Banditisme

Single sheet printed on one side only (214 x 135 mm), printed black on white fragile paper, mounted on card, soiled and creased. From the London Times, February 25, 1828, page 3, Column 1 : "It is this week our painful duty to record one of the most cold-blooded murders that ever darkened the annals of crime, a deed which has spread a wider gloom and deeper horror than any event which has occurred in this neighbourhood within the remembrances of the eldest inhabitants." John Dyon was the second son of a wealthy landowner in Yorkshire, England near Doncaster. He lived a hard working, respectable and quiet life. He married the lovely Betty Conway and together they had 3 daughters, Elizabeth (from whom we descend), Mary and Matilda. Working closely with his father, he often gained favors and gifts from the older man. In 1826 and 1827 alone, it is recorded that he received 63 acres of land and 300 pounds sterling. His older brother, William also received many gifts from their father as a young man, but the money was mostly squandered and drunk, and eventually the gifts stopped coming. So William struggled and John thrived? and William stewed, and his resentment grew. William frequently ranted of his anger to his son, John, poisoning the younger man's mind against his uncle. On Saturday, the 16th of February, 1828, John Dyon attended the market in Doncaster (12 miles away) with a couple of friends as was his custom. On his return home that evening, when he dismounted his horse to open the gate to his property, he was assaulted, shot, and left for dead. His wife, concerned when he didn't arrive home at the time he should, sent a servant to look for him. The servant found John's horse standing near the gate, but did not see John lying a few feet away. They found him in the morning lying where he had bled out. Mr. E. B. Denison, Esq. and the local constable rode out from Doncaster immediately upon receiving the news Sunday morning and began their investigation. Mr. Denison, a student of the new forensic sciences, was pleased to find the murder scene offered an abundance of clues. It had rained on Saturday and the ground was quite moist, then the temperature dropped below freezing overnight, capturing the escape route of the assailants. Mr. Denison observed that there were two attackers; one smaller and lighter than the other. He noted that these persons were relatively wealthy because they possessed a pair boots with both a right and left foot. He also noted that the larger footprints had a distinctive toe-out gait. An inquest was called by the coroner. After the presentation of evidence, the jury delivered a verdict of "Willful murder by person or persons unknown". Many in the area knew of the ill will that William Dyon and his son held for William's brother, John Dyon. By Thursday of the following week, both were arrested. They provided alibis, insisting that they had been nowhere near the scene of the crime. The magistrate felt he had to let them go. After his release by the authorities, William went to a pub in Gainesborough, and bragged there that he had "humbugged" the local magistrate, apparently disclosing further details of the crime. His brags were soon brought to the attention of Mr. Denison and additional inquiries were made. A farmer who had previously worked for William, but was now in John's employ, admitted that he knew of William and young John's plan to kill John Dyon. He also said that he had hidden the gun at his home for a week prior to the murder, and that William had bribed him and threatened him to keep quiet about the plan. Soon, William and his son, John were arrested. The constable searched their homes and found the boots, a pair having both right and left feet, and the gun. During the trial, the farmer, John White, testified to everything he knew, including the fact that William had showed up the evening of the killing to pick up his gun. Several witnesses came forward to testify to the ill will that William and his son bore for the deceased. They also testified that William had a distinctive gait, walking with his toes pointed outward. William Dyon and John, his son, were hanged for their crime on April 4, 1828. William staunchly declared his innocence throughout, but his son confessed to all as they placed the noose around his neck. No other copy located.