THE SHEFFIELD OUTRAGES. SHOCKING DISCLOSURES.

West Coast Times, Issue 598, 24 August 1867, Page 2

THE SHEFFIELD OUTRAGES. SHOCKING DISCLOSURES.

Evidence of a very extraordinary character was given before the Trades Outrage Commission at Sheffield on June 17. Lost wesk the commissioners sent a saw-grinder named James Hallani to gaol for six weeks for contempt of court in refusing to answer the questions put to him. Having had leisure for re» flection, and having received the promise of a full indemnity if he made a frank confession, he seems to have altered his determination, and accordingly he now told the commissioners one of the most extraordinary and horrible stories ever related in a public court. In addition to confessing to a share in sundry cases of '• rattening," ho admitted that he and a man named Crookes attempted to blow, up the place of a firm called Wheatman and Smith ; that he with the same accomplice shot a man called Linley, inflicting fatal injuries upon him ; and that he endeavoured to kill another man named Button with a life-preserve, which he made for the purpese. All these persons had offended against the union, and he was paid for committing each of the crimes which he now acknowledged. In the case of Linley, Broadhead, the secretary, hired him and Crookes to commit the murder for the sum of Lls, and he received L 7 from an official named Broomhead for his attack upon Sutton Crookes confirmed the evidence of Hallam bo • far as it related to the crimes in .which they had been jointly concerned. After describing the blowing up of Wheatman and Smith's place by himself and another man with gunpowder supplied by Broadhead, the trade union agent, Hallam came to the shooting of a man named Linley. The examination then -« proceeded as follows :—: —

Mr Overend — Now I have to ask you a question. Do you recollect the time when Linley was shot? About the time? — Yea. Now, on the Saturday night before Linley was shot, were you not seen in Wilson's snug with a pistol in your pocket? — (No answer; the witness showed signs of distress, his breathing became heavy, and his face wore an expression of anxiety.) On the Saturday night before Linley was shot, were you not seen in Wilson's snug in Westbar with a pistol in your pocket ? —(The witness's emotion was rapidly increasing.) Say yes or no. — After a slight pause the witness collected himself, and answered — Yes, I was. (Sensation.) Where did you get that pistol from ? — (No answer.) Where did you get that {pistol from ? — (No answer, tho witness looking fixedly at Mr Overend, and apparently struggling with a choking sensation in the throat.) For what purpose did you buy the pistol? — (No answer.) You know, if you tell the truth you have nothing to be afraid of. You will ' bo entitled to your certificate if you tell the whole truth. Now, I ask you for what purpose did yon buy that pistol? — (No answer. The witness shook like a leaf from head to foot.) Answer the question. Now, for what purpose did you buy it? — The witness look fixedly at Mr Overend for a few seconds, and then, trembling so violently as scarcely to be able to support himself, he rose from his seat, staggered up to Mr Overend, and whispered something which could only be heard by the examiners. Mr / Orerend — Oh, we'll give you the indemnity if .- you will tell the truth. — Witness — And the party that was with me, too ? — Mr Overend — And him, too, if he will tell the truth — if he will come forward, and ask for his indemnity. You need not fear implicating anybody, for they will get their certificate. If a man comes forward and makes his statement, whoever you may implicate, lie will receive his certificate if he makes a fuil disclosure. Now, I ask you. — The witne3s attempted to stagger back to his seat, but was unable to guide himself to it, and Mr Jackson supported him. After sitting a second or two in the chair, trembling more violently than ever, he leaned back, and fainted.^ He Mas laid down upon the floor, and the usual means of restoration were applied, his hands being chafed, a smelling bottle applied to his nostrils, and brandy poured down his throat. In about five minutes iesL opened his eyes, made a convulsive srtatcljfa.? his throat, and relapsed into unconsciousness 1 .; ' He was then carried into an adjoining room, and laid upon au ottoman under an open window. After about a quarter of an hour he was led into Court again, weak as an infant, and trembling in every limb. His chair was placed opposite Mr Overend, and the shorthand writer and repdrters were obliged to approach quite close to him to catch the faint and husky whispers that fell from his lips. At times he was only preserved from fainting by the prompt administration of brandy. Mr Jackson kept close behind him, helpiug him to sit upright in his chair. Occasionally he was quite unable to speak, and abandoned himself to tears and sighs. Resting his head on his hand, and partly shielding his face from the gaze of the bystauders^ie gave, with downcast eyes and a distress painful to witness, the following melancholy details of the murder in which he had taken a leading part: — Mr Overend: Will you toll me for what purpose you bought that pistol? — Witness, sadly: To shoot Linley. Was there anybody associated or joined with you in shooting Linley?— Yes. Who was it?— Crookes. Who shot him — did you or Crookes? — The witness was unable for & moment to answer this question ; recovering himself, he said, in an all but inaudible whisper : I compelled Crookes to shoot him. What did he Bhoot him with?— An air gun. Had anybody set you to do this ?— At first the witness gave no answor; after a short pause,

'he said, " Not to shoot him." Had any person set you to do anything to him? — Witness, faintly and with some reluctance: Mr Broadhead. (Great sensation.) What did Mr Broadhead set you to do ? I asked him one day what he was doing with Linley, and he said he would have some conversation with me the next day. Did you see him the next day? — Yps. What did he Bay to you ? He asked me if I remembered the conversation of the previous day. Yes ? — I told him I did. Well, what did he say?— He asked me what I could do with him. What did you say? — I told him I would mate him (Linley) as he couldn't work any more. (Sensation.) What did he say to that? — He asked what I should want for doing it. What did you say ?— -I asked if L2O would he too much. What did he say ? — He said no, he should think not. Well, did you say you would do it ? — Yes, I said I would do it. Did you tell him how you would do it? — No. Well, now, how was it thatCrookes came into the matter ?— I saw him. When ?— The follewing day. Well, what did you say to him ? I told him I had got the job to do Linley. What did he say? — He asked me who I had seen. What did you tell him ?— I told him I had seen Broadhead. Well ?— I told him ■we were to have L2O. Here the witness was obliged to drink brandy and water to enable him to support the examination. — Well, what did he say to that? — He said that we should not get L2O. Well? — I 6aw him again. When was that ?— The week following. Well ? — We went to Broadhead's. Yes ; what did you go for ? — To see what we were to have. Did you see him ? — Crookes saw him alone. When lie came down he said we were to have Lls ; that was all he (Broadhead) would give. Yes ?— Then I went up. Well?— He told me he could not get above Lls, and we agreed to do it for that. Yes?— l gotLS off him. Yes ? — I bought a revolver. Did Crookes buy a revolver ? — He had a revolver. Well, what did you do, you and Crookes ? When you had (arranged this matter, how did you do it ?—? — *We followed Linley from one place to another. Yes ? — We found there was no chance with revolvers, and Crookes got an air-gun. Where did he get the air-gun, do you know ? —No. You were not witli him when he got the air-gun ?— No. Well, what did you do with the air-gun, did you try it, or what did you do ? — (Gaspingly.) ' That is what he shot him with. (Sensation. The witness was here obliged to drink brandy and water before he could proceed). Was Crookes a good shot ? — He was a pretty fair shot to get where he did. How to get where he did ? — To hit Linley. Had you ever used the gun at all before you" went to Linley to shoot him ? — (No answer.) Had you ever seen him shoot with it all ? — Yes. Where have you seen him shoot with it ? — I have seen him shoot with it at Ecclesall-wood. What was he doing shooting with it in Ecclesall-wood ? — Rabbits. What did he go and shoot rabbits for ? — We both went. Very well j now, you said you followed him. ' How loDg- do you think you followed Linley before he was shot ? — Between the time you saw Mr Broadhead and you shot Linley, how long do you think elapsed ? — I cannot tell exactly. Eve or six weeks. And hovr often did you go, in these five or six weeks, after him for the purpose of finding an opportunity of shooting him ? — Nearly every night but Sunday night. Where was it, and how was it done at last ? Where was he shot; in Scotland street? — Yes. Now tell me how it took place. Where was he ? — He was in the back room. Where were you and Crookes ? — We followed him from the American Stores, Westbar Green. Yes, you followed him from the American Stores to Scotland street. Was it to a public-house ?—? — Yes. What do they call it?— T-lie Crown Inn, I believe. And you say it was a back room ? Did you go in, or what did you do ? Did you go into the public-house? — No. What did you do? — I went into the back yard to look. Well, and could you see from the back yard into the room where Linley was sitting? — Yes, sir. Where was he sitting? He was sitting with his left hand to the window. What time at night ?—lt? — It was about nine o'clock, but I cannot say exactly. Where was Crookes ? — Crookes was in the street when I saw him. Well, what did you say afteryou saw him then. We did not know which room he .was gone into till we saw him. When you saw him, what did you do ? — I told Crookes he was there. Was there no other person in ' theroom ? — Yes. Whenyou told Crooks ho was there, what did Crookes do ? — He came and looked at him. Well? — He refused to shoot then. Yes? — (The witness was unable to speak for emotion, and appeared as if he would faint. Brandy-and-water was given to him.) Mr Overend told him not to be in a hurry, and repeated witness's words — he refused to shoot then, and said — well, did he do anything? Where was the gun? Had he the gun with him, or not ? — Witness gasped, and endeavored in vain to speak. He had the air gun with him, and what did he do with it ?— (No answer.) What did he do with the air-gun P — The witness sighed heavily, and leaned back as if he were about to faint. Mr Overend (softly) — What did he do? — Witness (in a husky whisper) — He would not shoot. There was no exit. What, no exit from the yard? — Yes. Well, what did you do ? — I went through the yard and found a way out. Yes ? — He said there were too many people about? Yes? — (A paused What did you say ? — (No answer, and witness appeared greatly agitated.) What did you say to him ?— (With an effort)— l told him he must either 'do it, or I would do him. (SeHsation in court.) Yes ? — (No answer. The witness trembled violently.) When you told him that, what did he do ? — He said there was no chance What did you say ? — I told him I would do it myself, and take the risk. Yes ?— He told me — (A choking in witness's throat prevented him from finishing the sentence.) What did

he tell you? — Ho said I must not attempt. I might miss him, and he would risk it. Well, when he said he would risk it, what did he do? (No answer — the witness evidently unable to answer.) What did he do when he said ,he would risk it j—(lnj — (In a faint whisper) : He shot him. (The witness was again almost overcome.) After he had shot him, what did you do? — (No answer.) You ran away! — Yes. Which way did you run ? — Through the alley. Into what place ?—lnto? — Into Pea Croft. Did you meet anybody as you went out, or was it clear the whole course? — (The witness was here unable to speak, and Mr Jackson, the chief constable, who was supporting him, listened attentively to his whispered answers, and repeated them to the court.) There was a man and a woman. Where were they? — In the entry. Now, in order to get into Pea Croft, had you to pass this man and woman ? — Yes. Did you go near them ? — Yes, I stumbled against them. And then what did you do, where did you go to ? — (No answer.) Where did you go to after you had gone into Pea Croft? — We ran. Which direction did you run in? — Towards St. George's Church. Where did you separate, if you did separate ? — At Crookes (nearly two miles off). Where did Crookes go to ? — I do not know. Where did you go to ? — To Winterbottom's. When did you next see Crookes? — The following morning I saw him by agreement. Where did you see him ?—ln? — In Wiley's. That is in the Haymarket ?— Yes. Well, had you any talk with him ? — No. Did you see him again ? — I got a sovereign from him after. What did you do then, when you had got your sovereign ? — I and Palfreyman went to Tasker's. Yes; well, did you after that at all see Broadhead? — No. Did you never see Broadhead after Linley was shot ? — Yes. When was it ? — I do not know. How long after was it ? — Before the following Saturday. Well, what did you say to him ? — I said nothing. What did he say to you? — He told me I had better .not go there too much. Did he say anything else besides that? — No. Did ho say anything about your having shot Linley, and whether it was right or wrong ? — No. Have you had any conversation with Broadhead about Linley being shot since then ? — No. Have you received any money from Broadhead since linley was shot? — No. What did you get for shooting Linley? — L 7 10s. .Who paid you the money ? — Crookes gave me L 4 10s. And who gave you the L 3 ? — Broadhead. Did Broadhead give you the L 3 after Linley was shot or before he was shot ? — Before. Did you pledge yourselves to keep it secret, or anything of that kind? Did you bind yourselves by any oath, or anything of that kind? — No; at that time I did not think we should need it. Tho witnes was then examined as to why he had refused to give \vp Crookes' name on a former occasion, and why he had denied his private confession, which ho had now publicly repeated. He said he did it to save Crookes, and thought to take the whole blame on himself. He charged himself with instigating Broadhead to these things. He did not know "Linley at the time he agreed to shoot him, t never spoke to him in his life, and only shot | him on account of Linley's despute with the trade. He also confessed to having knocked a man on the head with a life preserver, at the instance of, and for pay from, a deceased secretary of the pen and pocket-blade grinders, named Broomhead.

On Samuel Crookes being next called, Mr Broadhead called out, " Tell the truth, Sam — everything." Mr Overend hereupon ad' monished Mr Broadhead to keep silent till he was spoken to. The Commissioner then read over to witness the statement of Hallen respecting the shooting of* Linley, and warned him if guilty of what Halleu stated ho was guilty of murder, and could be tried for it, but if made a full disclosure he might be protected. Mr Overend : Now, did you do that deed or not ?■ — Witness : I did. Mr Overend You did shoot Linley ? — Witness : I did. Witness continued that he had no quarrel with Linley, nor did he intend to kill him. Linley was doing a great deal of injury to them at that time, but he was not sure whether they or Broadhead suggested the thing first. Linloy was employing a great many boys, and injuring the trade altogether. They spoke to Broadhead about this, and Broa.dhead agreed to give them, he thought L2O. They were to injure Linley, but not to kill him. Witness did not want to do it then, but Hallam compelled him. Witness wanted to hit him in the shoulder, but Linley was in such a position when ho fired, that he hit his head. After they had shot him, Broadhead paid him. He did not know whether he had paid anything before to Hallam, but he remembered Hallam having a revolver, which he and Hallam purchased for 503. He never had a revolver of his own, and never borrowed one. HaUam told him he should want a revolver to defend himself with, and he bought him one, but it was with Hallam's money. They always intended to shoot him, but not to Kill him — only to lot him know that he was doing wrong. They never intended to shoot Linloy with the pistol, but with his air-gun. Witness minutely corborated the evidence of Hallam as to how Linley was shot. Mr Broadhead paid thorn for the job, but witness did not know whether he paid him or Hallam. He believed he paid him ; ho got his share, which ho thought was Llo— it might be only L 7 10s he got. Broadhead afterwards said it wes a very good job they had not killed Linley ; he did not want them to kill him ; but they had told Broadhead that (hey were going to hurt him. Witness knew that thero was a coroner's inquest, and ho had heard that the verdict was " Murder against some one not known." After this ho and Hallam pledged themselves to keep it still. Thoy did not bind Broadhead over, because they thought they conld trust hhn. Mr Overend : To got

an indemnity, yon must not oi?ly tell, but you must tell all other things you have done. Can you tell me who shot Linley the first time ? — Witness then confessed that he shot Linley the first time also. It was with an airgun. He had previously a bit of talk with Broadhead, and it was agreed upon. Broadhead gave him L2O for doing it. That was paid after ho had done it. That time Linloy was -wounded in the side. It was a long time after he agreed with Broadhead that he got a "chance to shoot Linley the first time. During this time he saw Broadhead, and told him that he had .not had a chance yet. This he told Broadhead almost every tune that he saw him. Witness did not wish to hurt Linley that time. The gun had very little air in then, and he did it just to warn him. Witness was a good shot, and had shot grouse and rabbits with an air-gun. He shot Linley the first time in the hack. He had done nothing more than what he had said. He intended being at. Hellewell's affair, but nevpr got at him. He and Hallam intended doing it at the same time as Whcatman's job was on hand. They went to Broadhead, nnd they got the job. He did not know rightly what they were to do. Witness knew Thomas "Needham, who served four years' penal servitude. Needham and his brother blew up a manufactory at Dronfield, bnt witness had nothing to~do with it. He denied paying any money to Needham's wife while Needham was away, and, though he went to meet Needham when liberated from prison, he would swear he only went for an " out." He never went to see Needham when he was in prison. About a year after JSTeedham came home he went to America. Witness would swear that ho did not blow Fearnehough up, nor did he know who did. Ho had lent his gun to several persons, but could not remember who, and, although he heard of Elisha Parker being shot, he would swear that about that time he did not lend his gun either to Elijah Smith or Thomas Bamford, nor did he know who shot Parker. He had had no communication with anyone but Broadhead when he did these things, nor did anyone beside Broadhead employ him. All he was aware of what Hallam had said this morning waß from a man who came in the wheel and told him Hallam had told, and that Hallam had been talking about one Crookes. He was not aware that Linley was blown np in the Wicker, nor who did it.

(To he Concluded in our next.)