1950s Birmingham Murders, Homicides and Suspicious Deaths

By Charles Rickell

This book covers most of the murders, homicides and suspicious deaths that occurred in the UK's second largest city Birmingham in Warwickshire (not Birmingham, Alabama) during the 1950s.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles Rickell
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463977699

Charles Rickell

British true crime writer and member of the Crime Writers' Association. Author of Yorkshire's Multiple Killers published by Wharncliffe Books.

Book preview

1950s BIRMINGHAM

MURDERS, HOMICIDES

& SUSPICIOUS DEATHS

Copyright 2019 Charles Rickell

Smashwords Edition

Other books by the author

Yorkshire's Multiple Killers, Wharncliffe Book 2007

Smashwords

A Calendar of Yorkshire Killings and Suspicious Deaths 2016

They Killed Again British Cases 2018

Calderdale Murders, Homicides and Suspicious Deaths 2019

30 MARCH 1950

BROOKFIELDS

Mrs Elsie Ivy Aston, aged 57, lived at 108 Hingeston Street, Brookfields, Birmingham. She had been a widow for 4 years but her daughter Mrs Ivy Watkins, aged 30, lived further along the street. During the week it was Elsie's routine to call in at Ivy's home at 08.30 for a cup of tea before she went to work at Bulpitts Ltd, in nearby Clissold Street. On Thursday 30 March 1950 Ivy became concerned when her mother failed to call in for her cup of tea. She waited a few minutes before heading to her mother's home. She arrived there at 8.55 and was alarmed when she saw that the grate to the cellar was missing. It did not deter her from entering and she found her mother on her bed with a pillow covering her head. Fleeing the house she went to Joe Grinnell's who lived opposite and told him that her mother was dead. He went to Mrs Aston's and saw her on the bed, her right arm and blood-stained hand were stretched across the bed. He then phoned 999 and prevented anyone else from entering the bedroom. The police were soon at the scene and they quickly learnt from several sources information that was useful.

It was established that the last person, excluding her killer, to see her was her sister-in-law, Mrs Gladys Stainton, from Victoria Terrace. It was their usual routine for them to spend Wednesday evenings together. They would have two half-pints of beer at The Laurels. She had walked Elsie home and left her on the doorstep at 22.30. She heard Elsie lock her door as she left. A neighbour thought that they heard Elsie's door slam at 06.10 that morning. Mrs Sarah Mead, a friend, reported that since Elsie's next door neighbour Mrs Harriet Mills, had unexpectedly died 18 months earlier she had been afraid of a man. She would cross the street to avoid the man. Six months earlier Elsie had told her that she was going to take a lodger so she would not be alone in the house. Sarah had advised against the idea and Elsie had dropped it. She said that Elsie lived quietly, she enjoyed reading books, listening to the radio and the occasional glass of beer. Professor J. M. Webster conducted a postmortem and said that death was due to asphyxia caused by strangulation. The police had a likely suspect and he was arrested and taken to a police station. Detective Inspector Fielders and Sergeant Morrison questioned him then charged him with murder. On Friday Allan Dennis Witcomb, a 34-year-old baker's assistant living in Hingeston Street, appeared before the magistrates to answer the charge. Mr F. Howarth, the court clerk, had to tell Witcomb to take his hands out of his pockets. Mr Pugh told the magistrates that Witcomb had made a statement in which he admitted being in Elsie's home at the time the fatal injuries were inflicted. Mr Pugh stated that he would not be entering the statement as evidence until a later date. Witcomb was asked if he any objections to being remanded in custody until Monday. He replied No. As he had no money he was granted legal aid.

On Monday 3 April he appeared before Lord Ilkeston the Birmingham Stipendiary. Not only was he charged with Elsie's murder he was now charged with Mrs Mills murder. Mr Pugh explained that following his remand on Friday Witcomb had been visited by DI Fielders. Whitcomb told him that there was something else he wanted to talk about. He had then confessed to killing Mrs Mills and on Sunday the police, having sought out records concerning her death, had charged him with her murder. He was remanded in custody for eight days. The inquest was opened on Monday. Professor Webster said that defensive wounds showed that Elsie had tried to defend herself. She had been laying on the bed when she was attacked, there was a blunt edge wound on her head and a bite like mark on a finger. At 11.30 on Thursday, he thought she had been dead for 8 to 10 hours putting her death between midnight and 03.00 that morning. Ivy gave evidence about finding her mother's body. The inquest was adjourned pending the completion of the legal proceedings. DI Fielders read from the statement made on Saturday 17 April 1943 in Oswestry. Witcomb had confessed to killing his niece Doreen Bradley, aged 2 at his home in Hingeston Street in 1933. The magistrates committed him to the next assizes on the murder charges.

His trial for the murder of Elsie started on Thursday 13 July 1950 in Birmingham. He pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. It was stated that he made statements in which he admitted killing Elsie and Harriet, on both occasions he claimed that the moon was up. In relation to Elsie's death, he claimed he had climbed or fell through the cellar grating. He had gone upstairs and saw her on her bed. He went for her throat and in the struggle, he bit something hard. He had put a pillow over her head then fainted. When he came round he was lying on the bed. His mother Mrs Ethel Witcomb stated that Allan had never seen his father as he had died during the First World War. He had a brother and sister but he did not associate with them. Since leaving school 20 years earlier he had only worked for 3 years. He had joined the Army but ended up being discharged after 3 months as a mental patient. He had been an in-patient again but had discharged himself. Detective Inspector Fielders said that Witcomb had previously confessed to killing his niece in 1943. It emerged during the trial that Witcomb had kept a woman hidden in the attic for 6 months. When his mother was out she would come down and they would have something to eat, talk and listen to the radio before she returned to the attic. When Mrs Witcomb found out about her she ordered her to leave.

Dr Albert Huse regarded Witcomb as a psychopath. He was asked about the effect of the moon on psychopaths. His response was that he knew of no scientific evidence but he had heard of incidents. Dr G. Ray of Winson Green Prison did not think he suffered from a disease of the mind. Defence counsel Mr A. P. Marshall said that as his client did not deny killing Elsie he could not seek a Not guilty verdict but he would seek a verdict of Guilty but insane. After both counsels had addressed the jury Justice Lynskey adjourned the trial for the day. The next day he summed up the evidence for the jury. They retired to consider their verdict but had to return for advice from Justice Lynskey on the insanity issue. They then returned to their deliberations, it took them 4 ¾ hours in total to decide that Witcomb was guilty but insane. Justice Lynskey ordered that he be detained until His Majesty's pleasure be known. Without saying anything Witcomb turned and walked down to the cells.

On Monday 19 April 1943 Witcomb had appeared before magistrates following his confession regarding his niece. At the time he was absent from the heavy anti-aircraft unit he was serving with. Police inquiries following his statement confirmed the basic information in his confession. His sister's daughter Doreen Frances Bradley had died on Friday 10 March 1933. A postmortem concluded that her death was due to enlarged glands. The pathologist had died but his notes were available. In asking for an extended remand pending further inquiries Mr Pugh intimated that Doreen's body may have to be exhumed for another postmortem. Witcomb was remanded in custody by the magistrates. On Monday 3 May 1943 he appeared again before the magistrates. Mr Pugh told them that the papers had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The DPP had decided not to offer any evidence on the charge. Witcomb was then discharged by the magistrates and the case closed.

7 JULY 1950

LOZELLS

On Saturday 8 July 1950 John William Graham, aged 21, of Fordfield Road, Glebe Farm, Birmingham appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court charged with manslaughter. Mr Pugh for the Crown said that it was alleged Graham had killed Arthur Wood, 48 of Guildford Street, Lozells, Birmingham, who was attacked the previous night. Arthur was in a relationship with Graham's mother. Graham had punched Arthur then kicked him on the ground, no weapon had been used. Arthur had died after the assault. Graham was remanded in custody until Tuesday. He appeared before Lord Ilkeston on Tuesday and was remanded again. There were no reports concerning the inquest nor the committal hearing.

On Tuesday 19 December he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Mr R. T. Paget prosecuting gave a brief outline of the case. Arthur was a married man but for 12 years he had been carrying out a liaison with Graham's mother. On previous occasions, Arthur had knocked her about. On the Friday Mrs Graham and Arthur had been drinking and he had struck her twice before Graham returned. Upset at his mother's treatment by Arthur he had grabbed him, swung him around and punched him. As Arthur lay on the ground he had kicked him. Arthur suffered a broken jaw and fractured skull. His skull