Southeastern Gazette, 15 March 1853.

Robbery with Violence, at Ulcomb.

Edward Fry, 37, was indicted for assaulting Jeremiah Cooper, and stealing from his person, with violence, two half-sovereigns, four half-crowns, and other money, his property, at Ulcomb. The bill against John Fry, 33, was ignored by the Grand Jury.

Mr. Francis appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Horn for the defence.

The prosecutor, an aged man, deposed that he lived at Ulcomb, and on the 11th January last went to a beer-house there, by a person named Corke, at about half-past one o’clock, in company with Edward Fry. Witness, with the two Frys and a man named Turner, left that house at about half-past seven, and went to the "Harrow" public-house, where they had some beer together, witness paying for four pots, which he owed prisoner for some "lowance." Witness left at about half-past ten, the two Frys promising to go some distance with him, and he and Edward then proceeded on the road together. On arriving at King's Wood, he felt Edward Fry put his hand into his pocket, and something like the girth of a saddle pass round his face, which hurt him very much. Witness cried out "murder," and he then saw two persons going away. He then went a short distance in the wood, and missed his money. The men went towards Ulcomb, but soon returned, and he then heard a person, who he supposed was John Fry, from his voice, say "We’ll do for the old -----, and have his ticker." Witness, being afraid, remained in the wood all night.

Cross-examined:— Did not ask Turner, on the next day, who was the person that went up the road with him. Was sober when he went home.

Wm. Turner deposed that he was not quite sober when he left the "Harrow." Prosecutor gave Cook’s boy a half-sovereign, saying it was a fourpenny piece. The boy told him it was a half-sovereign, when he said "Go on, it’s all right."

Cross-examined:— John Fry went towards home in an opposite direction to prosecutor. Saw prosecutor for some rods on his way home and no one was then with him. On the following day prosecutor asked him who went up the road with him.

Wm. Gladdish, landlord of the "Harrow" public-house, deposed to the prosecutor, the two Frys, and Turner, coming into his house, and having five or six pots of beer together. Cooper appeared sober, and paid for four pots of beer. They left the house about half-past ten.

Mr. Horn, in his address for the defence, said he was quite at a loss to account for the transaction. He hardly knew whether the whole of it was a delusion of the prosecutor, or whether prosecutor actually was robbed and did not know by whom. He contended that the unexceptionable character prisoner had borne rendered it improbable that he should have committed such an act, and called Cook, the landlord of the beer-house, and Cooper, a constable, who both stated that the prosecutor, on the day following the robbery, asked Turner who went up the road with him on the previous night. They also gave him a most unimpeachable character. John Fry swore that his brother went home with him direct from the "Harrow." The clergyman of the parish, and other gentlemen were also present to speak to character of the prisoner, but his Lordship stopped the case, and submitted to the jury whether there was not too much doubt involved in the case to convict the prisoner.

The jury accordingly acquitted the prisoner.