Transcribed by Emily Smith. Geo. Carlisle Patriot Friday, April 9th, 1880 CUMBERLAND QUARTER SESSIONS. THE TRIALS. Theft of Sheep. John ARMSTRONG, or John HARRISON, or John ARMSTRONG HARRISON (28), dealer, imperfectly instructed, and William BROWN, or HOWE, or GRIFFITHS (23), dealer neither reads nor writes, were charged with stealing eight sheep, value 127l, the property of Isaac BAINBRIDGE, Ravensworth Park, near Richmond, on the 15th March.—Mr. DICKINSON prosecuted; Mr. FELL defended ARMSTRONG; and BROWN conducted his own defence.—Mr. DICKINSON, in stating the case to the jury, said though it would be somewhat lengthy, a great number of witnesses being required, they would find that it was a very simple case. Mr. BAINBRIDGE, who was a farmer at Ravensworth Park, near Richmond, had a number of sheep in a field on his farm on the 11th or 12th of March, and a few days after eight of them were missed. The prisoners were seen on the road leading to Appleby with eight sheep on the 16th of March; they went to Mr. SIMPSON, stationmaster, at Warcop, and asked for a truck to take eight sheep to Carlisle. Mr. SIMPSON told them it was too late to take sheep to Carlisle, and the prisoners went to the house of a Mrs. MAUGHAM, and took lodgings until Monday. They left on Sunday morning without paying for their beds. They were then seen driving the sheep along the road near Templesowerby, and onwards towards Penrith. A witness named HARRISON would tell them that he was on his way to Penrith on Monday, when he came up to the prisoners driving eight sheep, and some conversation took place between him and ARMSTRONG, who gave him a shilling to take the sheep to the Penrith Auction Mart. HARRISON put the sheep in a pen in the mart, and told ARMSTRONG where they were. Mr. FORSTER, the secretary of the Penrith Auction Mart Company, noticed the prisoner standing near the sheep, and he asked BROWN if he had any sheep to enter. BROWN said "No." Mr. FORSTER then turned to ARMSTRONG and said, "Have you any sheep to enter?" Armstrong replied, "Yes, I have eight." Asked what name, ARMSTRONG said, "Mr. THOMPSON of Appleby." ARMSTRONG answered other questions, but Mr. FORSTER considered their actions and answers so unsatisfactory that he sent for the police. The prisoners were apprehended by Inspector HOWARD, and both gave different accounts of their connection with the sheep. Both denied bringing the sheep to Penrith. BROWN said he knew nothing of ARMSTRONG, and ARMSTRONG said he slept in Carlisle the night on which the sheep were said to have been stolen. Mr. BAINBRIDGE came to Penrith as soon as he learned that the sheep were detained, and identified the sheep as his property.—Mr. DICKINSON said the chain of evidence was really complete, and he thought the jury would be compelled to come to the conclusion—unless, of course, the prisoners could give a satisfactory account of how they came into possession of the sheep—that the prisoners were guilty of stealing them.—After evidence was given to substantiate the statement of the learned counsel, Mr. FELL addressed the jury on behalf of ARMSTRONG, contending that the sheep were removed by mistake, and that there was no evidence of his having stolen them.—BROWN asserted that he was asked by ARMSTRONG to help him on the road with the sheep, and he did so without knowing anything of the sheep. ARMSTRONG told him the sheep belonged to him.—The CHAIRMAN having summed up, the jury immediately returned a verdict of guilty against both prisoners.—BROWN, who has been frequently convicted in the Yorkshire district, was sent to penal servitude for seven years, and to have two years' police supervision.—ARMSTRONG, though known to the police, had a much better character than his companion, and he was sentenced to eighteen calendar months' imprisonment with hard labour. The business was concluded shortly before three o'clock. -- Emily Smith