The sad story starts on Wednesday 23rd November 1887 and continues into Thursday 24th November. William Taylor was at home with his wife, Hannah, and two of his children Annie, ten weeks old, and Elizabeth, four years old. Taylor’s oldest child, William, aged seven, was staying with his grandfather at the time. Taylor had spent the day moping over the fire, but was nevertheless sober.
William and Hannah went to bed at midnight, as did their lodger Ellis Brumfitt Hartley. Annie Taylor, who slept in the same room as her parents, was suffering from bronchitis at this time and kept the household awake by crying. At about quarter past two Hannah Taylor got up and went downstairs to light the fire and make the baby a poultice. The lodger Hartley dressed and went downstairs to help raise the fire from the dying embers. The door was opened to try to create a draught for the fire.
William Taylor followed them downstairs and demanded to know why the door was open. He slammed the door shut and seized his double barrelled gun from the corner of the room, saying he would make the fire burn by shooting up the chimney. He further made threats to his wife, vowing that he would swing for her. Alarmed by this, Hannah Taylor went into the yard through the back door, cradling Annie in her arms. Taylor pursued her and levelled his gun at her. A shot was fired which missed Hannah, except for causing a discoloured arm from the powder, but the shot hit Annie in the small of the back, shattering her back.
Hannah made her way to the house of Edwin Freeman, a neighbour, who had been awakened by the commotion. At first it was not known that the baby had been shot, but soon blood soaked through the blanket and a Dr Bennett was called for. The injuries were major and the baby died at about half past four in the morning.
Meanwhile the lodger Hartley had fortunately managed to escape through the front door just as Taylor was taking aim at him. Hartley reported the incident to PCs Shippam and Wildman of the Otley police. PCs Shippam and Wildman, accompanied by Sergeants Clay and Watkins went to the house but found that Taylor had locked both doors and was going to offer resistance. To complicate matters Elizabeth Taylor was still in the house with her father. Stephen Taylor, William’s brother, was called on to try to get William to surrender, but to no avail. A defiant William Taylor told policemen through the keyhole that he would “make it warm” for anyone trying to enter.
Once the baby had died the siege became more serious and a superior officer was called. At half past seven Superintendent Thomas Birkhill arrived to take charge. Sergeants Watkins and Clay guarded the back door whilst Superintendent Birkhill and PCs Shippam and Wildman guarded the front. A crowbar was borrowed from the nearby gasworks which PC Wildman and later Superintendent Birkhill used to attempt to break the lock on the front door. Unfortunately for Superintendent Birkhill, Taylor saw what was happening and shot the superintendent through the window at close range. Superintendent Birkhill fell back having been shot in the head near to the left ear. The superintendent was carried by his men to the adjoining house of Henry Hanks, where he was attended to by Dr Bennett and two surgeons, Mr Ritchie and Mr Clarke. Superintendent Birkhill never regained consciousness, dying at a quarter to eleven.
After their leader was shot, the constables sent for Inspector Crow of Ilkley to take charge. At about quarter past ten matters resolved themselves. William Taylor, having noticed that everything had become quiet, decided that the police may have left and came out of the backdoor with a coal shovel and a carving knife, heading for the coal shed. PC Macdonald grabbed Taylor and was hit by the coal shovel for his pains. Other officers overpowered Taylor and the siege was ended. Elizabeth Taylor was found safe in the house. A number of cartridges were found in Taylor’s pocket and the gun had been reloaded.
William Taylor was handcuffed and taken to the police station in a cab, avoiding a hostile crowd that had gathered in the street. On the way to the police station Taylor is reported to have remained defiant, saying, “I don’t care a d----, I’ve got my revenge.” Once at the police station he was charged with the two murders and replied “It’s all very well for you to say that; but it’s all my eye and Peggy Martin.”