Cambridge Chronicle 1 Oct 1842: Mary Ann Saunders assaulted
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, Sept. 24.(Before the Rev. Mr. Coombe, Sir St. Vincent Cotton, Captain Purchas, and H. B. Wortham, Esq.)
A poor half-witted looking creature, about eighteen or twenty years of age, was charged with having stolen some fowls from the Camping close, Trumpington, on Thursday week. There was no evidence to support the charge beyond the admission made by the prisoner that he had taken them because he was very hungry, not having had anything to eat for two days. The policeman who apprehended the prisoner, said there had been a robbery nearly every night for the last fortnight in that neighbourhood. This case having been dismissed, the prisoner was charged with having assaulted Mary Ann Saunders, on the 16th of September, at Trumpington. It appeared that the complainant had applied some disgusting observations to the deceased parents of the defendant, who had pushed or struck her in consequence. The magistrates fined the defendant 6d. and the cost, which amounted to 8s. 6d. To the surprise of all present the defendant said that a woman outside the court would pay the money for him, and a female, respectable-looking for her walk in life, was called in and offered to do so. She stated that the defendant had neither father not mother, and when dying they had asked her not to let their son “go down in the world and be trod upon,” and she had promised to do all she could for him. In consequence of this promise, though sorely tried to keep it, she had worked continually for him, offering him a home and food while she had to give it; and now she paid the present, to her, large amount, that he might not go to prison. All this she did because he was a “poor friendless boy.” The magistrate, who appeared to sympathise with this honest-hearted woman, recommended her to apply to the board of guardians for some assistance in supporting the object of her charity, which she agreed to do.
Harris Marshall was committed to take his trial, charged with having stolen a large piece of beech wood from the premises occupied by C. J. Pemberton, Esq., at Trumpington. The wood was nominally valued at 6d.