Jan 09 1828 Theft at Annan - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Jan 09 1828 Theft at Annan

The Times, Wednesday, Jan 09, 1828; pg. 3; Issue 13484; col F

On Sunday night last, or early in the following morning, the shop of Mr.
Senhouse NELSON, draper, Annan, was entered and robbed of goods to the amount of
about 20L. It appears that the thieves had entered the premises by cutting one
of the window-shutters round the bolt, and lifting it down. They afterwards
rubbed a quantity of tar over one of the panes, which are very large, and broke
it clean out. The tar appears to have been used to prevent noises from the
broken glass. After which the smallest of the party must have entered the
window, and opened the door. A quantity of other goods were packed for removing,
but the thieves were disturbed by the servants at their washing. In order to put
their pursuers on a wrong scent, they had purposely dropped a piece of the
stolen goods upon the bridge leading northward; but as soon as the robbery was
known, Mr. NELSON, jun., took the contrary direction, and traced them towards
Carlisle; and upon arriving here, waited on Mr. BATTY, who commenced a search,
and found the whole gang of five in bed, at two o'clock on the following
morning, in the house of one Nancy CHESTER, in the Drover-lane, where the whole
of the property was found strewed about the room, except a few articles they had
pledged, and which are since restored by the pawnbroker. The prisoners, who are
all young persons, were conveyed to Dumfries, after being committed at Annan.
Their names are - James STODDART, Barney HAYNES, alias DORMONT, James CLARK, Margaret M'ROBERTSON, a Galloway girl, with a considerable share of beauty, aged
20; and Sarah FARRELL, of Irish parents, aged 18. The prisoners have long
infested the neighbourhood of Dumfries. - Carlisle Journal.