Highway Robbery and Murder at Thrybergh
A highway robbery and murder, was perpetrated at Thrybergh, on 16th October, 1856.
The unfortunate victim, Mr. Whittaker, farmer and cattle dealer, died of his wounds.
An Inquest was opened on the 21st October.The deceased was a bachelor, about 49 years of age, and had resided all his life in the house in which he died. He was one of the leading farmers of the district, and had amassed a considerable sum of money.
On the day he died, he had been to York Fair, taking with him about £300. He purchased a quantity of sheep, and had £180 in notes remaining in his pocket book. He had instructed his servant to meet him with a gig at Swinton Station in the afternoon, but it appears he missed his train, and did not return until the arrival of the mail train at Masborough at 11 p.m. He caught the bus to Rotherham, and went to the Wheatsheaf Inn, hoping to stop all night, but, finding it closed, he went to the Pack Horse, where two men were making some alterations in the premises. He had a small glass of gin, and then started homewards, stating to the landlord that he was alone. The landlord stated that no one followed him from the Inn.
Thybergh is three miles from Rotherham, and on the way is a small hamlet, called Dalton Brook, where there are a few cottages, a windmill, a public house, and a blacksmith's shop. Mr. Whittaker had just passed the blacksmiths, when he heard voices behind, and on turning round he saw four men running from the back of the shop. Suspecting that they meant to rob him, Mr. Whittaker turned round with the intention of getting back to the public house, but the men immediately set upon him, first knocking his hat off in an attempt to thrust it over his eyes, then throwing him on the ground and beating him with two deadly bludgeons, one loaded with lead, and the other pointed with a square piece of iron with sharp edges; and after rifling his pockets, and covering him up with his two overcoats, they ran off towards Dalton Lane.
Mr. Whittaker a few hours before his death gave the following account of the encounter, which he wrote in a memorandum book, being unable to speak:
"I was coming home, and when a little way past Dalton Brook I heard men talking on the opposite side of the road. I stopped, and these men came onto the footpath after me. I turned round and met them full in the face. The moon shone clear. Some of them knocked my hat off, and one held me fast; but, not getting their work done easy, a fourth man, with a bludgeon or life preserver, came up and beat me dreadfully on the head, and then rifled my pockets. I got hold of one of the fellows, and he trembled, very much, and they all ran away. I turned back and went to Stringer's, and the police were sent for. The bludgeon man appeared to wish to keep in the background, but he struck me and hacked me in the same way as a butcher would an ox. A cowardly fellow; he did not appear to like the moon. They got my pocketbook with £180. in it. I had taken £300. to York to buy some sheep."
Although the deceased spoke of only one bludgeon, two were evidently used, as they were both found on the spot the following morning with blood upon them. Mr. Whittaker was taken home, but lived only about two days.
The Inquest
Mr. Blythman, surgeon, of Swinton, assisted by Mr. Wade, of Wath, made a post mortem examination of the body, and found six scalp wounds, one at the back of the head, in a zig zag form, about 6 inches in length. In Mr. Blythman's opinion, death arose from 'the loss of blood and nervous depression consequent upon the injuries deceased had received'. 'His skull was of most extraordinary and marble like formation. The blows inflicted upon it would, upon a more tender skull, have caused instant death'.
The Inquest was adjourned to thef following Friday. No trace of the murderers had yet been found.
Inquest Resumed
At Dalton Brook on Friday 31st October, the adjourned Inquiry was held into the circumstances attending the death of Mr. John Whittaker.
Mr. Bland, the chief constable of Rotherham, stated that no positive evidence had been obtained as to who were the guilty parties, but he and all the police authorities with whom he had communicated had come to one conclusion on the matter. What that conclusion was he did not feel at liberty to state, but had reason to hope that in the end a satisfactory result would be attained.
The Jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against some persons unknown."
A reward was offered for evidence to convict the offenders, which was increased from £150 to £200.
