Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange EventsBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange Events
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Legends -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Miscellanea
crimination and recrimination that it was found necessary to place Joan
in the cell (or cellar) until the minutes of Joan's confession had been
read over to Mike. After Mike had confessed many circumstances connected
with the affair, the prisoners exchanged places, and the minutes of
Mike's confession were read over to Joan. Both were now consigned to
their cells.
Tuesday, February 18th, the prisoners were again before Mr. Horton, but
nothing new was elicited. They were this day committed to York Castle.
The same day James Wilson, the constable, searched Mike's house for the
third time. His evidence at York is that "he found, concealed under a
flag, under the bed, three fustian pieces and four warps, and some other
articles, and above the fireplace a gun. The cotton pieces were
identified by William Greenwood, Sammy's neighbour, who had taken them
into the house of the deceased and marked them; the other articles were
identified by William Sutcliffe."
The _Leeds Mercury_ of Saturday, Feb. 22nd, says that on Wednesday, the
13th, the two prisoners passed through that town, strongly ironed, on
their way to York Castle.
The trial took place at York Castle on Friday, March 14th, 1817. The
prisoners were arraigned on an indictment of murdering Samuel Sutcliffe,
and also on an indictment of burglary. Both admitted the burglary; both
denied the murder. By the recommendation of the judge they pleaded "Not
guilty" to both indictments. No fewer than 22 witnesses were taken to
York, including all the individuals whose names have been given above;
with Mr. William Sutcliffe, of Heptonstall, who made Sammy's writings;
Mr. John Barker and Mr. Jas. Bent, of Mytholm, and Mr. Henry Sutcliffe,
of Pendle Forest, &c. Mr. Hardy, in a very eloquent and perspicuous
opening, stated the facts of the case. The names of the witnesses whose
evidence is given in the _Leeds Mercury_ (Saturday, March 22, 1817),
are William Sutcliffe, William Greenwood (the neighbouring cottager),
Thomas Dyneley, Betty Wadsworth, John Hoyle, Sarah Greenwood, Thomas
Greenwood, William Greenwood, of Luddenden, Thomas Horton, Esq., Olive
Heyhirst, John Thomas, of Midgley, and James Wilson. John Thomas "was a
shoemaker, and received a pair of shoes from the prisoner, John
Greenwood, on the 8th of February, which he delivered to the constable,
and which, being produced in court, were identified by William Sutcliffe
as the shoes which he had left in the house" when he went on his
journey. The other witnesses gave evidence agreeing in most particulars
with the facts stated above.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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