Trial for Arson - 1830

[Colin Rowledge]

I have just come across the following entry in the Summer Assizes of 1830 in Dorset:

Sarah Ackerman - charged with Arson - Result "Acquittal - No Bill'

Can someone explain this result in todays terms [I know that being acquitted means Not Guilty, but the other part?] and where I might find information on the trial?

Thanks
Colin

[Kerrywood]

No Bill entered in the Acquittal column means that the case was put before the court, but there was not enough evidence for an indictment. So effectively there was no hearing, and the prisoner was acquitted.

Consequently, there will be very little of use recorded in the court minutes. Surviving records for assizes are held at TNA Kew, and this research guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=154) relates.

I would normally say "try the newspapers", but the case may not have been high-profile enough.

[Geoffers]

See Kerrywood's reply, above.

Also, this was a period of disturbance across many parts of the country and several books have been published concerning the riots and fires.

Although it will be difficult to locate information specific to the case, it may not be impossible if there is surviving correspondence - the best place to look is the county record office; but also try TNA's catalogue and the London Gazette - for example, these are fairly simple searches TNA "dorset AND arson 1830" (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=arson+AND+dorset&txtfirstdate=1829&txtlastdate=1830&txtrestriction=&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=33&image1.y=8) and London Gazette "dorset fires 1830" (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/1830-01-01;1830-12-31/all=dorset+fires/start=1) which record rewards; there may be other interesting entries - vary the searches phrases - try a TNA search for "dorset AND fire*" either using The Catalogue or Access to Archives.

If you can locate a date, place and name of an aggrieved, you may possibly be able to relate it to a specific fire reported in local newspapers; but that may take some hunting.