JOHN COE and CHARLES GRAIN were charged with having, on the 19th of April
last, feloniously assaulted
James Chater, of
Desborough, and robbed him of one half-crown, nineteen shillings, and six
sixpences.
James Chater is a farmer and miller at Desborough. He was at the Swan on
the 19th April last. The prisoners came in about seven o'clock. Whilst they
were there prosecutor got change for a sovereign. The prisoners were singing
glees, and prosecutor treated them to some beer. He tossed with the
prisoners; at the beginning he lost, but gained towards the conclusion. Had
about 30s., which he put into his right hand waistcoat pocket. Left between
eleven and twelve at night. His own house is about a mile from Desborough.
Met no one; the prisoner Coe stopped him. He directed his fist against him,
and jumped round him. Saw the other man sitting under the hedge--he had on a
white slop under a coat. Told Coe he knew him perfectly well; and when he
saw Grain he said "Is that you, old fellow? I know you perfectly well, and
will give you any thing you want, if you let my person alone." Grain laid
hold of him, and dragged him down, and Coe fell on him and jumped on him. He
had had a tremor and ill feeling ever since. When he got up, the silver was
gone. The moment Coe got the money, he exclaimed--"I've got it." Grain said,
"Hisht! hisht!" They ran away, and prosecutor got home and roused his
domestics, whom he sent to the spot where the robbery was committed, in the
hope that some of the silver might be remaining on the ground.
Mr. Macauley subjected the prisoner to a long and severe
cross-examination, in the course of which he elicited that he had been twice
imprisoned for threatening to shoot a bailiff and a policeman; he denied
that he was violent or in the habit of drinking to intoxication. His
lordship allowed him to tell the story of the shooting in his own way, which
he did to the great amusement of the Court and his own exculpation, the
threat being made under great provocation.
Mr. Tailby, the keeper of the Swan, stated that when the prosecutor left
his house on the night in question, he was perfectly sober.
William Crisp, one of the county police, went on the 20th April to Coe's
lodgings, and found in his breeches-pockets one half-crown, nineteen
shillings, and six sixpences. He stated that he had got home on the
preceding night about 12 o'clock, and that no one had accompanied him.
Mr Macaulay addressed the jury for the prisoners, and called
William Burditt, a weaver at Desborough, who said he was at Tailby's
house on the 19th April. Some of the company were singing; witness sang, and
so did the prisoner Coe and his brother. Chater and others were present;
Chater was sitting in the corner, not near Grain or Coe. Mr. Chater began
the tossing by saying he would toss anybody for a shilling and a quart of
ale. Grain tossed with Chater, and so (witness believed) did Coe. About ten
o'clock Chater drained the glasses on the table, and laid hold of and
emptied the witness's small glass of gin and peppermint. He talked thick,
and behaved altogether like a drunken man.
Charles Coe was at Tailby's house on the night in question. Stopped there
until after Mr. Chater was gone. Saw his glass emptied and filled. The
tossing in which Chater was engaged lasted two or three hours. He tossed
with both Coe and Grain. Chater talked fast, and used long and difficult
words. Chater left before Coe and Grain some ten minutes or a quarter of an
hour.
Mrs. Tailby, of the Swan, said that the prisoners remained about ten
minutes after the prosecutor had left. Changed half-a-sovereign for Coe in
the course of the evening.
Mr. Crick had occasion to pay Coe wages on the 16th April. He paid him
15s., part of it consisting of a half-sovereign. Coe had always borne a good
character.
Mr. Maunsell replied, and his lordship summed up the evidence. After much
deliberation the jury found the prisoners guilty, and his Lordship sentenced
them to Ten Months' Imprisonments, the last week solitary.
The Court then adjourned to nine o'clock next morning.
Northampton Mercury,
Saturday 14 July 1849