With Halloween approaching, we look at a darker corner of our town's history.

Harry Leigh is understood to be one of the last people from Macclesfield to be executed for his crimes.

The silk weaver was hanged at Chester Castle at 8am on Monday, August 20, 1877, after being found guilty of the murder of eight-year-old Alice Ann Halton.

Following his conviction, Leigh confessed that he had robbed Alice and thrown her into the Macclesfield Canal in Sutton, admitting he 'left her to drown'.

Describing the moment Leigh was executed, the Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette reported: "The procession from the condemned cell started a few minutes after eight o'clock, the prisoner walking very firmly, and placing himself bolt upright under the drop without a tremor.

"Marwood adjusted the rope, stepped behind the culprit, and pulled a lever, and the wretched man, who was given a tremendous drop of seven feet, died almost instantaneously, the only symptoms of life being two convulsive movements of the body."

The report continues, explaining that on March 23, 1877, widow Emily Halton gave her daughter Alice instructions to fetch her wages of 12 shillings and threepence from Mr Banford's Mill.

Leigh, who was understood to be intimate with Mrs Halton, was present at this time and clearly took an interest, attempting to collect the wages himself the following morning but 'failing completely'.

When he saw young Alice depart the mill having collected the wages, he persuaded her to take a walk with him.

"Several witnesses saw the two together walking along the canal bank. Alice Ann Halton was never again seen alive," the report states.

Alice's body was found in the canal later that afternoon by a passing blacksmith.

Meanwhile, Mrs Halton became alarmed when her daughter did not return home and went to the mill to investigate, where she learned of Leigh's attempts to get the money.

She then visited Leigh's house who claimed he knew nothing about it.

However, he was charged when he was found with the exact same coins which had been given to Alice.

At the trial in July, the jury took just 30 minutes to return a guilty verdict, with the judge sentencing Leigh to death.

The report states that following his conviction, Leigh conducted himself 'in a truly penitent manner'.

It adds: "Unlike Bannister, the last convicted murderer in Chester Castle, whose behaviour was that of a restless wild beast in a cage, Leigh was singularly quiet in his demeanour, and he made a full confession of his crime.

"Leigh wrote a letter, asking forgiveness, to the mother of the murdered girl, and received in reply a letter, written on behalf of Mrs. Halton by the Rev. Mr. Hurst, of Hurdsfield, extending the forgiveness asked for."

Leigh also wrote to his family, stating that he 'regretted his wicked conduct' and 'expressed a hope of after-forgiveness'.

The letter also contained quotations from several hymns, including one which started 'in the hour of trial, Jesus, pray for me'.

Describing Leigh's final interview, conducted four days before his execution, the report reads: "The prisoner is a man of some intellectual capacity, and since his incarceration his appearance has changed from that of a man living a dissolute and irregular life to that of a thoughtful and clever one.

"It was commonly remarked at his trial that he 'looked like a school- master'.

"The effects of being subjected to regular habits of living have probably tended to make him eat well and sleep soundly, while yet subjected to great emotions of mind.

"He has been most attentive to the administrations of the chaplain since his conviction.

"No efforts were made for a reprieve, and he was executed under circumstances mentioned above."