The trial of Mr. Jno. Wakefield, for the wilful murder of Richard Maddock, at Winnington : in the Assize court at Chester ... on Friday, April third, 1818 ... / Taken in court by the editor of the Chester Chronicle.

Wakefield, John

Date:: [1818?]

Credit: The trial of Mr. Jno. Wakefield, for the wilful murder of Richard Maddock, at Winnington : in the Assize court at Chester ... on Friday, April third, 1818 ... / Taken in court by the editor of the Chester Chronicle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$He fit eft stood upright at the Bar, when The Chief Justice proceeded to pass sentence upon him in words to this effect:—Prisoner at the bar, after along and laborious trial, an intelli¬ gent jury of your country have thought fit, after a close enquiry into the circumstances adduced in evidence, to acquit you of the crime of mur¬ der: they have found you guilty of manslaughter. I have no doubt the excellent character which you have received, was a deserving one ; and it appears you have hitherto supported a respectable situation in life. The Court hopes, that your future days may be charac¬ terised by an aversion to vicious habits, which generally bring with them their own punishment; and is induced, in consideration of your long impri¬ sonment already, to pass on you as lenient a sentence as it conceives proper. God knows you must already have suffered enough mentally, from the re¬ collection that you have been the cause of the death of a fellow creature. The sentence of the court is, that you be imprisoned in the Common Gaol, for the term of six Calendar Months, and then discharged. After silence was obtained, the prisoner said, “ my Lord, will you permit me to speak ? Chief Justice.—“ Certainly.” Prisoner.— ‘‘ I am now acquitted of the charge of killing Maddock, and I will now, therefore, state, that I have not the least knowledge of his death.— I attribute my acquittal to my innocence,— to the Great God of Heaven, who directed the jury to acquit me. I feel grateful for his mercies to me. I am convinced of having offended God in a variety of ways; but I hope and trust that I may prove such an example, as to call sinners to the right way. My Lords—Good people all, [turning round to the back side of the court]—all that are acquainted with me know that I would not kill a worm. I confess that I have injured some of my fellow creatures, but I will make them every reparation in my power, I am I assure you at this awful moment, innocent of the man’s death. [Then lifting up his right hand, he said, in a loud tone of voice]—God bless you - God bless you all.” He was much agitated, and wept throughout the whole of his address. The trial commenced a few minutes past eleven o’clock, and the prisoner was not removed from the bar till a quarter before six. Counsel for the Crown—Mr. Attorney-General, and Mr. Evans. —Solicitors Messrs. Hollins, Knutsford. Counsel for the Prisoner,—Mr. Cross, Mr. Hill, Mr, Williams, and Mr. Recorder.—Solicitor Mr. Hostage, of Northwich. / It is supposed that at one time, there were upwards of two thousand people in Court, and nearly that number in the Castle Yard. No case has excited so much interest since the trial of John Lomas, and Edith Morrey. \$