The Tomb of Thomas Helliker

In 1803 trade unions were illegal, yet they existed chiefly because industrialisation threatened workers' jobs. To persuade mill owners against mechanising production, workers burnt down their mills; Littleton Mill was the third such arson locally. Helliker was arrested and tried. He had an alibi but the court did not accept it. It was said that he knew who was guilty but refused to name them, despite facing a death sentence.
At this time, there were over 200 offences punishable by hanging. The sentence was usually carried out in public and the short drop resulted in slow death by strangulation.
Helliker was hanged on his 19th birthday.