Genealogy Chat

Does anyone have some pointers as to records on murder victims from 1894-1910?
Cheers

ps
(Why is it that I have to say that in my head as the Scottish policeman McTaggert)

Do you have a murder committed against/by a named person and a rough area and date?

There may be newspaper records about the actual murder if you have an idea or you may be able to contact one of the crime periodicals because they should be able to trace the story.

I subscribe to a couple so if you want to see if they can help then drop me a line and I will forward on contact details.

Charlotte

(yes I used my Taggart accent as well!)

Therrrrre's been a murrrrrder!

Charlotte
I've found a family member Alfred McPherson born 1882 in Plumstead and he lived around the King George V docks. I have him as a 9 year old in the 1891 census and cannot find him in 1901. An elderly relative has a vague memory of a family member being murdered after being felled by a punch and cracking his head. I assume that he was over 15 so for starters I'm looking at 1897+ and I'd suggest Plumstead and Woolwich as the obvious places.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Regards

Jeanette
Yes, muuurrrrrda.

The Greenwich Heritage Centre (closed Mondays) 020 8854 2452 may have some useful info. They cover the Plumstead & Woolwich areas.

My be worth a call

Patricia
Do they have an on-line facility?
Regards

Have you looked for a death on FreeBMD - the cert should give cause of death

No nothing online - but I've always found them very helpful.

They do have the Kentish Independant on microfilm

Are you located in the UK?

Potty (love the handle) - No nothing on FreeBMD but I've found that to be encomplete so no problemt here.

Patricia - I am in the UK and grew up in Plumstead but haven't been back to the area for a few years now.

Roy

You probably did the right thing - I take it you're not in Plumstead now - and got out while you could!?!?! I only go to Plumstead with an escort in the form of two very large men as protection!?!??!?!

In saying that the Greenwich Heritage Centre - in the old Woolwich Arsenal Complex on the waterfront - very very nice and expensive development - well worth a visit (no escorts needed!!)

Have you checked out the British Army WW1 records on Ancestry?

There is one for an Alfred who appears to be 22 in 1903 when he signed up.

Next of kin are given as sister Annie, Mother Ellen some address at Plumstead. Mentions a wife called Ellen Louisa Roberts and married in Sept 1906 in Fulford.

He also could have been missing in 1901 because of the Boer War

My god, Patricia, is Plumstead as bad as that now? I went to school there in the 60s and it was a very nice area.

Nice - no that's not a word that immediately springs to mind when I think of Plumstead. Like with most areas I’m sure it has its better side!??!

Two young men got shot there last night - one dead and the other 'alive' that just this week, last week or was it the week before similar story.

The site you need is Murderfile.net. This site has details of all murders, and executions from1900 to when hanging ceased to be the punishment for this crime. It is a pay site but you can visit, and search for free. Click none members enter here, and then select year 1900. You can read all the details of how the victim was murdered, trial judge, who the hangman was etc. By searching each murderer, their victims are named. So if your Alfred McPherson was a victim in this period you should find him here.
Hope this is of assistance.

OMG I am going there tomorrow to trace my family history and you lot have put the wind right up me. lol
I am from the country.... not used to these kind of towns. lol

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and recommendations.
Potty and Patty
I too went to school in Plumstaed at Timbercroft Primary School. I knew Plumstaed as a place of woods and commons and when I return I have to go with half closed eyes.

Glitter Baby
I think you have my man.
Regards

Historyman, thanks for mentioning that site. I went and had a look and on checking the area where my dads family grew up I found my great great aunt on there who'd been murdered! We probably wouldn't have come across this if you hadn't have mentioned murderfile.net. Thanks again!

Annette,
Sorry you had a relative murdered but pleased you were able to find out about it from my note. From the details given on murder file use google to try and find the trial details. Many were at the Old Bailey in London. There is a good chance you could find out more,