This murder was originally thought of as being one of the series of murders committed by the Peter Sutcliffe. Yes, it was, was the verdict of some, no, it was not, was the verdict of others. It ran undetected until officially in 2011. After the arrest of Sutcliffe in the beginning of 1981, he was eliminated as a suspect, then the man who sent the hoax tape and letters, John Humble, was eliminated as a suspect. then a confession from a dying man led Police to finally close the case after more than thirty years. DNA analysis proved that the killer of Joan was convicted sex offender Christopher Smith. What is the history of this case?
It was in Preston, Lancashire, in November 1975, that 26 year old Joan Harrison, a mother of two, who had drink & drug problems, went into Preston town centre for a late night drink, then vanished. She was found dead in a disused garage. She had been raped and savagely beaten. A bite mark had been left on her left breast. Her jewelry had been taken. What was strange was that her clothes and in particular, her boots, had been placed in what seemed like a ritualistic pose. The Police investigation was huge. A big team of 80 detectives questioned almost 100,000 people, taken more than 6,000 statements and saliva samples. However, this did not bring the killer to justice. Three years later, letters were received by Police pertaining to be from the killer, claiming credit for it. The enquiry ran cold for many years. In 2008, a man had been arrested for drink driving and was routinely swabbed. He died six days later of lung cancer, but before he died, he spoke of a murder in Preston in 1975, asking for forgiveness. He wrote out a note, which was found in his Leeds home. It was not until 2011 that forensic tests proved that the DNA of thief & sex attacker, Christopher Smith was the man who murdered Joan Harrison. CPS officials stated that if Smith had lived, they would have charged him with murder. Finally, after 36 years, Police were able to close the case.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
The Long Island Serial Killer
This disturbing case erupted in December 2010 after the disappearance of a young woman named Shannon Gilbert, and a canine cop taking it upon himself to go out with his dog and do some searching on his own time, for Shannon. Little did he realise what they were about to unearth. Shannon Gilbert, a 24 year old New Jersey escort. She had been taken to the home of a client, Joseph Brewer, by her driver, Michael Pak. Soon she ran from the house screaming that "They were going to kill her" Whom she was referring to was unclear. But instead of going to the car and the safety of her driver, she instead, ran off into the distance. She banged on doors screaming the same thing but she kept on running into the night and into an area of marshy land. Pak lost her, and she was not seen alive again. Why was she screaming and frightened? Did she see something she was not supposed to have? Was she on drugs? The speculation is endless.
Police were called and did some searching but found nothing. then an officer went out with his dog, and they uncovered a skeleton in a burlap sack. A broader search uncovered three more bodies in burlap sacks. They realised that they had uncovered a dumping ground for a serial killer. Further searching did not reveal any more bodies. Now the forensic teams had a job attempting to identify the remains. It was later in March 2011 that a further four sets of remains were found, then in April, a skull and partial skeleton were found, bringing the total to ten. one body was identified as a young Asian male, and two as a toddler and mother. Later in the year, one of last found remains, was identified as being part of the body to two legs that had been found in a garbage bag on Fire Island in 1996. These six bodies obviously predated the first four bodies, so was it a second dump site or were there two killers at large? Over time, the first four sets of bones were positively identified as being Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, from Norwich, Connecticut; She went missing on July 9th 2007; Melissa Barthelemy, 24, from Erie County, New York. She vanished on July 10th 2009. Her sister started receiving taunting phone calls from a man using her sister`s cell phone. Megan Waterman, 22, from South Portland, Maine. She vanished on June 6th 2010. The fourth body was that of Amber Lynn Costello, 27, from North Babylon, New York. She vanished on September 2nd 2010. All were prostitutes who advertised their services on Craigslist.
It was nineteen months after she vanished that the body of Shannon Gilbert was found, half a mile away from where she was last seen. Speculation was that she had been the victim of a killer, as her jeans were found away from her body but a Coroner ruled her death, "Misadventure" a ruling that her family did not agree with. In her confused state, running through boggy land with her jeans getting soaked, did they start slowing her down, so she took them, thinking that she could run faster? Again, only speculation. Her family launched a lawsuit against the Police in order to find out more information on her death and the investigation. the dump sites covered Gilgo Beach, Ocean Parkway & Oak Beach in Suffolk County and Jones Beach State Park in Nassau County. This will probably run for a long time, but hopefully the killer or killers will be apprehended.
Police were called and did some searching but found nothing. then an officer went out with his dog, and they uncovered a skeleton in a burlap sack. A broader search uncovered three more bodies in burlap sacks. They realised that they had uncovered a dumping ground for a serial killer. Further searching did not reveal any more bodies. Now the forensic teams had a job attempting to identify the remains. It was later in March 2011 that a further four sets of remains were found, then in April, a skull and partial skeleton were found, bringing the total to ten. one body was identified as a young Asian male, and two as a toddler and mother. Later in the year, one of last found remains, was identified as being part of the body to two legs that had been found in a garbage bag on Fire Island in 1996. These six bodies obviously predated the first four bodies, so was it a second dump site or were there two killers at large? Over time, the first four sets of bones were positively identified as being Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, from Norwich, Connecticut; She went missing on July 9th 2007; Melissa Barthelemy, 24, from Erie County, New York. She vanished on July 10th 2009. Her sister started receiving taunting phone calls from a man using her sister`s cell phone. Megan Waterman, 22, from South Portland, Maine. She vanished on June 6th 2010. The fourth body was that of Amber Lynn Costello, 27, from North Babylon, New York. She vanished on September 2nd 2010. All were prostitutes who advertised their services on Craigslist.
It was nineteen months after she vanished that the body of Shannon Gilbert was found, half a mile away from where she was last seen. Speculation was that she had been the victim of a killer, as her jeans were found away from her body but a Coroner ruled her death, "Misadventure" a ruling that her family did not agree with. In her confused state, running through boggy land with her jeans getting soaked, did they start slowing her down, so she took them, thinking that she could run faster? Again, only speculation. Her family launched a lawsuit against the Police in order to find out more information on her death and the investigation. the dump sites covered Gilgo Beach, Ocean Parkway & Oak Beach in Suffolk County and Jones Beach State Park in Nassau County. This will probably run for a long time, but hopefully the killer or killers will be apprehended.
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Alfred Arthur Rouse & The Burning Car Murder
Alfred Rouse was executed for the murder of a total stranger, and to this day, the identity remains a mystery. Rouse was a womaniser and his shenanigans led to problems of women expecting marriage. He displayed an appalling contempt for the mystery man he murdered, which did not endear him to a jury or public. It is believed that Rouse tried to stage a Reggie Perrin-style death and seek a life away from his problems. Rouse was born in London April 6th 1894, but his parents split up in 1900, leaving Rouse and two other siblings to be raised a relative on his father`s side of the family. He developed a talent for music at school and after leaving school, started to learn carpentry. His first actual employment was with an Estate Agent, then moving on to a furniture manufacturer in the West End of London.
War broke out in Europe, so Rouse enlisted on August 8th 1914 and was drafted into the 24th London Regiment. Before embarking for France, he married Lily Watkins on November 29th at St. Saviours Church in St Albans. During battle, an explosion gave Rouse head and leg injuries, severe enough for him to be shipped home to convalesce. He was officially discharged due to his wounds on February 11th 1916, and given a medical pension. However, after a couple of years, this pension was decreased as it was viewed that his wounds had improved considerably. In September 1920, he received his final payment was now declared fit for work.
He found work as a salesmen, taking him to many different towns and cities. His sales talk enabled him to sweet talk various women and he even had children by a couple of them. He had no intention of marrying any of them. He also earned enough to buy himself a 1928 Morris Minor for travelling around. It was on November 5th 1930, that he put his plan to die and disappear into action. two men walking from Northampton to their nearby village of Hardingstone, saw a fire start. A man walked past them saying somebody was lighting a bonfire. The two men decided to take a look and come upon a burning car. They thought they could see a body inside and so alerted authorities. After the blaze was put out, it was seen that it was indeed a body, and luck had it, the number plate of the vehicle was not destroyed. This led Police to Rouse and he was arrested.
Rouse said that he offered a lift to a stranger in Leicester, and soon he pulled off the road, telling the man that he needed to shit. Whilst in the bushes, he claimed he saw the man light a match, then a flash went off, engulfing the vehicle in flames. Opinion soon turned when Rouse told a reporter of his "harem" of women all over, and that the deceased man "would not be missed!" An expert on cars discovered that a nut & screw in the engine had been twisted, thereby allowing petrol to escape into and around the car. This was the crucial evidence that convicted Rouse. The report of the post mortem was presented by Prof. Bernard Spilsbury. The Prosecutor in this case was legendary QC Sir Norman Birkett, with Donald Finnemore leading for the defence.
Rouse was convicted of murder and executed March 10th 1931 at Bedford Gaol. The identity of the victim may now become known, as a family say that a member went missing suddenly in 1930. This man was called William Briggs, and in May 2012, they asked for a famile DNA check to discover if the mystery man was indeed their relative. As of yet, no word.
War broke out in Europe, so Rouse enlisted on August 8th 1914 and was drafted into the 24th London Regiment. Before embarking for France, he married Lily Watkins on November 29th at St. Saviours Church in St Albans. During battle, an explosion gave Rouse head and leg injuries, severe enough for him to be shipped home to convalesce. He was officially discharged due to his wounds on February 11th 1916, and given a medical pension. However, after a couple of years, this pension was decreased as it was viewed that his wounds had improved considerably. In September 1920, he received his final payment was now declared fit for work.
He found work as a salesmen, taking him to many different towns and cities. His sales talk enabled him to sweet talk various women and he even had children by a couple of them. He had no intention of marrying any of them. He also earned enough to buy himself a 1928 Morris Minor for travelling around. It was on November 5th 1930, that he put his plan to die and disappear into action. two men walking from Northampton to their nearby village of Hardingstone, saw a fire start. A man walked past them saying somebody was lighting a bonfire. The two men decided to take a look and come upon a burning car. They thought they could see a body inside and so alerted authorities. After the blaze was put out, it was seen that it was indeed a body, and luck had it, the number plate of the vehicle was not destroyed. This led Police to Rouse and he was arrested.
Rouse said that he offered a lift to a stranger in Leicester, and soon he pulled off the road, telling the man that he needed to shit. Whilst in the bushes, he claimed he saw the man light a match, then a flash went off, engulfing the vehicle in flames. Opinion soon turned when Rouse told a reporter of his "harem" of women all over, and that the deceased man "would not be missed!" An expert on cars discovered that a nut & screw in the engine had been twisted, thereby allowing petrol to escape into and around the car. This was the crucial evidence that convicted Rouse. The report of the post mortem was presented by Prof. Bernard Spilsbury. The Prosecutor in this case was legendary QC Sir Norman Birkett, with Donald Finnemore leading for the defence.
Rouse was convicted of murder and executed March 10th 1931 at Bedford Gaol. The identity of the victim may now become known, as a family say that a member went missing suddenly in 1930. This man was called William Briggs, and in May 2012, they asked for a famile DNA check to discover if the mystery man was indeed their relative. As of yet, no word.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Mamie Stuart & The Man Who Got Away With Murder
Mamie Stuart was a 26 years old former chorus girl when she mysteriously vanished just before Christmas 1919. She remained missing for a further 42 years before one of those discoveries by sheer luck uncovered her tomb. Mamie had left her home in Sunderland at the age of 15 to pursue a career on the stage, where she met and fell in love with a fellow Wearsider , George Shotton, who was 13 years her senior. They married on march 25th 1918 and settled in a cottage at Caswell Bay, near the Gower Peninsular in South Wales, but before Christmas 1919, they both had vanished. A man had left a trunk at a hotel in Swansea and after three months, the hotelier handed it over to Police. The trunk contained clothes and jewelry but a piece of paper was found containing the address of Mamie`s parents. Police showed the clothes and jewelry to Mrs Stuart who identified them as belonging to Mamie. She also showed them a letter she had sent them telling them that George was violent and that she feared for her safety.
Police decided to investigate the background of George Shotton and discovered that he was already married and so this marriage was bigamous. He had married a woman named May Leader on September 7th 1905, they had a child between them and had settled down only a mile away from Caswell Bay. Shotton was located and arrested, and admitted knowing Mamie but denied marrying her. he claimed she had a secret lover, and indeed, did produce a letter destined for some man, from Mamie. An extensive search of the coastline was launched but she was not found. Shotton now found himself charged with bigamy, but he claimed somebody had impersonated him. This was certainly not believed and he received 18 months jail with hard labour. Police believed he had killed Mamie.
The story now raced forward to November 1961, and three cavers exploring a disused lead mine at Brandy Cove, only a mile away from Caswell Bay. They discovered a sack containing human bones, and immediately alerted Police. Doctors examined the remains, which had been cut into three sections, and determined her height, age and sex. Bits of clothing and jewelry found in the sack, were identified as belonging to Mamie, by an old friend of hers. A picture of Mamie was superimposed on the skull and found to be a match, exactly like the way that Professor Robert Glaister did for Mrs Ruxton in the notorious Buck Ruxton murder case.
The following inquest in December 1961 brought a startling revelation. 83 years old retired postman Bill Symons recalled seeing Shotton hauling a heavy sack from the cottage, to which Shotton initially recoiled in shock, mistaking his uniform for that of a Policeman. Shotton put the sack into his vehicle and drove off in the direction of Brandy Cove. After Mamie had vanished and the Police enquiries, he thought nothing of it, thinking he was obviously wrong to think he had just watched a killer hauling away his victim. The Jury decided that the body was indeed that of Mamie. The Police now started to hunt for Shotton but were too late. He was discovered in a cemetery in Bristol where he had died in 1958, at the age of 78. He had gotten away with cold blooded murder. It was believed to have been committed in a "jealous rage", which is rich considering he had a wife and child living nearby.
Police decided to investigate the background of George Shotton and discovered that he was already married and so this marriage was bigamous. He had married a woman named May Leader on September 7th 1905, they had a child between them and had settled down only a mile away from Caswell Bay. Shotton was located and arrested, and admitted knowing Mamie but denied marrying her. he claimed she had a secret lover, and indeed, did produce a letter destined for some man, from Mamie. An extensive search of the coastline was launched but she was not found. Shotton now found himself charged with bigamy, but he claimed somebody had impersonated him. This was certainly not believed and he received 18 months jail with hard labour. Police believed he had killed Mamie.
The story now raced forward to November 1961, and three cavers exploring a disused lead mine at Brandy Cove, only a mile away from Caswell Bay. They discovered a sack containing human bones, and immediately alerted Police. Doctors examined the remains, which had been cut into three sections, and determined her height, age and sex. Bits of clothing and jewelry found in the sack, were identified as belonging to Mamie, by an old friend of hers. A picture of Mamie was superimposed on the skull and found to be a match, exactly like the way that Professor Robert Glaister did for Mrs Ruxton in the notorious Buck Ruxton murder case.
The following inquest in December 1961 brought a startling revelation. 83 years old retired postman Bill Symons recalled seeing Shotton hauling a heavy sack from the cottage, to which Shotton initially recoiled in shock, mistaking his uniform for that of a Policeman. Shotton put the sack into his vehicle and drove off in the direction of Brandy Cove. After Mamie had vanished and the Police enquiries, he thought nothing of it, thinking he was obviously wrong to think he had just watched a killer hauling away his victim. The Jury decided that the body was indeed that of Mamie. The Police now started to hunt for Shotton but were too late. He was discovered in a cemetery in Bristol where he had died in 1958, at the age of 78. He had gotten away with cold blooded murder. It was believed to have been committed in a "jealous rage", which is rich considering he had a wife and child living nearby.
The Death of Liddle Towers
This death in police custody in 1976 brought claims of excessive force and brutality to the fore, and an appeal against the original inquest ruling, resulted in a second Coroner`s Inquest. Liddle Towers, a boxing coach and electrician had left the Key Club in Birtley, near Chester-Le-Street, in County Durham, on January 16th 1976. He was arrested by PC Goodner, but a subsequent struggle saw six officers use force to put him into a Police van. He was taken to Gateshead Police Station, but at 4am, 39 years old Mr Towers spoke of being unwell. He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where doctors said they could find nothing wrong with him, so he was returned to the station, then released at 10am. The taxi driver later stated that Mr Towers told of being given a beating in the street but getting a bigger one whilst in the cells. He saw his doctor some hours later, Dr Alan Powney, who reiterated what the taxi driver was told, and saw evidence of violence. Mr Towers went into hospital where he died on February 9th 1976.
An inquest into his death was held october 8th and a verdict of "Justifiable Homicide" was recorded. This caused great concern in sections of the media about excessive force, and the approach of police in general. The family fought against the decision, and on May 3rd 1977, the Attorney General responded to a question from Chester-Le-Street MP Giles Radice, stating that the DPP had decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed against any officer. On July 8th, the Home Secretary refused to set up an inquiry under S32 of the Police Act 1964. The family appealed the "Justifiable Homicide" verdict and in June 1978, the Queen's Bench Divisional Court ordered a new inquest but, sadly for the family, this just brought a verdict of Misadventure, which basically means accidental.
I remember this case and in a TV reconstruction, an officer claimed that Mr Towers stared at him and said "What the fucking hell are you looking at?" leading to a confrontation. Also, during the inquest, I recall one officer saying that he fell on Mr Towers with his knees during the struggle. If I am wrong on this point, I will amend it. Another high profile death in Police hands during this period was that of Jimmy Kelly in Liverpool in late 79 or early 1980.
An inquest into his death was held october 8th and a verdict of "Justifiable Homicide" was recorded. This caused great concern in sections of the media about excessive force, and the approach of police in general. The family fought against the decision, and on May 3rd 1977, the Attorney General responded to a question from Chester-Le-Street MP Giles Radice, stating that the DPP had decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed against any officer. On July 8th, the Home Secretary refused to set up an inquiry under S32 of the Police Act 1964. The family appealed the "Justifiable Homicide" verdict and in June 1978, the Queen's Bench Divisional Court ordered a new inquest but, sadly for the family, this just brought a verdict of Misadventure, which basically means accidental.
I remember this case and in a TV reconstruction, an officer claimed that Mr Towers stared at him and said "What the fucking hell are you looking at?" leading to a confrontation. Also, during the inquest, I recall one officer saying that he fell on Mr Towers with his knees during the struggle. If I am wrong on this point, I will amend it. Another high profile death in Police hands during this period was that of Jimmy Kelly in Liverpool in late 79 or early 1980.
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Financial Frauds
Financial frauds will always be an ongoing battle between the authorities and the individuals and companies that perpetuate and advise on how to avoid tax, conceal and launder great wealth. This has gone on for many decades, with crooked banks, bankers, businessmen, lawyers & accountants, all looking to get their noses in the trough. Switzerland was the most well known safe haven for money but in reality, many places around the world have greater banking secrecy. It says a lot when a government minister, in this case, Vince Cable, dismissed offshore tax havens as "Sunny spots for shady characters!" Really? So why do many criminal organisations funnel their illicit monies through these "sunny spots?" Why do dictators and despots do the same thing? Why do criminals employ said bankers, accountants, businessmen and lawyers to launder their booty? It was a ridiculous answer simply to side step a question.
Stealing pension funds was not the sole preserve of Robert Maxwell. One local firm here had it`s pension fund mysteriously disappear. Also, a pension fund in Ellesmere Port vanished without trace. As far as I am aware, the only people who could make funds vanish are those with access to it. Where would it vanish to? Simple. An offshore tax haven, with probably a couple of individuals able to dip into it at will, and live the high life for the rest of their days. As for the poor suckers who spent years paying into these funds, well, you can work out what these crooks think of them.
What about the scandal of Bernie Madoff and his multi-billion dollar frauds? Despots such as Marcos, Duvalier, Noriega and many more. Bleeding their own countries dry and putting everything through these "sunny spots." Luxembourg & Lichenstein becoming more favourable than good old Switzerland, the Carribean, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Channel Isles, oh so many places. Some have tightened up their laws and controls, others have pretended to or just simply have not bothered.
Stealing pension funds was not the sole preserve of Robert Maxwell. One local firm here had it`s pension fund mysteriously disappear. Also, a pension fund in Ellesmere Port vanished without trace. As far as I am aware, the only people who could make funds vanish are those with access to it. Where would it vanish to? Simple. An offshore tax haven, with probably a couple of individuals able to dip into it at will, and live the high life for the rest of their days. As for the poor suckers who spent years paying into these funds, well, you can work out what these crooks think of them.
What about the scandal of Bernie Madoff and his multi-billion dollar frauds? Despots such as Marcos, Duvalier, Noriega and many more. Bleeding their own countries dry and putting everything through these "sunny spots." Luxembourg & Lichenstein becoming more favourable than good old Switzerland, the Carribean, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Channel Isles, oh so many places. Some have tightened up their laws and controls, others have pretended to or just simply have not bothered.
"I Fucking Hate Hippies"
This sentiment was uttered by rockstar Ted Nugent on a rock documentary recently, during a segment about the drug excesses of the seventies. The Nuge stated that "Dopers don`t......" and reeled off a list of problems with drugged up musicians. He finished it off with "I fucking hate hippies!" It is not very often that I agree with the biggest self-praiser, but here he was spot on. My views on the ideals of the sixties have altered dramatically on certain issues; the biggest is drugs. What I observe is that many of the "peace and love, man" brigade, were middle and upper class people, and I wonder what their views are now.
What I do know, is that these kind of people who advocate legalisation of drugs, simply do not want to know the ugly side of the issue. Addiction, crime, disintegration, etc. If it is so wonderful, then they should throw open their doors and take in the addicts. After all, drugs are about rebellion, man. Yes, we can see wankers like Marks & Fielding, taking in working class council estate junkies into THEIR homes, risking them stealing THEIR property and then the prospect of putting THEIR hands into THEIR pockets for money for the pushers. Yeah right. As if that will ever happen. I wonder if these people will ever see pushers for what they really are; the ultimate capitalists. One of the very things they "rebelled" against.
One of the biggest centres we had for drugs, particularly in the sixties and seventies, was Oxford. I have visited a lady friend there from the late 80`s to the early 90`s, and in one pub, they had on the jukebox, "The Pusher" by Steppenwolf. The bar staff always turned it down when somebody put it on, like me, although it was an ANTI-drugs song! Joan just told me not to complain, as Oxford was still trying to live down it`s reputation as a drugs hub. I have not been there since 1992 but I loved it down there, and I think of them as nice episodes in my life.
What I do know, is that these kind of people who advocate legalisation of drugs, simply do not want to know the ugly side of the issue. Addiction, crime, disintegration, etc. If it is so wonderful, then they should throw open their doors and take in the addicts. After all, drugs are about rebellion, man. Yes, we can see wankers like Marks & Fielding, taking in working class council estate junkies into THEIR homes, risking them stealing THEIR property and then the prospect of putting THEIR hands into THEIR pockets for money for the pushers. Yeah right. As if that will ever happen. I wonder if these people will ever see pushers for what they really are; the ultimate capitalists. One of the very things they "rebelled" against.
One of the biggest centres we had for drugs, particularly in the sixties and seventies, was Oxford. I have visited a lady friend there from the late 80`s to the early 90`s, and in one pub, they had on the jukebox, "The Pusher" by Steppenwolf. The bar staff always turned it down when somebody put it on, like me, although it was an ANTI-drugs song! Joan just told me not to complain, as Oxford was still trying to live down it`s reputation as a drugs hub. I have not been there since 1992 but I loved it down there, and I think of them as nice episodes in my life.
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