1849 – Horrid Charge – Transported for Life

June 1849

Independent 1849, 15 th June

Horrid Charge – Transported for Life

ROTHERHAM COURT-HOUSE.

Saturday – Before H.W.Pickard Esq.

Horrid Charge.-A man, 36 years of age, named Andrew Banford, was charged with having violated the person of a child seven years of age, the daughter of a gamekeeper, at Denaby.

The prisoner is a native of Lancashire, and for about a year, has been employed in a quarry in the neighbourhood of Denaby. He had lodgings at the house of the child’s grandmother, and frequently visited at the house of her parents

On Monday evening, while there, he had found a bird’s nest in the wood, near the house, and offered to show it to the child. She accompanied him into the wood and the brute there committed the offence. The child was so injured, that the following day, Mr Blythman surgeon, was called in and from the condition which he found the child, and the statement she made, the prisoner was apprehended.

The evidence of the outrage was fully corroborated, and the prisoner was committed to take his trial at the ensuing York Assizes

 

ANDREW BALMFORTH, 36, was charged with a criminal assault on a Susannah Skelton, at Denaby, near Rotherham; on the 4th of June inst. Mr. Hardy and Mr. Johnson prosecuted; the prisoner was undefended.

The prosecutrix is only seven years old, and the prisoner, who was on friendly terms with her parents, on the above day went into their house.

After staying a few minutes the prisoner said he would go and take a walk, when the little girl said she would accompany him. They then left the house together, and proceeded a short distance into a wood, when the prisoner committed the offencee imputed to him.

Guilty. To be transported for life.