Thursday 18 October 2012

18th October 1812: The Stockport solicitor, John Lloyd, tells the Home Office that informants are coming forward

Huddersfield 18 ‘Oct 1812

Sir

I think I did not make you acquainted with the steps taken previous to the apprehending of George Mellor for the murder of Mr. Horsfall — altho’ I did advise as to the expediency (under the particular circumstances of the people being in dread) of taking a witness away to some distance — However, it seems confirmation or the influence of friends or both have produced a disposition in some of the witnesses to come forward and declare what they before concealed of their knowledge leading to certain Characters concerned in the murder, as was their opinion from the first.

The commitment of Mellor has produced a sensation which may ultimately turn out pretty favorably, for, we have just got information that a woman of the name of Walker has been asking advice how those concerned shod act to save themselves and we expect this night, but not in time for the post, to obtain important information upon this ground — which shall be communicated to you by the next post.

With respect to the guilt of Joshua Haigh in that murder I am now, as I was before aware it wou’d be removed, and I can only account for his aunt’s mistake by supposing that she had fixed that offence to him from his saying he had been concerned with the Luds and obliged to fly, and that her fancy must have added the particular instance subsequently — and that all the rest is true statement, but will not have credit of course after such a mistake.

I am sorry to say Depredations have recently been committed in the neighbourhood of Halifax — I am sending to a woman that knows the persons of two of the men in one of the Houses robbed.

I have [etc]
J. Lloyd

[To] J. Beckett Esq
&c &c

This letter can be found at HO 42/128.

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