William Crabtree established Crabtree & Son, Halifax printers, stationers and booksellers.
In 1870, William was murdered. His eldest son, Walter was charged with his murder.
At some time before 1870, William and his eldest son Walter had disagreed about the business and William had re-written his will
against Walter's interest
Early on the morning of Sunday 18th December 1870, William was murdered in his bed. Walter was apprehended on suspicion of having murdered his father. When questioned, he said
My father's cut his throat
The Coroner's inquest took place on 19th December 1870, and Walter was committed to the assizes for trial on a charge of wilful murder. Witnesses included the Crabtree's servant Katherine Burke, Police-sergeant Potterton, PC George Wilson, and Dr John Hodgson Wright.
The trial took place on 29th March 1871.
The court heard that a younger brother of the prisoner, sleeping with his father, was awakened to find someone striking William with a kitchen poker. The terrified child screamed Father, father, and the assailant, after pulling down a curtain, tore off a piece, put it over his face, and ran downstairs. There were certain circumstances in the prisoner's conduct which tended to implicate him, although no motive could be suggested for the murder.
The defence said that these circumstances pointed very doubtfully against the prisoner, and the possibility was strongly demonstrated of someone else being the murderer, suggesting that the perpetrator was someone who had concealed himself in the house and escaped afterwards.
During the trial, one of the jurymen fell down in a fit and had to be replaced.
After retiring for a few minutes, the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
This is discussed in the book Halifax Murders
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Malcolm Bull 2017 /
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Revised 14:21 on 14th May 2017 / ww_127 / 5