DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0068
52
EXTRAORDINARY MURDER.
came to fodder the cattle. The child indeed was found
the next morning, but it was dead, in consequence of being
left all night in the cold.
Not long afterwards, Charles, having some difference
with his brother, mentioned the affair to his father, who
enjoined him never to speak of it again. It was accord-
ingly kept a secret till the old gentleman’s death, which
happened about the year 1747, when he was in his 102d
year. Charles having occasion, soon after this event, to
call on Mr. Cooke, an attorney, of Derby, on parish
business, related to him the whole affair. Mr. Cooke said
he ought to go to a magistrate, and make a full discovery.
He accordingly went to Justice Gisborne, but that gentle-
man told him, it would be better to be silent, as it was
an affair of long standing, and might hang half the
family. After this Charles mentioned it to several other
persons.
Charles, at this time, was far from being in easy cir-
cumstances. He kept a little ale-house at a gate leading
to his brother’s habitation; and though he used fre-
quently to open the gate for him, pulling off his hat at the
same time, yet William would never speak to him. Not
only his brother, but the whole country round had reason
to complain of his churlishness and rigour ; he would
scarcely suffer a person who was not qualified to keep
a dog or a gun, so that he was universally feared and
hated.
About the year 1754, Charles being very ill of a flux,
sent for Mr. John White, of Ripley, and said he was a
dying man, and could not go out of the world without
disclosing his mind to him, and acquainted him with the
incest and murder. Mr. White said it was a delicate bu-
siness, and he knew not what to advise. A few days
afterwards, Mr. White seeing him surprisingly recovered,
asked him to what it was owing, to which Charles re-
plied,
EXTRAORDINARY MURDER.
came to fodder the cattle. The child indeed was found
the next morning, but it was dead, in consequence of being
left all night in the cold.
Not long afterwards, Charles, having some difference
with his brother, mentioned the affair to his father, who
enjoined him never to speak of it again. It was accord-
ingly kept a secret till the old gentleman’s death, which
happened about the year 1747, when he was in his 102d
year. Charles having occasion, soon after this event, to
call on Mr. Cooke, an attorney, of Derby, on parish
business, related to him the whole affair. Mr. Cooke said
he ought to go to a magistrate, and make a full discovery.
He accordingly went to Justice Gisborne, but that gentle-
man told him, it would be better to be silent, as it was
an affair of long standing, and might hang half the
family. After this Charles mentioned it to several other
persons.
Charles, at this time, was far from being in easy cir-
cumstances. He kept a little ale-house at a gate leading
to his brother’s habitation; and though he used fre-
quently to open the gate for him, pulling off his hat at the
same time, yet William would never speak to him. Not
only his brother, but the whole country round had reason
to complain of his churlishness and rigour ; he would
scarcely suffer a person who was not qualified to keep
a dog or a gun, so that he was universally feared and
hated.
About the year 1754, Charles being very ill of a flux,
sent for Mr. John White, of Ripley, and said he was a
dying man, and could not go out of the world without
disclosing his mind to him, and acquainted him with the
incest and murder. Mr. White said it was a delicate bu-
siness, and he knew not what to advise. A few days
afterwards, Mr. White seeing him surprisingly recovered,
asked him to what it was owing, to which Charles re-
plied,