Murder at Black Lane Ends 1862

[Wendyf]

I came across this tale of a terrible murder at the Hare & Hounds Inn at Black Lane Ends whilst searching the 19th Century Newspaper website for items of local interest.

Murder at Black Lane Ends
On Friday 4th April 1862 Walker Moore, a tailor from Keighley, met up with his friend Joseph Metcalf and they set out for a walk together. As they made their way towards Sutton, Walker Moore suggested they go up to Black Lane Ends where his estranged wife, Betty, was living. She was working for her cousin, William Wood, landlord of the Hare & Hounds public house. Joseph agreed and off they set up into the hills.
Betty Moore, aged 32, was the daughter of Joseph Hartley, a farmer of Oakcliffe, Lothersdale. She had left her husband of 14 years about a month previously due to his violence and drinking, and was happy to have found work and a place to live with her cousin.
Walker Moore and his friend arrived at the pub at about 5 o’clock that evening. Betty reluctantly served them with ale after Walker had persuaded her to give him some money. Walker asked her to go home with him but she refused, and when he persevered she told him she would go back to her father’s house if she couldn’t live quietly where she was. She then went out and stayed out of the way for the rest of the night. The men went on drinking till 8 or 9 o’ clock when they went to bed.
The next morning Joseph was woken at 5 o’clock by Walker calling him from downstairs. When he went down Betty was sat in a corner and Walker was in front of the fire, demanding that Betty serve them with drink. She was unwilling, but was persuaded to bring them ale, rum & whisky which they continued to drink until about 9 o’clock.
Betty was on her knees in front of the fireplace, black leading the grate. The landlord left the room to fill a jug of ale for the drinkers and at that moment Walker Moore rose from the settle where he had been seated, went over to stand behind Betty and drew a razor across her throat.
Betty managed to get to her feet, and pressed her apron to where the blood was pouring from the gash in her throat. William Wood came back into the room and caught her in his arms as she fell. He laid her on the long settle where she died within minutes.
Walker Moore said to the landlord, “I came on purpose to do it”, and went outside, still holding the open razor and saying to Joseph, “Must I cut my own?” He walked away up the road, but when William Wood called him back he returned saying that he would stand his corner like a man, it was him that had done it. He claimed to have stolen the razor before setting out the day before, with the intention of killing Betty.
The police from Colne were called, and took their prisoner to the lock–ups in Colne. Police Constable Lord reported to the inquest the following Tuesday that on the way Moore told him, “I don’t deny the charge, I came on purpose to do it; but I will tell you all about it. Her uncle & cousin came to fetch her from Keighley about six weeks since, and she has been there ever since. I came yesterday to try and get her back, but she would not go. I asked her if I might remain with her that night, but she would not let me. I know that she was unfaithful, I asked her to go back with me this morning, but she wouldn’t, so I killed her.” He said that it was all William Wood’s fault, and he wished that he had cut his throat too.
As they passed a group of men at the side of the road, Moore remarked that his wife had been unfaithful with all of them.
The inquest was held the following Tuesday at The Swan hotel in Colne. The jury returned a verdict of “Wilful Murder”, and Walker Moore was committed for trial at Lancaster assizes. According to newspaper reports there were hundreds of people around the door of the Swan Inn. Moore, described as a stout, chubby faced little man, had appeared very cool and unconcerned whilst giving evidence, and when he spoke it was in a bold and decided tone.
The following morning when he was taken on the first train to Preston, many people rose early to see him go. There hadn’t been a murder in Colne for 70 years, and it had caused great interest & excitement.
The trial took place at Lancaster on 13th August 1862 and a verdict of guilty was returned. The judge, Baron Wilde, sentenced him to death. Moore is said to have exclaimed “I thank you my lord. I hope you will take into consideration what you would have done if you had found your wife locked up with another man!”
Some newspapers reported that “the prisoner received the sentence with great hilarity and commenced to dance”.
On the morning of Saturday 30th August 1862, the day fixed for the execution, the gallows had been erected, Calcraft the executioner was present and crowds of people had arrived in the town for the spectacle. Hundreds of people had walked all the way from Colne to witness the spectacle. They were to be disappointed. Walker Moore was allowed by his attendants to go alone into the water closet, and soon after he was found drowned in a 4ft deep water cistern which supplied the closets. He had tied his neckerchief tightly around his neck and managed to climb into the cistern.

[Stanley]

Fascinating story. Thanks for that Wendy.

[Wendyf]

It appears to be a forgotten story in this area. In "The History of Colne" there are "Extracts from the Diary of Thomas Jackson, Blacksmith of Waterside" and the entry for 5th April 1862 states "Walker Moore murdered his wife, Black Lane Ends". Apart from that nothing, except in the history of Lancaster Gaol where he was famed for avoiding the rope. There used to be a bit about him on their website, but it seems to have gone now.