Jan 11 1763 Intelligencer:
'Yesterday at the Quarter Sessions held at the Moot Hall in this town, John Field, for stealing a silver spoon, the property of Mr Wightman, at the George in Briggate; and Elizabeth Fawcett for picking the Pocket of Matthew Williamson, of a Cotton Handkerchief, were order'd to be whipt.'

Next up, we'll have William Preston who, in 1770, was ordered to be publicly whipped for stealing 3 pairs of spurs from Mr Myers at the New Inn.
Ann Watson was ordered to be privately whipped for stealing a piece of Venetian stuff (a sort of cloth) from Mr Frankland and then in 1781 (May 1 Mercury) at the Pontefract Sessions, Samuel Taylor, for stealing wheat at Wortley, was ordered to be imprisoned and two other felons sent for soldiers.

 The Leeds Mercury, on 19th March 1782 reported...

Saturday, the Assizes for this County, before the Hon. Edward Willes, Esq. Charlotte Smith, charged with stealing three check aprons, three shifts, one gown, two night gowns and divers other articles; Joseph Halls and Thomas Key, charged with stealing a piece of woollen cloth from off certain tenters in Kirkburton; and John Stringer, charged with stealing a cow, were all found guilty and received sentence of death.

 Sometimes the process of law didn't have much of a say in the punishment the villain received as this little tale from the Intelligencer in November 1778 shows..

'On Wednesday night last, about half past seven, the Leeds Coach which was returning to London, on Finchley Common, was attacked by a single highwayman near the eight-mile stone, who robbed the passengers of about 30/- and then made off; within sight of the Leeds, he overtook the Derby stage which was going to Derby, when he passed it about 100yrds and then turned round and met the postillion, to whom he presented a pistol and ordered him twice to stop, when the postillion* and coachman immediately pulled up; the highwayman went directly to the window and rapped hard, when Edw. Golden, the guard, who sat with the coachman, fired his blunderbuss at him, and lodged the whole contents, consisting of five bullets and hard wadding, in his left breast, which killed him instantly, for he died on the spot with only one groan.'

*postillion - a rider on the lead horse.

 In 1757 the Leeds Magistrates issue the declaration…
'Publicans permitting journeymen, labourers, servants, or apprentices to play cards, dice, draughts, shuffleboard, Mississippi, billiard tables, skittles, ninepins or any other implement of gaming in their houses, alehouses, or grounds shall forfeit 40/- for the first offence, for every subsequent offence £10 to be levied by distress and sale, a quarter to the informer, the rest to the poor.'
Prices at this time included cheese, mutton, beef and pork at 4d a pound, a pint of milk at a halfpenny in summer and one penny in winter. (12d=1/-)

From the Intelligencer of May 19th 1794...
On Wednesday last the carcase of a large pig was publicly burnt in Briggate in this town, proof being made before the Mayor that a butcher had purchased it for one quarter of its value, on account of the animal being mad before being slaughtered, occasioned by the bite of a dog.

In 1738 The Mercury... Whereas Ald. Cookson's garden, joining upon the river was robb'd on Sunday night the 20th Instant., and great number of Peaches, Nectarines, and Pears taken away, supposed to be done by Persons coming from Halton Feast.
If any one will give Information thereof, that one or more Persons may be convicted he shall receive a Guinea Reward, and if the informer be a party, shall over & above the Guinea have his Pardon.

and in Aug 1762 this from the Intelligencer..

In the night of Friday Last, Robert Dawson of Wortley, in this parish, was alarm'd by the Cries of a Person in distress, and upon examination found the Cry proceeded out of a Draw-well in his orchard, whither he went, and to his great surprize, found a neighbour of his in the well, which is about 14 yards deep and contain'd at that time about 5 feet of water;
After he had help'd him out, and found that no Harm had happen'd him, he ask'd what had brought him hither; but did not receive an ingenuous Answer. On stricter Examination, his pockets were found fill'd with APPLES, and a small sack fill'd therewith plac'd at a little distance. It may not be amiss to observe that the Pilferer is a Clothier, and reported to be worth 4 or £500.

 There were, of course, some quite evil criminals who got their deserved fate;

In 1803 one Mary Bateman poisoned 3 people living in a drapers shop near St Peters Square (Quarry Hill). As soon as they were dead she plundered the house and shop.

Six years later she was hanged at York for the murder, by poisoning, of Rebecca Perigo, the wife of a Bramley clothier.
Her body was dissected in public to raise funds for the Infirmary. The skin was tanned and small pieces were given applicants.

Won't that look lovely on the bookshelf!

Mercy was sometimes shown to the poor criminal. Earlier we read about some 'petty' criminals sentenced to death.

.. but a fortnight later, 4th February 1782 The Mercury ran this report....'Mr Justice Willes before he left York reprieved Charlotte Smyth, under sentence of death for burglary, and Benjamin Stringer for stealing a cow. Joseph Hallis and Thomas Kay, who also received sentence of death, were ordered to be kept to hard labour on the river Thames for two years.'

 However...in 1815 Joseph Blackburn, a respected attorney in the town was found guilty of forging a £2 stamp on a mortgage deed. For this he was hanged, dying in absolute agony as the noose slipped.

Lawyers, popular as ever!