The confession of James Hey

He admitted being involved in the robberies with 3 others only.

• Joseph Crowther
• Joseph Holroyd alias Carter
• Nathan Hoyle

He deposed that after the robberies had taken place they had planned to divide the cash and goods at the house of Holroyd, but decided against it when Holroyd said his mother was living with him. Instead they went to Hey's house. Two watches were seized and were sold for 40 shillings and this money was divided equally.

Hey went on to discuss how the group of Luddites he said he belonged to was organised in groups (classes) of ten men with one head man over them and that his head man is Job Hey. Although they belonged to a larger group of 200 Luddites, the head man never communicated particulars to the ten men only when they were needed, and what for, and what role they would play on that occasion. Despite describing himself as a Luddite, Hey stated that he had never sworn an illegal oath nor been assigned a number.

A day later, Hey added to his confession stating that the gunpowder found at the head man Job Hey's house was for use by his class of ten men.

Aspects of Hey's evidence contradicted that given by those robbed on 29th November, in particular, Joshua Thornton who was certain that 6 men entered his home that night, although John had deposed that 9 men had been involved and that afterwards each of the Luddites had given their number when the roll had been called.

We do not know what pressure was brought to bear on Hey