The Sun. — 1844-07-22 (London, England)

CRESWELL.) THE BRADFORD MURDER.—John 0' Bryan,Thomas Ragan, Daniel Powir, Wm. Quinn, and Daniel Donoran, were indicted, with a person named 1114 Cami, who was not in ens14.dy, for the wilful murder of Benjamin Gott, at Bradford. Mr.euss stated to the jury that on Whit-Monday there had been 1,..n Orange Lodge procession in Bradford, which was .accompanied by a band, who were attacked by a mob, among ivhoin Were the prisoners, when Benjamin Gott, one of its members, was kills j• 'Menus Thornton— Is one of the Idle and Calrerly band. Benjamin Gott was one. On Whit-Monday he went to play for an Orange Lodge at Bra,:. cord. We met at Bradfordmoor, and played by ourelves tfi.' we got to Steetin-lane, ,one mire and a half from Bradford. lodge met us there. "We then went through Bradford to Hon...'n and Thornton ; &woke up at Thornton and returned to Bram.'rd. We did not play at Thornton till we came to Bradford; we then played down Westgate, and near the Royal Oak a ....nal' made a bit of confusion, and stopped the drum. Plenty more were near. The tune was " The Huddersfield .quick step." We had played the " Boyne Water" ;in Bradford at noon, when we first went through. INobody stopped but me and the drum. I played the keyed I and the drummer afterwards went forward. IVe played another tune, called the " Trumpet quick step." We vent on to the Church-bridge, and there we gave up playing. We then went by Church-bank, up Backer-end to Undercliff, just out of Bradford. This was our straight road home. A party followed us up from behind. He who had attacked the drummer was first ; he had a yellow walking-stick. He struck Charles Naylor, the Bradford old band drummer. He -% as again with us without his drum. He struck Naylor very hard three or four times. I made my escape ; and ilooking behind, I saw Jonathan Thorps, the Undercliff consaable. He said, " Let us find them out." Before I got a,7055 the road I was knocked down first with fists, and then ri,gi sticks. I was felled seven times within a yard or two of !P:gamin Gott. There were a good many at him on the ground. I saw them strike him several times with shillelah3. I heard him cry out the first blow I saw him get. He was en the ground. I saw a man with a stone in his hand ; he plashed it down. I could not see if it hit him, so many were round. I made my escape. I was leaning over a garden wail, about fifty yards off, bleeding, and some came past me with Gott. I saw him afterwards dead. Cross-examined by. Mr. HEATon—There was another band ,Aith us. Several lodges and two bands went together. One and Jed the precession, the other went behind. We played lie " eoyne Water" only once. Old tunes are often published witi: new names. Our band was thirteen, the other •venteen iv number. The procession might be 200. It as a holiday in Bradford. I saw no excitement. I have ,ayed many a time through Bradford. I saw no difference len to other days. The streets were crowded. Cross-examined by Mr. Wriainis—Only one of the band was an Orangeman. The music played was given by the )range Lodge to the band to play. There were three or four orange flags. I heard no groaning and hooting at the people by the procession. After the stone was thrown at the irieura it was kicked. It was knocked nearly all to pieces. xi great many persons struck Gott. I could not tell any of .them but M'Cann. He struck with the yellow walkingst,',eir thick and heavy. We also played "-Hants of Oak," and "Lion quick step." Neither of them is "Crop Pies lie down'? Y Mr.