Since I have featured the criminal records of several other ancestors this month, I thought I would end April with one more discovery.
Andrew Bandy and wife, Rebecca Wooldridge, emigrated from Botetourt County, Virginia to Lawrence County, Ohio between 1825 and 1830. They were the parents of my husband’s 2x great grandmother, Mary Bandy, who married black sheep Isaac Sturgell.
While researching court records of Lawrence County for Sturgells, I checked for Bandys at the same time. I was quite amazed to come across this one page record in the October 1844 term of the Court of Common Pleas recording the indictment of Rebecca Bandy for burglary:
The image quality isn’t very good and this film hasn’t been digitized. I think this will go on my “to do” list for Salt Lake City, but I was able to transcribe a lot of it:
Wednesday Morning October 9th 1844 Third Day of the Term
The Court ( ) adjournment present the same Judges as yesterday
The State of Ohio
vs. No. 1 Indict for Burglary
Rebecca Bandy
This day came Samuel M. Browning who prosecutes on behalf of
The State and the said defendant for her own proper person and (there from?) came a Jury to wit Abraham Smith, Alonzo Tolleday, Robert Hall, James Ralston, ____ of the regular _____ and James Beard, Isaiah Crawford, Abraham (Miller?) John Massie, Peter Jones, Samuel Watters, Sylvester M Cown, Peter W. ( ) Caleb Justice (toles?) men who being duly elected tried ( ) the truth to check
the issue joined upon their oaths do say ( ) the jury finds the defendant not guilty as charged in the indictment as charged against her. It is therefore considered that the said defendant go hence thereof without (delay?)
The State of Ohio
vs. No. 2 Indictment Burglary
Rebecca Bandy
This day came Samuel M. Browning who prosecutes on behalf of
The State and on his suggestion and the court concurring therein directs that a nolle prosequi be entered upon the indictment herein and the said defendant Rebecca Bandy be discharged and go hence thereof without (delay?)
Nowhere have I found any evidence indicating what she was accused of burglarizing.
Hello Linda,
You can now find 3 digitized pages regarding this case on Family Search, Court of Common Pleas Lawrence County Ohio, Complete Record Volume 9 Pages 391-393.
On page one, she was accused of breaking into the home of Henry Miller and stealing 2 feather beds, a factory sheet, a bed quilt and other sundry items on 6 Mar 1844.
On page two, she is accused of breaking into the home of Henry Miller, then being aged, on 6 Mar 1844 at 7 p.m. and stealing one feather bed valued at $2.00 and one pound of tow yarn valued at fifty cents.
No explanation is given just the result of a not guilty verdict.
I would love to see a transcript of the trial!