|
More about..
|
The case of the two strangers | |
|
The two accused men identified themselves
as Henry Smith of Birmingham, a drover,
and William Shaw of Huddersfield,
a weaver. They were staying in Llanfihangel but we do not know how they
came to be there. |
|
||
| They said
that they had "found the several articles named
on the other side in a field near the road at Llansantffraid". The court did not believe their lame excuses and the two men were found guilty. The extract from the court records below tells us their punishment |
 |
||
|
It reads: This complicated legal language means that the government would sign an order sending the two men to the penal colonies in Australia for ten years. They probably never came back. And all for stealing items worth less than £2 ! They were clearly guilty but this seems a very harsh punishment compared to today's fines and community service. |
 |
|
|
 |
|