What, exactly, is archaeology of murder?
What, exactly, is archaeology of murder? 7 October, 2025 Blog by Dr Paul Stickler Archaeology of murder goes deeper than what happened, who did it and why—it examines the social and political context in which the murder was committed. The investigation of murder is a huge subject in books, podcasts, film and television. People are interested in what happened, who did it and why. Archaeology of murder, however, goes deeper than that and examines the social and political context in which the murder was committed, the actions and behaviours of the police, the victimology of those involved and how society responded to the often alarming circumstances as they became more widely known. It is a method by which we can begin to better understand society and not simply accept the facts at face value. I focus primarily on early to mid-twentieth-century crimes and emphasise the social and political constraints in which the police operated. It is a powerful tool in helping to understand and explain police behaviours and how society responded, and gives us a greater understanding of how and why the police operate in the manner they do today. Let us take an example. On 1 May 1924, police were alerted to a bag containing bloodstained garments which had been found in a left luggage compartment at Waterloo railway station. It was thought that the clothes could be connected to an illegal abortion, and observations were carried out on the locker. The following day, Patrick Mahon recovered the bag. He was immediately approached by a police officer who said, “You will have to come with me to Kennington Road police station”. Mahon replied, “Rubbish”. The officer said, “No, it is not, and you will have to do what I say”. Mahon was then, to use the exact words of the arresting officer, ‘detained’ at the police station. Mahon was then ‘detained’ at a series of police stations where he was repeatedly questioned but remained silent until ultimately he said, “I might as well tell you the truth.” He then made a series of written statements in which he admitted he had murdered a woman with whom he had been having an affair, dismembered her body and threw the body parts through a train window. At the time, police procedure was governed by the Judges’ Rules, which had been implemented informally in 1918 and which were intended to put some measure of control around the handling of people suspected of committing crime. The rules were, to say the least, confusing and contradictory. Neither the courts nor parliament saw the necessity of introducing legislation which would have given clearer instructions. The consequence of this was that the police were able, or perhaps even forced, to interpret the rules as they saw fit. However, even the most liberal interpretation of the rules meant that if a person is suspected of a crime, he must be arrested and cautioned (told that he need not say anything at all). If we now return to the arrest of Patrick Mahon in 1924, he was neither arrested nor cautioned up until the point he had been detained for several days and then decided to make his confession. The police argued that since Mahon had merely been detained, and not therefore been arrested, there was no need to administer a caution. This, I would argue, was a breach of the Judges’ Rules. However, the police interviews in this case were later described as being of ‘conspicuous skill, tact and ability in obtaining from [him] what amounted to a confession of a murder that everyone was ignorant of except Mahon himself’. In other words, the practice of holding a suspected murderer in custody with no warning of his rights was regarded by the courts and the newspapers as acceptable practice, despite the advice laid down within the Judges’ Rules. Why was this? Well, put quite simply, the public was concerned that there was a growing tendency for parliament and the courts to put too many obstacles in the way of the police being able to investigate murder effectively. Placing these constraints on police officers was leading to an increase in unsolved murders, and they should not have to investigate serious crime with one hand tied behind their backs. The Mahon case was typical of the period and an example of the police operating within a social and political environment which had little appetite for change. Fast forward to 1984, and Parliament now introduced the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, designed to better control police practice in the investigation of crime following decades of concerns about miscarriages of justice and unacceptable police behaviours. Viewing this through the prism of today’s standards and expectations, the Act has markedly reduced these concerns and brought about a legal framework within which the rules are much clearer, if not wholly unequivocal. The courts and the public alike are reassured that the matter is now much better under control. But my attention was taken by another high-profile case, which hit the newspapers from 2011 onwards; the murders of Sian O’Callaghan and Becky Godden-Edwards. The suspected murderer in these cases was a man called Christopher Halliwell, and the investigation would even result in the TV series, A Confession. It is remarkable that the arguments of the 1920s would be so relevant a hundred years later, and the case serves as an example of how society views and understands police practice in modern times. The case is, legally, a very complex set of circumstances, and so a quick summary is necessary. Sian was reported missing in 2011, and it quickly became apparent that she had either been abducted (and was still alive) or that she had been murdered. Either way, no body had yet been found. Through particularly good police work, the suspect Halliwell came to the attention of the police, but there was insufficient evidence to make an arrest. Police focused on gathering further material, which may later prove useful in any criminal trial.
The Acid Bath Murders
The Acid Bath Murders aka John Haigh: cold-blooded killer 19 August, 2025 When Olive Durand Deacon went uncharacteristically missing in 1949 from the Onlsow Court Hotel in west London, focus quickly turned towards John George Haigh, a man who had been seen to recently ingratiate himself with the widow. Date of crime: Between 1944 and 1949 Almost boasting, Haigh told police that he had murdered the missing woman, but her body would never been found since he had dissolved it in sulphuric acid. A search of his factory premises unearthed several clues that suggested his claim was true, but there was no sign of a body. Amazingly, Haigh went on to say that his experiments with sulphuric acid had been going on for several years and he had systematically murdered five other people in the space of 5 years. “How can you prove murder if there is no body?” He had dissolved each of their bodies in 45-gallon drums containing the corrosive acid. Enquiries confirmed that each of the victims had not been seen for several years and Haigh’s claims were proving to be correct. He had murdered two families: William and Amy McSwann and their son William and three years later, Archie and Rose Henderson. His motive for murder was pure greed. After each of the cold-blooded killings, he forged documents and deceived solicitors and families into believing he was entitled to their assets and spent the proceeds on hotel bills, fine wine and gambling. When the money ran out, he simply looked for another wealthy victim. Haigh pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds that he was insane and even volunteered that he had drunk the blood of each of his victims. Shortly before his trial he admitted to other killings though there was no evidence to support his claims. The jury did not believe him to have been insane and Haigh was hanged in 1949. Since leaving school, he had spent most of his time deceiving people, going to prison and spending other people’s money. The victims… Olivia Durand Deacon, William McSwann, William Donald McSwann, Amy McSwann and Archie and Rose Henderson How did Haigh get access to sulphuric acid? He had fraudulently set up a business as an engineering company which purportedly needed sulphuric acid. He had no problem in ordering as much he needed Where was Haigh’s factory where he murdered Olive Durand Deacon? Leopold Road, Crawley. The building no longer exists. Why did people not report the victims as missing? Haigh managed to convince friends and family that each of the victims had genuine reasons to be away. Some did raise concerns and one relative threatened to go to the police, but none was ever reported as officially missing. Were any body parts found at all? Yes, some remnants of human bone were found, some teeth and some gall stones. How did Haigh murder his victims? We only have his own version of this. The McSwanns were hit about the head and the Hendersons and Durand Deacon were shot with a .38 calibre Enfield revolver Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More The Rillington Place Murders Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… The Acid Bath Murders Gordon Lowe(2015) Buy the book:Amazon John George Haigh: The Acid-Bath Murderer Jonathan Oates(2014) Buy the book:Amazon Murder with a Difference Mary Lefebure(1958) Buy the book:Amazon Presentations The Acid Bath Murders case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
Britain’s first railway murder
Britain’s first railway murder aka The murder of Thomas Briggs 19 August, 2025 On 9 July 1864, Thomas Briggs left his home in Clapton Square to travel by train to the City of London where he worked as a chief clerk in a bank. Date of crime: 9 July 1864 He was wearing his customary silk top hat, was carrying his walking cane and sporting a gold-coloured fob watch and chain. It was a Saturday, and in the afternoon he visited his niece in south London before returning to Fenchurch Street railway station to return to Hackney. He did not survive the journey. Later that evening his body was found beside the railway track at Duckett’s canal. He had been hit about the head and his watch and chain had been stolen. He died shortly afterwards from his injuries. “This foul and brutal crime, committed in the very centre and heart of our civilisation is the most horrible ever to disgrace this country” The police investigation identified the blood-stained carriage in which Briggs had been attacked and found a top hat and walking cane. The cane was identified as belonging to the victim but the top hat was not his. Whoever had attacked him had mistakenly picked up the wrong hat leaving his own behind. Very quickly it was established that the stolen chain had been exchanged in a jeweller’s shop in Cheapside for another chain and ring by a man with a German accent. The watch remained outstanding. As a result of publicity about the case, a German-speaking man by the name of Franz Müller was identified as a suspect and an investigation revealed that was the owner of a hat like the one found in the railway carriage. He had been seen shortly after the murder wearing a new, much smarter one. It became obvious that he had travelled to America by ship, but he was pursued across the Atlantic by Scotland Yard detectives. Despite the head start Müller had, he was found in New York in possession of Briggs’ watch. He was extradited and stood trial in London where he was convicted and later hanged on 14 November 1864. The victim… Thomas Briggs Thomas Briggs was a 69-year-old chief clerk at Robarts, Curtis bank in the City of London. He lived at 5, Clapton Square, Hackney with his wife and daughter, both called Mary. He also had two sons, Thomas and Netterville. He travelled most days to the bank by train from Hackney to Fenchurch Street and it was on this line that he met his death on 9 July 1864. What was the detective abilities of the police in 1864? The first detectives appeared in London in 1842, though only 8 officers were appointed. There numbers grew over the next few decades, but their expertise focussed on surveillance of known offenders rather than investigating specific offences. This was a period of time well ahead of fingerprint analysis and photography was not used at crime scenes. It would take the East End murders of 1888 to focus minds on investigative expertise. What was the weapon used to kill Briggs? It was never established. His injuries could have been caused as he was thrown from a moving train. More likely, he could have been hit about the head with a blunt instrument since the carriage was heavily blood-stained. What led to the identity of Müller first becoming known? Friends of his showed that he had been in possession of a new hat, had a jewellery box with the Cheapside brand on it, and was in possession of a new ring and chain. One of the people identified Müller’s hat and positively identified him by means of a photograph. He had a German accent as described by the jeweller who had bought the stolen ring. How difficult was it to extradite people in 1864? Extradition has never been a simple process. In 1864, of course, America was in the middle of a civil war, but Müller was extradited under the terms of the British-American Extradition Treaty 1842. The warrant was signed by Abraham Lincoln. Was Franz Müller hanged in public? Yes, he was. Thousands turned up to see the macabre event in November 1864. Four years later, hangings were carried out behind prison walls such was the depth of feeling about them being carried out in the public arena. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More The Rillington Place Murders Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… Mr Briggs’ Hat Kate Colquhoun2011 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations Britain’s First Railway Murder case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
The Kray Twins
The Kray Twins aka The Kray twins 19 August, 2025 The Kray twins’ reign of terror began in the 1950s when their use of violence spread from simple street fighting to using their muscle to branch into the protection racket market. Date of crime: 1966–1967 They attracted the occasion conviction but their activities were largely unchecked through fear of reprisals had any witnesses stepped forward to give evidence. It was not until the 1960s when their violence reached its peak due to a number of factors which collectively allowed them a free reign across east and central London. In 1964, Ronnie Kray began a homosexual relationship (as it was termed at the time) with Lord Boothby, a conservative peer and which led to Boothby successfully suing the newspapers for libel. The effect of this was to cause the authorities to step back from the Krays activities for fear of more civil litigation. “They just keep popping the man. He comes off the casing on his knees, then he falls back, and these bullets are going all over him” Knowing full well that people would be too scared to give evidence, in 1966 Ronnie Kray walked into the Blind Beggar public house in east London and shot George Cornell dead. Later the same year, Frank Mitchell who had been sprung from Dartmoor prison by the Kray gang was also shot dead. The following year, Jack McVitie was stabbed to death by Reggie Kray in an attack described as inhumane. In 1969, the Krays, alongside many other others were convicted of their criminal activities. The twins each received 30 years imprisonment. Their celebrity status continued while in prison as books and films were made about their reign of terror and their legacy remained for years to come. Ronnie eventually died in Broadmoor in 1995; Reggie died in 2000. Their reign of terror had lasted for many years but it had been allowed by factors outside of their control. For them, it was the perfect storm; for many it was a period of violence and fear. The victims… George Cornell, Frank Mitchell and Jack McVitie. Each were criminal associates of the Kray twins and were killed for a variety of reasons. Cornell was murdered because of a personal vendetta, McVitie because he had ‘disrespected’ the twins and Mitchell because his behaviour was likely to attract unnecessary police attention on the Krays’ activities. Both Mitchell’s and McVitie’s bodies have never been found. When were the twins born? Reggie and Ronnie were identical twins born on 23 October 1933. Where did the twins live in London? 178 Vallance Road, Bethnal Green. Affectionately known as Fort Vallance, it no longer exists today. The Krays were apparently very close to their mother. How much did she know of their activities? It’s difficult to know. It seems that the twins took steps to make sure their mother did not know of their criminal enterprises, but it seems unrealistic to expect that she knew nothing. She died in 1972, after her sons’ convictions for murder. Were there any other murders committed by the Krays that we don’t know about? Little doubt exists that they were responsible for other killings. A number of people went missing during the height of their reign but they were never charged and convicted. You mention that there were factors outside of their control that allowed them to operate the way they did. What were they? The first was the issue of Ronnie Kray’s relationship with Lord Boothby. Homosexuality at that time was deemed a criminal act and the libel action which followed gave them a measure of protection. The other factors were the twins’ mental health and the protection they were afforded due to the levels of police corruption which existed in the East End at that time. These issues are explored in some depth in my presentations. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More The Rillington Place Murders Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… Krayology John Bennett2016 Buy the book:Amazon Notorious: The Immortal Legend of the Kray Twins John Pearson2010 Buy the book:Amazon The Krays: Unfinished Business Martin Fido2002 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations The Kray Twins case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
The Murder of Sidney Spicer
The Murder of Sidney Spicer aka the Percy Toplis affair 19 August, 2025 Around 9pm on Saturday 24 April 1920, Salisbury taxi driver Sidney Spicer collected a fare of five people from the centre of the city and was asked to take them to nearby Bulford. Date of crime: 24 April 1920 Fearing he was running low on fuel in his Darracq motor car, he stopped at Amesbury to check his tank level. While attending to his car, a man dressed in a RAF Sgt Major uniform, emerged from a hedgerow and asked to be given a lift to Andover. Spicer told the man that he would return for him once he had delivered his passengers to Bulford. Spicer dropped his fare outside the Rose and Crown at Bulford, secured some fuel from a nearby garage and headed off back to Amesbury to collect his new fare. “Toplis dropped dead, almost into the arms of the Inspector. One of the three shots had killed him” The next morning Spicer’s body was found in a hedgerow on a road midway between Amesbury and Andover. He had been shot through the back of his head and it was apparent his valuables had been stolen. There was no sign of his car. A police investigation quickly identified a soldier by the name of Harry Fallows who told them that a fellow soldier called Percy Toplis had taken him for a drive in a Darracq car. They had driven through the night to Swansea where Toplis tried to sell the car. He was now a wanted man and a nationwide hunt began. There were numerous sightings but he was eventually cornered by a beat bobby in the village of Plumpton, Cumberland. Toplis produced a gun and threatened to shoot. He escaped but an armed police team was despatched to track down the fugitive. On 6 June 1920, Toplis and armed police came face to face. Shots were fired and Toplis fell dead in the middle of the road. An inquest confirmed that Toplis had been shot dead by police in the execution of their duty, but he never stood trial for the original shooting of Sidney Spicer six weeks earlier. The victim… Sidney George Spicer Little is known about Sidney George Spicer. He was a 24-year-old farmer from London Road, Salisbury but made extra cash working as a taxi driver. He had a deformed hand because of a farming accident and had been unable to participate in the first world war. He was murdered on 24 April 1920 and his body is buried in London Road cemetery, Salisbury. Was Toplis the supposed monocled mutineer in book and film? Most unlikely. There is no evidence that Toplis was involved in any mutiny during the first world war. He was a regular AWOL soldier and had many criminal convictions but his involvement in the Étaples mutiny is unrealistic. He certainly wore a monocle but that seems to be the extent of justification of his famous monicker. Can his monocle be seen today? Yes, but maybe, no. Penrith museum have an exhibition displaying a monocle apparently found on Toplis after he had been shot. Hampshire Constabulary have a monocle in their display at their museum which was handed in by a relative of Superintendent Cox, the Hampshire officer who led the hunt for the fugitive. Maybe he had more than one! Was the gun found on Toplis the same type used to kill Sidney Spicer? Yes. A number 6 Webley revolver. Was there an inquest into the death of Sidney Spicer? Yes, a jury returned a verdict of murder by Percy Toplis. Where is Sidney Spicer buried? London Road cemetery, Salisbury Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Rillington Place Murders Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… Who Shot Percy Toplis? Jim Cox Presentations Murder of Sidney Spicer case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
The Rillington Place Murders
The Rillington Place Murders aka the cases of Timothy Evans and Reg Christie 19 August, 2025 In December 1949, the bodies of Beryl Evans and her young baby, Geraldine, were found in a wash-house in the rear garden of 10, Rillington Place, west London. Date of crime: Between 1943 and 1949 Both had been strangled. Timothy Evans, the husband of Beryl and father of Geraldine was arrested. Evans was a man of low intellect and initially admitted killing his wife, then blamed it on someone else and then admitted to killing both his wife and daughter. At his subsequent trial, he reverted to blaming a downstairs tenant called Reg Christie. The jury convicted Evans and he was hanged in 1950. Had a search of the premises been more thorough, two more skeletal human remains would have been found buried a few feet away in the back garden “She was incurring one debt after another and I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I strangled her with a piece of rope” Three years later, the remains were discovered in the back garden. At the same time, the bodies of three recently strangled women were found in an alcove adjacent to the kitchen of the premises. Each had been raped and strangled. Another body was found buried underneath the floorboards of the living room. The police arrested the former resident of the premises, Reg Christie, who admitted the killing of all the women; the body under the floorboards was his wife. He now also admitted the killing of Beryl Evans three years earlier. Christie pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity but was convicted of murder and hanged in 1953. A later judicial review concluded that Evans did not kill his daughter but probably killed his wife despite Christie admitting responsibility. The decision paved the way for Timothy Evans to be posthumously pardoned and his name would forever be synonymous with the abolition of the death penalty in 1965. To this day, doubt remains over who killed who in Rillington Place. The victims… Ruth Fuerst, Muriel Eady, Kathleen Maloney, Hectorina McClellan, Rita Nelson, Ethel Christie, Beryl and Geraldine Evans Could both Christie and Evans be responsible for different killings? In theory, yes. Both Christie and Evans were prolific liars and there is evidence that some of their admissions could not possibly have been true. Many authors have claimed that they have unearthed the truth, but in reality there are many gaps in our knowledge and there will always be room for doubt. Most people believe that Christie was responsible for all the killings and that Evans was a man wrongly convicted. What was Christie’s motive for killing? Quite simply, sexual gratification. He was a regular user of prostitutes (to use the language of the day) and it seems that strangulation and rape was his ultimate fantasy. Is Rillington Place still there? No, it was knocked down in 1971. Where was Timothy Evans arrested? He surrendered himself to Merthyr Vale police station where he declared, “I want to give myself up. I have disposed of my wife” With all those bodies in the house, surely there must have been a horrible smell? There was, though it was masked by cold conditions throughout the winter of 1952/53 and Christie was seen to be putting disinfectant down the drains. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… 10 Rillington Place Ludovic Kennedy1971 Buy the book:Amazon Rillington Place – The Brabin Report HMSO1966 Buy the book:Amazon Murder with a difference Molly Lefebure1958 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations Rillington Place Murders case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
The Murder of Lord Erroll
The Murder of Lord Erroll aka Murder and the Happy Valley set 19 August, 2025 In 1925, Joss Hay (soon to become Lord Erroll) moved to the Wanjohi Valley, near Nairobi, Kenya with his new wife, Idina. Date of crime: 24 January 1941 The couple soon became attracted to the ‘Happy Valley Set’, a group of social elites who engaged in drunken sexual orgies from which several jealousies arose. Joss divorced but continued several other sexual relationships with members of the set. In November 1940, a newly-wed beauty by the name of Diana Broughton arrived in Kenya with her husband, Jock Broughton, but it was not long before Joss and Diana were in a full relationship; she had only been married 6 weeks. Her recently acquired husband was naturally jealous and annoyed and tried to convince Joss to end the relationship but he refused. “In every bedroom a bottle of whisky and tumblers stood on a tray, and on each pillow a pair of folded silk pyjamas” On the evening of 23 January 1941, and despite the antagonism which had arisen, Jock Broughton invited Joss and Diana to dinner at the Muthaiga Club and appeared to demonstrate acceptance of the new relationship and blessed it with an heir. However, before leaving for the evening, Jock Broughton asked that Joss bring his wife home by 3 o’clock that morning. Joss took Diana home shortly before 3am and then drove off in his Buick motor car. At that time Jock Broughton was thought to be upstairs in the house, intoxicated by liquor and fast asleep. Within 20 minutes, Joss had been shot dead by a single bullet to the head as he drove his car along the Ngong Road. A police investigation naturally focussed on Jock Broughton and despite his claims to be fast asleep in bed at the time, he was charged with Joss’s murder. He was acquitted. Stories have developed since about the jealousies which arose out of the Happy Valley sex parties and there were several people who would have reason to be annoyed with Lord Erroll. Rumours even emerged that his death was connected to his fascist leanings and that greater forces were at play, but his death remains a mystery to this day. The victim… Josslyn Victor Hay Born on 11 May 1901 and became the 22nd Earl of Erroll upon the death of his father in 1928. Although the family seat was at Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Joss spent much of his time following his father’s career as a diplomatic around Europe. Joss was Eton-educated (although dismissed after only two years) and had developed a talent for languages: he was fluent in French and German. He married Lady Idina Sackville in 1923 before settling in Kenya and becoming a member of the infamous ‘Happy Valley Set’. They had one child from the relationship, Diana Denyse Hay. The couple divorced in 1929 and Joss engaged in several sexual relationships. He was an active Kenyan politician who had fascist sympathies probably due to his close association with Oswald Mosley. Upon the outbreak of the second world war, he was appointed to the Kenya Regiment and made Assistant Military Secretary. In November 1940, he met and fell in love with the newly-married Diana Broughton, which led to the turbulent build-up of his murder on 24 January 1941. What exactly was the Happy Valley Set? A group of American and European socialites who engaged in drink- and drug-fuelled orgies which could last for several days. Marriage was no bar to becoming involved but consequently, many jealousies and divorces soon followed. They were not, however, typical of the ex-pat communities and their activities were frowned upon, particularly as their antics overlapped with others who were suffering as the second world war spread across Europe. What happened to Jock and Diana Broughton after the trial? Neither of them were properly accepted by Kenyan society again and they divorced. Jock travelled a little before returning to England where he committed suicide in the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool on 5 December 1942. Diana remarried twice more in Kenya before dying on 3 September 1987 in Ascot, England. Was the murder weapon ever found? No. Erroll was shot with a .32 calibre weapon which produced five right-handed grooves on the bullet. Broughton owned a similar weapon which had apparently been stolen from his house only a few days before the murder, but the certificates showed that his gun would have produced six grooves. This inevitably led to Broughton’s acquittal. There were several rumours about the weapon being thrown into a river, but none has ever been proved. What was the suggestion that Erroll’s death was because of his political leanings? This has a complicated answer and I cover it in detail in my talk. In short, it is argued that Erroll’s fascist leanings at a time of war with Germany and Italy, made him subject of attention by the security services. He may have been seen as a threat to British military strategy in Africa and he needed to be eliminated. However, I have not seen any evidence of this theory but that is not to say that it has no basis. Do any of the buildings used by the Happy Valley Set remain today? Apparently not. Much more detail may be found in Juliet Barnes’ book, The Ghosts of Happy Valley, published in 2013. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… The Temptress Paul Spicer2010 Buy the book:Amazon The Life and Death of Lord Erroll Errol Trzebinski2000 Buy the book:Amazon White Mischief James Fox1998 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations The Murder of
The Julia Wallace Murder
The Julia Wallace Murder aka the chess club conspiracy 19 August, 2025 At 6.45pm on 20 January 1931, William Wallace left his home at 29 Wolverton Street, Liverpool. Date of crime: 20 January 1931 He had just eaten dinner with his wife, Julia, and was heading for a meeting with a client in the Menlove Gardens area of the city, just over 4 miles away. He was a Prudential insurance agent and was used to walking the city’s streets selling policies and collecting premiums. However, he was unfamiliar with the Menlove Gardens area and as he travelled by tram, he asked people for directions. Upon arrival he realised that the address he had been given was false and returned home arriving around 8.40pm. “I was horrified to see my wife lying across the rug in front of the fireplace. Her head… was horribly battered” Upon arrival at the house, he found his wife bludgeoned to death in their front parlour; she had received a series of blows to the head. The police were called who were dubious of Wallace’s alibi claim. Wallace elaborated and said that the only reason he had gone to the Menlove Gardens area was because the night before he had a received a message at his chess club from a man called Qualtrough who had earlier telephoned asking him to visit the following evening. There then followed a detailed examination of Wallace’s movements, not only on the night of the murder but also the evening before. A theory was developing that Wallace had made the telephone call himself, fabricated the name Qualtrough and set up a false alibi for the following evening. The theory suggested that Wallace murdered his wife before he left home, travelled to the Menlove Gardens area knowing the address did not exist, made sure he was seen in the area, and then returned to ‘discover’ Julia in the parlour. Wallace was charged with the killing, convicted, but later acquitted on appeal. Other theories would later emerge, but it remains shrouded in mystery as to who brought the murder weapon down on Julia Wallace’s head. The victim… Julia Wallace Julia Wallace was born on 26 April 1861 in North Yorkshire and was the second child of seven children. Her passions seem to have been French, music and painting. It is not clear why, but there is some suspicion that in 1911, she falsified her details on the census return to state that she was eighteen years younger than she was. This deception was carried across when she married William Wallace in Harrogate in 1914 (though now only 16 years younger), but whether Wallace knew of the false claim is unknown. Whether this was to play a part in her eventual killing is similarly not known. They moved to Liverpool in 1915 and eventually settled in Wolverton Street the same year. There is little known about her time in Liverpool before her eventual death in 1931 and seemed to have settled into a quiet life of domesticity. Was the murder weapon ever found? In truth, we are not sure. Something blunt was obviously used and an iron poker was seemingly missing from the premises. There is a suggestion that years later it had been found, but there is no tangible evidence of that. If Wallace had been the murderer, surely he would have been covered in blood? Yet, he was not. The killer almost certainly would have had some blood on their clothing. It is true that there is no evidence of any blood being found on any of Wallace’s clothes but there are theories – and no more than that – that he dealt with that by either wearing a raincoat and leaving it at the scene (making it look like the real killer had worn it) or he had removed his clothing before the attack and dressed afterwards. There is no evidence to support either of these theories. Is it true that other suspects emerged during the investigation? Yes, two in particular, Richard Parry and Joseph Marsden. Based on the material available, it is not clear the extent to which these people were properly investigated but it is equally clear that there is little evidence to connect them to the actual killing or being responsible for the ‘Qualtrough’ call. What was the basis for Wallace’s eventual acquittal at the appeal court? The court ruled that the evidence presented to the jury could not justify the jury’s guilty verdict and quashed the conviction under S.4 Criminal Appeal Act 1907. What happened to William Wallace after his acquittal? His acquittal did not stop tongues wagging and many people still considered him responsible for his wife’s death. He eventually moved house as a result, but he died on 26 February 1933, just over two years since his wife had been killed. He protested his innocence to the end. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… Checkmate: The Wallace Murder Mystery Mark Russell2021 Buy the book:Amazon Move to Murder Antony M Brown2018 Buy the book:Amazon The Killing of Julia Wallace Jonathan Goodman1969 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations The Julia Wallace Murder case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
The Harry Oakes Murder
The Harry Oakes Murder aka Murder in the Bahamas 19 August, 2025 Around 11pm on 7 July 1943, Sir Harry Oakes, a multi-millionaire from the gold business, retired to bed at his beach home in Nassau. Date of crime: 7 July 1943 He had spent the evening with a small number of dinner guests including one of his closest friends, Harold Christie. Christie stayed in a spare room at the house. His family were all away at the time. At 7 o’clock the next morning, Christie went to rouse his friend and upon getting no answer, he entered his bedroom. Oakes was in his bed, dead, and very badly burnt. The mattress was badly charred and burn marks were apparent on parts of the carpet. It was obvious that someone had set fire to Oakes although the cause of death was a puncture wound to the side of this head. Christie, who had been in a nearby bedroom all night, claimed he had heard nothing. “On the nearer bed, face up, was the body of a man said to be worth two hundred million dollars” When the police began to investigate, it was clear that they were out of their depth when dealing with a complicated murder scene. The governor of the island, and personal friend of Oakes, was HRH the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII. The Duke made contact with the police in Florida and quickly two American detectives were despatched to take over the investigation. However, what followed was a desperately poor investigation which would be later riddled with accusations of corruption. This was heightened when the detectives claimed to have found a fingerprint in the bedroom, on a burnt piece of furniture, belonging to Oakes’ son-in-law, Alfred de Marigny. There had been a poor relationship between the two of them and de Marigny was arrested. He denied all knowledge of the attack although he had burn marks to his own body and admitted driving past Oakes’ house just about the time he was being murdered. De Marigny was acquitted and then rumours began to emerge that the mafia was responsible for the murder. The Duke of Windsor himself was rumoured to have covered up a proper investigation for fear of his Nazi sympathies being exposed. The case remains unsolved to this day. The victim… Sir Harry Oakes Sir Harry Oakes was a self-made millionaire having been successful in the gold mining business. He was born in Maine but later moved to Canada. In 1934, he moved to the Bahamas and was knighted in 1939. His lifestyle of living in far-flung corners of the world in his pursuit for gold – literally on his hands and knees – had attracted some descriptions of him as being dehumanised and with rather poor table manners. His wife was Australian-born Eunice with whom he had five children: Nancy, Sydney, Shirley, William and Harry. Oakes had house in Britain, America and the Bahamas and had been responsible for numerous building projects on the island of New Providence including hotels and an airport. At the time of his death, he was 68 years of age. What was the motive behind Sir Harry Oakes’ murder? No-one knows. There have been many conspiracy theories but none seem to stand up to close scrutiny. Freddie de Marigny had a loose motive and was effectively unalibied, but he was acquitted by a jury. Other rumours include a mafia plan to take over gambling on the island and a business deal which had gone horribly wrong, but in truth, we do not know. To what extent was the Duke of Windsor involved in a cover-up? Again, we cannot be sure, if he was at all. Historians have in recent years laboured the duke’s obvious connections with Nazi Germany (this was the reason why Winston Churchill gave him a job far away from the European theatre of war in the first place) and any thorough examination would have unearthed more evidence of his associations. Allegedly, he was involved in illegal financial transactions with axis allies, but how that is connected to a cover-up is not exactly clear. What was the murder weapon used to kill Oakes? It was a small, three-pronged instrument of some sort judging by the injuries to his head. It was never found and this is one of the criticisms levelled at the American detectives. Was Oakes actually killed in his bed? The forensic management of the scene was poorly handled. Many areas were not subject to fingerprint examination and those that were found could not be determined from where they were lifted. A theory at the time was that Oakes had been set on fire in another part of the bedroom before being killed with the three-pronged instrument. One conspiracy theory has Oakes being murdered on a boat a few miles away before being taken back to his house. What happened to Freddie Marigny? He eventually divorced Oakes’ daughter, Nancy, later re-married and settled in America. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… A Serpent in Eden James Owen2005 Buy the book:Amazon Who Killed Sir Harry Oakes? Marshall Houts1976 Buy the book:Amazon A Conspiracy of Crowns Alfred de Marigny1990 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations The Harry Oakes Murder case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now
The Porthole Murder
The Porthole Murder aka Body Overboard 19 August, 2025 On 18 October 1947, 21-year-old Gay Gibson disappeared from the Durban Castle ship as it sailed from Cape Town to Southampton. Date of crime: 18 October 1947 When the police boarded the vessel upon its arrival in Southampton, they started an investigation. Slowly, a picture emerged that a first-class deck steward, James Camb, had been seen inside her cabin immediately before she went missing. For the week that Gibson had been on board, Camb claimed that he had become friendly with the missing woman and had served her with drinks on a number of occasions. When asked by the captain whether he had any knowledge of Gibson’s disappearance he said had not. He had injuries to his body for which he gave an innocent explanation but maintained that he was unable to assist with any helpful information. When later asked by the police, and confronted with the information that he had been seen inside the missing woman’s cabin, he now told a completely different story involving being invited to Gibson’s cabin and engaging in a sexual liaison. “I managed to lift her to the porthole and pushed her through. I am fairly certain that at the time she was dead, but I was terribly frightened.” James Camb, October 1947 What happened next was only known by Camb himself, but he claimed that moments later, Gibson was dead. He panicked, decided to make it look like she had committed suicide and disposed of her body through the porthole. Camb was charged with her murder, despite her body never being found, and pleaded not guilty. The trial at Hampshire Assizes the following year occupied the front pages of newspapers and was made even more exciting by witnesses from South Africa providing important information for the jury as well as cutting edge forensic analysis and opinions. Camb was convicted but did not hang for reasons not to do with the murder itself but for a political debate which was taking place in the House of Commons. More details would emerge about Camb’s activities, and the story has a fascinating aftermath involving witnesses not presented to the court and a final twist to Camb’s final days. The victim… Eileen Isabelle Ronnie Gibson Eileen Isabelle Ronnie Gibson, nicknamed Gay because she was always good company. Gay was born in India in 1926 to English parents Joe and daisy Gibson. She had two brothers, Paul and Joe both of whom also dies from unnatural causes after Gay’s death. She was brought up in Birkenhead before being called up for national service in 1945. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service and later an entertainment company known as Stars in Battledress. It is known that she suffered from a significant ear infection and probably respiratory problems, and these may well have been contributing factors to her death. It is a moot point as to whether Gay was pregnant at the time of her death. Why was Gay Gibson in South Africa in the first place? She had accompanied her parents to Durban where her father worked for an oil company. She had secured work as an actress in Johannesburg before suddenly announcing she intended to travel back to Britain. Was it possible to prosecute people for murder when there is no body? Yes, there were numerous precedents for juries being able to try defendants when no body existed. Clearly, the prosecution must prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the person is actually dead. What do we know about the Durban Castle ship? The Durban Castle was one of many ships operated by the Union Castle Line in Southampton. It was a relatively small ship, 17,000 tonnes, which regularly sailed from Southampton to the Cape of Africa. It was built in 1938, used for military troop movements during the second world war and eventually scrapped in 1962. Was a conviction for manslaughter available to the jury? Yes, though Camb was not able to rely on this outcome. Camb’s account of the death of Gay Gibson prevented him claiming that she had died as a result of a reckless act. Was it actually possible for a body to be pushed through a porthole? Yes, though it measured only 16¾” in diameter. Gay was of slight build and the cabin bed was immediately below it. Two people present at the time of the trial have more recently said that a body could be passed through the porthole. Interested in a talk on this topic? Enquire Now Recent Stories The Acid Bath Murders Read More Britain’s first railway murder Read More The Kray Twins Read More The Murder of Sidney Spicer Read More Load More Topics Crime & Punishment: Death Penalty (4) Crimes Abroad or Colonial Connections (3) Historical Crimes (Pre-1950) (10) Infamous British Murders (6) Miscarriages of Justice & Legal Controversies (3) Psychological & Social Themes (4) Unsolved or Contested Cases (5) Further reading… Death of an Actress Antony M. Brown2018 Buy the book:Amazon Presentations The Porthole Murder case is available as a presentation. Whether delivered on world-wide cruise ships or in a local village hall, it’s absorbing, informative, and entertaining. Contact Paul Stickler for more information… Enquire Now