The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1872-08-10 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

WEDNESDAY. THE SKIPTON MURDER.  Edward Lyon, alias Lyons, 33, labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of Mary Lyon, at Skipton, on the 28th March. The prisoner, on being called upon to plead, said "I don't know anything about it." His Lordship questioned whether or not the prisoner was in such a state of mind as to be able to plead, and he ordered a surgeon to be sent for. This gentleman having certified the prisoner's ability to plead, Mr. Forbes opened the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Tennant was instructed by his Lordship to undertake the defence. Mr. Forbes said that early in the morning (two o'clock) of the 28th of March, a policeman, named Thomas Tillotson, was on duty in Skipton, and there found the prisoner, who was walking about the streets. The officer asked him what he was doing out so early in the morning, whereupon he replied, "I am taking a walk." Tillotson replied, "You had better go home," and on his saying this the prisoner went down a passage. The constable went on his beat, but he had not gone far when he heard a scream proceed from the direction in which the prisoner had gone. He turned back, and went up the passage, when he found Lyon in a fit. He went for assistance, but before he came back the man had got up, and was about to go away. Tillotson went with him and advised him to go home. He consenting to do so, the policeman went with him home, but he altered his mind before he entered the house, and refused to go inside the door. However, by dint of persuasion, -Tillotson got Lyon inside the house, and he promised that he would not go out again. The former, on this understanding being arrived at, left the house, leaving the prisoner sitting on one side of the hearth and his mother sitting on the other. This was in Watson's Buildings, Skipton, at which place he lived with the old lady. During the course of that morning a neighbour heard groans proceeding from Mrs. Lyon's house, and heard her shout, "Oh, don't 1" She (the neighbour) then looked through the window of the deceased's house, and saw the prisoner strike his mother with the poker several times on the head. On seeing this she shouted for assistance, and threatened to go into the house if he did not desist from hitting the old lady. His mother's face was covered with blood. The house door was locked, but the prisoner unlocked it, and ran out of the house. About seven o'clock in the morning a policeman found the prisoner laid in a passage at some distance from his mother's residence, with his throat cut in a fearful manner. The officer who found him charged him with having attempted to commit suicide, and took him to the police-office. Here they had a long conversation, and while they were talking, intelligence of the murder was taken to the station. The policeman then. said "Here's a bonny mess you have made of it ; " and the prisoner then replied "Oh, I heard the Rifles were going to kill my mother, so I thought I might as well do it; and then kill myself." After evidence had been given in support of the above facts, Mr. Tennant addressed the jury for the prisoner, contending that the very acts of the man pointed to lunacy. He had suffered severely from epileptic fits, and these had affected his mind; he did not know what he was doing at the time of the murder, and he (the counsel) asked for an acquittal on the ground of insanity.—His lordship summed up in favour of the theory set up by the defence, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity. The prisoner was then ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure.