David Goodman - Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Leeds

FOUL DEEDS AND SUSPICIOUS DEATHS Series

Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths series explores in detail crimes of passion, brutal murders, grisly deeds and foul misdemeanours. From Victorian street crime, to more modern murder where passion, jealousy, or social depravation brought unexpected violence to those involved. From mysterious death to murder and manslaughter, the books are a fascinating insight into not only those whose lives are forever captured by the suffering they endured, but also into the society that moulded and shaped their lives. Each book takes you on a journey into the darker and unknown side of the area.

Other titles in the series

Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Blackburn & Hyndburn , Stephen Greenhalgh

1 903425 18 2 9.99

Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths In and Around Chesterfield , Geoffrey Sadler

1 903425 30 1 9.99

Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths In and Around Durham, Maureen Anderson

1 903425 46 8, 9.99

Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Nottingham, Kevin Turton

1 903425 35 2 9.99

Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths In and Around Rotherham , Kevin Turton

1 903425 27 1 9.99

Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths In and Around The Tees , Maureen Anderson

1 903425 26 3 9.99

Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths in Wakefield , Kate Taylor

1 903425 07 7 9.99

More Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Wakefield , Kate Taylor

1 903425 48 4 9.99

Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths in York , Keith Henson

1 903425 33 6 9.99

Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths on the Yorkshire Coast , Alan Whitworth

1 903425 01 8 9.99

Other West Yorkshire titles

Aspects of Bradford , Bob Duckett 1 871647 55 X 9.95

Aspects of Bradford 2 , Bob Duckett 1 871647 82 7 9.95

Aspects of Calderdale , John Billingsley 1 903425 20 4 9.99

Aspects of Huddersfield , Isobel Schofield 1 871647 66 5 9.95

Aspects of Huddersfield 2 , Stephen Wade 1 903425 23 9 9.99

Aspects of Leeds 2 , Lynne Stevenson Tate 1 871647 59 2 9.95

Aspects of Leeds 3 , Lynne Stevenson Tate 1 903425 05 0 9.99

Aspects of Wakefield 2 , Kate Taylor 1 871647 68 1 9.95

Aspects of Wakefield 3 , Kate Taylor 1 903425 06 9 9.95

Boxing in Leeds & Bradford , Ronnie Wharton 1 903425 10 7 9.99

Canals & River Section of the Aire & Calder Navigation

Mike Taylor 1 903425 37 9 9.99

From Wakefield to Towton , Philip Haigh 0 85052 825 9 9.95

Leeds Pals , Laurie Milner 0 85052 335 4 17.95

Making of the West Yorkshire Landscape , Anthony Silson 1 903425 31 X 9.99

The Making of Huddersfield , George Redmonds 1 903425 39 5 9.99

Trams Around Dewsbury & Wakefield , Norman Ellis 1 903425 40 9 9.99

Please contact us via any of the methods below for more information or a catalogue.

WHARNCLIFFE BOOKS

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Tel: 01226 734555 734222 Fax: 01226 734438

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First Published in 2003 by

Wharncliffe Books

an imprint of

Pen and Sword Books Limited,

47 Church Street, Barnsley,

South Yorkshire. S70 2AS

Copyright David Goodman 2003

For up-to-date information on other titles produced under the Wharncliffe imprint, please telephone or write to:

Wharncliffe Books

FREEPOST

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South Yorkshire S70 2BR

Telephone (24 hours): 01226 734555

ISBN: 1-903425-08-5
eISBN: 978-1-78303-792-6

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This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Cover illustration: Front Marsh Lane Police Station. Leeds Library and Information Services

Rear The grave of Barbara Waterhouse in Horsforth Cemetery. The author

Printed in the United Kingdom by

CPI UK

Introduction

When first approached by Wharncliffe Books about writing Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Leeds I was somewhat reluctant. It is not the most pleasant topic on which to write, even though there is now considerable distance between the crimes and the present day. However, I need not have worried. It has been a fascinating venture and I only hope I have done justice to it.

The book features many of the murders, which shocked Leeds during Victorian times. Many people with an interest in local history will have heard of Charlie Peace, one of the most notorious murderers of the nineteenth century. Also, Mary Batemans name was known outside of Leeds through the nature of the crime and being known as the Yorkshire Witch. However, there are many other stories in the book, which have been largely forgotten for over one hundred years. Whether it be Louie Calvert, known as the Boot Fetishist, William Dove who slowly poisoned his wife to death or Thomas Mellor who drowned his daughters in the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, they are all interesting stories which deserve re-telling.

Part of my interest in the research for this book was in looking beyond the bare facts of each individual case. William Dove killing his wife is not, in itself, particularly interesting. However, it was the method behind his crime, what drove him to commit such an act and how he was detected that makes this case and others so compelling. I have also tried to convey, in some small way, the conditions in which people lived during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Many of the victims and murderers featured lived in poverty and this makes an interesting backdrop to the stories.

There are many people who have helped me in the researching and writing of this book. Firstly Brian Elliott, Rachael Wilkinson and all at Wharncliffe Books who have always been available and willing to give advice and support when needed. The staff at the local studies libraries in Leeds, Bradford and Batley have also been very helpful during the long hours of research. Apologies to the poor people sat next to me at the microfilm machines who heard me dictate, in a sinister whisper, the most fearsome details. I hope I didnt give you nightmares!

The Horsforth Village Museum Society was extremely helpful with regard to the Barbara Waterhouse case, providing photographs as well as supplementary information and I am very grateful to the staff at the museum.

The majority of the photographs and cartoons of Armley Prison are being held at the West Yorkshire Archive Service in Wakefield. However, permission to use them had to be given by Armley and I have Richard Branch, Human Resources Manager at the prison to thank for the fact that they are featured in the book. Also Ruth Harris at Wakefield Archives deserves my thanks for her help with the matter. Colleagues and other staff at West Yorkshire Archive Service have always been helpful when I have asked for advice and I am very grateful.