The Times 1881 - 1890 Nov 02 1882 Assizes, Joseph BELL

Nov 02 1882 Assizes, Joseph BELL

The Times - 1881 - 1890

(page 6, column G) The Assizes (at Carlisle, yesterday) Joseph BELL was charged with having, on the 20th of June last, by the explosion of a cartridge of tonite, damaged a dwelling-house at Dalston, in Cumberland, with intent to murder his sister-in-law, Martha BELL. Mr. E. PAGE and Mr. J. W. LOWTHER prosecuted; Mr. MATTINSON was for the prisoner. The prisoner, it appeared, had on several occasions used threatening language concerning Mrs. BELL. On the 19th of June he was seen on the road to Dalston. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 20th of June two Misses BROWN, who slept in a bedroom over a shop kept by Mrs. BELL's husband at Dalston, were startled by the fall of a heavy substance on the floor of their bedroom. Seeing something "fizzing" on the floor, they called for help to their nephew, who slept in the house, and who took the infernal machine up and threw it down the stairs. A violent explosion followed, and much damage was done to the house. The prisoner was apprehended a day or two later, and made a rambling statement to the effect that he had not been near Dalston at all. For the prosecution it was suggested that the prisoner could have obtained a cartridge of "tonite" from the Mersey Tunnel Works, where he had been employed. The jury Convicted the prisoner of throwing the explosive substance with the intent to murder Martha BELL. The prisoner, who protested that he was innocent, was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

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