Author Topic: Devizes Sessions  (Read 2578 times)

Offline pupetaxe

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Devizes Sessions
« on: Sunday 19 June 11 17:21 BST (UK) »
If a trial (1860) is held in Devizes for a crime that was committed around Somerford Keynes, would the bad guy automatically be imprisoned in Devizes or was there another prison they may have been taken to?  Might prison records have survived?
Also, Matthew Arnold (the bad guy was my Gr. Grandfather), had apparently, turned King's Evidence against his fellow bad guys--would there be a record of that anywhere?
Thanks.  Pupetaxe

Offline pensive

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Re: Devizes Sessions
« Reply #1 on: Monday 31 December 12 14:29 GMT (UK) »
Matthew Arnold was sent to Salisbury Gaol, 4yrs penal servitude for sheep stealing. There is a long newspaper article in Salisbury and Winchester Journal dated 14 Dec 1861.
Petty Sessions Aug 8 1864 He was  summoned by PC Light for obstucting Park St, by leaving his horse and wagon therein, without any person being in charge contrary To the Town Act. Bench fined him 10s
There was also an action for Assault and False imprisonment against him 1874 and other reports.
All these newspaper accounts are available online at the British Newspaper Archive.
 A 2 day subsciption to view up to 100 pages costs £6.95. All the articles are too long for me to type out.
Hope this helps.