The Sun. — 1866-08-03 (London, England)

THE HOPWOOD MURDER. James Burrows, 18, was indicted for having, at Hopwood (on the read from Manchester to Rochdale, and near Rochdale), on the 21st of May, killed and murdered John Brennan, an Irishman. Mr. Holker and Mr. Addison appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Torr for the prisoner. The prisoner is the son of Mr. Burrows, a farmer who keeps the Hopwood Arms inn. On Saturday, May 19, Mr. Burrows engaged Brennan to work for him. On Sunday, May 20, a man named Henry Clegg was at another publichouse, the Jolly Waggoners, only, a short distance from the Hopwood Arms, and met the prisoner and Brennan there. Clegg says he saw the prisoner borrow half-a-crown from Brennan, but a few minutes afterwards prisoner paid hip back. Next day Clegg again went to the Jolly Waggoners a little before 1 o'clock. The landlord and the prisoner, and a man named Taylor, who was brewing, were with other company in the tap-room drinking. About 3 o'clock, when Clegg got up to leave, prisoner proposed to go to Rochdale. Clegg said he had not got money enough to go there, and the prisoner said, " Let us go to Johnny (the deceased) in yon field, and borrow half a sovereign off him ;" he said they could then go to Blue Pits and take the train to Rochdale. They went towards the field, but Clegg remained behind while the prisoner went and talked with Brennan. He then saw the prisoner and Brennan (who had been ploughing) leave the field, taking the horse with them, and go towards the Hopwood Arms. He followed and watched them into the stable, and. remained waiting for prisoner about 20 minutes. Finding he did not come back he was about to start for Blue Pits alone, when having to pass within ten yards of the stable, the prisoner came out and went with him up the high road towards the Jolly Waggoners. Clegg said— " How bast thou got on ?" and prisoner said, " He would not lend me a halfpenny." Clegg said, " Where is he ?" and prisoner replied, " I left him in the stable." When they got to the Jolly Waggoners they went into the tap-room,but the prisoner went on to the brewhouse, and came afterwards to the tap-room. Ile had then got off his collar, necktie, and jacket, and appeared to have been washing. Taylor afterwards came into the tap-room, and he and the prisoner went out into a field to fight for half a gallon of ale. Taylor made prisoner's nose bleed, and they then came back, and prisoner paid for the ale. About five o'clock one of the prisoner's sisters was sent to the stable by her father to give the horse some hay ; she found Brennan lying on the stable floor near the horse quite dead, with blood on his face. She returned and told her brother that the horse had killed the Irishman. The evidence of Taylor, the brewer, was that about 9 or 10 o'clock on the morning of the 21st of May, tho prisoner at the Jolly Waggoners borrowed a shilling from him. He saw Clegg and the prisoner leave together between three and four o'clock, and noticed that they were away about three-quarters of an hour. When they returned prisoner came into the brewhouse and gave him back the shilling he had borrowed. He then asked witness for water to wash in, and being supplied with it he stripped off his jacket, necktie, and collar, and used soap and towel. Witness saw blood on his collar, necktie, and face, and asked him what he had been doing ? Prisoner replied, " I've killed yon in the stable." Witness said, " Thou never has," and he replied, " I have." Witness said, " Thou never has--what hast thou done i t with ?" and he replied, " I've killed him with a crowbar." Witness asked him what he bade found out. the crowbar, and told him he would b be done with wall where it He said he had put it in a hole bitillilding was pulled could never be found till htheewas afraid of no one down. Prisoner also saidas his reason for the crime except Clegg, and that Brennan wouldganvoet lend After the him anabovey money, and he took Bs. 6d. from him. conversation prisoner burnt his collar and necktie in the brewhouse fire, and then went into the taproom. The case lasted till late in the evening, when, according to a telegram, The jury found the prisoner Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. The learned judge, in a crowded and excited court, passed sentence of death.