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Murder Committed |
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Coiners
Story |
The arrest of David Hartley had
the effect of poking a wasps nest with a stick and the coiners revenge
would be swift. Within a month of Hartley’s arrest, the activities of
Deighton, the exciseman would be brought to a gruesome end. First
though, the coiners would attempt to secure the release of their leader
from his prison. Broadbent must have been bitter at
being duped by Deighton and James Stansfield, another coiner who came
upon a drunken Broadbent heard how the informant had been blackmailed by
the exciseman. Stansfield persuaded a reluctant Broadbent to visit Isaac
Hartley, David's brother. Despite Isaac’s understandable anger,
Stansfield managed to persuade him that Broadbent now believed David was
innocent and that he might be prepared to retract the statement made to
the magistrate. It was agreed they would travel
together to York where they met with the prisoners whilst they exercised
in the courtyard. With David Hartley's agreement a revised statement was
given to the York Attorney clearing the two men of their crimes. Bail
was not forthcoming though so Isaac and Broadbent reluctantly returned
to Cragg Vale. With no further news on their return, Isaac Hartley
convinced Broadbent to visit Mr Leedes, the magistrate and retract his
original statement. This was done, but once again brought no success;
the Magistrate was inclined to believe the original story. Hartley and
Jagger would remain imprisoned until their trial, but still took an
active role in plotting the events that followed. Isaac
Hartley held a meeting with the principal coiners at the Dusty Miller in
Mytholmroyd. There was no
alternative but for Deighton to die, but to find men willing to carry
out such a risky task would be difficult and they would expect to be paid
highly.
The names of two men Matthew Normington and Robert Thomas, known to
those present as being sufficiently desperate for the money, were put
forward. Thomas Spencer sought out supporters willing to
offer them 100 guineas to carry out their deed. After
a number of unsuccessful visits to Halifax in search of their prey,
Normington and Thomas finally brought William Deightons life to an end.
The exciseman was shot shortly before midnight on the 8th November 1769. Whilst
the brutal murder rid the coiners of Deighton, it had the opposite
effect to that which the coiners hoped. Far from dissuading the
authorities from delving further into the activities of the gang, the
effect was a renewed determination to bring the forgers and murderers to
justice. |
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