Their clothes were lying on the loft next morning, beside their bed. William’s gun was in the house the night before (Saturday) hanging up on some crooks. I last saw it there immediately before I went to bed; that was before William had come in. I saw it next morning in the same place. Henry had a gun too; it was beside the other, on crooks, and had a cover upon it; it was there that night too. I saw them both immediately before I went to bed. It also was there next morning. I was in the house when William went out on the Saturday evening. I was in the house when William came home from Ainstable on the Saturday evening. He came into the house and stayed a quarter of an hour, and then went out. If he took a gun out I did not see him take it. We were all in the same room. John Hogarth was in our house that night; no other of that name was in. I was at home yesterday afternoon. I was out cutting turnips – I was not at home when my mother took the gun down. I was gone to Ruckcroft for tobacco when the police came; my father sent me; I was in the fold at the time. I had been in the house half an hour before that. The gun stock had not been burnt when I was sent for the tobacco. It was burnt when I was away at Ruckcroft. When I went to Ruckcroft I do know know whether William and Henry were about the place, but they were not far off.
Edward Stewart, examined by Mr Robinson – I am a potter and reside at Longdale. I occupy a house belonging to the Grahams; it is at the far end of the village next to the Armathwaite road, and about 200 yards from the road end. On Saturday night week my family had just gone to bed, and I had been boiling the horse some bad potatoes; I had just got into bed, and had not blown the candle out, when some person came in at the front door. There is an outer and an inner door. When the person came in I called out, “Mat Hogarth, is that thee?” and he answered, “No its me, Ned” I knew the voice; it was William Graham’s to the best of my knowledge.
Didn’t he tell you it was him? – I said, “Will, is that thee; must I get up and open the door?” He said, “No, I’m as drunk as blazes, and will go home.” He went out of the out-door and shut it behind him. That is all I have got to say.
Did you hear which way he went” – I could not.
The CORONER - When you said Will, did you mean William Graham? – Yes.
But you understood it to be him? – I certainly did by his tongue.
Have you no doubt about it? – Well, not in the least. It was not like any stranger. I mean Will Graham, the young man who has been taken up. I have known him ever since he was a boy.
Does not the road past your house lead to Armathwaite? – My house is on the road which leads to Armathwaite and Kirkoswald.
What time was it? – I cannot say to a quarter of an hour, but to the best of my knowledge it was about ten o’clock. I judge by the night; I have not a clock. I don’t think it could be half past ten by the night.
It could be before seven? Nothing of the sort. I had to boil potatoes and smoke my pipe – I can hear people talking on the road as they pass, and I can hear carts pass quite clear. I cannot recollect that I heard the carrier’s cart pass on that night. A little after I had gone to bed perhaps about half an hour, Mat Hogarth and Tom Hogarth came from Carlisle.
The Coroner thought this was not material.