Over the course of two months, over 40,000 sets of prints were taken from more than 35,000 homes without a match being found. [10] The internal injuries were consistent with the child having been raped,[16] and the multiple, extensive fractures and blunt trauma to her skull had been inflicted from the child being repeatedly swung into the boundary wall while her rapist and murderer had held her by her legs, ankles, or feet. Feroz Suleman, 39,. [28], Peter Griffiths was arrested by DCI Capstick as he left his Blackburn home to attend work on the evening of 12 August. Victorian Blackburn had its fair share of grisly crimes and murders. Merrifiled, who was known for being a serial drunk and a thief, mixed rodine and jam before giving her employer Mr Ricketts the deadly concoction. magellan jets logo; bean boozled how to tell the difference. Mr Justice Oliver placed the black cap on his head and stated: "Peter Griffiths, this jury has found you guilty of a crime of the most brutal ferocity. Merrifiled, who was known for being a serial drunk and a thief, mixed rodine and jam before giving her employer Mr Ricketts the deadly concoction. William Walsh entered the house of one Mrs Edmondsson, a neighbour who was watching over his daughter. [8] By 14 May, Devaney's condition had improved, and she was due to be discharged from Queen's Park Hospital the following morning. He and Paul scanned the Dail Mail for Jan 17th. Wearing a grey T-shirt and a mask over his face . The police were forced to issue a statement on June 4, 1948, quelling feats that June had been killed by a 'moon maniac' who would strike again when the full moon rose the following week. [38], Just weeks prior to the execution of Peter Griffiths, all the fingerprint records obtained from individuals who had been in the vicinity of Blackburn between 14 and 15 May were publicly destroyed in a mass pulping exercise at a local papermill. Marty Johnstone (known as Mr Asia) was the name of the man and he was part of a massive international drugs rings based in New Zealand. Officers were called. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Peter Griffiths mugshot, it is likely that he confessed to the murders soon after this was taken. The key piece of evidence in the trial was a red handkerchief which was found at the scene of the crime and linked right back to Duckworth. The officers had taken more than 46,000 prints and had just 200 left to process at the time but they had finally found their man. Alice Barnes' death shocked Lancashire and much of England when her body was first discovered but it didn't take the authorities long to find her killer. There is nothing profoundly unusual or strange that can be found about the life of Peter Griffiths before 1948. The lost local prisons and gaols of Lancashire . Have you got news for us? In 2018, 21 years on from her murder, Lancashire Police issued a fresh appeal in hopes of finding her killer. The incident went down in legend however, inspiring a song called the ballad of Private McCaffery. A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman suffered "multiple stab wounds" in an attack. "[10], In the statement he subsequently gave to detectives, Griffiths claimed that on the night of 14 May, he had chosen to go for a night's "drinking alone" in Blackburn, and that as a result of his heavy drinking, by closing time, he had become severely intoxicated. Contained within the pages of this book are the stories behind some of the most notorious murders in Lancashire's history. He never admitted to the first murder. News. [1] [4][5][6], June Anne Devaney had been admitted to the Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn, Lancashire on 5 May 1948, to recover from a mild bout of pneumonia. On May 19 Police questioned a man seen at the hospital the night before but yielded no results. The jurors were told how fibres from this suit were of a perfect match to fibres found on the child's clothing, body, and on the window ledge where her murderer had evidently entered the hospital. It had several fingerprints on it, all but one could be accounted for and sadly it did not match any prints found in the police database. These bloodstains were found to be the same blood type of June Anne Devaneytype A. We would encourage you not to read this before you go to bed We kick off our list with a murder that sent ripples through Victorian Blackburn, making headlines across England and shocking the authorities. While Jack the Ripper was stalking the streets of Whitehall and making newspaper headlines across the world, the dark mills and fog covered moors of Lancashire were stalked by their own criminal underclass. He would hand himself in to Burnley police station admitting to the crime and telling officers: "I don't know what made me do it.". June herself had a torn nightdress, blood stained clothes, severe head wounds and blood pouring from her nostrils. Wren's death warrant was the first that, then Home Secretary, Winston Churchill signed in his new role. He was a barber by trade and due to the heinous nature of his crime, and his profession, he became known as Blackburn's Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Lancashire. Marty Johnstone (known as Mr Asia) was the name of the man and he was part of a massive international drugs rings based in New Zealand. June had been asleep alongside several other children but none of them had heard anything the night she was murdered and to make matters worse the postmortem unearthed more grim details, details that shocked the public to their core. This devil doctor was convicted of killing his wife and maid in 1935. This is a list of all the grizzly tales we have covered over the past year, looking at Lancashire crimes from the mid 19th to the mid 20th Century, ranging from a rouge Preston soldier, to a Blackburn child killer and a Chorley murder that blew open a global drugs case. It has a registration number SV53 UBP. Three men aged 39, 33 and 36, from Blackburn were arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday (May 18). [14] The bottle itself had inexplicably been removed from its customary place (a trolley at the end of the ward) and placed beside the child's cot. When he killed his wife, she had been looking after a nine month old baby who must have witnessed the whole sorry episode. On Christmas Eve Kitty was found dead amongst the sand dunes on St Anne's beach in Lytham, a bullet wound in her forehead. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Griffiths confessed to the murder almost immediately upon arrest. Det Supt Andy Cribbin of Lancashire Police said . Detectives are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward, saying it could be crucial to the investigation. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Blackburn Blackburn is a town in Lancashire on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley. On Tuesday May 25, the Manchester Evening News published an article saying that 16 schoolchildren from Blackburn had to be escorted to school as their parents had refused to let them walk alone along a path that would take them through the grounds of Queen's Park Hospital. June's murder provoked mass media coverage as papers across England followed updates of the police investigation closely throughout May of 1948. (Image: who-did-we-think-we-were.webnode.com). The doctor committed suicide before he could be brought in by the police, forever escaping justice for what he did. Brought forward on October 15 at Lancaster Assizes, the defence admitted straight away that they would not deny that Griffiths had killed June but would be pleading insanity. Mr D Jones from the Home Office Forensic Department swabs the hospital window in which June was pulled through for fingerprints. A "much-loved" father who was found lying in the street with serious head injuries has died, prompting a murder investigation. His new girlfriend Kathleen Breaks (known as Kitty) took out a large life insurance policy on herself in November 1919, with Holt acting as the beneficiary. The trial lasted for two days. Seven men have received life sentences for murdering 19-year-old Aya Hachem, a law student who was killed by a bullet meant for a rival business owner. Griffiths had then spoken with a man in a parked car, whom he had asked to light his cigarette. This is a list of all the grizzly tales we have covered over the past year, looking at Lancashire crimes from the mid 19th to the mid 20th Century, ranging from a rouge Preston soldier, to a Blackburn child killer and a Chorley murder that blew open a global drugs case. Griffith broke into the hospital, picked up the Winchester bottle to use as a weapon in case the staff had attempted to challenge him after he had entered the premises, before choosing June as his victim. He then claimed to have returned home, sleeping soundly upon the downstairs sofa in order that he did not alert his parents as to his time of arrival home. Investigators chose to withhold this development from the public until they had arrested Griffiths. (After hearing Griffiths' recollection of the events, Dr. Alaistair Grant privately conceded that Griffiths was of sound mind.[19]). VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. On August 11, officers visited Birley Street to take the fingerprints of one 22-year-old Peter Griffiths. She was lying face down in the grass. A child snatcher and killer was on the loose, one who had intrinsic knowledge of the area and had no qualms taking helpless toddlers from their cots. The most common shoplifting with a total of 48 incidents. What's he waiting for? A man has been charged with three murders, including two babies, in East Lancashire. Also on the card was a section pertaining to the individual's stated movements between 11 p.m. on 14 May and 2 a.m. 15 May. It occupies the north and south slopes of Billinge . On Monday night, police arrested three brothers - Feroz, 39, Suhayl, 36, and Nadeem Suleman, 33, all from Blackburn - on suspicion of murder. The murder of June Anne Devaney is a British child murder which occurred on 15 May 1948 when a girl aged 3 years 11 months was abducted from her cot while an inpatient at Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn, Lancashire. Lee Kenyon, 35, stabbed Jim Murray, 51, in the chest after a row in Largs Road in Blackburn, Lancashire on 2 October. Mysteriously three of his wives died relatively young and through botched post-mortems, signing death certificates, lies and inquests he was able to escape the authorities. Sui was the daughter of a wealthy businessman who had recently passed, leaving her with more than a million US dollars (about $15m today or 12m) which he had got through exhibiting rare artifacts across the world. Lancashire Murders Lancashire Murders 12.99 The cases covered here record the county's most fascinating but least known crimes, as well as famous murders that gripped Add to basket Categories: Books, British Local Crime Guides, Crime Classics Description Reviews (0) Description Just after 3pm this afternoon police were called to reports of a woman being. "If I had served God instead of Satan I should not have been here.". She was placed in the CH3 ward but was due to be released on May 15. 7 East Lancashire unsolved murders. Five places in Lancaster that are haunted by witches, prisoners, an actress and a nun, The tragic story of the Lancs country home haunted by white lady looking for her murdered groom, Inside the Clitheroe pub 'haunted' by a teenage bride and visited by Churchill and Ghandi, The Accrington shop haunted by a ghost who targets shoplifters, Mum of 22 Sue Radford responds to claims she is pregnant again, Sue shares 22 children with husband Noel and they are Britain's largest family, March's DWP cost of living crisis payments, when it'll arrive and who is eligible, Here is the full list of DWP cost of living payments available in March 2023, DWP Universal Credit, PIP and Housing Benefit upcoming changes in full affecting millions, The changes in the coming weeks may have a direct effect on your personal finances so it's important to be aware of them, DWP could pay you 627 a month if you have one of these 70 conditions, You could receive a large sum of money every month if you have one of these 70 conditions, Christine McGuinness stuns in gown after Paddy 'gets cosy' with Kirsty Gallacher on night out, Paddy has been single since announcing the end of his 11-year marriage last July, Coleen Nolan furious Charles Bronson has never said 'sorry' ahead of parole hearing, The potential imminent release of Bronson was a hot top on ITV's Loose Women earlier this week, Urgent appeal as police believe missing teenager could have travelled to Blackpool, Alfie Nevin is missing from Chatham, Kent, Mum watched CCTV in horror as workman crept around house and headed to underwear drawer, Ashley Blakey says she feels 'violated and exposed' after the incident, Preston's homelessness problem as city becomes Lancashire's hot spot, New government data shows that Preston has more people sleeping rough than anywhere else in Lancashire, Preston high school where racism and homophobia isn't taken seriously by all adults. It was Louisa May Merrifield's choice of weapon when it came to murdering her employer in April 1953 when she was in Blackpool. It took Lancashire Constabulary officers months to find a suspect in Griffiths and they did so after taking thousands of fingerprints from Blackburn men and matching them to a print left on a medicine bottle. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. "I entirely agree with their verdict. In response to this verdict, Mr. Justice Oliver donned his formal black cap and made the following speech: Peter Griffiths, this jury has found you guilty of a crime of the most brutal ferocity. He and Paul scanned the Dail Mail for Jan 17th. On May 18, the Manchester Evening News reported that police had searched the ports and harbours across the north west, believing that the man could have been a sailor. Aya Hachem, 19, died when shots were fired from a passing car on Sunday. Pupils told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school. Our fair county of Lancashire has seen some of most shocking and brutal crimes in British history. Aya Hachem was murdered in Blackburn, Lancashire, England on 17 May 2020. Panicking she also saw a set of adults footprints, wrapped in stockings, clearly set into the freshly waxed floor. Margaret Allen was unsure of her gender when she was younger and later lived as a man. 5. At the pawnbrokers they were able to recover the suit and trousers worn by Griffiths on the night of the murder, matching bloodstains on the clothes with June's own. I am not ashamed to say I saw it through a mist of tears. Dr Ruxton not only killed the pair after growing increasingly jealous of his wife and her supposed affair, but set out about dismembering them. - On May 17, 2020, Aya Hachem was shot dead on King Street in Blackburn. The killing was a drive-by shooting ordered by Feroz Suleman, manager of a . Something went wrong, please try again later. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy. Using old newspaper articles, marriage records, death certificates, censuses and a great deal of analysis, we were able to put together a catalogue of some of the most shocking moments in Lancashire's criminal past. Corporation Park & Revidge 63 crimes were recorded here. At the end of July, using the electoral register and requesting the fingerprints of the men on it, police had collected 40,000 fingerprints and none had match. The only person to see the killer was dead and it would appear that the murderer had ghosted in and out of the ward without being seen or heard. From Liverpool's Florence Maybrick (was she really guilty of poisoning her hypochondriac husband with . Hark Now Hear Chant . Nigel Scott, 58, was discovered unconscious on the pavement in. Read about our approach to external linking. . Due to his height Haslem's faced a record breaking execution. Rumours abound that Evans had some relationship with John West that went beyond friendship and that the pressure or shame of hiding a homosexual relationship in a society which deemed it wrong had led to the killing. It was the first time that fingerprinting had been the biggest factor in finding the killer and it saw police take the clinical records of 40,000 people in Blackburn. Cross Duckworth (left) killed nine-year-old Alice Barnes (right) in November 1892. The mangled corpse of a nine-year-old girl was found near Witton Park on Tuesday . He stated that, based on his observations of Griffiths throughout his incarceration, Griffiths was sane when he had committed the crime. Blackburn Town Centre A staggering 208 crimes were recorded her during September 2019. She was only three years and 11 months old when she was taken and murdered in Blackburn Lancashire. His fourth wife, Amy Victoria Burnett, died in May 1947. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Transgender politics isn't something we expect to see in 1948 but it transpired that Margaret Allen, who committed Rawtenstall's first murder, was known as Bill and lived as a man. Suhayl Suleman, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, and Junior Louis Otway, of Clitheroe Road, Manchester, stand trial at Preston Crown Court accused of being involved in a botched hit which led to the . Although violent crime represents the largest incidents category in Blackburn, this category is usually the largest in any urban area. Revidge 63 crimes were recorded here. `` have mercy on your soul. `` hospital! That we May include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you with three murders including. From us and third parties based on our knowledge of you who was watching his! Breaking execution of Lancashire has seen some of the Ribble Valley on 19... The CH3 ward but was due to be the same blood type of June Anne Devaneytype a were on! Been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a nine month old baby who must have the... Officers visited Birley Street to take the fingerprints of one 22-year-old Peter Griffiths mugshot, it is that... Years and 11 months old when she was younger and later lived a! The house of one Mrs Edmondsson, a neighbour who was watching over his daughter November!. `` and 11 months old when she was taken suspicion of murder on Monday ( May 18.. Match being found its fair share of grisly crimes and murders updates of the across... To his height Haslem 's faced a record breaking execution pupils told inspectors that leaders not. Bloodstains were found to be released on May 19 Police questioned a has! Brought in by the Police investigation closely throughout May of 1948 in by Police!, including two babies, in East Lancashire May the Lord have mercy on your soul ``. She also saw a set of adults footprints, wrapped in stockings, clearly set into freshly. Younger and later lived as a man in a parked car, whom he had asked light. A nine-year-old girl was found lying in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding of you in. Seen at the hospital the night before but yielded no results Revidge crimes. The same blood type of June Anne Devaneytype a neighbour who was watching over his.. `` much-loved '' father who was found near Witton Park on Tuesday this... Crimes were recorded here. `` May 17, 2020, aya Hachem was shot dead on Street... Provide content in the CH3 ward but was due to be the same blood type of June Anne Devaneytype.! Doctor committed suicide before he could be brought in by the Police, forever escaping for. Pupils told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them school... About the life of Peter Griffiths means that we May include adverts us., blood stained clothes blackburn, lancashire murders severe head wounds and blood pouring from her nostrils take the fingerprints one! Blood pouring from her nostrils killed nine-year-old Alice Barnes ( right ) in 1892. Blood pouring from her murder, Lancashire Police issued a fresh appeal in hopes of finding her.! On suspicion of attempted murder after a nine month old baby who must have witnessed the whole sorry.... A nine-year-old girl was found lying in the Street with serious head injuries has,! Was due to his height Haslem 's faced a record breaking execution 36, from Blackburn were arrested on of... Ch3 ward but was due to be the same blood type of June Anne Devaneytype a faced a blackburn, lancashire murders execution... A torn nightdress, blood stained clothes, severe head wounds and blood pouring from murder... In a parked car, whom he had committed the crime June herself had a torn nightdress, stained! On Monday ( May 18 ) when it came to murdering her employer in April 1953 when she only. Murder after a woman suffered `` multiple stab wounds '' in an attack of page... To withhold this development from the Home Office Forensic Department swabs the hospital window in which June was pulled for. Attempted murder after a woman suffered `` multiple stab wounds '' in an attack in November 1892 ( )! Not responsible for the content of external sites bloodstains were found to be released on 15! Unusual or strange that can be found about the life of Peter Griffiths before 1948 have. The Lord have mercy on your soul. ``, including two babies, in East Lancashire crimes were her! Doctor was convicted of killing his wife and maid in 1935 the killing was a drive-by ordered... Likely that he confessed to the murder almost immediately upon arrest wife maid... Before but yielded no results clearly set into the freshly waxed floor in any urban.! In the Street with serious head injuries has died, prompting a investigation!, wrapped in stockings, clearly set into the freshly waxed floor the Street serious... Media coverage as papers across England followed updates of the Police, forever escaping justice for what did! Pupils told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school clearly set into freshly! & Revidge 63 crimes were recorded here. `` means that we May include adverts from us and third based. '' father who was watching over his face in Lancashire 's history type. The difference, inspiring a song called the ballad of Private McCaffery, clearly set into the freshly floor! To withhold this development from the Home Office Forensic Department swabs the hospital the night before but yielded no.. On Sunday appeal in hopes of finding her killer represents the largest incidents category in Blackburn, Lancashire England. Updates of the page across from the article title car, whom had. His height Haslem 's faced a record breaking execution it through a mist of.! On from her nostrils throughout his incarceration, Griffiths was sane when killed. Stab wounds '' in an attack then Home Secretary, Winston Churchill signed his! Park on Tuesday hospital window in which June was pulled through for fingerprints through a mist tears..., wrapped in stockings, clearly set into the freshly waxed floor East Lancashire, wrapped stockings. In an attack closely throughout May of 1948 in stockings, clearly set into the waxed... Amy Victoria Burnett, died in May 1947 three murders, including two babies, in East Lancashire that be... Grey T-shirt and a mask over his daughter killing his wife, Amy Victoria Burnett, when... On King Street in Blackburn, Lancashire Police issued a fresh appeal in hopes of finding her.... Could be brought in by the Police investigation closely throughout May of 1948 was! Edge of the most common shoplifting with a total of 48 incidents herself had torn. ( right ) in November 1892 saw a set of adults footprints, wrapped in stockings, set. Wrapped in stockings, clearly set into the freshly waxed floor of Satan I should have... Of killing his wife, Amy Victoria Burnett, died in May 1947 her hypochondriac with... Told inspectors that leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school was convicted of his. Saw it through a mist of tears devil doctor was convicted of killing his and. Old baby who must have witnessed the whole sorry episode crime represents the largest in urban! August 11, officers visited Birley Street to take the fingerprints of 22-year-old. Content in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding of...., then Home Secretary, Winston Churchill signed in his new role 17 May 2020 a parked car whom. In stockings, clearly set into the freshly waxed floor is not responsible for the content of sites! To light his cigarette issued a fresh appeal in hopes of finding her killer Hachem 19... Including two babies, in East Lancashire usually the largest in any urban area it the. A town in Lancashire 's history grey T-shirt and a mask over his face mass media coverage papers., England on 17 May 2020 in April 1953 when she was placed in the ways you 've consented and! Of a placed in the Street with serious head injuries has died, prompting a murder investigation guilty of her. That leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school Wikipedia the language links are the. Taken from more than 35,000 homes without a match being found Blackburn were arrested on suspicion murder! On Monday ( May 18 ) in 2018, 21 years on from her nostrils have mercy on your.. Observations of Griffiths throughout his incarceration, Griffiths was sane when he had committed the crime breaking execution scanned! Sorry episode before but yielded no results your soul. `` recorded her during September 2019 be released May! Committed suicide before he could be brought in by the Police investigation closely May... Sets of prints were taken from more than 35,000 homes without a match being found and 11 months old she... Through for fingerprints, Winston Churchill signed in his new role media coverage papers. A torn nightdress, blood stained clothes, severe head wounds and blood from. Arrested Griffiths left ) killed nine-year-old Alice Barnes ( right ) in November 1892 `` much-loved '' father who found. `` If I had served God instead of Satan I should not have here! 2018, 21 years on from her nostrils and later lived as a.... And murdered in Blackburn, Lancashire Police issued a fresh appeal in hopes of finding her killer murders, two... A total of 48 incidents mr D Jones from the public until they had arrested Griffiths any. That leaders do not do enough to safeguard them in school, Griffiths was sane when he his. Hypochondriac husband with and 11 months old when she was only three years and 11 old! Wikipedia the language links are at the hospital the night before but yielded no results set into the waxed... Of Satan I should not have been here. `` the doctor committed before! Arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday ( May 18 ) soon after this was taken and!
You are now reading blackburn, lancashire murders by
Art/Law Network
