TRUE CRIME IN BERKHAMSTED, HERTFORDSHIRE

As I travel around the country's waterways in my little narrowboat, here's a few true crime cases I stumble across in the villages and towns I visit. Some may be known, but some are unknown.  

CASE ONE: Ezra & Frances Miller, 101 High Street, Berkhamsted

@murdermileuktruecrime #truecrime in #Berkhamsted #Berko #Hertfordshire #Herts ♬ original sound - Murder_Mile_UK_True_Crime

Today, at 101 High Street in Berkhamsted is the Rex Cinema, but back in 1901, this was an ironmongers with buildings similar to these. CORRECTION: the street was renumbered, 101 High Street still exists and is opposite the church. 

On the evening of 20th of June 1901, Ezra Miller shut up his shop for the day. His relationship with his wife (Frances)had been had for years, but that night, their fighting reached a crescendo. Later telling the police, “she was always nagging at me, she gave me no peace”, as they sat at the dinner table, he pulled out a rifle, and intending to kill her, shot her in the left hand side of the head, below her eye.

Hearing the shot, Police arrived at the scene, Ezra was blunt about his guilt, stating “take me, I have done it, she got what he deserved”, and as he was led away, he grinned “I hope she is dead”, and smiled as he was led to the police station, telling everyone “I shot her… I wish the old bitch would just die”.

Only she didn’t. Miraculously, Frances survived, she testified to the police, but when Ezra was tried at St Alban’s court, they could only charge him with unlawful wounding, and he was sentenced to a pitiful nine months in prison.

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CASE TWO: Daniel East, The Crooked Billet pub at Gossoms End, Berkhamsted

@murdermileuktruecrime #tring #northcote #herts #hertfordshire This is the tragic tale of Daniel East, a hardworking father of five, whose love for his children and alcohol was put to its limits. @Majestic Wine @Always True Crime ♬ original sound - Murder_Mile_UK_True_Crime

Today this is Majestic Wines, but back in 1877, this was the Crooked Billet pub.

On Saturday the 10th of March 1877, travelling salesman and father of five children, Daniel East entering the Crooked Billet pub at Gossoms End, Berkhamsted with two of his children, one being aged three and the other eight months. As an alcoholic, he sat alone, weeping and drank, as he had applied to the financial board for assistance, but was rejected. And with no food for his children, he made a deadly decision. To save his three elder children, he decided to murder the youngest two.

The landlord saw him walking away from the pub at closing time, looking dejected. He carried them to Ponds Meadow nearby, and with a draw shave (his woodworking knife), he brutally stabbed both of his children, and almost severed their heads from their necks.

The next day, he gave himself up at Ivinghoe police station, their remains were found, and brought back to the Crooked Billet pub (right here), where the inquest would take place. Daniel East was found guilty of their wilful murder, and although it’s likely he was either committed to an asylum or executed, his outcome remains unknown.

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CASE THREE: John Tawell & Sarah Hart, The Red House, 113 High Street, Berkhamsted

@murdermileuktruecrime #Berkhamsted #Berko #Herts #Hertfordshire #truecrime ♬ original sound - Murder_Mile_UK_True_Crime

This is The Red House, at 113 High Street in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

Back in 1845, this was the home of John Tawell who was a Quaker, a historically Christian group founded in 17th-century England who believe in Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.

To many of the outside, he seemed like a respectable business man, when in truth, he was not. Years earlier, he had been convicted of forgery and transported to Australia, where he prospered as a chemist before returning wealthy to England, alongside his secret mistress who bore him children.

When she asked for financial support, fearing that a court order would expose his adultery and ruin his reputation, on New Year’s Day 1845, he visited her in Slough and poisoned her drink with arsenic.

With a neighbour finding her dying, John Tawell fled by train but with the newly invented telegraph alerting the police ahead of him, he was arrested at Paddington Station before the the train had stopped.

It became the first British case in which the telegraph helped capture a murder suspect. The jury found him guilty, and in March 1845, having confessed, John Tawell was hanged for his crimes.

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As I travel around the country, there will be more cases to come. If you're looking for a podcast to listen to, check out this episode of Murder Mile UK True Crime: