Catalogue description Folios 305-316. Enclosed statements from [Christopher Jewison] Coroner, Rothwell, Leeds,...

Folios 305-316. Enclosed statements from [Christopher Jewison] Coroner, Rothwell, Leeds, [Yorkshire West Riding], stating that he recently held an inquest into the death of James Benson at Farsley in Calverley. A verdict of wilful murder by a number of persons unknown was found. He consulted with other magistrates who stated that government would offer £100 and a pardon. He was afraid this would not be enough inducement. Those who give evidence would not be able to get employment. Other workmen would not work with him and his life would be in danger.

He stated that so alarming was the combination called the 'Trades Union', that it extended through every manufacturing town and village. It was evident that they were afraid to give assistance in the enquiry. Tradesmen were contributing to its funds for self-preservation. The parish constable was also a member.

A number of villagers could bring this 'wicked transaction' to light but a greater inducement was required. Most of the 30 or 40 persons had had no intention to kill - only to inflict bodily harm, but some men may have had such intentions. A heavy weapon was used.

Statements of eleven witnesses. Liberty of Pontefract. Information of witnesses taken at Calverley in the house of John Cockshott, sign of the Golden Fleece, before Christopher Jewison, following the death of James Benson:

• William Johnston, surgeon: that he was sent for and went to Abimelech Hainsworth's and found the deceased in bed. He examined him and sent for Mr Cooper, surgeon from Bradford. The next morning he was informed that he was dead. He and Cooper made a post mortem examination.
• John Clayton Cooper: surgeon, Bradford, confirmed the above.
• Maria Benson: the deceased was her brother and was a cloth weaver and a native of Ireland. He worked for Abimelech Hainsworth and was weaving for him the night he died with John Bannister and his son James Bannister; she worked on a nearby loom. They went home through some fields leading to the Barr House on the turnpike road in Bramley when two men appeared in front of them, then 30 or 40, some with sticks and attacked her brother. She ran for help, a man chased and beat her, she got away and ran to Abimelech Hainsworth's house. George Hainsworth and William Neale went to see what had happened and Neale carried him back insensible with a large lump on his head. He died about 5 o'clock next morning. She described the man who chased and beat her. Her brother was described by the men as a 'Black Sheep'. Sometimes they went home through Stanningley and were taunted with shouts of 'Baa black sheep' and 'we will have satisfaction soon, we will kill you'.
• John Hainsworth, clothier, son of Abimelech Hainsworth: Benson was a quiet man who had worked for his father about 2 or 3 years. He stated William Pearson had been 'baa-ing' outside William Naylor's house. Naylor did not support the union.

Adjourned examination of witnesses on 12 December:

• Charles Fewster, stonemason, Bay Horse Inn, Farsley: the society called the Clothiers Union met at his house, also a Death Brief Society and a Cow Club. The union met in an upstairs room soundproofed by boarding. There were often between 20 and 40 there. Although he had lived there 17 years and they were mostly local men he did not know the names of most only William Barron and David Barron. There were also some from Leeds and the neighbouring townships. One was John Powlett also known as Pollard, There were also other men named Powlett.
• Mary Fewster, wife of Charles Fewster, and Maria Fewster, their daughter: Mary said the men often had a doorkeeper and sometimes he had a stick and a sword. Maria had been out with her friend Frances Procter visiting Frances' aunt Rebecca Dowgill. They named many men who attended the meetings mostly from Farsley and Bagley.
• Charles Fewster, re-examined: remembered more names: Thomas Ackroyd, David Allerton, Isaac Allerton, Jeremiah Allerton, David Barron, William Barron, John Barrons, John Brook, William Brook, James Dowgill, Samuel Dowgill, William Dowgill, David Fox, Joshua Greaves, Abimelech Hainsworth, John Hainsworth, William Hargreaves, James Hartley, William Hollings, John Isles, William Johnson, Abraham Keighley, Ishmael Keighley, Samuel Keighley, Samuel Keighley in the square, William Keighley, John Lee, Matthew Lee, John Lister, Abraham Marshall, Thomas Newsome, John Overend, Joseph Overend, Samuel Overend, Thomas Parkinson, William Pearson, Joseph Procter, Joseph Raistrick, Joseph Ross, John Turner, James Walker, John Walker, Thomas Walker, Joseph Walton, Benjamin Ward, Benjamin Ward top of the hill, David Ward, George Ward, Joseph Ward, Thomas Ward and John Whitaker.
• George Hainsworth, clothier who worked for his father Abimelech Hainsworth: his father had had some dispute with his men, and Simeon Pollard had told him he was going to see his father about the strike and take him a paper. On Wednesday evening Maria Benson had come to his father's and said they were going to kill her brother. He and William Holdsworth set out and had found him wounded in a field a short distance from Farsley, near the footpath leading to Stanningley. William Holdsworth carried him to Abimelech Hainsworth's house. There was a lump on the back of his head. As they went for the doctor past Stanningley Turnpike Barr at least half a score persons came out of the lane leading to the place where he was found. Benson died at about 5 o'clock next morning, and had not spoken since he was found.
• Abraham Grimshaw, cloth maker, Farsley: people called Barron and Thomas Ackroyd came to his house on Wednesday night. Barron had worked for him lately but Ackroyd had never worked for him. When his daughter came home from chapel he told them it was time to go, but they stayed until about 10 o'clock.
• Joseph Ross: went to Charles Fewster's the previous Wednesday night. He did not hear the misfortune mentioned in the room, and Henry Walker told him of it as he went home.
• Christopher Benson, the father of the deceased: had been in the Clothier's Union himself and became a member 2 or 3 years ago at the request of Mr Joseph Haley of Bramley to see if there was anything particular against him in regard to his machinery. He paid a shilling to join and an oath was administered. He was blindfolded and received the password, which at that time was Alpha and Omega. He was then walked about the room while a great noise was made with a sheet of iron and they sang a hymn. The bandage was removed and in front of him was a picture of death of the full stature of a man and a drawn sword. He was blindfolded again, they stamped on the floor at a given signal, and when he kneeled down and the bandage was taken off, a Bible was in front of him and his hand was placed upon it. The Great Psalm was then read and he was sworn to obey the commands of the union committee and to keep their secrets. If not, he was required to wish he might be burned in the lowest part of hell to all eternity, and after he had subscribed to this he was made a member.

Verdict: that Benson was 'waylaid by a great number of persons… unknown…'. They beat on the head fracturing his skull, and rupturing one of the large blood vessels causing an extravasation of blood upon brain and died the next morning. The deceased 'had become obnoxious' to the men of the Clothiers Union by 'refusing to leave his employment and join them in their attempts to compel his master Abimelech Hainsworth to submit to the dictation of the committee by paying his workmen such wages as they proposed and receiving into his service only such men as the committee approved'.

[Folios 314 and 315 blank.]