off this week's the northerner,
i can't help but think it's the weather oop north that has gotta do with all these grisly crimes.
seriously, i'd like to lay me paws on the book featured. so in the meanwhile, enjoy.
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Moving backwards in time, we bring you some of the Christmas cheer brought to its readers by the Sunderland Echo, which celebrated the joyful season by publishing selections from a new book by Nigel Green called Tough Times and Grisly Crimes, a catalogue of Wearside horrors.
"A cold autumn wind blew through the village of Hetton on October 31, as a middle-aged man sat in the ale house sipping beer by the warm glow of the fire," begins one of the tales. "It was only 11 o'clock in the morning, but Billy Johnson's mind was already blurred with drink as he gripped the pistol concealed under his jacket."
You have to read on.
Mr Johnson, a farm labourer, was in love with Margaret Addison, a widow with whom he had lodged for 17 years. But Mrs Addison had spurned his proposals of marriage, preferring instead to frolic with Andrew Simpson, a miner and frequent visitor to her home. "From his room upstairs, Johnson would listen to the couple laughing together. Then, with his blood boiling, he would watch Mr Simpson kissing Margaret from his window."
Mr Johnson cracked on the day Mr Simpson and Mrs Addison were to marry.
"Dressed in a cream gown and carrying a small bouquet of flowers, she began the walk down Station Road, followed by the bridesmaids and other relations and friends.
"As Margaret passed the pub, Johnson left the building and ran up behind the bride. He pulled out the gun and rapidly fired two shots - straight into her head.
"Johnson then calmly strode to the police station, intending to give himself up, only to find Sergeant Cartwright out of his office and his wife manning the desk. He quietly sat down in the small office while, outside, the wedding party picked up Margaret's body and carried it to her home.
"After returning to his office and listening to Johnson's confession, Sergeant Cartwright handcuffed his prisoner and walked him the two miles to Houghton police station.
"Throughout the journey, the prisoner expressed no regrets, instead saying: 'I am happier now than I would be had she married him'."
There follow other tales of a murdered prostitute, a battered baby and a boy sweep suffocated up a chimney. Not to mention a little grave robbing: "Shortly after midnight one night, [a] man dug up a body and placed it in a sack, tied with a piece of rope, slung around his shoulder.
"As he made his way over the tall graveyard wall, he lost his balance and fell. The rope tightened around his neck and he was left hanging, suspended by the corpse's weight. He remained there for some time until the church watchmen, making their rounds, lanterns in hand, came upon him - still kicking and choking. He died soon after."
A happy new year to all the Echo's readers.
as enscribed by the letter b @ January 6, 2006 02:04 PM | someone's pinged