The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-13 00:00:00

ONFESSION OF THE -CONVICT GARSIDE.

IN DERBY GAOL.

The following is the confession, verbatim, which the pri-
soner Garside made to Mr. Lockett, the Magistrate, in Derby
Gaol, when confined under sentence of eighteen months' im-
prisonment, for stealing tools, and which led to his own con-
viction, and the apprehension of his diabolical accomplices,
and which is calculated further to elucidate the evil doings of
the Trades' Unions. It differs in some respects from the
evidence giver, against the convicts by the witness Mosley ;
but it does not vary in the substance and detail of the foul
transaction, as given by Mosley, excepting that Garside sub-
stitutes the convict Mosley for himself, as the man who ac-
tually fired the pistol. The reason for this substitution is, of
course, obvious, as Garside must have known, by wishing to
read the proclamation in the Gazette before he made the con-
fession, that the man who actually gave the death wound
would not be pardoned.
James Garside—_l am about 25 years old. On the 3d Jan.,
1831, I lived with my father at Barnsford, in Marple. Be-
tween one and two o'clock in the afternoon of that day, I went
to Edward Bravendar's, at Riding Pits, Hyde, to see his son
James. James was not at home, but I saw his mother and
uncle James, and bought some bread and cheese there. I
stopped there about half an hour, and then returned home as
far as the Grapes public-house, where I remained' till about 5
o'clock. I then left the Grapes and went by the field road as
far as the top of Werneth-lane. There I met Joseph Mosley,
and asked him where he was going. He said he was going
over the hill—he had a bit of a job to do that night. I asked
him "hat it was—whether it was fortune-telling; and he said
it Was, and asked me to turn back with him. I said, "how
far is it off?" and he said, "above a mile." I turned back
with him a few yards down the road that leads from Gerard's
to Werneth, where Joseph Mosleytold me his brother William
was to meet him. We stopped about ten minutes, when Wil-
liam Mosley came to us. When Joseph and I were standing
in the road, and just as William came up, a middle-aged man,
vvho lived at Lousy Thorn, whom I had often seen, and who
generally wore a blue coat, and drove the horses came out of
the gravel pit, passed us and looked at us, but I believe did not
!ay any thing. I had known both James and William Mosley
Defore this time ; for six months before I had been strongly
ae44rttleS,
iiltendivith James we had met often within that time at
M 1 y Woodruff's, in Birch-row, in Marple, where we went to
foand we had met at other places. I believe he
was in the union—he was going frequently to the spinners'
unions, in Hyde and Ashton. I knew William Mosley when
he and I were boys—we used to play together. He was
away from Marple for some time, but returned and was
apprenticed to Henry Holmes, a shoemaker. We always
spoke when we met, but were not particularly intimate at
Before time. When William left Holmes he took to boating.
eJanuary, 1831, James and William Mosley and I
had been concerned in breaking into and robbing Boden's
811°P, a wheelwright, in Marple, in the night. We stole his
tools and other articles. We also determined and attempted
101 break into and rob John Hambledon's shop, near Marple
dge, a draper, but by the noise occasioned by our forcing
e windows the family were disturbed, and the robbery was
Prevented. We had agreed to join in jobs of this kind. After
Mosley came to me and Joseph on the road from
IPureave to Werneth-lane, we went together into a plantation at
.t ie top of Werneth-lane, and sat down under the hedge upon a
lof backing. They then told me they were going to shoot
pr. Ashton. I asked them for what ? They said for money.
anaii_cl I would have nothing to do with it. Joseph replied,
""i aye, thou mun come and go with us, thou need'st do
iltiking but watch—l shall do the job." He then pulled out
ms Pocket a horse-pistol, which he said was loaded. He drew
!a!nee
troalindruosd out, which was on a swivel, and turned it into the
,?!rrel to show us that it was loaded. It was nearly half full.
tiender
sholvesh,ere the job was to be done, where William and I
were to wait, how we were to get away, and how we were to
meet afterwards. Joseph and William Mosley came in rather
but they brought a stronger pair with them,
Oving nails in the bottom, and each of them took off one of
!s slender shoes and put on a stronger shoe before we left the
Plantation. Joseph wore a hat, a brown cloth shooting-coat,
Pen in front, and a pair of dark trousers. William had a
rough boatman's cap, a light-coloured coat, and light jean
n cord trousers. I wore a hat, blue coat, and cotton cord
browsers. We went from the plantation down the foot road
Lo -
usy Thorn, to the cart road from Gee-cross toWoodley,
,aind along the cart road, till we turned into the road to Ap-
taorne. As we went down the footpath from the plantation,
I asked what money it was the job was to be done for, and
WhetherWh Mr. Ashton was to be robbed forit; and Joseph told
,_he was employed by the spinner's union, at Ashton, and
Was to have 10/. ; •and as we went along he said that he and a
triman had been over the ground the day before, and
ed how we were to proceed, as he had explained to us in
Plantation. We went together into the road to Apthorne.
Almost Mile as soon as we entered it a man came from towards the
and passed us. Joseph and William Mosley were on one
and lon the other. He went between us. Just after-
-I,;"ds we met a little girl. She had something in her hand.
e Proceeded and just before we had got to an old building
road, we met another man. He said it was dark.
7e did not speak, but said " Hum." When we got to the
old building we separated. Joseph and William Mosley
Went over the hedge on the left side of the road, and I went
Over on the right. We then went on till we got a few
lards above the gate, where William Mosley on the left and
fen the right of the road stopped ; but Joseph went on a
w Yards below the gate. While I remained in my place
Ptaan came up the road and passed by me. He had
tassed by Joseph, who knew that he was not one of the Ash-
:ns• After he had passed by me, I became impatient and
ent on a little below the gate, when I heard some one
iiCO ,ng along the road whistling. I sat down under the hedge
his man (who was one of the Mr. Ashtong, though I did
1,;„ 'mow it) came opposite to me. I then heard Joseph Mos-
„.Y get over the hedge. I got up and saw Joseph meet Mr.
Alan
en when he had gone five or six yards past me. Mr. Ash-
'„ ,M43pped aside and stood with his back towards me. Jo-
:s.Pn got between him and the hedge and discharged the pistol
Into his
body. He fell on his back across the road. I did not
ulna after he fell. I ran off. I think the man who last
rassed by me on the road before Mr. Ashton, could not have
tot so far as not to have heard the report of the pistol. I did
of see either Joseph or William Mosley after the pistol was
Ple", until we met on the canal bridge as agreed upon in the
antation. It was then settled that they should go together
45 the left side of the road down in the field between Mr.
''uton s house and the factory to the bridge where the legs
ins
were. When I was going on the bridge on the field side
tath saw a man about twenty yards from the bridge on the towing
side. He saw me but I did not speak. I was in great
ataso, and do not know whether he spoke to me or not.
,t„ steY3 said they had not been seen by any one. We
said a few minutes on the bridge. Joseph Mosley
1, we should swear to secrecy, and we all three—on our
knees,--took an oath, and prayed Gon to strike us dead,
vve told what had been done ! While we were
the bridge, a man passed along the towing-
a"l He said nothing, and might not have seen us. It was
thte°tlB,,night, rather dark, though starlight. When we left
wh ""ute, and were on the towing-path, we considered
beether Joseph or William Mosley should go to Ashton to
Iticrin the union that the job was done and to draw the money.
get as determined that William should go. Joseph wanted to
i,.„h:°„tne, having a wife and family, and one of his children
b;T• William went
heatdrectly from the bridge to Ashton.
t11)--?,,u and I went on wing-path till we came to Hyde-
wasutinel. We met (overtook) Boothman's coal-boat. It
111a,.,;IMPtY, and had just entered the tunnel in the direction of
thc,- 'Ca- There was one man in the boat, and another driving
sai-,C,"se- The driver of the horse said it was dark,, and we
said IT." The man replied, "Is that thee, Joe ? ' and he
hors 'V." The boat entered the tunnel; the man took the
lsitii:f; and lid him over the tunnel. He said we were in a
tintJo' and said something more, but I did not hear him dis-
° When we reached the locks, Joseph took the field-
l'olth to Marple bridge, and I went by the canal side to Barns-
lion; I got home. I met Joseph Mosley next morning at
there-ngsworth's-bridge. We went into the field and stopped
Nik about half an hour. An old man, called Old
said w working on the bank near the bridge. Joseph
job f that` illiam had brought him the money for the
the r°Tn the spinners' union, and that we were to meet
swo_next Monday night, at Dan Bank, to divide it. He
r,e that if I told he would bring me into it, and that if I got
did the unions would put an end to my life. I asked him if he
that iilot after think what he had done. He said he did not;
hird
oeiwould shoot all the Ashtons, if the unions would give
Ashto • a-piece. I know no particular reason why one of the
hein se we fixed upon, but that they had the character of
Sephg severe with their men. On the Monday following, Jo-
I, and William Mosley, a union-man and I, met at Dan
Side, ' I did Wood to divide the money. Joseph took me on one
s, not know the man, and I would not speak. Jo-
-41". aid I need not be afraid, that he was one of the union
he be Ile offered me 3/. but I would not take it. He said
verai
tt,eved we had shot the wrong man, and offered it me se-
°llr folk es, but I refused it, and would not take it. I thought
hetta would know that I had got money, and that it might
nie• We separated in about a quarter of an hour.
110
els went to Stockport ; I returned home. I have had
Wistedee of mind since the job. I have been cast down ; and
into trouble have told, but durst not speak for fear of getting
The Contents of the foregoipg confession were distinctly read
Over to me, James Garside, in the presence and hearingof
Joseph Mosley and William Mosley ; and I declare the
same to be true, and that I have made the same voluntarily.
Taken before us this 6th da of August, 1834
JA,MES GARSIDE.
R• J. CLARKE,yG. W. NEWTON, J. WRIGHT.

amongst
there can exceed the sensation created in this town, and
the est of the manufacturing particularly
STOCKPORT,distrie SATURDAY..
pre unions, by the exposure of the supposed
lof the mur-
4ereersedings of the spinners' union at the trifl Mills,
and the
re„it_of Mr. Thomas Ashton, of Apthorne
sh4i, of ten days, in consequence of the dispute between The the
_
forra.n, has also added materially to the excitement.
appr';l°o Fecently arrived at by the Magistrates has causfedtitmhee
ilas
been of Schofield, a person who for a length o
liiht, :4" an active agitator amongst the unions, and the man
wa,,:Lands charged with having paid the assassins their blood-
xxio4s 13f 31. 6s. Bd. each, and as the inquiries progress, the
1,"
s,,aful disclosures, tending to criminate the whole commit-
po,,,,`,ll?e spinners's unions in 1831, are elicited, and its is sup-
rtioZ. that the charge of having instructed Schofield to pay the
ThesteY to the murderers will he brought home to them. It is al-
the loopossible uto bring to light the names of all the members
ciave nion, even if it can be proved that they, in secret con-
Setilt',aPProved of the shocking deed, but there is no great dif-
upiur' 'a aseertalning who were the managing Committe of the
tlae
guest, onion From oeriod of the murder ' and then comes
ion whence did Schofield' procure the 10/. ?
...