Joseph Hedley better known as Joe the Quilter was a master at Quilting. He was known for his quilts so much so that some of his quilts were sent to America from his Northumberland, England Cottage. When people described the 80-year-old he was welcoming, harmless and an inoffensive man. He would even allow people to stay at his cottage with him.
He was last seen on Jan. 3, 1826 and it was believed that the horrific crime happened right after he returned home as the stuff he'd gotten that day was found.
The attack began in the cottage as he was attacked with a coal rake. He was able to escape his home and had gotten to at least across the street. The killer followed and continued to beat him. They then dragged him back to his home as it left his shoes and torn clothes showed. They beat him and then took a knife to the elderly man. They slit his throat and mangled his face. He had self-defense wounds on his hands from the knife.
Having not seen Joseph for a few days neighbors got worried and went to check on him. What they found was a bloody mess. The room seemed to have been covered in his blood. The killer even wiped his hands and then folded the towel and placed it upon a quilting frame. The cupboards and drawers seemed to have been rummaged through. Money may have been stolen.
It was believed that Joseph knew his killer and this case will remain unsolved.
SOURCES:
New Castle Weekly Courant
The Bury and Norwich Post
Caledonian Mercury
BBC
Unsolved Murders
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