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Fom the Wolverhampton Chronicle, Wednesday, 26 January, 1848.
Robbery and attempted murder at Chatham.
At the county magistrates' office, Rochester, last week, Henry
Bartlett and Joseph Bartlett, of the respective ages of 30 and 18, with
brought before the Rev. G. Davies, and J. Smith, Esq. on a charge of
robbery, under most revolting circumstances.
The prisoners are the sons-in-law
of James Henry Storey, landlord of the "Lord Hill" beer shop, Westcourt
Street.
Shortly after 11 o'clock on the night of Thursday week, the
house being clear of customers, the prisoners went from the tap room
into the bar, where Storey was sitting alone - his wife, the mother of
the prisoners, having left her home on the previous day, in
consequences, as she states, of threats used by sons towards her.
The
gas having been extinguished, Storey lit two candles, and the prisoners
having first secured the doors, returned to the bar, and bolting the
door on the inside demanded money. Storey told them to go to bed,
promising to give them a pound in the morning. They however persisted in
their demand, and said they would have two pounds that night, which he
refused to give them.
The younger one left the bar, and almost
immediately returned with a bludgeon, and they commenced the most brutal
assault on Storey, striking him several heavy blows on the head and
face.
They then rifled his pockets of about three pounds worth of
silver, together with a silver watch.
The lodgers in the house having
been aroused by the cry of murder, hastened down stairs to the
landlord's assistants, when the prisoners, in there hurry to escape,
knocked one of the woman down in the passage, and made off at the back
part of the house.
Mr Weekes, surgeon, was called to attend Storey, and
he stated that he found him with five extensive wounds on the right side
of his head, one of which was four inches long, and penetrated to the
bone of the skull. He also found very extensive bruises and swellings on
the left side of the head, the right eye much bruised and nearly closed,
and the third finger of the left hand broken.
The prisoners, who made no
defence, were fully committed for trial at the assizes.
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Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 18 March 1848.
Assault and robbery of a father-in-law.
Henry Bartlett, 30, Joseph Bartlett, 18, indicted for assaulting and
robbing James Henry Storey of 10 half crowns, 20 sillings, 2 sixpences,
and two watches, value £3, his money and property, at Chatham.
The Hon. Mr. Denman conducted the prosecution.
W. J. Story deposed, that he lived at the "Lord Hill" beer shop, in
Brompton, and married the mother of the prisoners about 18 months ago;
Henry had lived with him five or six days, and Joseph a longer time; on
the 11th January, he was in the bar with the prisoners about 11 o'clock,
the house having been previously locked up; Joseph said they wanted
something to drink, and he ordered them to draw what they liked; they
then asked for their mother, and witness says he did not know where she
was; they asked for some money, and he told them to go to bed and he
would give them a pound in the morning to go to London; they replied
that they must have two pounds, which he refuse to give them; Joseph
then went out and bought in a stick with which he beat him on the head
several times; Henry stood near the table while Joseph struck him;
witness then sat down on the settle, and the prisoner stood one on each
side of him; Joseph took what money he had, amounting to about £3 from
his right hand pocket; Henry took two watches, one of which he returned,
witness having said that it was given him by his mother; one have his
fingers was broken, and his skull fractured.
Cross examined by Henry:- You came in the evening between 6 and 7
o'clock; Joseph fetched two pots of ale; did not recollect what occurred
at 10 o'clock; he did not receive from Mr. Cleff 14 shillings, but his
wife did; did not tell Joseph, when he asked for some supper, to go and
thieve for it as he had done before; he and his wife often quarrelled,
but forgot whether they fought on the Sunday night; his wife clawed his
face, but he did not strike her; had a row with his wife, and threw the
pots, kettles, and dishes downstairs. The prisoner put a great number of
other questions, which has nothing whatever to do with the case.
Mary Braddy, who lodged at the house of prosecutor on the 11th January,
was in the kitchen about 11 o'clock at night; heard Mr. Storey call
"Murder, murder, spare my life;" heard one person say to another, "If I
had a pistol I will blow his brains out and then my own." It was not the
voice of Storey; was not sure that either of the voices was that of the
prisoners; Storey came into her room covered with blood; saw Joseph turn
off the gas in the kitchen at 11 o'clock; there were several lodgers in
the house; Storey sent two females for a doctor, who came next morning;
saw a stick in the bar.
Hannah Henley deposed that she lived at the "Lord Hill" on the 11th
January; was not in the bath until after the disturbance; she asked Mr.
Storey, who was in the bar, for a light and went to bed, and soon after
heard Storey cry out "murder;" she went downstairs towards the bar, and
met the prisoners coming out, and Henry knocked her down; Joseph called
to Henry for a pistol and said, "he should be only hung or transported,
and he might as well suffer for all;" she then went with another young
woman to Mr. Weekes, a surgeon, who refused to come that night.
Cross-examined:- She lodged there with four or five unfortunate girls.
By the Judge:- Was drunk from half-past eight until she went to bed, but
was sober then.
Ann Cantlin lodged with her husband at the beer shop, and on the above
night went to the bar, about 11 o'clock for a pint of beer, and found
the door locked, which was opened by Joseph, and Henry asked what she
wanted; she said a pint of beer, which he gave her and closed the door;
Storey called out "For God's sake come in, for they are murdering me;"
Henry said "If he does, I will take her life too."
George Knapp apprehended Henry on the 15th January at the Marine
Barracks.
Benjamin Rouse was with the last witness, and took hold of Joseph, who
produced a knife, and made several attempts to stab him, and affected
his escape.
Barnabas Tyler, a constable, produced two pieces of wood which were
found at the house of Storey.
Mr. Storey identify the wood as that with which he was struck by the
prisoner.
Emma Quinnell stated that she saw the piece of wood produce the same
night Joseph broke it off the stool.
Henry Weekes, surgeon, was called to attend on Mr. Storey on the night
of the 11th January, but, being very ill, he did not go until 8 o'clock
in the next morning; found 5 or 6 extensive wounds on his head which
were of a serious nature there was much blood but the skull was not
fractured.
On the prisoners being called on for their defence, Henry stated that
they were innocent of the charge, and that it originated with the
unfortunate girls who lived in the house.
Guilty of assault:- 12 months'
hard labour.
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