William Somerville was a discharged soldier who lived, together with his mother-in-law and others, in rooms belonging to Mr. Porter. Young Abraham Gosling pointed him out in the Exeter market to Inspector Fulford and said, wrongly, that he had witnessed William stealing oil-cloth from Mr Cleave's store in the High Street on the night of Tuesday 15th January.
Without further enquiry Inspector Fulford took William Somerville into custody and the next Monday, having spent some time in the cells, William was brought up in front of the Magistrates at the Exeter Guildhall. But William had not done the wicked deed and he had an alibi. His mother-in-law told the Court:
".... they all went to bed by six o' clock every night, for her husband had had no work for the last three months, and so they could not afford to burn fire and candle. She could swear that the prisoner was in bed by six o' clock on Tuesday,....
"Their landlord, Mr Potter, spoke as to the general good conduct of the prisoner, and said he always went to bed between five and six. He had no particular recollection of the Tuesday night in questiion, but he believed he went to bed as early as usual; he thought his wife could tell better about it, as she always stopped up till half-past eight o' clock, when she locked the front door.
"She was not in court but was sent for; when she came she swore positively that Somerville was in bed on the Tuesday night by six o' clock.
"The Bench dismissed Somerville, telling him that he left the Court with no imputation on his character."
Well, I should think that was the very least they could do! But what crushing poverty! I wonder how many other paupers in Exeter went to bed every night at sundown because they had not fire and candle.
Source: The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 26th Januaty, 1850.
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