Suspicious Death of Martha Mansfield

Martha Mansfield was determined to become an actress at the age of 14. Her first role would happen in a play of Little Women in 1912. She would act, sing and dance in some plays, and model in photographs before being signed by Essanay Studios.

On November 29, 1923, 24-year-old Martha was working at a location in San Antonio, Texas. She was playing the role of Agatha Warren in the movie The Warrens of Virginia. Because it was based in the Civil War she was wearing a costume based on the time. Which was of hoop skirts and flimsy ruffles. 

After filming was done Martha went to her car where her chauffeur was waiting. Her skirt would burst into flames. Those around tried to save her. The chauffeur tried to take her clothes off and the leading man Wilfred Lytell threw his heavy overcoat onto her. 

Both Martha and the Chaufer were burned. Martha's body was severely burned, but her face was not because of Wilfred's jacket. The Chaufer's hands were badly burned. They would be taken to the hospital. However the following day Martha would die. It was from burns of all extremities, general toxemia, and suppression of urine. 

It's unknown what exactly happened. It was known that a match was the culprit of the fire, but it was unknown who had done it. Some witnesses stated that they saw the match go through the window. Others theorized that Martha was trying to smoke and accidentally dropped the match. However, her mother stated that she didn't smoke and that it in fact made it uncomfortable. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

IMDB

Muskogee Daily Pheonix  and Times-Democrat November 30, 1923

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News November 30, 1923

Pensacola News Journal December 1, 1923

News 4 San Antonio Nevember 30, 2020

INFANTICIDE: April 24, 1924 Roker Beach, England Baby John Doe

On April 24, 1924, the body of a newborn baby boy was found on Roker Beach near Sunderland, England. The infant was burned, had a fractured elbow and a scalp wound. It's believed that right after birth the infant was placed in a fire and burned to death.

SOURCES:
Unsolved Murders UK

INFANTICIDE: January 29, 1924 Whitehaven, England

 On January 29, 1924, the body of a newborn baby girl was found on the roadside in Whitehaven, England by two boys. The baby was burned and her arm and leg had been burned off. She was then wrapped in a newspaper and left at the roadside where she was found.

SOURCES:
Unsolved Murders UK
North Mail, Newcastle Daily Chronicle Feb 12,1924

December 11, 1923 Sheffield, England Baby John Doe

 On December 11, 1923, the body of a newborn baby boy was found dead in the Endcliff Park boating dam in Sheffield, England.  He had been burned about the head and arms before he was placed in the water. It's not stated what his cause of death was.

SOURCES:

 

Unsolved Murders