[Accrington Lad]

Tuesday 25th January 1881.

James and Malinda Leaver with their 2 children, Henrietta and two year old Albert, lodged at the house of John Smith and his wife in (91) Water Street, Accrington. On the day of the murder they set off for work together at the Park Shed, Accrington, where he was employed as a weaver and she worked alongside him.It had been Leaver's habit to return home for the midday meal, prepared by Mrs Smith, but on that faitful day he remained at Park Shed. During the lunch break he was seen by two of his workmates on separate occasions to be sharpening his pocket-knife on a whetstone. After work Leaver and his wife returned home together and were met near the house by their young daughter. The family went indoors about 6pm and had tea with Mrs Smith. Leaver showed no signs of being upset and played fondly with Henrietta after the evening meal. She was put to bed by her mother after being enouraged to sing a rendition of 'Shall We All Meet Again'.
After clearing the table the two women decided to visit the Tuesday market and Mrs Smith asked Leaver if he would accompany them but he declined, replying that he was too tired and would be soon descending to bed.
Leaver was sat in front of the fire in the front room as they left the house.
Shortly afterwards James Leaver stood up out of his chair, picked up a ladling can from on top of the oven and fetched a bundle of old clothes from the cellar below. He locked the front door, slowly ascended the narrow stairs and made his way to the front bedroom where Henrietta and Albert lay sleeping in the same bed. Seizing his daughter roughly he brought out the recently sharpened pocket-knife and slashed a gaping wound in her throat. The childs arm hung lifeless over the side of the bed. Blood flowed down the limb and neatly into the ladling can placed below. Leaver made a token attempt to staunch the bleeding with the jumble of clothing he had to hand whilst Albert, now wide awake was whimpering and whining. He was ignored by Leaver who left the room and continued back downstairs.
At 7:40pm John Smith returned home finding the door fastened against him. He turned to go round the back when suddenly the door opened slightly and shut again. He found he could now enter. Before Smith could say a word his lodger told him that he had killed Henrietta and held up the bloody pocket-knife.
Smith rushed upstairs to find the young girl barely breathing and ran back downstairs and out the house to fetch the nearest doctor.
When the doctor arrived it was too late. They little girl was dead.
Leaver was still sitting by the fading fire as police arrived. After slipping on his clogs he was swiftly taken into custody. As he was taken out of the house he passed his wife and Mrs Smith who had just returned from the market unaware what had just happened in the house...


Accrington's first murder within living memory undoubtedly remains amongst the most melancholic in the history of the town.

All Rights Reserved. Original Text by Steve Greenhalgh.
Not to be copied or reproduced for profit.

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