The Roche Abbey Murder
On 18th August, 1864, James Sargisson aged 20, labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of John Cooper at Brookhouse, on 9th April, 1864. The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
George Denton and William Taylor were committed for trial by magistrates on the charge, but the grand jury ignored the bill against Denton, and the prosecution did not present an indictment against Taylor.
Sargisson was sentenced to death. He was executed in September, 1864 at Leeds - the first time that the death punishment was exacted at Leeds, and the proceedings attracted a crowd which, it was estimated, numbered nearly 100,000 persons.