Murder of Gilbert Caleb Amos

On December 12, 1924, around 10 pm 21-year-old William Bressington would go to the home of the Amos family in Bristol, England. He was known to the family. The three Amos boys were home, 12-year-old William, 8-year-old Gilbert, and 2-year-old Walter. William B. would tell the oldest boy that their aunt Lizzie was looking for him. William A. told him that he could not go because he was in charge of babysitting the baby. Their mother was Christmas shopping at the time. 

Gilbert went instead volunteered to go instead. He stated that he would go with Gilbert and find out what their Aunt wanted and bring him back to convey the message. However, this was not what happened. The Aunt did not send William B. to get any of the boys.

William B. instead of bringing Gilbert to their aunts he brought him to Cousin's Field in Staple Mill. He did the unimaginable to the boy. He would sexually assault the young boy and then strangle him to death with a necktie. It was possible the sexual assault also happened while he was dead.

William would leave Gilbert's body and loiter near Derham's boot factory where his father Charles came across him. William told his father "I have done it, Daddy. I can't tell you, but I'll take you to the place and how you." William would bring his father to the crime scene. Charles seeing the young boy's body began to beat his son. A bystander had to intervene to get him to stop beating him. 

William would be arrested and confessed to his crimes again. On February 16, 1925, he would appear at the Bristol Assizes before Justice Roche. He confessed to the murder, but not the sexual assault. He claimed that a man named "James" had asked him to fetch the boy. That "James" had done that.


He would plead insanity. In 1924, William Bressington was discharged from the army for being "feeble-minded. He was trying to use his fondness for women's clothes and makeup for his defense. He also used his family's mental illness. His grandfather died in an asylum and a cousin and uncle were in one at the time. A Dr Robert Phillips testified that William did fit the legal definition of insanity. 

This however did not work and the Jurors found him guilty of murder. He was set to be executed. On March 31, 1925, William was hanged at the gallows in Bristol Prison by Thomas Pierrepoint.

SOURCES:

British Executions

Evening Express December 13, 1925

Western Daily Press December 23, 1924

Western Daily Press February 17, 1925

Western Daily Press March 23, 1925

Bristol Post August 28, 2022

Murder of Catherine Mary Richards

In 1878 20-year-old Myron Buel worked on William Richard's farm in Plainfield, New York. Myron would supposedly fall in love with William's daughter, 14-year-old Catherine. He would even ask Catherine to marry him and she refused him. This would change his motivation he would then begin to make improper lewd suggestions and comments toward her. He had also begun to grope the girl.

This would stress and scare Catherine out so much that he would drive her to tears. She did not appreciate or want his advances. Catherine did not tell her parents but eventually threatened Myron that she would if he didn't stop. She however did tell her aunt who had informed her father. This led to his discharge, but he was allowed back after making a promise to not bother Catherine. 

On June 25, 1878, Myron and another worker, Daniel Bowen, were working in the hops field. At one point Myron would tell Daniel that his rubber boots were getting too hot and wanted to change them. Instead of changing his boots he would go and find Catherine.

Catherine was in the cheese house playing with her kittens. Knowing this he let out a calf planning to ask her to help him. He knew she would help him and he was going to trap her in the barn. When they were both inside he shut the door quickly and wrapped a rope around the girl's throat. He would then take a milking stool and hit her in the face with it. 

She was dead and he would sexually assault her. He would later describe it as "I then ravished her. She was dead but warm when I committed the crime.” He also stated that the motive was because he was in love with her and was mad and jealous she did not love him back. 

Myron would come back after 45 minutes. Daniel wondered about what took so long and asked him why. Myron would tell him that he had to put away a loose horse. 

At 5 pm 8-year-old Maggie, Catherine's younger sister, came home from school. Maggie would help prepare dinner and when it was done she would go to the hop field and blow the supper horn. Maggie would ask them where Catherine was. The men would tell her that they did not see her. They headed towards the barn to put their tools up.

They would find a bull that was loose behind the cheese house. The plan was that Daniel would hold the barn door open and Myron chase the bull in. However, when Daniel opened the door inside the bull's stall was Catherine's body. 

She had a large wound on her right cheek and her face was bruised. Daniel would stop the plan and show Myron the body.

When Myron went in he would exclaim “Oh, my stars! Oh, my Stars!”. 

At the time Catherine's sister, Maggie, and a housekeeper were the only two other people on the farm. Their parents and 13-year-old brother were not home and they were 14 miles away. The two would inform them of Catherine's death. When Maggie asked why and how Myron would respond that the bull must have gotten her. 

Myron would be the one to bring his victim into the house. All while repeatedly saying that it must have been a bull. It made sense she had a bruise on her face and bulls are not known to be the most gentle of animals. 

Maynor would then travel to where the mother and brother were. He would give them the news that Catherine had been killed by a bull. This tragedy would devastate her family. 

The coroner started with this in thought until he took a look at the body. A bull had not killed the young teenager. She had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and hit in the face with a blunt object. Myron would become suspect number one and charged with murder.  On one of her shoulders was a bruise from a thumbnail digging in, a bruise on her left groin, and her throat was bruised from the rope. No bull could have created these wounds.

On February 17, 1879, the trial would begin and lasted 10 days. The courtroom was crowded with spectators every day. He was referred to as the Boy Murderer despite him being an adult. He would maintain his innocence throughout the trial. During the trial, the unwanted advances on Cathrine and a disturbing conversation with Daniel would be brought up. Daniel would state that Myron had told him that the best way to outrage a girl is by using a strap and strangling her to keep her from screaming. Which was what happened in this case. 

 Following the arguments, the judge would inform the jury for an hour and a half. After four hours the jury came back with a guilty verdict. Myron's lawyer tried to move for a new trial because the jury was not informed of the several degrees of manslaughter. This was denied and he was set to be executed. 

Myron's lawyer argued with the Court of Appeals. This did not grant a new trial, but instead of being executed in April, he was set to be executed on November 14th. They would also petition the Governor for a reprieve, but it was rejected. 

Three days before his execution Myron got a conscious and admitted to what he did to the girl. That he loved her and that was why he killed her. He would confess this to his spiritual advisors and counsel. The scaffold that would bring him death was built under his window. He was asked if he wanted to move places, but he told them "Do as you like; I don't care". 

On November 14th Myron would go to sleep at 1 am. He would then wake up at 6 am. It was said that he seemed well-rested. He would then get visited by his parents and siblings and they said their goodbyes. He would ask his mother to look to the Savior. He seemed to be acting strong for his family. Around 10:36 he was brought to the scaffold. He gave no last words and was hanged around 10:40. He would die and stay hanged for 23 minutes. 

His body was handed over to his family. He would be buried with his brother who died right after the trial. 

SOURCES:

Murdered by Gaslight

Boston Post February 28, 1879

The Boston Globe November 14, 1879

New York Daily Herald November 15, 1879

INFANTICIDE: May 19, 1924 Barnby Dun, England Baby Boy Doe

On May 19, 1924, The body of a newborn baby boy was found in a pond at Park Hill Hall in Barnby Dun, England. He had been murdered as a strip of linen was found tightly tied around his neck. It was so tight it cut into his flesh. 

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders UK

Bunsoh Man

 

On May 17, 1890, a mummified body was found in a peat bog in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The body now known as Bunsoh Man was discovered by peat workers. He was found around 100 cm below the surface with woolen textile and birch branches on top of the body. It is believed he had died and lived between 560 to 620 CE. It's unknown how he died, but it is thought by some he may have strangled with a type of textile garrote. 

After his body was placed in storage it decomposed greatly. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Mummipedia

Suspicious Death of Birdie Hoffman and Murder of Gertrude Botts

At 7 pm on May 3, 1900, 18-year-old Birdie Hoffman and 16-year-old Charles "Otis" Botts went on a buggy ride in Peoria, Illinois. The two had been dating for the last two years and planned to get married. Birdie's parents tried to convince them that they were too young, but the two didn't care they wanted to marry.

On the ride, he would end up either sexually assaulting her or they had sex. Afterwards, this would upset Birdie greatly and he claimed that she was full of remorse over them doing that. He claimed that she refused to go home and they argued until 4 am. During the argument, she would grab his revolver and shoot herself in the head. 

Police however did not believe that she had killed herself. However, he could not be prosecuted for the crime as no evidence contradicted his statement. 

Five years later on January 6, 1905, a few days before his 21st birthday Otis argued with his wife, 19-year-old Gertrude at the border house they were staying at in Peoria. The two had been constantly arguing ever since they got married the year before. During the argument, He would strike her in the face and then begin to strangle her with a slender hair ribbon killing her.

He would leave the home and go to a saloon in Knoxville and Glendale. When he entered he seemed heavily intoxicated already and caused a disturbance. He was quickly kicked out. So he would catch a car on the way to the courthouse where again he made a disturbance. He was kicked out after traveling two blocks. 

He would then make it to Wall's Saloon on Fayette St. He would hang out there until late that evening. Towards the end of the night, he became more sober. He seemed greatly worried and even told the bartender that he wanted to drown himself in the river. 

 He would spend the night with his friend William Trautman on Nebraska Ave. At 10 am Patrolman Brannon and McEnvoy would go to William's to arrest him. He was still asleep when he arrived, and surprised him when they arrested him. It was found that he had a razor under his pillow. It was suspected he was planning on using it on himself. 

 He would then be arrested the next day for the murder. He would seem indifferent to his wife's death. He stated that it was an Eastern traveler named Albert Baer. His wife was infatuated with the man and the two had spent that night together, so he had to of been the one to kill her. Police did not believe him, especially since he was the last one seen in their room. It also didn't help that he was a suspect in the murder of another woman.

There was no solid evidence, but there was circumstantial so he would be brought to trial in just a couple months. At the trial, he would deny that he knew anything about his wife's murder. The jury would find him guilty and set him to be executed. This angered him and he yelled at the jury in the courtroom.


SOURCES:
Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri page 20

The Altamont News May 10, 1900

Mount Carmel Register May 10, 1900

Herald and Review January 8, 1905

Herald and Review January 13, 1905

Marshall County Democrat March 30, 1905

Woodford County Journal April 6, 1905

Murder of Patricia Lupton

  

On Feb. 16, 1959, 12-year-old Patricia Lupton and her three friends saw a babysitting notice posted on the bulletin board at the A&P supermarket in the Kennedy Park Shopping Plaza at Kennedy Rd and Eglinton Ave E. in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

The girls all put their names, addresses, and phone numbers for the ad, as they all had a history of babysitting. On March 9th Patricia would receive a call from the man answering the ad. Patricia was not the only one who received a call as two of the other friends were. One missed the call as the line was busy and the other was sick.

He called himself Mr. Johnson and told her that he and his wife were visiting their infant son in the hospital and needed a babysitter for their slightly older son.  Patricia agreed and was excited as she liked taking care of younger children. She was supposed to get picked up by Mrs. Johnson at the Kennedy Park Drugs in the same Plaza where she saw the bulletin. 

Her parents felt safe with her accepting the job as she was highly regarded by the people she previously babysat for. She told her parents she was going to check in with them when she got home. At 5:30 pm she left her home to the Plaza.  

A call that was supposed to happen never came and this worried her family. Unknown to them her body was found at 7:20 in a snowbank on McCowan Rd, less than two miles from her home. She had been strangled to death with her own scarf, her knees were bruised, and her clothing was in disarray, she was not sexually assaulted, but it can be assumed that that was the motive.

Four hours later her family learned of what had happened to her from the news.

SOURCES:

Toronto Police Service

Find a Grave

CRYPTIDS: Boroboroton

 

Boroboroton as depicted in Toriyama Sekien's Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro

The Boroboroton belongs is a specific kind of Japanese Yokai called Tsukumogami or artifact spirit. These kinds of spirits are from manmade objects either possessed by ghosts or spirits or they form their own spirit from constant use for at least 90 to 100 years. If They form their own spirit they often look brand new or pristine despite their old age.

The Boroboroton is a tattered futon or a Japanese sleeping mat. They come alive at night and will come to life at night especially if it feels ignored or needless. In revenge, they will rise up in the air and kill any sleeping person they make contact with. It will wrap around the head and neck of the sleeper with the intent of strangling them to death. 

Sometimes they will meet with other Tsukumogami and throw noisy parties or leave the gome search for other beings. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Yokai Wiki

CRYPTIDS: Drekavac

 

Created Using Art Breeder

A Drekavac, Yeller, Drek, or Drekalo is a creature in Slavic Mythology (Serbia, and Bosnia). They are a boogeyman creature used to warn children. It is said that the Drekavac comes from Unbaptised children who've died. It usually resides in a graveyard or outside a home crying for salvation. They are usually solitary creatures, but are sometimes found in packs and will live together in a cave or tunnel.

Sometimes A Drekavac will come in different appearances such as an infant with a thin body and large head and animals. If it's in the form of an infant it's said that it's an omen for death and if it's in the form of an animal it's something like cattle disease.

Its scream is horrifying. They are usually asking for a baptism all night bothering the cemetery or the persons in a home. If it's screaming outside of a home at least one person in the home is going to die. The creature may fall on a person or allow its shadow to cross a person cursing them to die soon. Their fur is usually long in animal form and if stepped on it'll yelp in pain.

Sometimes a Drekavac will enter the dreams of those who wronged them and do the same. They will strangle the person as they sleep.

To avoid a Drekavac it would be wise to get a dog. Dogs are something that they fear. They also either cannot be in sunlight or dislike it. This is why it's usually heard at night. It's believed if you baptized the child then it would stop and move on.

They are usually solitary creatures, but are sometimes found in packs and will live together in a cave or tunnel.

SOURCES:

INFANTICIDE: July 14, 1959 Surrey, England Baby Boy Doe

 On July 14, 1959, the body of a baby boy was found in two carrier bags at a railway station in Surrey, England. The infant was found in a sanitary bin in the ladies room. It's believed that the child had been strangled to death. 

SOURCES: 

Unsolved Murders UK

Murder of Vera Isobel Minnie Page

 

On April 13, 1921, Vera Page was born in Hammersmith, London, England to Charles and Isabel Page She would grow up as an only child and would be known as a popular but shy and well-behaved girl. Her father was a painter for the Great Western Railways and her mother was a housewife. In order to supplement income, the couple would allow lodgers in their home.

The family owned a three-story home near Blenheim Crescent, they did not occupy the whole house. So they would have lodgers on the upper floors and typically they were family members or people known to the family. Arthur and Annie Rush were occupants of the home for 20 years. 

On December 14, 1931, 10-year-old Vera left her home around 4:30 p.m. She was going to her aunts home that was around 50 yards away to collect two swimming certificates she achieved. She left them at her aunt's house the previous day. Vera would get the certificates and left her aunts home at 4:45.

By 5:30 p.m. she still hadn't returned so her father went to the aunt's home to get his daughter. The aunt told him that she had left almost an hour before for dinner. Charles hoped his daughter got sidetracked and visited the homes of her friends and relatives. When there was no sign of her by 10:30 p.m. he went to Notting Hill police station to report her missing.

With several friends, neighbors, and family members Charles and Isabel searched for Vera. They would search up into the morning, and the following day her description was circulated among the police. By the evening the media reported on Vera's disappearance.

Police determined that between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on December 14th Vera spoke to a school friend outside a chemists on Blenheim Crescent and Portobello Rd. Vera told her friend that she was going to purchase soap dominos for her parent's Christmas presents. After the brief conversation, the friend would leave Vera standing in front of the shop window. Her friend stated that she was carrying an envelope at the time, the one with her certificates inside. No one reportedly saw Vera after this.

On December 16th vera's body would be found lying in a patch of shrubbery in the front garden of 89 Addison Rd, Kensington, close to Holland Park. This was just a mile from her home. The killer tried to conceal the body by throwing handfuls of dirt and leaves on her body. Police suspected that her killer lived near the location of her body or knew the neighborhood well.

During the autopsy, it was found that Vera had been raped and strangled to death. Bruising on her neck showed she had been strangled with a ligature. She had been dead over 24 hoursand they believe she may have been killed close to 9 p.m. the night she disappeared. There were traces of soot and coal dust on her face. There was candle wax in two places on her right shoulder and three locations on the shoulder of her coat. In the crook of her elbow, an ammonia-stained finger bandage was found. Likely the killer lost it when moving her body, and did not notice it.

It's likely that she was stored somewhere warm after her death as she was greatly decomposed. Also, she was likely not outside or placed there soon after death. The day before between 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and her clothes only had moisture on them where they touched the ground. It's believed her body was dumped there a couple of hours before discovery.  It's believed with evidence of soot and coal on her that she likely was in a coal shed or cellar possibly with no electricity if the candle wax is from the area her body was hidden. It's likly she was placed there after 7:50 a.m. according to witness accounts.

A Mrs. Margaret Key would come forward and state that at 6:40 a.m. on December 16th she saw a man pushing a wheelbarrow with a bundle covered with a red table cloth with knitted fringe towards Addison Rd. 

On December 17th a woman living close to Addison Rd would bring a child's red beret to the police station. She had found it on the 16th around 9:30 p.m. close to where Vera was last seen alive. It was Vera's beret. It smelled of paraffin, but that may have been caused by the woman storing the beret beneath her sink before bringing it in. The woman stated that she also found torn up peices of paper and a peice of candle, but thre those away. It's believed that the papers may have been her certificates.

It was also discovered that a coal shed near Addison Road was unlocked and left ajar during the time Vera was missing. It was unusual for the shed door to be ajar, but no one investigated it. So it's unknown if Vera's body was stored there but it's strongly believed it was and the murderer transferred her body using a wheelbarrow.

A suspect was soon found. 41-year-old Percy Rush knew Vera and her family through his parents Arthur and Annie Rush who rented a room from them. He lived down the street from them. He also had a bandage on one of his fingers. He also matched the description of the man with the wheelbarrow matched Percy's description. 

Percy claimed that he normally would visit his parents on Mondays, but decided to go shopping after work that day. His wife was not home and didn't want to be home alone. He would return around 8:30 p.m. and his wife shortly after. They then went to sleep around 10:15 p.m.

Police believe that he lured her to the coal shed where he would attack and murder the girl. Percy said that he did not know the girl well enough that they may have only spoke once. That Vera wouldn't know or trust him enough to follow him anywhere.

He was wearing a bandage on his little finger because he got injured at work. At his place of work he would have had gotten in contact with ammonia. He had a rough bandage and his wife made a second with their supply at home that was more comfortable and protect against the ammonia. He stated that he got rid of that bandage on the 11th. His co-workes confirmed he was wearing a bandage at work on the 9th, but they did not know if he was wearing one on the 14th. He claimed that he threw the second bandage into the fireplace at work to get rid of it on the 11th. He claimed that hadn't worn a bandage since the 11th because he wanted to harden the wound. The bandage found on Vera was tried on his pinky finger and it fit.

Police found uncovered sections of bandage and a distinctive red table cloth with fringe, and candle in his home. On his jacket remenece of the coal dust, semen and wax was foud on his overcoat. The candle was found to be identical to the wax found on Vera. The bandages found at his home did not match the one found on Vera. 

The police and the community believed that Percy was her killer. This was never proven and he was never convicted for her murder. A coroner's inquest was done on Feb. 10 1932 and the jury determined there was not enough evidence for prosecution. Witnesses to validate Percy's were not brought up. Percy's criminal history was also not brought up which includes indecent exposure in 1923 and 1927. The victims were both young girls. In June of 1931 he exposed himself to two young girls.

It's unknown if he was actually the perpertarator of the crime and it will remain a mystery who had murdered Young Vera Page.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Wikipedia

Unsolved Murders UK

Morbidology

Mysterious Universe

True Crime England

UNIDENTIFIED: September 14, 1947 Cassian, Wisconsin Jane Doe

 On September 14, 1947, a woman's body was found in a shallow grave in a rural area near an old grass-covered roadway in Cassian, Wisconsin. It was around 3.5 miles north of the intersection of USH 51 and USH 8. The victim was strangled to death and was found lying face down. It's not stated how long they believed she was dead.

Jane Doe was an adult female. She was 5'2" and 170lbs. She had brown greying hair. 2 distinct lines running from the forehead down to the nose, very small feet and ankles, and a broad nose. She was wearing rayon or silk pants, an undershirt and slip, and a large corset. She had a gold-colored ring on her left hand.

SOURCES:

NamUs

News-Record October 15, 1947

The Journal Times December 18, 1947

Murder of Ellen Margaret Mary Whiting

 In October of 1935, George Arthur Bryant and Ellen Whiting would meet. Both were married at the time, George lived with his wife at Folkstone, England and Ellen lived with her husband and three children William jr. (15), Violet Ellen (13), and George (10) in Dover, England. Something would start between the two and Mr. Whiting objected to the relationship. William Whiting would leave his wife after a violent quarrel.

In December of 1935 George, Ellen, and her two youngest took rooms with Mrs. Griggs at 301 London Rd. in Dover. Around this time William confronted George about where Ellen was and George played dumb. He also went on to tell William that he'd only get her over his dead body.

Actually, William was successful in finding the address and sent the family and his wife a Christmas present. In February George stopped living with Ellen, it's not stated how their relationship was after this. After this Ellen and her husband had another violent quarrel, but by May 9th they were on friendly terms and gave his wife £1. They would meet again on May 16th and went shopping at Woolworths. They set to see each other again on May 23rd. 

On May 21st George was seen at 2:10 p.m. at the bar of the Fountain Inn on London Rd. George would drink two pints of beer and bought a bottle that he'd leave with. He seemed to be sober. He would then go to the home where he used to share with Ellen. Mrs. Griggs would see him first and ask him if he was going to be a good boy or a naughty boy (if he was there to fight). He responded and told her "I come to be good. I deserve all you say." before going upstairs to the attic room they occupied.

He would then produce the beer to Ellen and would give George a shilling and told him and Violet to go to the cinema. He explained he wanted to have a quiet talk with Ellen. The children noted that he looked angry when he came in, but was very nice to them. 

At about 3:20 p.m. Mr. Buckwell, an insurance agent, went to the home on business. he would go upstairs to the attic and knock. He would hear Ellen and George talking inside. Ellen would answer the door and they would discuss his business before he left. 

At about 4:30 p.m. George would use the beer bottle to hit Ellen on the back of the head. This would knock her out. He would then strangle her with stocking and place pillows on her head after he'd killed her. He would then try to clean the blood off of his clothes. At 5:40 p.m. George would go to the Folkstone Police Station and tell them of the murder.  He would tell them when handing over his coat "This is the coat I was wearing. I tried to wash the blood off. I was looking for someone else to do in. One of the straightest women in this world and she was married to that bastard vicious Whiting."

At 5:50 police would have to break into the crime scene as the door was locked. They would find Ellen lying on the bed with two pillows on her head. The scene was bloody, there was blood on the bed, on Ellen's clothing, and on the floor beside the bed. It appeared the body had been turned around after the crime. The stocking was tied tightly around her throat with the knot under the left ear. It was on there so tight it had to be cut off. 

George would plead guilty to the murder. He was very accepting of his punishment. On July 14, 1936, George was executed.  

SOURCES:

British Executions

KHS History Forum Boards

The Observer July 5, 1936

The Guardian July 15, 1936

Murder of Nell "Alma" Tirtschke

Nell "Alma" Tirtschke named after her mother was born on 14 March 1909 at a remote mining town in West Australia, Australia. She was the oldest child and in 1911 her father Charles Titchke accepted a position with a mining company in Rhodesia and the family moved there. Soon after in 1912, her little sister Viola was born. During Nell's third pregnancy she died and Charles unable to take care of his daughters full time sent them to their grandparents. The whole family helped raise the two girls.
By 1921 Henry, Alma's, and Viola's grandfather died and the grandmother took all parental duties. Alma was described as shy, studious, and well behaved and excelled in her studies. Her grandmother raised the two girls and was a strict disciplinarian and would restrict the girls from social activities with other students this could have been the reason why Alama was shy and didn't make friends readily. Alma was also described as having soft speech and a soft manner.

On the afternoon of 30 December 1921, 12-year-old Alma was sent on an errand by an aunt. She was supposed to get a package of meat from her uncle's butcher shop in Swanston St. Melbourne and deliver it to a customer on Collin's street. It wasn't supposed to take more than 15 minutes and Alma was typically fast with her errands.

When Alma didn't return her family began to worry because they knew she was reliable and responsible. She was reported missing and the family and police searched for the girl through the night. It wasn't until early the next morning that her nude body was found in Gun Alley a laneway off of Little Collins Street. The poor girl had been raped and strangled to death.

She was last seen alive between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. at the corner of Alfred Place and Little Collin Streets close to where her body had been found. Among the men interviewed about the murder was 29-year-old Collin Ross, a saloon manager, and was seen with a girl matching Alam's description that day outside his saloon.

Collin was known by the police and had recently been acquitted in the shooting and robbery of his customers.  He claimed that he had been tending the bar the whole night and had not killed the girl. He nominated several witnesses who did see him tend the bar that night. Police were convinced it was him, he was arrested on 12 Jan. 1922.

Even though police were convinced of him being the murderer family members of Alma didn't believe it to be him. Collin had, throughout the trial, claimed innocence. The trial then began on 20 Feb. John Harding who was previously found of perjury was in jail with Collin. He testified against Collin and claimed that Collin made a confession to killing the girl.

A detective noticed several strands of blonde hair on a blanket inside of Collin's home. Alma's hair was compared to the blanket's and Charles Price a trained chemist looked at the hairs and claimed they came from the same person. This helped lead to a conviction against Collin. He was sentenced to death on April 24, 1922 by hanging

 In 2008 hairs that were claimed to have come from Alma were tested. It was found that those hairs did not belong to the girl and the man who claimed Collin made a jailhouse confession had been subject to perjury and it's possible he lied about the confession. Collin has been pardoned for Alma's murder. It's unknown who had attacked and killed the young girl.

Collin Campbell Ross

SOURCES:
Murderpedia

Wikipedia

Murder of Annette Fernande Bellot

 

On December 1, 1907, 6-year-old Annette Bellot and her older brother were playing in the street on Place de Brouckere or Dam St. in Anderlecht, Belgium. A man would approach the children and ask Annette's older brother to buy him some cigarettes and would give him candy as a reward for doing so. The man told the boy "Leave your little sister with me; you will go faster". Trusting that the man and Annette would be there when he returned. He would go and buy the cigarettes and returned with neither of them there.

The next day Annette's body would be found behind the Veterinary School near the Gare du Midi. The unknown man had raped and strangled the girl to death.  Her murder will never be solved.

SOURCES:

Find A Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: November 6, 1930 Hardingstone, England John Doe

 

In November 1930, 35-year-old Alfred Rouse met a man outside of a London, England pub. The man would tell him a down-and-out and a hard-luck story, he was looking for work and mentioned he had no family. Alfred would then bring the unknown man to a pub for drinks. He would drink lemonade as he pays for the unknown man's drinks.

Alfred for a while thought of faking his own death for a while. He was fed up with his life and was expecting children from his mistresses. He wanted to start life over again and realized that the man would not be missed and took the opportunity. He would search out for the man on the 2nd or 3rd of November and would find him. Alfred would tell the man that he was going to Leicester on Wednesday and would give the unknown man a lift there. He would make an appointment to meet the man to meet on November 5th at 8 p.m.

On the 5th he would meet the man outside of the pub. The two men would ride in Alfred's Morris Minor. On the drive, the two would talk a lot, and the man would drink the whisky Alfred gave him. When they got to Hardingstone the man would be half dozing due to the whisky. He would grip the man's throat with his right hand and pushed his head against the back of the seat. The man did not resist and just gurgled. 

Around 1 a.m. on November 6th Alfred would then go and loosen the feeding pipe between the petrol tank and the carburetor. He would take the petrol can from the boot and poured it on both the victim and the vehicle before placing it back in the rear of the car and grab his attaché case Standing from a distance he would catch the vehicle on fire. The man was unconscious and burned alive.

His intention was to walk to Northampton and travel to Scottland by train to start his new life. But when he was walking away from the vehicle he would pass two young men. The men noticed the smoke and said something about it. In response, Alfred responded with "It looks like someone's having a bonfire up there." Alfred would then abandon his plan and return home as the men had seen him and he believed that no one would think it was him who was dead. He would then report the vehicle stolen.

The victim was badly burned in the vehicle. He would not be identified. Alfred would be soon arrested for the murder. He would be insistent during the trial that the car was caught on fire due to John Doe's Cigar. That John Doe had been asked to fill the petrol and he must have accidentally lit the car on fire. The Jury would find him guilty and he would be sentenced to hang. 

It wasn't until a few days before his execution on 10 March 1931 that Alfred admitted to the murder. He would write to the Daily Sketch of the events that happened. Alfred would refuse to help the police find the man's identity. He would though give some descriptions of him. He did not know the man's name as he had no reason to ask.

John Doe was between 33 and 40-years-old. He was 5'6" to 5'8". The autopsy revealed that he had worked in an extremely dusty place throughout his lfe. The following descriptions are from Alfred. The man was respectfully dressed in a light-colored overcoat and had an overall appearance of a clerk. He had a slight brogue and had a sporting or boxing tattoo on his right forearm. At the time he was wearing police boots and had told Alfred that London police had given them to him. He had also carried a sports diary. 

In 2012 DNA was taken from the John Doe, but this has not led to an identification yet. 

SOURCES:

Unidentified Wiki

Wikipedia

BBC

Murder of Fanny Faulkner

In 1870 75-year-old Fanny Faulkner was a charity pensioner in Washington, D.C. She was living in a single apartment on Ohio avenue, in Washington. On the day of October 6, 1871, 32-year-old James Grady had horrible plans for the 75-year-old.

On October 6, 1870, James "Jimmy" Grady went to the home of Fanny Faulkner drunk. He had foul plans for the elderly woman. He sexually assaulted her and intended to rob her. He would beat, strangle and kick the woman. Mrs. Curtin was told by some children at the grocery store that Jimmy Grady was at Franny's home eating food.

This worried Mrs. Curtin and she rushed to Fanny's home. Inside he saw James over Franny. Franny laid on the floor suffering and unable to speak. James left after Mrs. Curtin arrived. James went to a blacksmith shop nearby and bragged about assaulting Fanny. Franny ended up dead the next day from the injuries.

At trial, he plead not guilty. The jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to death. James tried to get a new trial due to 1. him being intoxicated during the crime, 2. He didn't intend for murder just rape, 3. he was possibly from an influential family, 4. He wasn't skillfully represented.

This did not happen and James Grady was hanged on March 24, 1871.

SOURCES:
Legal Executions in Deleware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia page 15
Evening Star Jan 19, 1871
Alexandria Gazette Jan. 20, 1871
Evening Star Jan 24, 1871
The Baltimore Sun March 15, 1871

Murder of Miles Vallint

 

On August 27, 1959, 11-year-old Miles Vallint was excited to pick out a bike for his birthday next month. At 1:30pm he left his home in South Norwood, south-east London, England to Croydon to look at bikes. His mother told him to be home by 4:30 pm. 

He would not return home again. Miles was very good at meeting curfew and when he didn't return home his mother worried for him. The next morning would come and she would go looking for her son. She frantically went to the bicycle shops asking if anyone saw him. Only one person told her that they saw him around 2:30 for leaflets.  

What she didn't know at the time was that Miles's body was found under a chestnut tree behind a 3ft fence on Tavistock Rd. The boy had been strangled to death. It was believed he died between 6 to 10 pm and was strangled to death with a rope. There was no evidence of a sexual assault.

A shopkeeper in Croydon may have been the last person to see him alive the day before. He came in around 4 pm to buy a plastic clothesline. In the doorway waiting for the boy to purchase his item was a man.

The man was described as the vagrant type. He was pale and gaunt with a fair complexion. He was between 35 to 40-years-old. He was drab-looking and was wearing a dirty fawn raincoat. 

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders UK

True Crime Library

The National Archives

Evening Standard August 28, 1959

Evening Standard August 28, 1959

Evening Standard September 8, 1959

GHOSTS: The Vulcan Hotel's The Rose

  

St. Bathans, New Zealand (Formerly Dustan Creek) was the settlement center for the Otago Gold Rush, though the mining has long since stop and people now visit the town for a holiday retreat. The city had many historic buildings including the Vulcan Hotel.

The Vulcan Hotel was built in 1882 of mudbrick and originally went by the Ballarat Hotel. The hotel holds a lot of history and the spirit of a murdered young woman called "The Rose". The Rose was a prostitute who worked in Room 1 of the hotel. In the 1880's she lost her life in the hotel by being strangled to death. Her murderer was never found and that is why she still haunts the hotel.

People have said that they've seen her in the corner of their eyes. That she terrorizes male guests that stay in Room 1 by pinning them down onto the bed. The room would be freezing cold though it was warm elsewhere.

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

NZ Herald

Stuff

Murder of Hazel Weinstein

On July 7, 1914, a salesman named 27-year-old Roswell Smith would lure 4-year-old Hazel Weinstein into an alley near her home in Chicago, Illinois. Roswell would then sexually assault the young girl. During the assault, he either strangled or suffocated the girl. Panicked he went to a nearby house and knocked on the door holding the girl who was faintly breathing. He would tell them that he found the girl in the alley this way. She would die a short time later.

A witness would come forward stating that a man that looked like Roswell was with the girl a short time before her death. Roswell would confess that he had a flash the Tuesday night before the attack and he became obsessed with the idea. They would then try to claim that his seizures caused him to attack and kill the girl. He was also considered mentally "defective" and eccentric, but harmless. He would still be found guilty and sentenced to hang.

On Feb. 13, 1915, Roswell would be executed. His last words before executions were; "I will raise my eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help."

SOURCES:
Homicide in Chicago
Last Words of Executed
Horror History
The Rock Island Argus July 8, 1914
The Day Book  July 8, 1914
Chicago Tribune July 9, 1914
The Daily Chronicle July 29, 1914
Chicago Tribune November 13, 1914
Carbondale Free Press November 16, 1914

Murder of Chrissie Clare Venn

On Feb. 20, 1921, around 5 p.m. 13-year-old Chrissie Venn left her home on Allison Road in North Motton, Tasmania, Australia. She was going to run some errands and it was only 3 miles away. She didn't return home and this worried her family. A search was had, but she wasn't found till March 1st in a tree stump that was close to Allison rd, which she used to walk into town.

There are two different stories of how she was found and the condition of her body. Her body was either mutilated and left in a hollow tree stump or she was suffocated or stranged with no mutilation. She was half-dressed and seemed to have been sexually assaulted. One source states that twine used for hay bailing was tied around her neck and her mouth was stuffed with pieces of cloth from her dress, and the cloth had a gold pin attached to it.

It's believed that she may have died sometime on Feb 26th.

Former police officer and minor, George William King, was tried for the crime. He had cuts on his hands that made him suspicious. He claimed his hands were cut up due to a log falling on them while searching for Chrissie. The trial started on August 21 of the same year and was done in Hobart. Albert Ogilvie defended him and William was found not guilty.

It's believed that Chrissie haunts the road she was killed on.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave
Daily Herald
Examiner
Revolvy
Wikipedia
Press Reader