James Diggles of Rastrick worked as a footman for John Armitage of Rastrick.
He had worked for Armitage since he was a boy.
On Friday, 5th November 1824, he was drinking in a pub
at the top of Bradley
with a group of gamekeepers - John Stott (gamekeeper to Sir George Armytage), Emanuel Brook (gamekeeper to John Armitage), and Enoch Garside (an assistant - when an argument started between one of the gamekeepers and another group of drinkers. The argument was said to have been a grudge by one of the drinkers, James Ellis, against John Stott.
About midnight, the gamekeepers left the pub and were set upon by the group of 8 men.
One of the assailants hit Diggles violently about the head.
Diggles and Emanuel Brook were taken to John Armitage's house where they were seen by Dr Alexander of Halifax and 2 local surgeons, Dr Simeon Fryer and Dr Hopkinson.
Diggles died 4 days later, on the following Tuesday, from the injuries to his head.
All of the assailants were apprehended.
At the York Assizes on 4th April 1825, Christopher Tiffany [aged 19], John Dyson [aged 20], James Ellis [aged 21], James Tiffany [aged 21], John Bray [aged 22], Henry Nuttall [aged 25] and John Dawson [aged ??] were acquitted of Diggles's murder.
Anthony Bray, who had been seen as the main person to have inflicted the wounds on James was found Guilty of manslaughter
The Times [22nd November 1824] published a full account of the murder and the Times [7th May 1825] published a full account of the trial
Page Ref: MMD250
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