The Sun. — 1842-12-26 (London, England)

ILKLEY. On Saturday morning last, the inhabitants of Ilkley, Addingham, and the neighbourhood, were horrified by the finding of the murdered body of a man, aged about 50 years, in a field in the township of Nesfield, through which the public highway from Ilkley to Beamsley and Bolton Bridge passes, about a mile distant from Middleton Lodge, the residence of W. Middleton, Esq., and less than a mile distant from the village of Ilkley. The gamekeepers and watchers of Mr. Middleton (six in number) found the body about two o'clock on Saturday morning. Life was not then quite extinct. The deceased was laid on his right side, and his hat over his face. On the keepers attempting to raise him up, and on removing his hat, they discovered that his head was broken to pieces, and his hat nearly filled with blood. He expired immediately on being moved. A short walking-stick with a most formidable head was found by the body, covered with blood. The body was then moved to Ilkley, by the constable, whom the keepers at once applied to, and the body was identified as that of Wm. Hustwick, of Beamsley, a labourer, who, it was ascertained, had left Ilkley about half-past ten o'clock the night before, in company with his cousin, Joseph Hey, of Beamsley, a carpenter. On the body being undressed, a most frightful spectacle was presented. Although the face was not much difigured, the head was literally smashed to pieces, and almost the entire body lino. limbs were covered with bruises. Hey was immediately inquired after, and taken into custody, to await the result of the Coroner's inquest, which was held on Monday before Thomas Brown, Esq., of Skipton, and a respectable Jury chosen from the townships of Nesfield, and Addingharn ; G. 0. Green, Esq., of Woodhouse* was foreman. E. C. L. Kaye, Esq., of Farfield tlie nearest resident Magistrate, was also in the jury* room, with several neighbouring gentlemen, and a crowd of other spectators, There was great excitement exhibited during the examination of the witnesses, which occupied about seven hours ; but the material facts deposed to may be more briefly stated. John Lister, of Ilkley, innkeeper, proved that the deceased and Joseph Hey, both of whom he well knew, came together into his house on Friday evening, and that they left in company together. Thomas Hardwick, the house watcher at Middleton Lodge, said—At ten minutes or a quarter-past 12 he heard a distant noise from the direction of the river where the body was found (distance a mile). The night was windy. It was a man's voice. He went to the front of the house to hear more distinctly, and walked backward and forward for an hour, during all which time lie heard repeated sounds from the same quarter, as of blows, or as if stones were thrown into the river, and occasionally from the same voice he thought he heard words like " Help me up," or " Let me get up," but could not be certain. About one o'clock the sounds ceased. About half-past one the keepers came to him at the lodge. He mentioned what he had heard, and set off to lead the keepers to about the place where the sounds came from. He led them almost direct to the place. After all the evidence had been heard, Joseph Hey said,—" After going a short way, deceased began to stagger, I took hold of his arm. We went gently on. lie would sic down. We got too near the limekiln. lie then lay down and said lie would stop, I said, say, come on. He said, I'll lie down a bit and then follow thee. I then left him. He went on to state how he had proceeded homewards, sitting down in different places, hearing a clock strike twelve, and getting home at two. The Jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder," against some person or persons unknown. The murdered man was not married. Hey, after the verdict, was set at liberty, and attended the funeralis of the deceased next day by invitation of h friends.—Leeds Mercury of Saturday.