Prisoner name: Joseph Osbourne. Court and Date of Trial: Derby [Derbyshire] City...

HO 18/277/44

1850-1852

Prisoner name: Joseph Osbourne.

Court and Date of Trial: Derby [Derbyshire] City Assizes March 1850.

Crime: Assault with intent.

Initial sentence: Seven years' transportation.

Gaoler's Report: Character good.

Outcome: Refer to judge. Nil.

Petitions and letters: Two petitions by inhabitants of Heanor Derbyshire, one with twenty three signatories and with a newspaper report of the case annexed and the second with 113 signatories, reciting that the prisoner was convicted with Jonathan Wright and Samuel Gillott who were both sentenced to six months' imprisonment as they were convicted of common assault and pleading that prisoner was provoked by the prosecutor and acted in self defence. They further plead the indifferent character of the prosecutor, his exaggeration of the facts, prisoner's previous good character and ask for an enquiry into the case which involved a dispute over the extraction of water from a well.

Statements by Thomas Saunders, Thomas Bunting, Hannah Bunting, Thomas Calladine, Joseph Shaw, Mary Shaw, Joseph Key, John Eley, Reuben Gillot, John Inger, William Butler, James Wright, Joseph Waplington, Phoebe Davis, Elizabeth Eley, Isabella Booth, Samuel Saxton and John Harridge concerning the prosecutor's bad character and the circumstances surrounding the offence which involved a dispute over the use of a well in the village; statement by five constables of Heanor concerning prosecutor's bad character; letter from TF Roscoe.

Two letters from John Radford concerning the site of the well and its use; letter from Amos Beardsley, surgeon, confirming that he attended the prisoner in respect of a wound and bruises which he had received before the trial; statement of prisoner's good character from his employers, Messrs. George Brettle & Co, hosiery manufacturers.

Report by Mr. Baron Parke, trial judge, reviewing the evidence and stating that he saw no reason to alter his view on the verdict or the sentence.

Two petitions by the prisoner from Dartmoor prison, pleading that he acted in self defence, had no intent to cause injury, previous good character, good conduct in gaol and asks to remain in the country.

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