Sept 04 1787 - Burglary in Abbey Lanercost - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Sept 04 1787 - Burglary in Abbey Lanercost

The Times, Tuesday, Sep 04, 1787; pg. 3; Issue 840; col B

On the night of the 16th ult. about eleven o'clock, two men entered the house of
Mrs. CARRUTHERS, at Highland, near Abbeylander Coast, Cumberland, which stands
at about two hundred yards distance from any other house; and in which were only
Mrs. CARRUTHERS and one child. One of the villains held a drawn knife close to
her face, swearing to dispatch her the moment she made the least noise, while
the other robbed the house of every thing of value they could possibly take
away. They took a gold ring from her finger, and even slit her ears with an
intention of cutting away the ear-rings she wore. They then tied her hands and
feet, and after regaling themselves with such as the house afforded, left her in
that situation. Mrs. CARRUTHERS used every effort to disengage herself, which
after some struggling she accomplished, and immediately alarmed the neighbours,
who, assisted by that vigilant officer of justice, Mr. Thomas WALLIS, of
Penrith, went in pusuit of the villains, and apprehended them at Carlton, near
that place, on Monday following, in company with two women, their accomplices.
The articles stolen being chiefly wearing apparel, were found upon them, and
sworn to by Mrs. CARRUTHERS; they were consequently all four committed to
Carlisle gaol.

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Now, Mr. Thomas WALLIS, that "vigilant officer of justice" of Penrith - he
wouldn't by any chance be the ringleader in the abduction of Jonathan SEWELL in
1788? At the SEWELL trial, he was described as a bailiff...

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