that in this county, notwithstanding the excitement and disturbances which had prevailed in other parts of England, (and to which, as many of the Grand Jury were doubtless aware, his attention had been lately directed,) the lower orders of the people had in general manifested a due reverence for the laws.

Rape at Langtoft. 

John Pickering, aged 57 was charged with having attempted to commit rape upon the person of Ann Roberts, a child 6 years of age living at Langtoft, on the 22nd of April last. This case was presented at the last assizes, on which occasion the learned Judge then presiding advised the trial to be postponed until the child had received more instruction of the principles of the Christian religion. The Judge, however, still found the child betray such infirmity of mind, that he thought the justice of the case would not be advanced by examining her as a witness. The principal features of the case were that the prisoner had asked the child to go to the baker's for a loaf of bread, and the mother thinking her absence long, went to Pickering's, who putting his head out of the chamber-window, told her that she had not returned ; she then went to the baker's, and upon her return home found the child there, who complained of the injury she had received from the prisoner. Two women who were present when the mother examined the child, deposed to the appearances.— The prisoner whilst he was in hold, wanted to have the matter made up, and offered to give Ellen Roberts, mother of the girl, 5s. for that purpose The counsel for the prisoner called two witnesses ; one of whom Elizabeth Ellis, stated that a conversation took place between the child and herself about 2 or 3 days after the prisoner had been charged with the offence, and the girl said her mother had told her to say what Pickering had done to her, as she should get some money of the old fellow, and she (the child) should have a plum-cake and a new white frock for saying so, but if she told any body of this she would flog her. Thomas Bingham, the other witness, said he saw the little girl go into the prisoner's house during his absence; when Pickering came in he heard him scold her because she had gone up stairs and dirted the room She did not stop in the house above two minutes witness was on the spot during the whole time, and did not see Mrs Roberts go into the house.—The statement of Elizabeth Ellis, was met by a counter-statement; Mrs. Roberts saying that she found that witness had offered to give the child 2d. if she would say that Mrs. R- had instructed her to say that Pickering had committed the offence, and if she refused Mr. Pickering would kill her when she got to Lincoln.—The Judge, in summing up, remarked that the evidence given by Bingham differed materially from the confession of the prisoner upon his examination, for he (the prisoner) said, "when Mrs. Roberts came to his house to enquire for her child," whereas the witness stated that she never came at all. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to one year's imprisonment to hard labour in Kirton house of correction.