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The following article is an extract from The Black Country Bugle newspaper, a weekly nostalgia publication which is part of Staffordshire Newspapers Limited. It is reproduced with the permission of the newspaper, which holds the copyright of this article. The article and images must not be reproduced in any form elsewhere without the written permission of the newspaper and publisher.

More murders have, perhaps, been inspired by a ‘Greed for Gold' (which someone else possessed) than any other motive.?

In the case at Ash Flats in the parish of Castlechurch (Stafford) on October 25th 1852, intruders at John Blackburn's isolated farmhouse had been lured into larceny (at least) by the rumour of a hoard of ancient coins estimated to he worth many hundreds of pounds which the cantankerous old farmer was said to have secreted in the house where he lived with his elderly wife, Jane...

The claim had taken root some twenty years before when labourers digging a mill-sluice at Tutbury began to throw out showers of silver coins in the shovelfuls of sandy earth dug from the river bank. The land belonged to a Mr Webb and his overseer was loyal enough to warn the labourers not to 'pocket' any coins for themselves but to pile them in the fieldshelter they used at snap times' when the weather was bad.

Upon receiving a message from his overseer, Mr. Webb called for his horse, rode hotfoot to the scene and ‘claimed the find’. After further digging and riddling more than 2000 coins, mostly silver, lay in a muddy heap. They were sluiced and taken to the mill-owner’s mansion. Subsequent digging at the site failed to produce any further bounty and it was assumed that Mr Webb's ‘claim’ had been worked out.

Ash Flats Farmers Head For Diggings...

However rumour of ‘buried treasure’ spread in all directions and a ragged army of prospectors converged upon the place with dreams of ‘striking it rich’. John Blackburn, then in his mid-fifties and with most of his eight children ‘off his hands’, left his wife in the ramshackle farmhouse at Ash Flats and told her he was going to Tutbury to see if he could find his ‘forchun’, there...

With him travelled his neighbour, Hugh Barber, who was similarly disillusioned with attempting to scrape a living at Ash Flats. When they arrived at Tutbury and found hundreds& of ‘money searchers’ milling around the original 'strike' location so they decided to try their luck further upstream reasoning that the coins already found may have been swept down-river from the source of the ancient hoard. This proved so and they found a considerable quantity of coins embedded in a sandy bank.

Tutbury was in turmoil, thronged by prospectors and speculators willing to purchase the unearthed coinage, most of which dated from the reign of Henry III. Some delvers sold their 'finds' for little more than 'melteddown' value whilst others held out for much more. To cut a long story short, Hugh Barber came away from Tutbury, the richer by upwards of £100, but his neighbour sold only sufficient of his share to purchase a pony and trap and a horse-pistol to guard his hoard on the return journey to Ash Flats.

Both men had sworn an oath of secrecy, for the situation at Tutbury caused the militia to take charge of the town and all coins which had been discovered were declared Property of the Crown.

Instead of using his fortuitous gains to improve. the farmhouse at Ash Flats, John Blackburn turned miser and recluse. He and his wife existed in squalid conditions and the house was barred even to their own children.

Rumour's Fatal Consequences

The story of 'John Blackburn's Hoard' inevitably spread around the district and led, eventually, to the dual Murder in 1852.

The slain couple's youngest son, Henry, who lived in Wolverhampton , was suspected of being 'behind the crime' and he was arrested but later freed when his presence in Wolverhampton at the time when the murders were committed was attested to by several witnesses. The police then received a crudely composed anonymous letter, stating that Henry Blackburn was, indeed, the instigator. This was traced to a Stafford man named, Charles Moore who had previously worked as a casual labourer for John Blackburn at Ash Flats' and had been heard to mention his ,secret treasure' on several occasions whilst drinking in local public-houses.

Moore was arrested and implicated two associates named Edward Walsh and Peter Kirwan. He also stated that Henry Blackburn had approached him with the plan to murder his ( Blackburn 's) parents and share with him, the old man's 'hoard' and anything else which came to him by way of inheritance.

The trial of Moore , Blackburn , Walsh and Kirwan for 'Wilful Murder' began at Stafford on April Fool's Day 1853. Clever cross examination by prosecuting counsel left no doubt that Moore was a stranger to the truth and that nothing he said could be relied upon. Two days later, the jury delivered verdicts which acquitted Blackburn and Kirwan but found Moore and Walsh 'Guilty'. A plea for Mercy was, however, entered on behalf of the latter. Accordingly, Walsh's sentence was later commuted to one of Transportation for Life but Moore 's death sentence was not interfered with and he was hanged by George Smith -(Staffs. Official Executioner) on Saturday day, April 9th 1853 ....

Fake Letters in Pamphlet

As usual, a penny pamphlet detailing the affair was issued and sold to crowds who attended the Hanging. A little romantic fiction was 'hung' on the bones of the story. The letters embodied within it, to and from Charles Moore and his wife were obvious 'fakes' for it had been established during the trial that (at best) he was semi-literate'.

Her's was probably penned by some dewy-eyed gallows-scribe, whilst Moore's reply bears the literary stamp of Rev. Robert Henry Goodacre M.A. (Stafford Prison Chaplain) who was later sacked (amongst other things) for an undue sympathy towards the plight of inmates and rigid disciplines enforced. We now allow the posthumous pen-man who composed the rest of the pamphlet to conclude the tale. We quote..

Henry Blackburn, Charles Moore, and Edward Walsh, were charged with the wilful murder of John and Jane Blackburn, on the morning of the 25th October last at the parish of Castle Church in this county; Peter Kirwan was also arraigned upon the same charge upon the Coroner's inquisition.

The case excited the greatest interest, crowds of persons being anxious to obtain admission into the court, which at an early period was thronged; the majority of the spectators, we were surprised to observe, were females. For the assistance of the Court and Jury, a well executed model of the premises at Ash Flats, occupied by the murdered couple, had been prepared. The progress made by the flames, as shown by the injury done to the premises, was also faithfully indicated. The house had been formerly two cottages, as it appeared, from there being two staircases.

The ground floor comprises two small rooms and a pantry, or larder, which are now laid together by doorways, but this is not the case with the three upper rooms, there being only a communication between the room above the larder and the centre bedroom. To get from the room occupied by the old woman to the old man's bedroom it was necessary to descend a pair of stairs, pass thro' the kitchen, and up the other flight of stairs. The house was in a very dilapidated state, no repairs having been done to it for years.

The prisoners having been called upon to plead, each of them replied "Not Guilty", in a firm tone. There was a great number of witnesses called and examined, both for the prosecution and on behalf of prisoners, all of whom underwent a most searching cross examination, and whose evidence caused the utmost sensation through the densely crowded court. This singular trial which occupied three days, was at length brought to a close, when the learned council for the prisoners proceeded to address the jury in as able, eloquent, and powerful a manner as this complicated and horrifying case required.

A Brutal Axe-Job Which Cost Charles Moore a Stretched Neck in 1853

The learned judge proceeded to sum up the evidence, dwelling most emphatically upon every particular of the evidence adduced on the trial, and then left it to the jury to pronounce their verdict.

The jury retired, and after a short deliberation returned with a verdict of Guilty against Charles Moore and Edward Walsh - and Henry Blackburn, Not Guilty.

His Lordship then put on the black cap, and, addressing the two criminals who stood in the front of dock, said "You Charles Moore, and you, Edward Walsh, have been tried before a respectable and impartial jury, for the wilful murder of John and Jane Blackburn, and after a protracted and patient trial you have been found GUILTY. You have had every facility afforded you to prove your innocence, but not withstanding the assistance of the able and learned counsel who defended you, your guilt was but too apparent. It now becomes my painful duty to pronounce upon you the sentence of the law, which is - that you, Charles Moore, and you, Edward Walsh be taken from the place where you now stand to the county prison, and from thence to the common place of execution, where you, and each of you, are, to hang by the neck until your body is dead, and may the Lord have mercy, on your souls.

His Lordship informed them that there was no hope of mercy for them this side of the grave and affectionately implored of them to crave pardon from that God whose Holy and just laws they had so grievously broken and transgressed. It appears that this man, (Moore) since his condemnation, has been very reserved, scarcely speaking to the officers who attended him, or taking the least notice of any one except when the priest went in, who was very attentive to him; he was then more communicative, but from the first did not think of a reprieve. He has made a full confession to the priest, but whether the public will be made acquainted with it time alone will show.

For some time past a considerable amount of commiseration has been shown for the unhappy wife of the unfortunate prisoner, it being known that she was in an advanced state of pregnancy, and fearing that any dangerous consequences might result to her by being present at the execution of her husband, the authorities had ordered that she should be removed from the town until after the tragical event had taken place. Previous to her removal the poor woman wrote a letter to her unfortunate husband, and which was to the following effect:-

My Dear Charles - This comes from your, poor heartbroken wife, and God only knows how I feel for your awful situation: I don't expect ever to see you again in this life, for I am forced to leave the town until after you have ceased to exist; Oh, MY dear husband pray to the Lord to pardon your sins through the blood of his dear Son. I am constantly praying to God for you; indeed I cannot believe that you could be guilty of the horrid crime for which you are going to suffer. I am now forlorn and deserted in this world, and praying that I may soon follow you and meet you in heaven where we shall part no more. I must now bid adieu and that the Saviour may pardon your sins and blot them out with his own precious blood, giving you strength to bear up against your awful and untimely fate. This is the tearful prayer and supplication of your broken-hearted and disconsolate wife, - M. Moore. When the prisoner read this letter he was quite overcome by his feelings; he shook convulsively and sighed frequently, turning his eyes towards heaven as if imploring mercy. After the lapse of some time he became more tranquil and collected, when he proceeded to write an answer to the foregoing letter in nearly the following words: "My poor dear wife - Your letter gave me some comfort, if indeed there can be any for a poor being in my wretched condition. I am glad you pray for me and I beseech you to continue to do so, and solicit the prayers of all the faithful in my behalf. I am most miserable; every sound I hear seems to remind me of my approaching doom. I am very thankful to the clergyman who attends me for he- is unweary in his endeavours to impart consolation to my poor soul, and to prepare me to meet the Almighty, before whose judgement-seat I shall soon stand. Oh, may I there find mercy through the blood of the Saviour. I feel that my time in this life is now but very short, and that I must soon bid this world adieu. I again beg of you to pray for me - it is the last request of your dying husband, and may God bless you and be with you I hope that my unfortunate end may prove a warning to all who hear of it; my heart is so full that I cannot give utterance to my feelings - the dark and gloomy cell, the heavy chains, the strongly-barred windows and the creaking of the massive doors all combine to fill me with terror and warn me of my dreadful fate. And now farewell - may God be with you and bless you in the final prayer of your unhappy husband - Charles Moore" At a few minutes before the final hour the Governor and other officials of the gaol arrived at the cell, and the unfortunate prisoner, having been some time in conference with his clergymen, was led forth; at the drop he was met by the Executioner, the rope was adjusted, and after a short pause the bolt was withdrawn,and the wretched-culprit was launched into eternity. The struggles of the unfortunate man were very severe before death 1 ended his sufferings. After having been suspended for the usual time the body was cut down and buried within the precincts of the gaol. Immense crowds of people from different parts of the country assembled to witness the execution, but owing to the admirable arrangements of the authorities no accident of any consequence occurred... Trial and Execution of the Ash Flats Murderer - Charles Moore Come all. ye fearing Christians, who live within the land, pray lend an ear unto these lines so you will understand. it is of a horrid Murder, to you I will unfold, and to hear recital of the same, will make your blood run cold. At Ash Flats farm, in Staffordshire, all in October, last, to dye their hands in human blood, these monsters, there, trespassed. Unto the house of Blackburn , how horrid for to tell, when age-d couple, man and wife, by murderers hands, they fell. Now when the murder yet was done, thinking to hide their crime, the murdered bodies to the flames, they quickly did resign. They burnt the bodies dreadfully, how horrid for to know. To see a man and wife so slain. Their crimson blood to flow. Then they were taken, for the crime, before the judge to stand, to take their trial for that foul crime, as you will understand. Their trial, it lasted for three days and they were 'Guilty', found, When the judge addressed them at the bar. no mercy could be found... ( Moore 's dismal Death Cell thoughts ... ) Then we were put in the Death Cell, how awful for to see, to think that we should die a death, upon the Gallows Tree. My trembling knees and guilty hands, refuse their order, now. The dewy sweat now trickles, from my scorching brow. The prison bell with awful sound, awakes me from my sleep. hear the felons chains resound, with bitter tears, I weep. I think I hear the turnkey, unlock the dismal cell, shout aloud, ‘ Moore , come forth, and bid this world farewell’... The clock of Tithe is striking loud, its wheels, how fast they flee, the fingers as they onward move, point to Eternity. They let me haste to meet the Lord, as on my way, I go, and turn my eyes to Heaven, above whilst here, on earth, below...Come all. ye fearing Christians, who live within the land, pray lend an ear unto these lines so you will understand. it is of a horrid Murder, to you I will unfold, and to hear recital of the same, will make your blood run cold. At Ash Flats farm, in Staffordshire, all in October, last, to dye their hands in human blood, these monsters, there, trespassed. Unto the house of Blackburn , how horrid for to tell, when age-d couple, man and wife, by murderers hands, they fell.Now when the murder yet was done, thinking to hide their crime, the murdered bodies to the flames, they quickly did resign.They burnt the bodies dreadfully, how horrid for to know. To see a man and wife so slain. Their crimson blood to flow. Then they were taken, for the crime, before the judge to stand, to take their trial for that foul crime, as you will understand. Their trial, it lasted for three daysand they were 'Guilty', found, When the judge addressed them at the bar. no mercy could be found...(Moore 's dismal Death Cell thoughts ... ) Then we were put in the Death Cell, how awful for to see, to think that we should die a death, upon the Gallows Tree. My trembling knees and guilty hands, refuse their order, now. The dewy sweat now trickles, from my scorching brow. The prison bell with awful sound, awakes me from my sleep. hear the felons chains resound, with bitter tears, I weep. I think I hear the turnkey, unlock the dismal cell, shout aloud, ‘ Moore , come forth, and bid this world farewell’... The clock of Tithe is striking loud, its wheels, how fast they flee, the fingers as they onward move, point to Eternity. They let me haste to meet the Lord, as on my way, I go, and turn my eyes to Heaven, above whilst here, on earth, below.