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North Shields Daily News - 9th March, 1883
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A LATE DECISION BY |
Transcribed by Mary Hunter |
The following Memorial, (with the accompanying signatures, &c ) has been handed to us for publication and we insert it the more readily, that we have for years past steadily advocated the Stipendiary system of administering the law in our Burgh Courts, for, however estimable and upright local magistrates in general may be, they, of necessity, lack many of the first qualities necessary to guide them in one of the most important functions that can fall to the lot of any man, --- that of sitting in judgement on his fellow sinners. Amongst other important objections that might be urged, it may be stated as a fatal one that they are legally untrained men, and yet are constantly called upon to decide difficult and important questions on law and precedent, of which they have no personal knowledge and consequently are entirely dependant on subordinate officers. This is not a happy state of matters and we humbly think that the sooner an unpaid and untrained magistracy is abolished throughout the country the better for the administration of public justice.
To the Right Honourable Sir William Vernon Harcourt. M.P. Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department. The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of the Borough of Tynemouth in the county of Northumberland HUMBLY SHEWETH, that on Sunday night, the 24th day of December, 1882, three young men, named John George Graham, Richard Ponton and Wm Ponton, were returning home, and in passing through Northumberland square, in the Borough of Tynemouth, a police-constable charged them with hounding a dog ( which belonged to Graham ) on to worry a cat. They denied the charge, and an altercation ensued, resulting in blows being exchanged. The police-constable was knocked down, and two of the young men, namely, John George Graham and Richard Ponton, were injured about the head, the later seriously, by the truncheon of the constable. Graham was apprehended the same night and brought before the magistrates on the 26th December, when he was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine. The two Pontons were summoned and brought before the magistrates on Thursday 28th December when they also were sentenced to the same term of imprisonment with hard labour. The case of the whole three prisoners rested entirely on the uncorroborated testimony of the police constable. The contestion on the part of the prisoners was, that the constable was the aggressor and they struck him in self defence. At the same court at which the prisoner Graham was tried, a returned convict was charged with an exactly similar offence, and notwithstanding his previous bad character, he was only sentenced to pay a fine of 40s and costs, or in default to be only imprisoned for one month. The fine and costs were paid. We are of the opinion that in the case of the three first named prisoners, against whom there was no previous convictions or complaint of any kind. The sentence was unnecessarily harsh and severe in comparison with the sentence upon the returned convict. We pray you to enquire into the case of the three young men, with a review to remitting at least a portion of the sentence imposed by the magistrates, and we make this request on the ground that the inequality of the sentences to which we have directed your attention is likely to cause a strong feeling of dissatisfaction. And your memorialists will ever pray, &c
Bratton Thomas | M.A. Vicar of Tynemouth | |
Phelp P.H. | M.A. Vicar of Holy Trinity | |
Hicks Herbert | M.A. Vicar of Tynemouth Priory | |
Davison J.T. | Shipowner, Whitley | |
Kidd R.P. | Solicitor, North Shields | |
Pilter W.T. | Lieut-Colonel, The Tyneside Artillery | |
Rikdale R. | Member of Town Council | |
Elliot Joseph | Member of Town Council | |
Baker J. | Member of Town Council | |
Tate R.M. | Member of Town Council | |
Forrest Thos. | Draper | |
Ogilvie Jos. T. | Solicitor | |
Bates J.P. | Surgeon | |
Robinson J. jun. | Shipowner, North Shields | |
Short W. | Shipowner, North Shields | |
Middleton J. | Shipowner, North Shields | |
Carnaby W. | Shipowner, North Shields | |
Reed W. | Solicitor, North Shields | |
Day Richard | Shipowner, North Shields | |
Brown P. | Shipowner, North Shields. | |
Smith J.E. | Solicitor, North Shields | |
Whitehorn Augustus | Solicitor, North Shields | |
Younger T. | Accountant, North Shields | |
Detehon M.J. | Accountant, North Shield | |
Clarke Henry | Secretary of Water Works Co | |
Morisson John | Assistant Overseer | |
Robinson Charles W. | Surgeon | |
McCoull Robert | Grocer | |
Scott Geo. | Assistant Overseer | |
Oxten W. | Shipowner | |
Foreman Thomas | Merchant tailor | |
Johnson Luke | Law student | |
Johnson William | Shipowner | |
Horton G.G. | Councillor | |
Dodds Philip | Shipowner | |
Young Septimus | Shipbroker | |
Lowry George Frederick | Solicitor | |
Heppell John | Merchant | |
Elsdon W & Sons | Manufacturers | |
Grieve & Gillespie | Ironmongers | |
Otta George | Shipowner | |
Lilley Richard G. | Grocer | |
Hogg G.H. & R.J. | Leather merchants | |
Byers T. | Draper | |
Rogers J. | Draper | |
Robinson John C. & Son | Chemists | |
Baker Joseph & Co | Grocers | |
Irvin W.G. | Grocers | |
Kirkwood John | Draper | |
Stobbs Robert | Pharmaceutical Chemist | |
Wesencraft R.H. | Accountant | |
Francis W. | U.M.P.C. minister | |
Peters John A. | Merchant | |
Collinson Joseph | Draper | |
Snowdon T.J. | Wholesale confectioner | |
Eskdale Jas. | 20, Tyne St. Ironmonger | |
Sanderson Henry | 15, Tyne St Grocer | |
Dawson John | Shipowner | |
Collins Geo. | Provision merchant | |
Spence W. jun. | Grocer | |
Hall John jun. | Grocer | |
Robson Chas. | Draper & Tailor | |
Clark W.J. | Bookseller & newsagent | |
Gilroy Jas.E. | Tobacconist | |
Massey Thomas S. | Gilder &c | |
Waugh T.G. | Boot & shoe dealer | |
Pettigrew J. | Draper | |
Dodds J. | Grocer | |
McCallum J. jun | Newsagent & stationer | |
Turnbull John | Grocer, Saville Street West | |
Grierson N. | Ironmonger,Camden street | |
Ayton Robert | Saddler | |
McCallum George H. | Grocer, &c. | |
Pettigrew C. S. | Jeweller, &c. | |
Rogers James T. | Chemist & druggist | |
Bavidge Henry | Commissions agent | |
Harrett Henry | Butcher | |
Middleton W.C. | Painter &c. | |
Mason Frederick | Provisions merchant | |
Chapman W. | Cabinet maker | |
Park S. & son | Painter &c. | |
Mackill George | Glazier &c. | |
Jones Charles | Leather dealer | |
Reynold Richard | Butcher | |
Heslop George | Bookmaker | |
Dickinson S. | Fruiterer | |
Mitcheson J.G. | Watchmaker | |
Thompson B. | Butcher | |
Rutherford C. | Butcher | |
Hogarth G.S. | Cabinetmaker | |
Hogarth J.W. | Cabinetmaker | |
Frazer John A. | Agent | |
Atkinson George | Boot merchant | |
Eskdale Alex. | Shipowner | |
Knowles Robert | Agent | |
Hall William | Grocer | |
Horton T. | Butcher | |
Hornsby J. | Hatter, 4 Tyne Street. | |
Potts Jno. P. | Shipowner | |
Armstrong J.W. | Shipowner | |
Stephenson Richard | Contracter | |
Mainland J. | Housepainter | |
Brightman H.W. | Shipowner | |
Lamb George | Butcher | |
Gray Robert | Fruiterer | |
Weller William | Agent | |
Walton John | Butcher | |
Jennings T. J. | Stationer | |
Walton R. | Contracter | |
Blackburn Thomas | Draper | |
Dick George H. | Draper | |
Bainbridge R.S. | Auctioneer | |
Maw Jos. | Cab proprietor | |
Maw Peter | Coach do. | |
Shotton Jas. | Architect | |
Coulson John jun. | Accountant | |
Fairbairn J.W. | Auctioneer | |
Clark Archd. | Provisions dealer | |
Lowrie Jas. A. | Accountant | |
Kent J.P. Sen. | Builder | |
Gibson W. | Agent | |
Dawson Jas. M. | Draper | |
Maxwell R. | Fruit & potato merchant. | |
Scothard J. B. | Butcher | |
Laing Robert | Tug owner | |
Stoker John | do. | |
Stobbs R. | Boat builder | |
Pearey M. | Master smith | |
Stevenson John | Shipowner | |
Leslie Mr. | Painter | |
Sutherland W. | Fish salesmen | |
Bell John | Iron founder | |
Tuff R.J. | Baker & grocer | |
Doeg Robert W. | Tailor & draper | |
Ellwood W. | Saddler | |
Forsyth R. | Fruiterer | |
Maudlin M. J. | Jeweller | |
Thompson H. | Builder | |
Stansfield George W. | Clerk | |
Hogg Jas. | Ironmonger | |
Lonsdale John | Grocer | |
Chator Thomas | Builder | |
Hall Joshua | Merchant tailor | |
Rook (?) James T. | Cashier | |
Robinson Thomas | Cashier | |
Brouse J.D. | Grocer | |
Thorn W.H. | Engineer instructor | |
Coates William | Auctioneer | |
Christie J | Grocer | |
Aiston James | Joiner | |
Ramsey John | Cutter | |
Lofthouse Majier | Plasterer | |
Harvey William Y. | Builder | |
Stobbard W. A. | Clerk | |
Coats G. C. | Auctioneer | |
Forrest Tom | Contractor | |
Coulson John | Ship surveyor | |
Welsh T. W. | Agent | |
Shotton R. | Quantity surveyor | |
Wilson R. H. | Chemist | |
Norris H. M. | Grocer, &c | |
Coull John | Shipowner | |
Burt James | Surveyor | |
Phillips Edward A. | Bank Agent | |
Frew John | Daily News agent | |
Philipson George | Music seller | |
Borkwood J. B. | Coal merchant | |
Dodds Thomas | Wine & Spirit merchant | |
Bolton Robert | Contracter | |
Appleton Walter | Accountant | |
Roddam Jos. | Master marriner | |
Scott Septimus | Accountant | |
Miller T. N. | Accountant | |
Dallas J. | Agent | |
Johnson William | Bookseller | |
Robson W. | Bootmaker | |
Williamson James | Pharmaceutical chemist | |
Hall John | Bookseller | |
Bell J. G. | Grocer, &c | |
Irvin Thomas C. | Shipowner | |
Nolan John A. F. | Missionary rector | |
Haswell F. R. N. | Architect | |
Sawyer George R. | Builder | |
Scott Thomas | Agent | |
Moffat John | Draper | |
Fawcett Hogg Jos. | Chemist | |
Taylor R. H. | Drysalter | |
Twizell J. sons & Reid | Ironmongers | |
Robinson J. E. | Jewellers, &c | |
Ewart R. | Wine merchant | |
Gibson Jas. | Chemist & druggist | |
Scott George jnr | Butcher | |
Elsdon John | Butcher | |
Lough Joseph | Grocer | |
Williamson G. | Chemist | |
Williamson J. B. | Chemist | |
Robinson Wm. | Engineer | |
Berry Samuel | Clerk. M. M. Office | |
Tindle J. G. | Surgeon | |
Lishman J. G. | Surveyor | |
Turpie David | Shipowner | |
Shotton George | Contractor | |
Knox Tait R. | Physician & surgeon | |
Dunn Wm. | Butcher | |
Gibson Charles | Merchant, North Shields | |
Callender J. H. | Surgeon | |
Rhods P. L. | Shipowner | |
Towns R. | Builder & contractor | |
Watson John E. | Surgeon | |
Jackson Thomas jnr. | Land agent | |
Grieves Joseph | 38 Linskill Terrace | |
Henzell R. B. | Dockwray Square | |
Traill A. | Schoolmaster | |
Wesencraft C. | Agent | |
Dodds W. | Shipbroker | |
Armstrong J. | Confectioner |
We, the three young men alluded to in the Memorial to the Secretary of State, Sir William Vernon Harcourt, feel an everlasting debt of gratitude to the clergy, nobility, gentry, and other leading inhabitants of the Borough of Tynemouth, whose signatures are attached to the memorial. The high honour conferred upon us by having their sympathy and written protest of such wealth and intelligence against the decision of the magisterial Bench of the Borough constrains us to publicly acknowledge that the punishment inflicted upon us is far more than compensated for by the result of such an expression of public feeling. We beg also most respectfully, and most courteously, to intimate to the memorialists that each of us will retain a copy of the memorial, with the weighty list of signatures, as a momento of our high appreciation of their kindness and good intentions towards those who they believe to have been sentenced beyond the merits of the case. We beg further to intimate to the young gentlemen who devoted so much of their valuable time in drawing up the memorial, and obtaining the signatures to the petition, that their kind and spontaneous labour will be long remembered with many pleasing reflections by us who have been undoubtedly the recipients of a miscarriage of justice.
JOHN GEORGE GRAHAM RICHARD PONTON WILLIAM PONTON |