Now! Then! Thomas Tennant, Mayor of Leeds, tells a court how he was mugged on Bank Street on his return from a business trip south

31 January 1833: Thomas Tennant, Mayor of Leeds, tells a court how he was mugged on Bank Street on his return from a business trip south

Leeds Mercury. 1833/02/02. Robbery of the Mayor of Leeds. Leeds. Get it:

Excerpt

When I left the coach office I crossed Briggate, proceeded down Boar Lane on the left hand side, till I got opposite Trinity Church, when I crossed, and turned up Bank Street. I met no one in that street, neither was I aware that any persons were following me. When I got opposite to the Savings’ Bank, I was suddenly pinioned by a person behind me, and at the same moment another person came on my left side and covered my eyes and my mouth with his hands, so that I could neither see nor speak. I was then pulled down, and I found myself lying upon the ground upon my back. I then felt another person very busy about my left hand pockets, and out of my left waistcoat pocket were taken a silver snuff box, and a pair of tortoiseshell spectacles, in a red leather case; and whilst this was going on, another person was very busy pulling at my watch. I felt my watch going, and though I was pinioned I made an effort, and having got one of my hands at liberty, when the man had got the watch, which was a gold patent lever, I caught hold of the seals, and after a struggle, the chain broke, leaving the seals in my hand. The person who had got the watch immediately said, “There,” which was the only word I heard, upon which the man who had got the watch, ran up towards Commercial Street, the others down, leaving me upon the ground. As soon as they left me I called out “thieves” four or five times, in doing which I experienced much pain and agitation, so that I did not call out more than that number. I got up as well as I could, and got my umbrella and hat, which were at some little distance from me, and sought diligently for my writing desk, but it could nowhere be found. I then walked home, and immediately made it known to the police, and also published it by hand bills, which were posted the same evening.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

R.V. Taylor says that at the assizes Rollinson and Pickersgill were found guilty of the robbery and sentenced to death (the suggestion seems to be that this was commuted to transportation), while Teale and Brown had received the stolen goods and were transported for seven years (Taylor 1865).

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Original

ROBBERY OF THE MAYOR OF LEEDS.
On Saturday evening, Thos. Tennant, Esq. Mayor of this borough, was attacked by four ruffians, in Bank-street, in this town, who robbed him of £215 in money, &c. &c. and on Thursday, Wm. Rollinson, John Pickersgill, and Elizabeth Brown, charged with being concerned in the robbery, underwent a final examination at the Court House, before Henry Hall, George Banks, Thos. Beckett, and R. W. D. Thorp, M.D. Esquires, when the following evidence was adduced:-

THOS. TENNANT, Esq, said – I am Mayor of the borough of Leeds. On Saturday night, I arrived in Leeds by the Sheffield mail, about twenty minutes to seven o’clock. I ordered my luggage consisting of a portmanteau, a carpet bag, and a great coat, to be put in a corner of the coach-office, and said I would send my servant for them. I said I would take the other part, consisting of a writing desk and an umbrella myself. The writing desk contained a number of letters, papers, account books, memorandums, and several other articles which were not taken out. It also contained £50 in sovereigns and half sovereigns, which were in a brown silk purse, and a leather bill case in which there were thirteen £5 notes of different Lincolnshire banks, and four Leeds £5 notes, of the Bank of Messrs. Becketts, Blayds, and Co. There were also in the writing desk, rolled up and tied with string, twenty Lincolnshire Bank notes for £5 each. When I left the coach office I crossed Briggate, proceeded down Boar-lane on the left hand side, till I got opposite Trinity church, when I crossed, and turned up Bank-street. I met no one in that street, neither was I aware that any persons were following me. When I got opposite to the Savings’ Bank, I was suddenly pinioned by a person behind me, and at the same moment, another person came on my left side, and covered my eyes and my mouth with his hands, so that I could neither see nor speak. I was then pulled down, and I found myself lying upon the ground upon my back. I then felt another person very busy about my left hand pockets, and out of my left waistcoat pocket were taken a silver snuff box, and a pair of tortoise shell spectacles, in a red leather case; and whilst this was going on, another person was very busy pulling at my watch. I felt my watch going, and though I was pinioned I made an effort, and having got one of my hands at liberty, when the man had got the watch, which was a gold patent lever, I caught hold of the seals, and after a struggle, the chain broke, leaving the seals in my hand. The person who had got the watch immediately said, “there,” which was the only word I heard, upon which the man who had got the watch, ran up towards Commercial street, the others down, leaving me upon the ground. As soon as they left me I called out “thieves” four or five times, in doing which I experienced much pain and agitation, so that I did not call out more than that number. Whilst I was struggling with the man who had the watch, I raised my head, and I saw over the man’s hand who held my eyes and my mouth, the man who had got it. I think the prisoner Rollinson is the man who got it, but I cannot swear to him. I got up as well as I could, and got my umbrella and hat, which were at some little distance from me, and sought diligently for my writing desk, but it could no where be found. I then walked home, and immediately made it known to the police, and also published it by hand bills, which were posted the same evening. On the following morning, about half-past nine o’clock, a person of the name of Wm. Stubbs came to my house, and inquired if I had not lost a writing desk. I said I had. He said he had found it on that morning in a field near Brunswick chapel; I asked him if he knew what it contained? He said, it contained a great many papers and memorandum books. I asked him if there was not a little roll, tied round with string? He said, there was, they were bank notes. I asked him if he had counted them? He said he had, and there were twenty. I asked then if he had them with him? He said, “no, but he would go and fetch them along with the writing desk.” My son, Mr. Joseph Mason Tennant, went with him, and in a little time returned, Stubbs bringing the writing desk, which he delivered up to me. The writing desk had been cut open, apparently with a knife. The £50 in gold which was contained in the silk purse was missing, but the purse was left. The seventeen £5 notes, which were in the bill case, were also gone, but the case was in the writing desk, and was wet. the same evening a little boy came along with another person, and produced the snuff box and spectacles, which he said he found in a field near Brunswick Chapel. The property I have missed is seventeen £5 notes, £50 in gold, and my gold watch. [Ingham here produced three five pound notes, one of the Boston Bank, one of the Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank, and the third of Messrs. Beckett, Blayds, and Co., of Leeds.] I have examined three five pound notes produced by Ingham, and I believe they were in my writing desk at the time I was attacked in Bank-street.

Ann Barbier said – I am house-servant with Mr. Cullingworth, bookseller, who resides at the corner of Bank-street. On Saturday evening, about seven o’clock, I took some ashes from my master’s house to put into an ash place on the left side going up Bank-street, and nearly opposite the Savings’ Bank. As I came out of the house I saw an elderly person walking up the street with something like a small box in his hand. He walked up the street a little before me on the right hand side. I went up the left. I saw some men following the elderly gentleman, but did not notice how many. When I first saw them they were opposite Mr. Bischoff’s gates. I then went to the ash place, and having put the ashes in, I heard a scuffle, and something like a box fall upon the ground. Shortly after that, I heard a person call out something like “rogues.” I thought from the manner of his calling out that his mouth must have been stopped, as I could not exactly distinguish what he said. I then saw several persons about twenty yards from me, and nearly opposite the Savings’ Bank, who appeared to be holding something. I then saw two men run up the street, and other two down it, directly after the person called out “rogues.” A young man with his hands in his pockets ran past me, not more than four yards from me. I took particular notice of him and saw his features distinctly. There was a gas lamp facing the place where he passed me and just above, so that I had a very good view of his face and person. The prisoner William Rollinson is the man. He ran from the place where I had seen the persons scuffling into Boar-lane, and was followed by the other prisoner, John Pickersgill. I saw him also distinctly. I am as confident about him as I am of the other. He also ran from the place where the persons were scuffling. When Rollinson ran down the street there were two women standing opposite my master’s house door. I called out “stop that rogue,” but they did not attempt to do so. When he had passed they walked away, and turned towards Briggate; the two prisoners, Rollinson and Pickersgill, turned towards the Post-Office. I could not tell who the persons were who ran up the street, but they all four ran away about the same time. I did not go up to the place where the scuffle had been, nor did I see Mr. Tennant as I went down home. Shortly after Rollinson and Pickersgill had passed me, another man who spoke like an Irishman, and whose clothes appeared dirty, came out of Hardisty’s yard. On the day following (Sunday), while I was waiting at dinner, I saw the prisoner Rollinson passing along Boar-lane, whom I knew again, and told our people that he was one of the men I had seen in Bank-street the night before.

Wm. Stubbs said, – I am a clothier, and lodge with Mrs. Armitage, in Saint-street, in the Leylands. On Sunday morning, about half-past eight o’clock, I left my lodgings for the purpose of taking a walk. I went into Queen-square, where I had some acquaintance, but not finding them up I returned back towards home. In passing along the south side of Brunswick Chapel, I had occasion to get over the wall, and found a number of papers scattered upon the ground, and a portable writing desk, which was open, and a red leather pocket-book within a yard of the writing-desk. I put all the papers into the writing-desk, and took it to my lodgings. I there examined the contents of the writing desk, and found twenty £5 notes. We thought there must be something wrong, and I went into the streets to see if I could see any hand bills up. I found that a gentleman had been robbed in Bank-street, and from the circumstance of Mr. Tennant’s name appearing on several of the papers, I went to his house, and gave him information, and his son, Mr. Joseph Mason Tennant, went with me to my lodgings for the property I had found. While I was out, Mrs. Armitage had gone out, and locked the writing case in a box. While she was away, I gave young Mr. Tennant seventeen £5 notes. I thought I had given him all, but three were left in my waistcoat pocket, and I gave him them afterwards.

Mr. Joseph Mason Tennant said, – I reside with my father, who is the Mayor of Leeds. On Sunday morning, the last witness came to our house, and, in consequence of what he said, I accompanied him to his lodgings in the Leylands. His landlady was out at the time, and we waiting half an hour or more for her return, during which interval Stubbs gave me seventeen £5 notes, which I counted before him, saying he had no more, and that he had found them in the writing-desk. I caused the box to be broken open, and found the writing-desk, which I now produce. Stubbs took it up to our house. I then sent for a constable, and Keighley came, and as soon as Stubbs saw him, he took out of his waistcoat pocket three £5 notes. The seventeen and the three £5 notes were all of the Lincolnshire Banks.

Elizabeth Woodhead, said, – I am the wife of Joseph Woodhead, who is a joiner, and lives in Anderson’s Court, Top Close. The prisoner Wm. Rollinson is my brother. I have known Elizabeth Brown since last summer. I knew that she and my brother were living together in different places since that time. I had very little acquaintance with her. On Saturday night about half-past seven o’clock she rapped at my door, and said she wanted me directly. I then went out of the house to her, and as far as the Rein Deer Inn, where she said I should have something to sup. We went into the passage of the house and she called for a jack of gin which the mistress brought to us, and Elizabeth Brown paid for it. When we came out of that house, she gave me something in a towel and said, “you must take care of this for me while morning.” I asked her what it was? and she said it was money. She said that my brother was at Littlewood’s, that he was drunk, and wanted to have the money in his pocket, and she did not want him to have it, as the girls in her situation had all cloaks and she wanted to buy one. She said either ‘we,’ or ‘I have got it from a gentleman.’ I then went home. About nine on Saturday night I went down to the Lion and Lamb, and found my brother and Elizabeth Brown there. I called my brother out and said, “thou must fetch yon away from our house in the morning, or I will fling it out of doors.” He said he would. He then asked me to lend him sixpence, but not having one I lent him a shilling. At near eleven o’clock as I think, Elizabeth Brown came again to our house, and said I must let her have one of them as she wanted some shoes or boots. I got her a sovereign, and at her request went with her to the Albion and got it changed, and gave it her in silver. Mr. Bywater gave me the change. I did not examine the towel to see what was in it, but when I gave Elizabeth Brown the sovereign, she said there were nine remained and three notes. I afterwards put the towel in a box. On Sunday morning about half-past ten my brother came to our house, but nothing passed respecting the money, as in about five minutes after the police officers came, and Ingham took possession of it.

Mr. James Ingham proved that about half-past ten o’clock on Sunday morning, he, accompanied by Handley and Sowrey, went to the house of John Woodhead, where they found the prisoner Rollinson, who was instantly taken into custody, and after several attempts at deception and evasion on the part of Elizabeth Woodhead, he found a towel, the three five pound notes which the Mayor in his examination believed were in his writing desk at the time he was attacked, and nine sovereigns. He stated that he knew the prisoners Rollinson and Pickersgill very well, that he had seen them together frequently, and that they were in company at the Lion and Lamb on Saturday night so shortly after the robbery as about eight o’clock, and that he had seen Rollinson and the prisoner Elizabeth Brown together at different times both in and out of doors.

Mrs. Cross, who on Saturday last was the landlady of the Rein Deer Iun, was sent for, with a view of ascertaining whether she recollected serving Elizabeth Woodhead and the prisoner Elizabeth Brown, with a jack of gin on Saturday night. She did not recollect the circumstance, though she would not say that she had not done.

Mr. Joseph Bywater, of the Albion Inn, said that on Saturday night from ten to eleven o’clock, the witness, Elizabeth Woodhead, did come to his house for change for a sovereign, which, at her request, he gave her all in silver. He thought there was another woman with her, but he did not think he should know her if he saw her again.

The Prisoners being asked if they had anything to say, and being informed if they had, it would be taken down in writing, WM. ROLLINSON said – “I have nothing to say but that I found the money on Saturday night in Kirkgate, beside the Lion and Lamb, and gave it to Elizabeth Brown, to take it to my sister.” JOHN PICKERSGILL said – “I have nothing at all to say, further than that I know nothing at all about it.” ELIZABETH BROWN said – “I know nothing at all about it; I never saw the money.”

They were severally committed, by Mr. Alderman Hall, to York Castle, to take their trials at the ensuing Assizes.

The prisoner, Brown, on leaving the room, addressing herself to Alderman Hall, said – ” And I wish thou nay tumble down in a fit before thou goes out.”

FRIDAY, FEB. 1.
This morning, at ten o’clock, the examination of the three prisoners was resumed at the Court House, before Henry Hall and Thomas Beckett, Esquires, when the following further evidence was adduced:-
Wm. Walker said – I live in Camp Field, and am employed by Mr. Henry Hord, as his brewer. On Saturday afternoon, about half-past five o’clock, I went into the Lion and Lamb tap room, and saw the prisoners Rollinson and Pickersgill there; they remained there till a little before six, and went away together.
Mr. James Kitson said, – I keep the Brunswick Tavern, in Leeds. On Saturday night, about eight o’clock, three young men came into my taproom, and had two pints of ale; the prisoner, Wm Rollinson, was one of them. In about half an hour after they came in, I found the prisoner, Elizabeth Brown, with them. One of the men called for a glass of black beer and rum. They remained at my house till half-past ten o’clock, and went away together.
Jane Heath said, – Mr. William Henry Cross, who keeps the Rein Deer Inn, is any brother-in-law. I lived with him there, and assisted in the house. On Saturday night, a little after seven o’clock, I took a noggin of gin into the passage to the prisoner Elizabeth Brown, and another woman, which was paid for by the prisoner with a sixpence in silver. They both partook of the gin, and went away together. I am not certain whether Elizabeth Woodhead is the person who came with Elizabeth Brown or not.
Mrs. Kitson, wife of Mr. James Kitson, said, – On Saturday night, a little after nine o’clock, I went into the tap-room, and saw three men there and a woman. Before that time a young man had come to the bar to ask if a young woman had not been there to inquire for some men. That person is not now present; the prisoner Pickersgill was one of the men, and the prisoner Elizabeth Brown is the young woman.
Wm. Sowry said, – I saw the two prisoners, Rollinson and Pickersgill, come out of the Lion and Lamb Inn together, on Saturday night, about a quarter before six o’clock.
John Handley proved that Rollinson and Pickersgill were together at the Lion and Lamb on Saturday night, about eight o’clock, and that he apprehended Pickersgill at a house of ill fame in York-street, on Sunday morning, when he said he knew nothing of the robbery, and had not seen Rollinson since Thursday night.
Thomas Walker said, – I am a dyer in Leeds. On Saturday night last, about seven o’clock, I was going along Boar-Lane, in a direction towards Briggate, and nearly opposite Trinity Church I met the Mayor, who was going along Boar-Lane towards Bank-Street. I saw that he was carrying something in his hand. I turned round to look at him, and on turning my head again, I saw the prisoner, Wm. Rollinson, was following the Mayor, and might be about 20 yards from him. At a short distance from Rollinson I met four or five other men, who were also going in the same direction. I am quite sure that the prisoner Rollinson is the man whom I so saw. On Monday last I saw him in custody, and immediately knew him to be the same man, and pointed him out.
The prisoners severally stand fully committed to York Castle.