Bloody Yorkshire

By W.M.Rhodes

'Bloody Yorkshire' is a compilation of thirteen of the vilest crimes, which stunned and gripped the nation. From the triple murders in Mirfield 1847, the ruthless slaying of innocent children John Gill in Bradford 1889, and Barbara Whitian Waterhouse in Horsforth, Leeds 1891. To the shocking death of William Swann brutally murdered by his wife and her lover in 1903. This carefully researched illustrated book will appeal to historians, and those interested in true crime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W.M. Rhodes
• Release date: Apr 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9780995775220

Book preview

BLOODY YORKSHIRE

Volume 1

W M RHODES

Also by W M Rhodes

Filey a History of the Town and its People

ISBN: 978-0-9957752-06

Scarborough a History of the Town and its People

978-0-9957752-7-5

Dr Pritchard the Poisoning Adulterer.

978-0-9957752-6-8

Copyright © 2019 W M Rhodes

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the author. Any views expressed in this book are those of the author. Still, they are general views only, and readers are urged to consult a relevant and qualified specialist for individual advice situations. The author excludes all liability to the extent permitted by law for any errors or omissions in this book, or any loss, damage, or expense (whether direct or indirect) suffered by the third party relying on any information in this book.

ISBN:978-0-9957752-2-0

A copy of this book has been lodged with The British Library.

Edited by Maureen Vincent-Northam

Cover Photograph 'Bolton Abbey' reproduced with the kind permission of Bob Robertson.

Cover Design - Rhys Vincent-Northam

Book Design -Beenish Qureshi.

Published in the United Kingdom – La-di Dah Publishing.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER

1: THE MURDER OF JANE ROBINSON — ESKDALESIDE CUM UGGLEBARNBY — 1841

2: THE MURDER HOUSE — THE TRIPLE MURDERS AT WATER ROYD HOUSE MIRFIELD — 1847

3: THE ATTEMPTED MURDER BY POISON — THE BATTLING BELL BROTHERS — GRINDALE BRIDLINGTON 1856

4: HUMBUG BILLY — THE LOZENGE POISONINGS BRADFORD — 1858

5: THE TODMORDEN MURDERS — 1868

6: THE DEADLY MOTHER — NEWTON-ON-OUSE — 1879

7: KATE DOVER — THE QUEEN OF HEELEY, POISONER — SHEFFIELD — 1881

8: THE MURDER OF THE LAYCOCK FAMILY— WHITECROFT — SHEFFIELD — ‘OH MY CHILD-MY CHILD.’ — 1884

9: THE MURDER AND MUTILATION OF JOHN GILL — BRADFORD — 1889

10: A SCANDALOUS WOMAN — THE MURDER OF MARIA STONEHOUSE — FILEY 1894

11: THE DOUBLE MURDER ON ROPER MOOR — HELMSLEY 1895 — THE HUDSON FAMILY

12: THE HORRIFIC MURDER OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD BARBARA WHITIAN WATERHOUSE —HORSFORTH — 1891

13: A SORDID AFFAIR — EMILY SWANN & JOHN GALLAGHER THE WOMBWELL MURDERS 1903

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my Grandmother, Mary Theresa Leclerc, whose passion for murder stories inspired me to write this book.

R.I.P

THE STORIES RECONSTRUCTED in this book are from actual events.

The information given, and the crimes depicted, are based on legal evidence, statements, eyewitness accounts, court transcripts, newspaper articles and testimony provided by those involved, personal interviews, individual research, and media resources.

INTRODUCTION

YORKSHIRE IS THE LARGEST county in the country. Within its borders are large stretches of unspoiled countryside, particularly the Yorkshire Dales National Parks.  It is not surprising that Yorkshire's nickname is 'Gods Own Country with such natural beauty.' This ordinarily peaceful area has occasionally witnessed some of the most horrifying crimes of the nineteenth century.

'Bloody Yorkshire' is the first book in the trilogy that chronicles thirteen of the vilest murderous acts, framing Yorkshire's sinister past.

This carefully researched illustrated book will appeal to historians and those interested in true crime.

The Liberty of St Peter – Peter Prison

YORK, THE OFFICIAL capital of Yorkshire, was known to the Romans as Eboracum. To the Saxons, Eoforwick, the Vikings, who came as invaders but stayed on in settlements, called it Jorvik.  The city attracts thousands of visitors each year from all over the world and is one of England's finest and most historic cities.

York Minster, or to give it its full name, the 'Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter, ' can be traced back to medieval times. Construction of the current Minster began in 1220 and completed in 1472. For many years, the Minster had a court, a prison, and gallows known as 'Peter Prison'. The establishment of the prison is unknown but is most likely to be the fifteenth century. The jail stood outside the West Court and was in use until 1837.

In addition, the Minster had a separate Police Force, only one of a few cathedrals in the world to do so. The job of these officers was a challenging one. The Liberty constable will have carried out some of the punishments handed out by the court. Officers certainly equipped themselves with an array of weapons, some possibly used to carry out summary justice.

Before the Metropolitan Police Service (1829), Sir Robert Peel visited constables at Liberty of St Peter and Peter Prison (the latter becoming the Minster Police). Therefore, it is assumed that the Minster Police pre-dates the Metropolitan Police Service, making it the oldest continuing police service in the country and possibly the world.

The primary purpose of the Minster Police is to provide security and ensure that the dignity of the Minster is upheld. Presently, the Minster Police has eight officers and one inspector. In addition to their policing role, the officers are the custodians of over 380 sets of keys. They also provide information and directions to tourists, oversee fire safety, and security for cash flow around the Minster.

The Liberty was encased by 12ft high walls, with its entrance via four guarded gates with a cobbled grassed precinct. Inside the walls were various residences and official buildings, all dwarfed by a grand cathedral. Within the Liberty, the Dean and Chapter of York Minster held jurisdiction and appointed constables. These officers, like parish constables, maintained law and order. Over time, the Liberty, which covered an area equating to a third of the medieval City of York, had coroners, justices of the peace, and bailiffs.

The archbishop's prison was relocated several times during the middle ages. One of the sites later became a public house. In 1816, during renovations of the pub, 'The Hole in the Wall'. (so named as prisoners often begged for food through the bars in the window to people passing by) workers discovered an underground prison. They found chains and manacles and graffiti cut into the walls.  

Initially, the prison was used mainly for members of the church caught breaking the law. Still, there would often be prisoners who fear their lives would plead 'clergy' claiming to be churchmen and therefore eligible to be tried within the confinements of the church where punishments were more lenient.

Despite the conditions, criminals did not consider imprisonment to be a punishment. You were only imprisoned whilst awaiting trial, which, back then, could take a long time. Some prisoners could be detained for up to ten years. Unlike prisons today, you or your family would be expected to pay for rent and food while incarcerated.

Murder at the Minster

On thirtieth July A.D. 1570 at St Peter's Prison York in the Hall of Pleas – Thomas Wilson alias Mountain was tried on an indictment and charged with the wilful murder of George de Walton, the Abbot of St Mary's. He faced further charges that on the same day that he did feloniously stab the Right Reverend Father in God Edmund Grindal Lord Archbishop of York in the Cathedral Church of St Peters, with the intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

After a four-day trial, Wilson was found guilty and faced execution. On August 18 1570, he was taken from the dungeon at St Peter's Prison to the gallows of the Abbey of St Mary Clifton.

Since his incarceration, he had made several attempts to break out of prison. Once, he made a hole in the brick partitioning of his cell, large enough for him to pass through into the chapel gallery. From there, he ascended into another 10ft above with heavily based beams designed purposely only to allow a person to walk on them with one foot in front of the other. Not letting this stop him, Wilson broke through a plaster partition and somehow got himself over a brick ceiling covering all the cells. From here, he slipped over the roof, where unfortunately for him, he was heard and recaptured.

When the guards searched Wilson, they found hidden on him a hooked nail and a piece of tin plate which he had carved into a sharp knife which he used to cut up the broad canvass of his bed into long strips, which he twisted tightly together to make a strong rope nearly 40ft long. Once recaptured, he was confined to a dungeon on the ground floor and placed in chains. The prison was concerned that Wilson might try to escape again, so they employed a guard to watch him day and night. Following his renewed detention Wilsons conduct was a mixture of rage and disappointment.

On the day of his execution, when brought to the gallows, he spent time addressing the vast crowd that had gathered to witness his demise calling out to them 'God save the Queen'. But, when the time came, he threw aside his bible, and the executioner launched him into eternity.

After his execution, the authorities hung his body on chains on Clifton Ings as a deterrent to others.

*

The Modern Police Force

SIR ROBERT PEEL, KNOWN as the father of modern democratic policing, founded the first modern police force in London in 1829, which replaced the disorganised systems of parish councils and wardens. The goal of this newly formed band of men had three main core idea and nine principles, which were,

Preventing crime, not catching criminals, if the Police stop crime before it happens, the Police do not have to punish citizens or suppress their rights. An effective police department doesn't have high arrest statistics; its community has low crime rates.

The key to preventing crime is earning public support. Every community member must share the responsibility of preventing crime as if they were all volunteer members of the force. They will only accept this responsibility if the community supports and trusts the police.

The Police earn public support by respecting community principles. Winning public approval requires hard work to build a reputation: enforcing the laws impartially, hiring officers who represent and understand the community, and using force only as a last resort.

The nine principles of policing were,

Military force and severity of legal punishment are an alternative to their repression to prevent crime and disorder.

To recognise always that the power of the police to fulfil their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions, and behaviour and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.

To always recognise that to secure and maintain the respect and approval of the public means also securing the public's willing cooperation to secure observance of laws.

To recognise the extent to which the public's cooperation diminishes the necessity of physical force and compulsion for achieving police objectives proportionately.

To seek and preserve public favour, not by pandering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law, in complete independence of policy, and without regard to the justice or injustice of the substance of individual laws, by a ready offering of personal service and friendship to all members of the public without regard to their wealth or social standing, by the ready exercise of courtesy and friendly good humour, and by the willing offering of individual sacrifice in protecting and preserving life.

To use physical force only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is insufficient to obtain public cooperation to an extent necessary to secure observance of the law or restore order. To use only the minimum degree of physical force essential on any particular occasion for achieving a police objective.

To maintain a relationship with the public that works in reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the people are the police. The police being only members of the people who are paid to give full-time attention to duties, which are incumbent on every citizen, in the interests