A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1102, 8 June 1883, Page 4

A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE.

A letter has been received from the Home Office (says the Newcastle Chronicle) intimating the release from prison of two pitmen—Richard Wolford and Henry Hardwick—who were found guilty, at the Northumberland Assizes in April 1879, of shooting at John Matthew Robson, with intent to do him grievously bodily harm. According to the evidence given in the case, it appeared that John Hobson, of Duddo Hill Farm, near Stanington, had gone with his son (the prosecutor) and his brother to the gate of the farm, where they found several men, among whom it was sworn were the prisoners and another pitman named Morgan. The former ordered the men off the ground as trespassers, and after an angry parley it appears two gunshots were fired by the trespassers, the shots taking effect on the elder and younger Robson, and on other persons standing by. Evidence was given of the accused having uttered threats against the Robsons; and though no fewer than 13 persons came forward and swore that at the time of the occurrence Walford, Hardwick, and Morgan were elsewhere, the jury found the two former guilty, and Walford was sentenced to twenty, and Hardwick to fifteen years’ penal servitude. Strong representations were made to the Home authorities that a miscarriage of justice had taken place, and it was not until the real culprits, brought to the hulks for aome other offence, thought proper to declare their guilt that Her Majesty was recommended to bestow on the unfortunate Waffovd and Hardwick pardon for a crime they had never •committed.