Report of Richard Eyre on 1 collective petition (19 people, officers of the Royal...

Report of Richard Eyre on 1 collective petition (19 people, officers of the Royal Lancashire Regiment of Militia, ranks given) on behalf of William Haworth, private in the Royal Lancashire Regiment, convicted at the 'last Assizes at Bodmin' [Cornwall Assizes], for stealing goods and 20 guineas in monies, property of Jemima Davies, on 1 August 1798. Evidences supplied by: Robert Davies, son of the prosecutrix; Captain Rawstorne, John Cook and John Read, both sergeants; Margaret Davies, daughter in law to the prosecutrix, the prisoner and others. There is a letter from E. Raun[?] to W. Baldwin. 'In order that your mind may be perfectly at ease on the Subject of Haworth' and stating 'that the delay in execution by the Sheriff 'is an unwarrantable act;' also a letter from Francis P---erter[?], Under Sheriff of Cornwall, to the Duke of Portland, acknowledging receipt of a 7 day respite from execution. Eyre is loathe to recommend mercy as he 'was apprehensive that any Relaxation of the Law in the instance of a Soldier detected in marauding from a Camp might have a very ill effect on the County'. Grounds for clemency: first offence, previous good character, had served during 'the whole of the War', Captain Rawstorne believes the man to be simple and 'sometimes half mad.' Initial sentence: death, respited. Recommendation: no mercy. Folios 234-242.