Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-18
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF JONATHAN BRADFORD.

Circumstant:al evi-ence has brought
to his death many a criminal and no
doubt not a few innocent persons, but
one of the most remarkable incidents
on record is where q man was hung
upon such evidence, Mo N no way was
guilty, except at heart. Tor he intended
committing the deed which someone
had committed before him and for
which he paid the penalty.
Jonathan Bradford vas executed at
Oxford, Eng. in the year 1736 for the
murder Of Christopher Hayes, ESQ.
Bradford kept an inn on the road from
London to Oxford and bore an execp-
tioEal character. Mr.. Hayes, a gentle
man Of fortune. was on his way to visit
relative and lodged at Bradford's
house. He was travelling in company
with two 0 tler gentlemen and while
they were at supper he unguar1edly
, mentioned that he had a large sum of
money about him.
In due time the party retired to their
respective chambers, the two friends
in a double-bedded room. Some hours
after they had retired they heard
GToans coming from an adjoining
chamber. They went to investigate
and as they entered Hayes room they
found a man standing over him with a
dark lantern in one hand and a knife in
the other The man seemed as petri-
fed as themselves. The gentlemen dis
; covered that the man was no other
than their host.
They seized Bradford, disarmed him
of his knife, and charged him With be-
ing the murderer. By this time he had
/ recovered 3ais composure, assumed an
; air OF innocence, positively denied the
0l.IVFl nj tod
/ with the same humane intentions as
thew had cone
These assertions were Of little avail.
Bradford was kept In custody till the
morning, and then taken before the
neighboripg Justice of the peace. He
still resolutely denied his crime. but
with such an apparent indication of
guilt that the justice made use of the
extraordinary expression. "Mr. Brad
ford, either you or I committed the
murder"
This extraordinary affair naturally
becs me the conversation Of the whole
country. Bra aford was tried and con.
demned. He pleaded mot e-,1fltv.n bu,
nothing could be more conclusive thar
the deDasitions of the two gentlemen
They testified TO the fndinq of Have,
murdered IN his bed Bradford at the
side of the body with a Iieht and :
'rr'fe; the knife and the hand whfcI
held It bloody; on their entering tht
room he betrayed all the Sims If 3
Fulfv man, and few moments before
) thew had heard the groans Of the de-
ceased
: Rraaford's defense was that hearin,
; a noise he had secured light and :
l Knife and hestened to the room. anl
> the terrors he displayed ware rna-e1y
: those Of huma nitv on beheld'ng sucb .
e horrible scene. But this defense wa
considered weak, centrasted with III
t powerful circumstances against hi,,,
E Never was circumstantial evi1e,sU
. more conclusive. There was little nea,
: OF commitment from the tu1ge In sum
! ming up the case. The fury pronounce
the prisoner guilty without even Ieatin,
e the box.
s Jonathan Bradfo was executed :,
due course of the law still declaring h
was not the murdered, but he died IN
i pitied and eisbelieved by all. Yet wer
i these assertions not untrue. The mur
= der was actually committed by M,
r Hpves' footrnan who. immediately q
9 stabeiHg his master, rifIed his breeehe
e pockets Of his monev cod watch an
i snufTbox and esean . 1lnobserved !,
his own room. This could scarcAI
II have been five minutes before BRA ror
entered the unfortunate mans chambe
n Bradford though innocent and not
n PartT to the murder for which he sulffe
e ed the extreme penalty was neverthele,
IS the murderer in design. He had hear
!: as well as the footman, what Mr.. Hay,
& had said at supper as to his having
a large sum Of money about him and /
l went to the chamber with the same di
h bolieal intention as the servant He W;
/, struck with amazement. He could n
le believe his senses; but in turning bat
G the bed clothes to assure himself Of Il
is fact. he in his agitation dronped Il
le knife on the bleeding body. by which DO
Il his hands and the weapon became blood
ot These circumstances he Acknowledged
ID the clergyman who attended him aft
a | his sentence. A sensational drama "
a written on the subject of Jonathan Bra
N ford.