INFANTICIDE: March 27, 1936 Rich Hill, Missouri Baby Jane Doe

On March 27, 1936, the body of a newborn baby girl was found floating in a well in Rich Hill, Missouri. The well was located in a pasture near a home.

This was the second newborn found in the area at the time as a few days before a different infant was found east of Rich Hill. I could not find much on this infant or if their parents were identified or if the possibility of these cases are connected.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave
Butler Daily Democrat March 28, 1936
Springfield Leader and Press March 30, 1936

Murder of John Broadingham

John and Elizabeth Broadingham would live in Flamborough, England. He would be convicted of smuggling. While he was sentenced Elizabeth would begin an affair with Thomas Aikeny, a younger man. It was no secret to John that Elizabeth was with Thomas as when he got out of jail the two were living together in Lincolnshire. For around three months she would continue to be open about the adultery. 

It's unknown why, but Elizabeth would want John dead. She would give hints and shyly suggest to Thomas that he needed to be dead. Thomas didn't want John dead and begged her to run away with him instead. Elizabeth would get Thomas really drunk one night and he would agree with her plan. 

She then moved back in with her husband and he welcomed her. Around a week later on February 13, 1776, Elizabeth's plan would be initiated. She would have Thomas knock on the door prepared with a knife. Elizabeth would shake John awake and tell him to investigate it. He would and a terrifying surprise would be on the other side of the door. 

Thomas would attack John with the knife. He would stab him in the leg and the stomach. John would stumble into the street screaming for help as he held the murder weapon and tried to keep his insides inside. Neighbors would come and try to help the dying man. He would survive for a while and die the next day. 

Thomas would use a knife that identified him. This would lead to him being captured and both him and Elizabeth being arrested. Thomas would be arrested for Murder and Elizabeth for petty treason. Both would be found guilty and set for execution.

On March 20, 1776,  the two would be executed. Thomas would be executed. He was hanged at York and then his body was sent to the Leeds Infirmary as a surgical specimen for training students. Elizabeth would be tied to a stake, strangled to death by the executor, and then set on fire. Her ashes were collected by some of the onlookers. She would be the last woman in England executed this way.

SOURCES:

Murderpedia

Wikipedia

The Ex-Classics Website

Yorkshires Murderous Women pages 25 to 29

Murder of Jane Daley

On December 29, 1902, a blacksmith was walking down a private path next to a canal in Wolverhampton, England. He would stumble over something and strike a match to see what it was. It was the body of Jane Daley. Jane had been kicked about and her face was badly bruised. Her legs had been tied and her clothes were torn in several places.

Jane was a middle-aged woman who lived on Strafford St. in Wolverhampton.

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders UK

Unsolved Murders by Pat Finn

Murder of Billy Stone

On December 11, 1914, 21-year-old Billy Stone was working at Whitby Junction in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. He was working as a telegraph operator. At 12:05 an accountant for the local asylum walking by. Billy had turned off the lights and the only one on was the one on his desk.

At 12:37 someone would enter Whitby Junction and shoot Billy in the chest. In his last moments, he would go to his desk and call the Bell Telephone Switchboard. Billy would tell them "I'm shot, I'm all done in". 

When law enforcement arrived Billy was dead. He had fallen backward onto the floor and the phone hung over the side. He had fallen from where he was standing and died. There was no gunshot powder on Billy's clothes meaning that he was shot from a distance. 

The scene was not displaced or anything. The killer did not seem to have stolen any money or objects from the station. There were no broken windows the only thing that was out of place was that the ticket window was closed and unlocked. It's believed that this was done after or during Billy's murder. It was also possible that since there was no struggle Billy was shot through the ticket window when it was open.

However, there was evidence that they had searched Billy's body as a bloody handprint was found on the side of a cabinet near the desk. The killer had used it to help stand up after getting Billy's blood on his hands. There was no way Billy made this print as there was almost no blood on his hands.  There was nothing in Billy's pockets and even his watch was missing. Strangely, Billy was robbed, but the station wasn't.

It's unknown who killed Billy, but there are a few motives. One was that Billy's father had killed him for money. His father was examined as a suspect. Feeling like he had become the main suspect in his son's murder he would end his life. He would lie on the tracks and be hit by a train.

A friend of  Billy's claimed that he thought that Italians had something to do with the murder. Another friend stated that he was not planning to marry and was talking to a woman at the time. It could be possible that it was because of a jealous lover.  It was also possible he was killed over a potential gambling debt. 

SOURCES:
Wikipedia

The Standard December 12, 1914

The Tronto Star December 14, 1914

The Province December 17, 1914

The Standard April 22, 1914

UNCLAIMED: Velma Lasater

 On December 10, 1929, Velma Lasater either died or her body was found in Boise, Idaho. Her name is known, but she was never claimed by her family.

Velma is a white female. She had grey or greying hair and blue eyes.

SOURCES:
NamUs

MISSING: Columbus G. McLeod

 In 1908, 62/63-year-old Columbus G. McLeod was a DeSoto County sheriff. On November 30th he carried out game law enforcement duties in Lee County, Florida. He was searching for egret hunters at Cayo Pelau Island. He was never seen again and it's presumed he was killed. 

His boat was found sunken with sand sacks tied to it. His hat was located nearby with two axe chips, blood, and hair. His body was however never recovered. 

SOURCES:
Officer Down Memorial Page

Find a Grave
International Missing Persons

INFANTICIDE: November 17, 1917 Plymouth, Pennsylvania

 On November 17, 1917, the body of a newborn boy was found in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. He had died of exsanguination (loss of blood) that day. It was believed that the child was murdered to cover up an illegitimate birth. It was believed he was born the day before he was found.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave