James and William Lightfoot were brothers sentenced to death in 1840 for the murder of Nevell Norway, a timber merchant from Wadebridge. Nevell had been returning home from a market where he had conducted successful business, carrying a considerable sum of money. He was ambushed by the brothers. His horse later returned home alone, its saddle bloodied, prompting a search.

Nevell Norway’s body was found battered and dumped in a river. The Lightfoot brothers were quickly apprehended and subsequently made a full confession to the crime. They were sentenced to death and hanged side-by-side at Bodmin Jail.

A strange and compelling aspect of this case involves Edmund Norway, Nevell's brother. On the very night of the murder, Edmund, who was aboard a ship named the 'Orient' in the South Atlantic, reportedly awoke profoundly shaken. He claimed to have had a vivid dream or premonition in which he witnessed two men attacking and murdering his brother. He relayed this vision in great detail to his captain, and the event was recorded in the ship’s log the following day, February 9th – the day after the murder took place. The 'Orient' did not return to Cornwall until two months later, at which point Edmund learned the tragic news of his brother's fate, confirming his premonition.

The spirits of James and William Lightfoot are said to haunt Bodmin Jail. They have reportedly been seen by many people over the years, and their presence is consistently described as dark, chilling, and unsettling.