The murder of Dan Beverley [1858]

Death by Violence & Highway Robbery near Halifax

Dan Beverley came to his death in a tragic manner at a place near Halifax. The deceased, a man of means, kept a beer shop at Cross Roads, situate beyond Mount Tabor, and not far from Cold Edge Moor, one of those wild spots in Yorkshire so graphically described in the novels of Currer Bell.

Beverley left Halifax for Warley with a load of potatoes, the White Bear being his last stop.

He was later seen with two men. When the party arrived at New Pellon, Beverley got out of the cart where, it is supposed, his companions robbed him and deserted him.

Two hundred yards up the road he fell down and was conveyed to his home where he died later.

Whether his injuries were inflicted by his robbers or as a result of the fall, is not yet known, but many people suppose he was subjected to great violence by the two men who accompanied him.

District constable Burniston, it would seem, must have grossly neglected his duty, as he was informed the same night that Beverley had been found in the road, yet failed to report it to his superior or take any steps until Sunday morning. His conduct will no doubt be the subject of an inquiry.

Inspector Gaukroger and Detective officer Tempest in conjunction with Superintendent Radley were soon on the track of the two men and they were soon arrested. They are Ralph Drake and David Farrar, masons, Skircoat Green. Both men have been in trouble with the law previously.

Drake gave himself up to Superintendent Pearson (borough police) and later he also arrested Farrar.

The men said they walked with him, they knew him well, and knew he had money, but that, just before coming to the place where he was found, they gave Beverley, who was drunk, over to a comber one said, but the other said a weaver. They did not go any further with him as they were going in the opposite direction.

Most of Beverley's family were said to be men of violence and he was the third member of his family who has come to a violent end

 

At the inquest of Dan Beverley a post mortem examination had disclosed that, besides great congestion of the brain, the heart was much deceased, and the surgeon attributed death to a chronic affection of the heart inducing congestion of the brain.

Rough treatment or a fall might have accelerated death.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with this evidence, and the prisoners remain for trial on the charge of highway robbery

 

The court heard that Ralph Drake and David Farrar had been remanded on a charge of what was then supposed to be murder and highway robbery.

Since then a coroner's inquest inquired into the death of Dan Beverley, and found that he had died from natural causes.

Superintendent Radley said he had since made every inquiry but could not make up a charge against the prisoners for robbery – one link was wanting. He, therefore, asked to have the men discharged, and if hereinafter additional evidence could be procured, they could be again apprehended.

Mr Waterhouse, the judge, said

I congratulate you most sincerely on the fact that the jury has returned a verdict which acquits you of the most serious charge which can be brought against any man – that of wilful murder.

As for the charge of highway robbery, there is no evidence against you before me, and I have therefore no wish, nor have I the power to retain you.

Let it be a warning to you as long as you live. You were the last persons seen with this man. He was affected by drink and you were too. Therefore take warning – you are discharged.

Mr Barstow said he must state, in justice to the two men, that, if the charge had been proceeded with, he believed he was in a position to show that they were not the last persons to be seen with the deceased.

Mr Radley said emphatically they were.

The prisoners left the dock and were set at liberty