|
|
Murderers Trial |
||
|
Coiners
Story |
The evidence against the murderers
was not strong, and was not helped by the conflicting details given
within each mans statements to the coroner, Thomas Hyde. The solicitor
must have realised this was not sufficient to secure the conviction of
the men he was sure were the murderers and pressed Broadbent further.
Broadbent once again saw a way out for himself and made further
statements in which he detailed the murder of Deighton by Normington,
Thomas and Folds. Turning Kings Evidence secured
Broadbent's release and the remaining three men were tried at the Autumn
Assizes of 1770. The contradicting statements, lack of firm evidence and
the fact that most of the case was based on the evidence of a liar and
perjurer resulted in the acquittal of Normington and Thomas. Folds was
acquitted early in the trail. None of the men could face the charge of
murder again. Positive that were guilty, Robert Parker continued to gather evidence against Normington and Thomas. Thomas Clayton, one of the first coiners named by Parker, was arrested in Liverpool and subsequently gave a statement that he had accompanied the two men and had witnessed the murder. Joseph Broadbent, James Broadbent’s father then told of hearing a man called John Sladdin overhear a conversation between Isaac Hartley, Normington, Thomas and Clayton where Hartley promised 33 guineas to each man for the murder of William Deighton. Sladdin backed this statement up himself to Joshua Horton, a Justice of the Peace. Normington and Thomas were arrested for the robbery of the Exciseman together with Thomas Spencer who had collected the funds used to pay the murderers. With insufficient evidence against
Normington he was bailed to face trial at the next assizes. Clayton
faced charges of coining, Spencer of collecting the murderers pay, and
Thomas with highway robbery. Thomas was found guilty and sentenced to
death. The other two were acquitted due to lack of evidence. Thomas was hung at Tyburn near York on Saturday 6th August 1774. His body was hung in chains on Beacon Hill in Halifax with the chains arranged such that his right hand pointed to the scene of his crime. Normington failed to appear as
required with his bail and a warrant for his arrest was issued. In his
absence the Judge, Mr Justice J. Gould, sentenced him to death.
Following his arrest, the warrant for his execution gave permission for
him to be hung in Halifax rather than York, however he too was executed
at Tyburn, York. His body was taken to Halifax and hung in chains
alongside the remains of his accomplice. |
||