LAW & ORDER – Charge of Robbery against Redcar Fisherman

Accreditation the Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 10/03/1876

CHARGE OF ROBBERY AGAINST A REDCAR FISHERMAN 

            A you man named John Blenkey, a fisherman at Redcar, was on Tuesday (07/03) committed for trial at the Guisborough magistrates for stealing a fishing line, the property of James Baker, of Southbank, on the 12^th ult. The line was set in the River Tees for the purpose of catching fish, and was taken away by the prisoner, who now submitted, in defence, that it was originally his own, and was stolen from him. It was only made, he said, four months ago, and there were knots in it he could swear to, but the prosecutor pointed out some knots which he said were not fisherman’s knots, and added that he had evidence to show that he had had the line in his possession at least 12 months. It was dryly remarked that the case was a knotty one, and, as both sides maintain their right to the line, the Bench had no alternative but to send the case to a jury.

Accreditation the Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 07/04/1876

THE ALLEGED ROBBERY BY REDCAR FISHERMAN 

            At the North Riding Quarter Sessions, at Northallerton, on Wednesday (05/04), John Blenkey of Redcar, was charged with stealing a fishing line and to grappling irons, the property of James Baker, at Wilton, on (12/02). The defence set up by the prisoner was that the line was originally his own, and had been stolen from him. The prisoner was acquitted.