Grim deeds in the Black Country
By A.M. Wheeler
Grim deeds in the Black Country
By A.M. Wheeler
Contents Introduction
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1812- Gibbett Lane
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1822 - Warley Woods 1831 - Blowers Green 1838 - Garrett Lane 1853 - Oldbury Canal 1855 - Cromwell Street 1860 - Sedgley High Street
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1882 - Tipton Canal
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1906 - Severdwellings Bridge
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1943 - Hagley Woods
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Introduction Like most areas in the UK, the Black Country has a long history of violence, suspicious deaths and murder, shaping the way the Black Country is today. For some locals, they grew up hearing the horror stories of the past, and can see the footprints left behind from these incidences. For others, they are unaware of any past violence and see these areas of the Black Country through naĂŻve eyes.
As well as highlighting the areas of these historic crimes, the purpose of this book is to document how these landscapes with a dark history stand today. Despite some of these crimes being fairly well known, most are hidden secrets of the past. For some, it will support the broken glass theory, and explain why certain areas of the Black Country still have a high crime rate today. For others, it will seem as though they have had no impact on today’s society.
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1812
Gibbett Lane
On 18th December 1812, Benjamin Robins was walking back from the market when he was robbed and stabbed. He died 10 days later. The Bow Street runners were called to help with the investigation.
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The murder of
Benjamin Robins
On 18th December 1812, a farmer by the name of Benjamin Robins was walking back from the regular Sunday market. He set off around 4:40pm and walked along the direct route to Dunsley via the Stourbridge - Bridgnorth road. At around 5pm, he heard a man asking him to stop. The stranger shot Mr Robins in the back and demanded his money. He staggered home, but despite the surgeons help, he died 10days later . Local magistrate requested assistance from one or more Bow Street runners to catch the person responsible. Two officers by the names of Harry Adkins and Samuel Taunton were sent to Stourbridge, and immediately suspected a carpenter by the name of William Howe. This was because several witnesses saw him near Gibbet lane around the time of the incident, although Howe denied being in Stourbridge at the time. Officers followed Howe over 400 miles to detain him. He arranged for boxes of his clothes and tools to be sent to London under the name of John Wood. The officers traced the boxes, one of which contained a pistol and bullets. Howe was bought back to Stourbridge, charged and transferred to Stafford Gaol on 26th January. Whilst there, he tried to hide further evidence by getting another prisoner to pass a letter to his wife, Elizabeth Barlow. His wife couldn’t read, and therefore asked someone she lived with to read it aloud. This was then passed to their landlady’s husband, who passed it to a member of the Robin’s family. Police found the pistol and bullets, and were used as evidence when Howe went to trial. The trial lasted from 8am to 4:30pm, and over 30 witnesses were called. The jury took 7 minutes to find Howe guilty. He was sentenced to death by hanging, and was claimed Howe admitted to the crime at the gallows as a ‘badness of the heart’. The Robins family campaigned for Howe’s body to be hung in chains at the scene of the crime, which was authorised by the home secretary.
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Gibbet Lane 2016
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1822
Warley Woods On 3rd April 1822, Sam Whitehouse and Joe Downing were returning home after an evening of drinking at Thomas Fox’s residence. An hour later, a riderless horse was found by resident Richard Aston whilst riding towards Fox’s residence. It was here that Aston found Whitehouse lying at the side of the track unconscious. He travelled to the Fox household to raise the alarm. Mrs Fox rode with Aston to Whitehouse’s aid, where he was unconscious and was bleeding heavily from a head wound. He died two days after the incident on 5th April. An inquest was held and Downing was arrested.
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The Halesowen Turnpike Murder
On 3rd April 1822, Sam Whitehouse and Joe Downing were returning home after an evening of drinking at Thomas Fox’s residence. For the first mile, they travelled along the same route by horseback. Not long after leaving, Downing returned to Fox’s to ask for gun barrel he had left there that evening.
An hour later, a riderless horse was found by resident Richard Aston. Aston knew that Whitehouse and Downing had been drinking at Fox’s earlier that evening, and so rode it towards Fox’s residence. It was here that Aston found Whitehouse lying at the side of the track unconscious.
Aston travelled to the Fox household to raise the alarm. When he arrived, Mr Fox was asleep, and couldn’t be woken due to his intoxication. Mrs Fox rode with Aston to Whitehouse’s aid. At this point, Whitehouse was unconscious and was bleeding heavily from a head wound. His money pocket was open and empty.
When Mr Fox finally woke from his drunken state, he rode to Downing’s horse to inform him of the incident. The drunk wine together for two hours before visiting Whitehouse. Whitehouse died two days after the incident on 5th April, and was in and out of consciousness during these two days.
An inquest was held and Downing was arrested. Downing pleaded ‘not guilty’, stating he knew nothing of the incident. Whitehouse was a wealthy man, and had no children. As Whitehouse and Downing’s wives were sisters, Whitehouse left his estate to Downing’s children. There were conflicting testimonies, with one claiming the injury to Whitehouse’s head could have been caused by the barrel of Downing’s gun, and the other claiming it could have been caused by a kick to the head by his own house, who was known to be skiddish at times. A verdict was returned of ‘not guilty’.
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Warley Woods 2016
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1831
Blowers Green On 12th November 1831, chimney sweep Joseph Holmes was sent to clean a furnace with two older boys. Despite claiming he was being burnt to death, the two older boys insisted he continued until the job was completed. Only when his crying stopped was he pulled out.
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The death of
Joseph Holmes
On 12th November, 1831, chimney sweeps Jonas Woodall and John Poole were in charge of two younger boys, Benjamin and Joseph Holmes. The group were asked to clean a furnace flue in Blowers Green. Benjamin Holmes was first sent into the flue, but due to the heat, fainted after one hour. His brother Joseph was sent in his brother’s place. Despite claiming being burnt to death, Woodall and Poole insisted he continued until the work was completed, hitting his feet with a shovel to force him further up the flue. It was only when Joseph’s cries stopped that Woodall and Poole pulled him out. At this point, he was barely alive, and only continued breathing for a couple of minutes.
The post-mortem examination showed burns on his back, chest and elbow, with is cause of death being ruled as suffocation due to the soot that lined his windpipe.
On 6th March 1832, Woodall and Poole were charged with killing Joseph Holmes, but as the defendants didn’t intent to kill him, they couldn’t be charged with murder. They also couldn’t be charged with manslaughter as cause of death was due to soot in the flue, and not lack of air. Therefore, a jury found both Woodall and Poole ‘not guilty’.
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Blowers Green 2016
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1838 Garrett Lane On Wednesday 11th July 1838, Samuel Perry woke complaining of strong stomach pains. He couldn’t get out of bed, and refused to get a doctor. Perry died at 1am the following day. During a post- mortem, “a quantity of white powder, opaque and gritty to the feel”, was found in the stomach and was confirmed to be arsenic.
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The death of
Samuel Perry
On Wednesday 11th July 1838, Samuel Perry woke at 5am complaining of strong stomach pains. He was unable to get out of bed, and refused to get a doctor.
Perry died at 1am the following day, and on Friday 13th July, his wife was visited by constable James Detheridge to advise there would be an inquest due to her husband’s sudden death, which se opposed. When examining the stomach, “a quantity of white powder, opaque and gritty to the feel”, which was confirmed to be arsenic.
On the day of the inquest, The Perry’s property was searched, and a small packet of arsenic was found in the kitchen cupboard. Despite being labelled, Mrs Perry claimed she thought it was medicine as she couldn’t read. She was arrested for ‘Wilful Murder’ and sent to Stafford Gaol.
On Monday 11th March 1839, Perry pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ at Stafford Assize Hall. Evidence was heard from James William Stanley Lawton, a local surgeon and chemist who sold the arsenic to Susannah after a young girl came into the shop wanting to buy arsenic for her mother. The defence gave a strong case, claiming all evidence was circumstantial and that she tried to persuade her husband to see a doctor on several occasions. The jury retired for five minutes before finding her ‘Not guilty’.
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1853
Oldbury Canal Catherine Moore’s death was originally believed to be accidental, as she had been drunk whilst walking along Oldbury canal, with a ‘found drowned’ jury verdict. In late 1853, William Baker claimed he witnessed her being murdered by two men; Mr Ballard and Mr Markwick. As Mr Markwick had died in 1857, Mr Ballard was left to dispute this.
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The death of
Catherine Moore
Catherine Moore’s death was originally believed to be accidental, as she had been drunk whilst walking along Oldbury canal, with a ‘found drowned’ jury verdict by an inquest jury in 1853.
In the final months of 1858, William Baker was drinking at The Seven Stars pub in Oldbury. As he became more intoxicated, he started to talk about Moore’s death, claiming he had witnessed her being murdered by two men. Baker claimed that Mr Ballard and Mr Markwick had murdered Moore, and when Baker tried to pull Moore’s body from the canal, the two murders stopped him from doing this.
When the police were informed, they started making discreet enquires, and found that Baker had discussed this incident with his family whilst sober. Despite not originally naming the murderers to his family, Baker claimed his conscience was stopping him from remaining quiet.
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As Mr Markwick had died in 1857, Mr Ballard was left to defend himself against these accusations. Before a magistrate in Oldbury, Markwick was able to prove he was in London on the day of Moore’s Death. When Baker was questioned about this, he told magistrates ‘I have no remembrance of making such statements, and If I did, I must have been out of my senses’.
Oldbury Canal 2016
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1855
Cromwell street Mary Ann Mason worked as a kitchenmaid at Sailor’s Return Inn. Joseph Meadows was a whitesmith in Dudley, and soon became besotted with Mason, followed by the pair becoming romantically involved. As arguments became more common, Mason wanted to end the relationship, and Meadows started drinking heavily. Mason began avoiding Meadows when he entered Sailor’s Return.
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The Mary Ann Mason murder
Mary Ann Mason worked as a kitchen-maid at Sailor’s Return Inn servant for William Hunt and his wife Mary. Due to her beauty, Mason proved popular with customers at the Sailor’s Return, which increased Hunt’s financial profits. Due to this financial impact, Hunt didn’t allow Mason to become romantically attached to any of the men who courted her at work. Joseph Meadows was a whitesmith in Dudley, and soon became besotted with Mason, followed by the pair becoming romantically involved. In order to overcome the rule set out by Hunt, Mason introduced Meadows as her brother. Meadows regularly visited the pub, only to see Mason encourage attention from other men, causing bitter arguments between the pair. As arguments became more common, Mason wanted to end the relationship, and Meadows started drinking heavily. Mason began avoiding Meadows when he entered Sailor’s Return. On Sunday 13th May 1855, Meadows entered the Sailors Return and when into the kitchen when Mason was mopping. The didn’t speak throughout the whole time they were alone. Over an hour later, two minors entered the kitchen. Around 9am, over two hours after Meadows entered the kitchen, Meadows shot and killed Mason.
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1860
Sedgley High Street
In 1860, during the demolition of The Pig and Whistle pub, a human skeleton was found buried under the hearth. As the pub use to offer accommodation for travellers, locals believed the body was the remains of a man known as ‘Old Short’, who was a regular at the pub before he disappeared. The skeleton was never formally identified.
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‘Old Short’ murder In 1860, when the final tenant of The Pig and Whistle pub moved out, the owners tried to sell the property. However, they struggled to find a buyer due to the pup’s reputation of being haunted. Due to the lack of interest in the property, the owners decided to pull it down.
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On 30th August, during demolition, a human skeleton was found buried under the hearth. Before the pub was pulled down, it was one of a small handful of places in within the Black Country that offered accommodation for travellers. It is believed that the skeletal remains belonged to one of these travellers. Despite not being proven, some of the locals believed the body was that of a man known as ‘Old Short’. He use to be a regular at The Pig and Whistle, but disappeared some years previous to the discovery of the skeleton.
1882
Tipton Canal In 1882, Emil Charles Hindelaing took his two of his three brothers for a walk along the Tipton Canal. Emil threw his brothers into the water, and waited for them to drown.
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The Hindelaign brother murders In 1882, Emil Charles Hindelaing from Dudley took two of his three younger brothers for a walk along the Tipton Canal. Lewis Benjamin, aged nine, and Francis Adlebert, aged seven, accompanied there older brother on this walk.
Whilst walking along the canal, Emil Charles threw his two brothers into the water, and then waited for them to drown. Once they were both dead, he handed himself into the police.
On 28th April 1882, Emil Charles Hindelaign was tried for murder at the Staffordshire Assizes. He was found criminally insane and ordered to be detained, and was sent straight to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum.
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1906
Severndwellings Bridge
On Tuesday 26th June 1906, Caroline Pearson went missing after walking home from the pub with her friend Alice Westwood, and Enoch Cox. Alice left the pair in Severndwellings, to continue her journey home. Whilst in the pub, Enoch showed both women a revolver and large knife. Alice informed the police of Enoch’s unusual behaviour that evening, where he stated he would ‘kill three before he would be contented’.
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Caroline in the cornfield On Tuesday 26th June 1906, Caroline Pearson went missing after walking home from the pub with her friend Alice Westwood, and Enoch Cox.
Whilst there, Enoch showed both women a revolver and large knife. When they left the pub, they walked to Severndwellings, and is where Alice left the pair to walk home. Between 9-9:30, a couple matching the description of Caroline and Enoch were seen drinking at the Birchtree Cottage pub. When Caroline didn’t return home that evening, police wee called and a thorough search of the area was carried out.
On this same evening, Enoch went to the house where his wife was staying. Emma Cox had left his wife several weeks earlier as he often beat her when he was drunk. When Emma refused to come home, Enoch stabbed her. When this failed to kill her, he also tried to shoot her twice. Despite this, Emma survived this incident and police were placed at the property until they could find and arrest Enoch Cox. Enoch later returned to the property despite the police presence, and said ‘I’ll finish myself ’, before putting a revolver to his head and shooting himself.
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Police continued to search for Caroline, but she was presumed dead. Her friend Alive informed the police of Enoch’s unusual behaviour that evening, where he stated he would ‘kill three before he would be contented’.
On Tuesday 10th July, Caroline’s body was found in a field . At an inquest, and due to the condition of the body, a verdict of ‘found dead’ was returned, as they couldn’t find Caroline’s cause of death.
1943
Hagley Woods In 1943, the skeletal remains of woman were found in a Wych elm tree. An examination found she had been dead for around eight months, and was about 35 years old. Due to the skeleton’s condition, cause of death was undetermined, but she was believed to have been suffocated due to the piece of taffeta stuffed in her mouth. The remains were never formally identified, but one theory suggested she could have a spy by the name of ‘Clara’.
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Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? In 1943, the skeletal remains of woman were found in a Wych elm tree by four teenagers looking for birds nests.
During an examination, Professor James M. Webster determined that the woman had been dead for around eight months. He also determined that she was around 35 years old and about 5ft tall, with mousey brown hair and had probable given birth to at least one child. Webster was unable to determine cause of death due to the condition of the body, but advised the woman may have been suffocated due to the piece of taffeta stuffed deep into her mouth. An inquest returned a verdict of murder by person or persons unknown. Her identity remains a mystery, but it was suggested she may have belonged to a Romany gypsy family, been a local prostitute or had links with witchcraft. Her details were sent across Britain, but nobody came forward to identify her.
After the discovery of the skeleton, graffiti appeared across the Back Country, including ‘Who put Bella in the Wych elm’ and ‘Hagley Wood Bella’. There were no witnesses to the source if this graffiti. In 1953, a local journalist introduced the theory that the human remains belonged to a spy with the code name ‘Clara’. In 1958, Professor Webster claimed the police had identified ‘Bella’, but both Wester and the police refused to elaborate on this.
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