The committal hearing was held at Otley Courthouse on the 29th November 1887. In order to avoid public unrest, Taylor was brought from Wakefield Gaol on the 7:23 train, accompanied by two police officers.
The counts of murder were heard separately. On the count of the wilful murder of Annie Taylor, William Taylor pleaded not guilty through his counsel.
The first witness was Mr Alfred Marshall who produced a plan of the Taylor household. The second witness was Ellis Brumfit Hartley, the lodger. Hartley described how he had not seen the accused on the night of the 23rd, the Taylors having retired to bed before he got home. Hartley heard the coughing of the infant and rose between quarter and half past two and went downstairs to light a fire. Mrs Taylor also came downstairs holding the infant. The fire being difficult to light, William Taylor made the remark, “I’ll have a shot up the chimney, and I’ll make it go.” With that he went to fetch his gun. Mrs Taylor exclaimed, “Oh Bill, what are you going to do?” and bade Hartley to go out and raise the alarm. Hartley went out of the front door, whilst Mrs Taylor went out of the back door. As Hartley went through the door he heard a gun shot.
The defence solicitor then asked Hartley about William Taylor’s background. The witness, Hartley, had known Taylor nearly all his life. Hartley related how Taylor had been severely beaten on the head at Timble when he was 20 years old, and since then had suffered epileptic fits after drinking. The witness said he had seen Taylor having both epileptic fits and fits of a different kind. Before the fits came on he used to appear to be very low spirited and refused to eat, whilst he also had a queer look about his eyes. He had known Taylor frequently search the floor for things which were not there, and had been known to turn up the carpets. He had also heard him whistle, sing, and pray all in one night.
The witness further explained that the odd behaviour didn’t occur when Taylor was drunk, but two or three days later. On the Friday and Saturday before the murders Taylor was drinking, but had no more drink after that. On the Sunday and Monday Taylor was quiet and brooding sitting by the fire. On the Monday night at ten o-clock Mrs Taylor had called Hartley into Taylor’s room, where he saw Taylor trying to put his jacket on as trousers over his legs. By noon on Tuesday Taylor appeared to be trembling and his eyes were rolling about.
Hartley also attested to the fact that Taylor seemed to be under the impression that his wife was poisoning the infant. He had only heard Taylor threaten his wife once, and other than that the couple seemed to live together on friendly terms, although they did fratch when Taylor had been drinking.
The next witness was Mary Freeman, a neighbour. Mrs Freeman said she had heard the gun shot and later let Mrs Taylor into her house carrying the infant in a blanket. The baby was alive at that time, but died two hours later. Dr William Edward Bennet of Otley confirmed that he saw the baby at three o-clock. The baby had a gunshot wound in the back, which caused its death at quarter past four o-clock.
The next witness was PC John Charles Shippam, who was the first officer on the scene. In response to Shippams’s knock on the door, Taylor said, “I isn’t up yet.” The constable demanded admission, to which Taylor replied, “Is it there lass.” Taylor, on learning that it wasn’t his wife, said “Come on I’s ready for thee.” At this the constable went for re-inforcements. Whilst the witness was giving his evidence Taylor remarked, “You’ve been a long time making it up. I’ve not been asleep for a week yet. I want to see that little lass of mine.”
Police-inspector Crow, stationed at Ilkley, said he was present when the prisoner was apprehended. He was searched in his own house, and twelve cartridges were taken from his trouser pockets. There was a double-barrelled gun in the house loaded in both barrels. In the fireplace of the back room he found an empty cartridge case. The prisoner was charged at half past twelve o’clock on Thursday, when he appeared to be in no way excited, and was in a condition to understand all that was said to him. In reply to the charge of murdering his child, he said, “You might charge me with that, but it’s all my eye and Peggy Martin.” Dr Ritchie saw the prisoner in the evening. When Dr Ritchie saw the prisoner, at eight or nine o’clock at night, the latter repeatedly said that he believed his wife had put something in his tea that made him queer. He also said that she had put something in the child’s medicine that he thought would poison it.
Police-constable Wildman stated that while watching the prisoner’s house after Shippam knocked at the door be heard someone inside whistling and dancing.
Police-constable Macdonald said that when arrested the prisoner appeared to be in an excited wild state and exclaimed “I’ll kill you too.”
This closed the evidence for the prosecution and the defence lawyer reserved his defence. The prisoner was formally charged, and was then committed for trial at the next West Riding Assizes.
The first witness was PC Richard Wildman, who arrived on the scene at about six o-clock in the morning. He saw the superintendent at about half past seven o’clock try to force open the front door of Taylor’s house with a crowbar. A gun was fired through a window between one and two feet away from the door. After the gun was discharged Mr Birkhill fell, wounded on the left side of the head. He was removed, unconcious to the house of Henry Hanks, and PC Wildman remained with him until ten o’clock.
PC Macdonald was called next. He said he was present when PC Shippam demanded admittance to the prisoner’s house. Prisoner replied, “I’m not up yet.” The doors were fastened, and they were not at that time able to get into the house. Mr Birkhill arrived at about six o’clock, after which witness went to the back of the house to watch. He remained there until nearly ten o’clock when he saw Taylor quietly open the back door. He had then a coal shovel in his hand, with which he struck the witness in the face when he endeavoured to arrest him. Assistance came, however, and the prisoner was handcuffed and lodged in the police-station, whither he was conveyed in a cab. On the way he said, “Don’t hold me so tight; I don’t want to get away”, and to the crowd which had assembled he called out, “Hello lads! I don’t care a ---- now; I’ve got my revenge.”
Police-sergeant Clay stated that he made a search in the prisoner’s house on Thursday November 24th and found four cartridges in the pocket of a coat hanging behind a door. A little while before Mr Birkhill was shot witness called to the prisoner and asked him to open the door. He replied, “You can come in if you like I’m ready, and it will be warm for you.”
Dr W K Bennett, who attended to Mr Birkhill after the shooting, repeated his evidence given at the inquest as to the injuries to the deceased’s head, which resulted in his death at about half past ten o’clock on the same morning.
Inspector Crow said that when the prisoner was charged with the murder of Mr Birkhill he replied, “ But I think I’ve done it a bit too far this time with drink.” Dr Pinder was sent to see the prisoner, and went into his cell with Mr Gill and witness
Mr W P Pinder, police surgeon for the Otley Division, stated that on Thursday 24th November, he went to the Police Station, where he saw the prisoner. He examined him, and found him free from any appearance of excitement. He was present when the prisoner was charged. He thought the prisoner understood what was said to him perfectly well.
The prisoner reserved his defence, and was on this charge also committed for trial at the Assizes.