The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-10-19 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HORRID MURDER AT DARFIELD, NEAR BARNSLEY.— II is our painful duty to lay before our readers the following particulars connected with one of the most diabolical and coolly-premeditated murders that has ever been committed in this part of the country. What renders the event, if possible, more shocking, is the fact that the unfortunate victim was assassinated by mistake, owing, it is supposed, to his being in age, appearance, and dress, very similar to the person marked out for the murderers' dreadful pursese. The deceased was a young man of the name of Thomas Depledge, about 21 years of age, and was a farming servant in the service of Mr. Timothy Heptenstall, of Billingley, near Darfield. The murder was committed on the turnpike road between those two places, and very near the cross roads leading from Darfield to Doncaster, Pontefract, and Rotherham. It appears, that on the night of Monday last, two boat-haulers, named Joseph and William Lodge, residing at Wombwell, were returning from Barnsley fair ; and when they had got as far as Measbrough Hill, a short distance from Barnsley, they became engaged in a quarrel with two men, named Marsden and Mills, who were walking on the road. Joseph Lodge got off his horse, and attacked the two men ; giving one a severe bite on the cheeek, and almost biting the fingers off the hand of the other. He received himself some very severe scratches and bruises, which seem to have exasperated him, and roused him to a determination of deadly revenge. Marsden and Mills having picked up the hat which Joseph Lodge had lost in the scuffle, proceeded on their road home, and called at the Ring of Bells public-house at Darfield Bridge, where they met with Thomas Depledge and some companions, who were also returning from the fair. In the meantime, the two Lodges, who are brothers, had gone back to Barnsley, evidently with the intention of collecting a force for the purpose of assisting in their revengeful purpose. They called with their companions, one of whom was a nephew named John Lodge, at all the beer-houses and public-houses on the road ; and at length, their friends having left them, the three Lodges entered the public-house at Darfield-bridge, where they found Joseph's hat on the table, and saw the two men with whom they had quarrelled. Some suspicious expaesions fell from them there ; and they were perceived to be watching for Marsden and Mills leaving the house. Some evil purpose was so apparent, that Mills was strongly advised not to leave the house that night. At length, however, Marsden and Mills, along with Depledge and several others, left the house, and proceeded homewards, towards Billingley. When they had got to the Milnhouses, a short distance from Darfield, the two former went forward before the others. At the cross roads they had- gained ground a good deal ; and near this place, Depledge. it is sup-posed, in consequence of hearing footsteps behind, and wishful to apprise the men of some danger, left his friends, and proceeded forward at a quicker pace. Joseph and William Lodge then came up, spoke to hedge stake. W the party behind, and walked sharply past. One was in his shirt sleeves, which were doubled up, and carried a large lying hats they had gone about one hundred yards _further, a very severe blow was heard by those who were in the rear. They hastened forward, and found their companion Depledge• imme •bleeding on the road. On raising him up, he immediately expired. His mouth and nose were bleeding profusely, and it was found that he had received a dreadful and corupletelayeetiawththt,ineehd blow on the f hiat.d briohkeenliftellieessbobnoedsy ofwa sh tsn nose,m ed idirectly after the murLeen ately conveyed by speed, passed a large hedge companions to Milnhouses. Almost by the constable ; and Ofee to two Lodges, running at full stake, which was afterwards found to Wombwell, where they ywer:nb turned down a lane leading taken into custody the same night. John Lodge, the nenttl' , had left them at Darfield-bridge. An in9uest was heldp oenw Wednesday, when the jury returned a verdict of wilful body on mWilliam Lodge, who were committed, against Joseph and , under the coroner's warrant, to take their trial at the ensuing assizes.— Doecoter Gazette.