The Manchester Times Friday, October 24th 1828 Salford Michaelmas Sessions Tuesday: Andrew LIDDELL, John EDWARDS, John COLLINS and Robert THOMSON, were charged with picking the pocket of a farmer names HULTON, of twenty three sovereigns and a half, at Turton fair, on the 4th of September. Dr BROWN stated the case, and called Mr HULTON - I was in Turton fair about half-past eleven o'clock on the 4th September. I had twenty three sovereigns and a half in a bag, in my left-hand breeches pocket. My nephew Edward CHARNLEY, was with me. There were seven or eight persons pushing about in the crowd. The prisoner, LIDDELL, struck me with the back of his hand on the breast, saying "make way." I then felt THOMSON's hand in my pocket, and missed my money immediately. COLLINS was then in the crowd with three or four others. They were pushing amongst the crowd. As soon as I could speak, I said "mind the man with the cut in his face," (THOMSON). The four prisoners and three or four others then went away. I pursued them as well as I could. LIDDELL got on a horse. The others were on foot. I followed them to a fold in the fair. LIDDELL then got off his horse, and they all went together in a body behind a cart. I there saw them giving something to one another out of their pockets, and one man went round the corner of a building and disappeared. I stood beside the horse from which LIDDELL had dismounted, The three other prisoners then passed on one side. LIDDELL came up to the horse, and I asked him if it was on sale. He said, yes sir, and I said, I'll take both you and your horse. He said it was not he that had taken my money. I had not said anything about money at that time. My nephew came up, and I sent him for a constable. Jesse MORTON came and took him. After he was taken, I pursued the others. I was looking for them for more than two hours. I at length found them coming out of the fair. I met EDWARDS and THOMSON together. I met COLLINS in less than half an hour afterwards. He was alone at Mr WOODS public house, in the midst of the fair. They were delivered to the constable. I am certain they are the men. Cross-examined by Mr COLTMAN for COLLINS - The fair was pretty full. I was present when COLLINS was taken up and searched. There were no sovereigns found upon him. I went with the constable into a room where he was. Cross-examined by Mr BRANDT for LIDDELL - It was about half-past eleven that I lost my money. I did not call out that I had lost my money. The breath was almost knocked out of me. I said mind the man with the cut face. I am a farmer. I have been in the printing buisness. I have been in Lancaster, but not for stealing. I never lost sight of the men until they went behind the cart. LIDDELL was searched. There was some silver found upon him. By the Chairman - EDWARDS was pushing and making way in the crowd. I did not see him do anything particular. Edward CHARNLEY - I am nephew of the last witness. I was with him at Turton fair. LIDDELL came up and pushed him on the breast. He pushed me sideways. I said uncle, have they taken anything from you, for he just favours a pickpocket. He said, take notice of the man with the marked face. I did not notice any others but LIDDELL and THOMSON. When I saw LIDDELL in custody, I knew him to be the same man that had pushed my uncle. Cross-examined by Mr COLTMAN - I did not see COLLINS until he appeared before the magistrate. Thomas THRELFALL - I was at Turton fair. I saw all the prisoners there about half-past twelve, except LIDDELL. There were five or six others with him. I took particular notice of them. I saw them together an hour and a half. I was present when Thomson was taken. Mr HULTON immediately identified him. Jesse MORTON - I am constable of Ainsworth. I was at Turton fair, and was present when EDWARDS and THOMSON were taken. Cross-examined - LIDDELL said he came from Liverpool. He was a furniture broker, and came over on business. He said he bought the horse from one Mr EDWARDS, of Shaw's Brow, Liverpool, and had come over to sell it at Turton fair. This being the case for the prosecution, Mr BRANDT, in behalf of LIDDELL, called Peter COLLIER - I live at Pendleton. LIDDELL lived there formerly. He kept a shop opposite Leaf Square. I knew him for five years. He was a furniture broker, and removed to Liverpool, where he carried on the same business. He had the character of an honest man. Samuel JENKINSON - I have known LIDDELL two years. He always had a good character, and paid his way. Thomas ROYLANCE - I have known LIDDELL three or four years. I kept a small shop next door to him for 12 months. The Chairman having summed up the evidence, the jury, after a moment's consultation, found all the prisoners guilty. In answer to the inquiries of the chairman, Mr BARRETT, the constable of Bolton, stated that he had received numerous complaints of robberies at Turton fair. The Chairman in passing sentence observed, that it was a painful duty which the court had to perform in a case like this. The prisoners had been convicted upon evidence which was quite sufficient to justify the verdict of the jury. From that evidence, it appeared that a body of seven or eight men had come from a distance to attend a fair for the purpose of committing robberies. It was the bounden duty of the court, a duty from which they dared not, and would not shrink, to take care that they (the prisoners) should not have an opportunity of committing any further robberies in this country for some time to come. It appeared that COLLINS had been convicted at the sessions in July, 1825, for stealing from the person, and was imprisoned for two years in Lancaster Castle. EDWARDS had also been convicted under the name of Jacob HUGHES, and imprisoned three months. Of LIDDELL and THOMSON there were no previous account. He should therefore make a distinction in their sentences. The sentence upon COLLINS was, that he be transported for life, and upon each of the other three prisoners, that they be severally transported for fourteen years. The rest of the sessions for tuesday will follow in another email.