Bury Murders E-Book

Sean Frain

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 151

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

This chilling collection of cases brings together true-life historical murders that shocked not only the town of Bury but also made headline news across the country. Amongst those featured are a drunk who murdered a ploughman for loose change in 1866, a young boy who had his head smashed in by his furious grandfather in 1900, a woman roasted alive on a fire by her enraged husband in 1901, and a troubled man who shot his neighbour for no apparent reason in 1914. Illustrated with modern photographs and archive material, Bury Murders is sure to fascinate both residents and visitors alike as these shocking events of the past are revealed for a new generation.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Title Page

Introduction

Case One 1825 A Vicious Double Murder

Case Two 1866 A Shocking and Violent Murder

Case Three 1887 A Frenzied Attack

Case Four 1889 A Murder of Tremendous Violence

Case Five 1900 Murder?

Case Six 1900 A Callous Murder that Shocked the Nation

Case Seven 1900 The Bury Lamp Tragedy

Case Eight 1901 A Cruel and Atrocious Murder

Case Nine 1903 Death of a Sweetheart

Case Ten 1914 The Attempted Murder of a Neighbour

Four Cases of Murder and Suicide

Copyright

INTRODUCTION

Bury is famous for a number of reasons, such as its ‘world-famous’ market, its strong links to industry, and its leading industrialists such as Sir Robert Peel, both father and son. More recently, Bury has produced a number of famous people too, including celebrities from the world of music, comedy, drama and football, such as the group Elbow, Victoria Wood, Steve Halliwell, who made the character Zak Dingle in Emmerdale all his own, and the Neville brothers, who have enjoyed distinguished football careers for both Manchester United and England. But Bury is also infamous in many ways, though such infamy has mostly been buried, no doubt in the hopes that it will just go away. Bury’s infamous past, however, is as much a part of the history of the town as its triumphs, and should be recorded before it is forgotten forever. This is not in any way to glorify such events, but simply because true history should be recorded and, in the case of this book which focuses on murders in and around the town, because the names of the victims should not be wiped from the pages of history. They should be remembered and their terrible sufferings should be mourned.

When I first began researching the criminal history of Bury, I was astounded at not only the number of murders that have occurred, but at the sheer viciousness and callousness of some of these crimes, which are truly horrific and defy human logic and reason. You will understand my shock as you read through these terrible yet fascinating accounts, for surely the deepest imaginings of any sane person could not come up with such awful plots for other human beings, in many cases close relatives. Bury is thus infamous for such evil acts committed by a very select few of its residents and the crimes themselves, the court cases that followed and the sentences passed, feature in this book.

I was surprised to discover that a resident from the Bury area was the first person to be hanged in Manchester and I was even more surprised to discover the reaction of the public who made this hanging into a national event; some might even say a circus. Certainly, people’s attitudes towards criminals back in those days was far different to today, when those who commit such horrific and evil acts are often back on our streets and among society after serving only a few short years in prison. What struck me about Victorian times in particular, was that criminals who committed serious crimes such as murder were dealt with severely and promptly. Their trial was sometimes within weeks, sentence was quickly passed if found guilty and a very short time later the hanging itself took place.

Please be aware that some of the buildings featured in this volume are private dwellings and as such the reader is advised not to trespass on the property.

Sean Frain, 2014

Benjamin and Alice Cass were a happily married couple who lived at Birtle-cum-Bamford and by the year 1825 they were 64 and 80 years of age respectively. Benjamin Cass was a farmer, but by this time he was farming in a much smaller way than in previous years. His had been a prosperous establishment over the years and he had invested his profits wisely in property. He owned a number of cottages which he rented out and Saturday, 1 October 1825 was the due date for rents, though some of his tenants were in arrears.

Birtle-cum-Bamford was then a very rural idyll. The area today remains rural where farms and the occasional mill are located, though the urban sprawl from both Bury and Heywood has reached into what was once a mostly uninhabited region. The nearest neighbour to Benjamin and Alice Cass was at least a mile away and farming settlements were scattered about. Benjamin and Alice resided on the land they owned, but both were now getting rather frail and a neighbour of theirs would often sit with them on an evening and help out where possible.

On Saturday, 1 October 1825 a small number of people had brief contact with Benjamin Cass, and the lady who sometimes visited the ageing couple arrived later in the day and sat with them until 10 p.m. Benjamin was obviously a religious man, as when she was going she noticed that he had picked up his prayer book to have a read before retiring for the night. Alice was just beginning to undress, in preparation of putting on her night attire. She was just taking off her stockings when the visitor, unnamed in old newspaper articles recounting the events of that night, said goodnight and closed the door behind her as she went on her way home through the dark countryside.

Birtle-cum-Bamford today.

Benjamin’s brother, Joseph Cass, was up and about early on that Sunday morning. He lived a couple of miles from his brother and went to see him first thing, arriving at the farm a little after 6 a.m. just as it was coming light. Being farmers they were obviously accustomed to being up and about early each day. Unusually, there was no sign of anyone astir and so Joseph opened the unlocked door and went inside. The interior was still quite dark, but he could just make out the form of his brother and his wife sat on chairs, but apparently asleep. Alice had her head on her husband’s shoulder and both did not move as Joseph Cass entered the room.

Joseph tried to rouse the couple, using his voice at first, and then went over to shake them awake. It was then that he realised the pair were dead and that they had severe wounds about their heads. Blood was also on his hands. In a panic he ran from the house and went off to fetch a neighbour called John Chadwick. They arrived back about 15 minutes later and a truly horrific scene greeted them now that it was almost fully light and they could see the interior of the room.

The head of Benjamin was ‘almost clove in two’. His nose was almost completely severed from his face, hanging by a thread of skin, his chin severely cut open. The skull of Alice, who was seated next to her husband with her arms round his neck, was laid open and parts of her brain were scattered about the floor, her face badly bruised. A blood-spattered spade and poker lay on the floor nearby. It was obvious that the killer, a particularly sick and twisted individual, had placed the bodies in that position after the gruesome and horrific attack had ended.

The authorities were called in and their immediate thoughts were that the motive was unlikely to have been robbery, as a watch lay on the table in the room where the attack had taken place which could not have been missed by someone intent on stealing from the old couple. It was soon discovered that some people owed rent to Benjamin and this was considered as a possible motive for the murders. Enquiries by the authorities were fruitless regarding those who owed rents to Benjamin, due on the very day of his murder, but leads directed the investigations to the City of Manchester some ten miles or so from Bury. However, it seems such leads ended in disappointment. Any kind of dodgy dealings on the part of Benjamin which could have led to a motive for his murder were also ruled out, as people who knew him well were all of the same opinion; Benjamin Cass was an honest and peaceable man who was highly unlikely to have made enemies of those he dealt with.

At Halifax a man named John Diggles visited a number of people he knew and tried to sell them a pair of shoes, a suit, waistcoat and a pair of spectacles. How the authorities heard of this is unspecified in accounts written at the time, but possibly one of the several folk who were approached by Diggles may have heard of the murders at Bury. Knowing Diggles had been in that area and seeing him attempting to sell clothes that obviously did not belong to him, they might have contacted the local authorities who then contacted the authorities in Bury. However it happened, John Diggles was arrested at Halifax and taken back to Bury where he was questioned about the murders.

Reports written immediately after the arrest, which tended to be sensationalised, stated that Diggles then confessed to the murder. However, such reports proved to be inaccurate, as we shall see. He actually confessed to being near to the scene of the crime, but pointed a finger at a chap called Ralph Weston, telling the authorities that it was him who had committed the terrible deed. According to Diggles, he had waited with Ralph Weston in a nearby meadow and on seeing the neighbour that had sat with the old couple that evening finally leave about 10 p.m., Weston headed off to the cottage, telling Diggles that he ‘wanted something’. The court was later told of how Alice was still in a state of half-undress, as she was when the neighbour had left the old couple, when she was killed, showing the murderer was watching the cottage and awaiting his chance. John Diggles denied knowing anything about the murders.

Ralph Weston was thus arrested, but he was most vociferous in denying he had anything to do with the murders and that he could provide a solid alibi to prove it. This alibi appeared at the inquest a few days after the murders and Ralph Weston was acquitted. John Diggles now stood alone and was found guilty of the murders of Benjamin and Alice Cass at the inquest. The magistrates came to the same conclusion and Diggles was committed to trial at the notorious Lancaster Castle, where few killers escaped the hangman’s noose. Diggles was then transferred to Lancaster Castle, awaiting his trial, the date of which was set for Thursday, 16 March 1826.

The trial was part of the Lancaster Spring Assizes and John Diggles pleaded not guilty before the court, with Mr Williams and Mr Tindal appearing for the Crown. Diggles continued to implicate Ralph Weston, but Weston had not just one solid alibi, but several, and continued to vociferously protest his innocence in the matter.

Several people gave evidence that day, including a Bury surgeon named Joseph Goodland. He had examined the bodies and found that the head injuries, those about the skull, had caused the deaths of both Benjamin and Alice Cass. The skulls of both victims had been severely fractured and there were injuries to the upper part of the head of Alice. Bones were also fractured, but these were not fatal injuries. Several cuts and bruises were also found on the bodies, but these alone would not have proved fatal. Severe blows to the head with the spade and poker had been to blame for their deaths. This was important in establishing that a mere fight had not broken out after a row over rents, or some other matter. Murder was obviously the intent from the beginning, as this was in no way a matter of self-defence. The attack was vicious and sustained and could only have resulted in the deaths of the victims.

Above and below: Two views of the lane where this shocking double murder took place.

Those whom John Diggles had attempted to sell clothes to also appeared as witnesses, and the articles of clothing in question were on display in the courtroom, where they were formally identified by the witnesses and shown to the jury. Clear evidence was given that the shoes, suit, waistcoat and spectacles had all been in the possession of John Diggles and that he had tried to sell them at various locations around Halifax. One of the most damning witness statements was that made by William Cass, the uncle of Benjamin Cass. He identified the shoes and the jury was certain of his testimony, as he was a cobbler by trade and had actually made those shoes for his nephew. He could not have been mistaken.

A Bury tailor also testified in court, stating that he had made the suit for Benjamin Cass which was shown to the jury. Thomas Cromplin was his name and he was certain those were the clothes he had made for Benjamin Cass. Other witnesses also testified in court that they had seen John Diggles walking along various roads leading away from Bury carrying a large parcel. Coupled with the testimony of those witnesses in Halifax whom Diggles had approached in an attempt to sell various items belonging to Benjamin Cass, it was obvious that Diggles had carried them from Bury into West Yorkshire. The fact that he had clothing and other items, such as the spectacles, that belonged to one of the victims of the atrocious double murder was by this time undisputable.

John Diggles, after all other testimonies had been heard, was allowed to speak for himself. No matter what questions were put to him he continued to return to the subject of Ralph Weston, determined to continue pointing the accusing finger. He remained adamant that Weston had been the one who had gone to the Cass cottage while he had waited in the nearby meadow, but the judge was having none of it, completely dismissing Diggles’ cries of innocence and informing the jury that Ralph Weston had solid alibis, which had resulted in his complete acquittal.

The jury was now asked to deliberate and they retired to do so. Having heard some pretty damning evidence they did not have to consider for too long and reached their decision after only 30 minutes. They were soon back in the courtroom, where the verdict was read. They found John Diggles guilty of willful murder and all that was left now was for the judge to pass sentence.

There was complete silence at the Lancaster Assizes as His Lordship placed the forbidding black cap on the top of his head and began to pass sentence. John Diggles had shown no remorse whatsoever and to the end had denied killing the unfortunate old couple, so he was shown no mercy by the judge. His Lordship passed the death sentence, stating that he should be hanged within 48 hours, but set the date for Monday, 20 March 1826, saying that the killer should have more time to ponder on what he had done. He also said that the body of John Diggles would be given over to surgeons for dissection. An attitude of good-riddance to bad rubbish prevailed at the culmination of this horrific and gruesome case.

Additional Notes:

Immediately after the arrest of John Diggles for the murder of Benjamin and Alice Cass, the sheer shocking nature of the crime seemed to spark a frenzy of media attention and those early reports needed to be taken with more than a pinch of salt. Diggles had supposedly implicated three other men in the crime, naming two, but refusing to provide the name of the other perpetrator. Also, reports consistently stated that Diggles had confessed to the murders, but at no time did he do so. He never confessed, as far as can be ascertained, even up to the point of death on that fateful Monday in March when he at last swung from the hangman’s rope. His had been a vicious attack that had shocked and horrified the nation, not just local folk.

John Brennan was an Irishman who had come to England to find work so he could provide for his wife and six children and keep them out of the workhouse, where conditions were often so bad that many chose to live in dire poverty on the streets rather than enter. Brennan was not a skilled man according to society’s viewpoint, regarded as a humble farm labourer. However, he was a very skilled man in reality as he was a ploughman, a position that required training and handling of horses, as well as carrying out the actual job of ploughing.

The Bury Workhouse, which is now part of Fairfield Hospital.

Two more views of what was the Bury Workhouse.

Furrows had to be cut straight and the equipment used had to be maintained and handled correctly. For instance, when more than one horse was used, which was frequently, the yoke had to be set just right, so that both horses put in the same amount of work. This would prevent one doing more than the other and becoming either exhausted, or even injured, which would have resulted in a much shorter working lifespan. Horses had to earn their keep on farms before the coming of the tractor and many, many years of work could be expected of any horse that was looked after well and that was worked wisely and considerately. Brennan was highly skilled, but in those days work was not secure because of changing farming fortunes (nothing has changed, it is the same today) and so John Brennan found himself out of work on English shores with six hungry children to feed and clothe, not to mention to keep sheltered.