Anybody got any memories of a drama that occurred on Spital Hill, I think in the 1940s, when a woman who had a clothes (second hand?) shop was murdered in the shop by her husband, who then set fire to the premises (they were wooden), and ran across Spital Hill to near the end of Carlisle Street and down into the railway goods yard --where he threw himself under a train. I recall that it was a tremendous sensation at the time, but because it was an open-and-shut case of murder and suicide it has never been featured in any of the books on Sheffield murders. I was a lad at the time, and I am not exactly sure of what year this happened, but I do believe it was in the late 40s. Anybody any memory of this?

Anybody got any memories of a drama that occurred on Spital Hill, I think in the 1940s, when a woman who had a clothes (second hand?) shop was murdered in the shop by her husband, who then set fire to the premises (they were wooden), and ran across Spital Hill to near the end of Carlisle Street and down into the railway goods yard --where he threw himself under a train. I recall that it was a tremendous sensation at the time, but because it was an open-and-shut case of murder and suicide it has never been featured in any of the books on Sheffield murders. I was a lad at the time, and I am not exactly sure of what year this happened, but I do believe it was in the late 40s. Anybody any memory of this?

Blimey, thats a story and a half! Ill ask my dad and uncle, see if they remember anything.

Anybody got any memories of a drama that occurred on Spital Hill, I think in the 1940s, when a woman who had a clothes (second hand?) shop was murdered in the shop by her husband, who then set fire to the premises (they were wooden), and ran across Spital Hill to near the end of Carlisle Street and down into the railway goods yard --where he threw himself under a train. I recall that it was a tremendous sensation at the time, but because it was an open-and-shut case of murder and suicide it has never been featured in any of the books on Sheffield murders. I was a lad at the time, and I am not exactly sure of what year this happened, but I do believe it was in the late 40s. Anybody any memory of this?

Hi,

I think it was in the late 1940's or very early 50's. The shop was a funny wedge-shaped place because there was an alley behind that came out on to Spital hill at an angle. It was right opposite the end of Carlisle Street and some years later -after it had been repaired - it became a DIY shop.

I thought the lady did dressmaking and alterations but she might also have sold second-hand clothes.

As far as I remember, the lady was sitting there, possibly at her sewing machine. The husband rushed in, threw petrol all over her and then set it alight. She had no chance. Then he rushed out for his appointment with the train.

Yes it was a sensation.

You must also remember the other Spital Hill classic a few years later. The fatal shooting at the pub further up "The Hill" - opposite the bottom of Spital Street/Bramber Street. Didn't they call it the East House or something. Never been in the place.

Regards

You must also remember the other Spital Hill classic a few years later. The fatal shooting at the pub further up "The Hill" - opposite the bottom of Spital Street/Bramber Street. Didn't they call it the East House or something. Never been in the place.

Regards

I was friendly with the landlady of The East House about twenty years ago. The stories of what went off there were still a common talking point almost thirty years later.

There's a link here:

http://www.chrishobbs.com/sheffield/easthousemurders1960.htm

Thanks Falls, re the murder/suicide story of the man and his dressmaker wife, I have always felt it was late 1940s or very early 1950s, but have been unable to find it in the old newspapers, mainly because I can't pin it down to an exact month and year. I just remember what a sensational drama it was at the time, but I was a boy then and it would be interesting to know more of the facts now.
PS Being in Canada, did you ever hear of an author called Morley Callaghan --a former pal of Ernest Hemingway?

Redfyre

Did you know that Ernest Hall, Ernest Hemingway's Grandfather was born and bred in Sheffield.

Happy Days! PopT

Yes, he was a member of a well-known Sheffield cutlery family, and originally went to the US to sell the firm's products. I wonder if any members of that family have retained links with anyone in Sheffield?

Redfyre

Did you know that Ernest Hall, Ernest Hemingway's Grandfather was born and bred in Sheffield.

Happy Days! PopT

Terrific piece of info! Do you have any other details.

The Ernest Hall in question was the father of Hemingway's mother, I think, and, as I said before, he went out to the US initially on a sales mission, later setting up a branch over there and settling. One of the biogs of EH mentions the Sheffield link. Off hand, I cannot remember which of the Hall firms in Sheffield it was --there were two or three with Hall in the title. It certainly wasn't Walker and Hall, but it was a very well known cutlery firm of that era. If you are really keen to know more, it might be an idea to start a thread on the topic, on here or on the history site, for it would be good to be able to have the whole story on record.
PS This is a long way from the murder/suicide story on Spital Hill...and I'm still hoping someone will be able to pin down a date.

Still hoping to put a date and names to the murder/suicide sensation on Spital Hill, but so far research has produced...nowt!

Boltons bakery chapeltown. did anyone out there work at the bakery up burncross road in the60s.

What's Bolton's bakery at Chapeltown got to do with a sensational double drama on Spital Hill?

Maybe on his way back to Barnsley the murderer popped in for a loaf?What's Bolton's bakery at Chapeltown got to do with a sensational double drama on Spital Hill?

Well, he certainly never got to Chapeltown. Poor man, he threw hissen under a train passing through the old Wicker Goods station.

Watson, we seem to be getting somewhere, did the deceased, when found under the train that finished his existence have, perhaps under his arm or maybe in a nearby bag, a loaf of bread that was itself indicative of its source e.g the name of the baker?

If so, whilst we have not solved the mystery we are, making progress, I have to go now the Bloodhound needs feeding.

Very elementary my dear xenia!!

My mother who is in her late 80s does have a memory of this incident. She states that the murdered woman was "Russian" That could mean she was from anywhere in eastern europe, that the husband was a good deal younger than her. That he worked at a nearby steelworks whist she ran a shop, (cant remember what type). That he had either been allowed to leave work early or had returned home unexpectedly to find his wife in flagrante with another female.

She has no memory re dates other than she thought it was around Xmas time. Her memory of the incident is quite strong as she states that she was pregnant at the tim and heard the story while travlling on the tram to visit the doctor.

Hope this helps

Anybody got any memories of a drama that occurred on Spital Hill, I think in the 1940s, when a woman who had a clothes (second hand?) shop was murdered in the shop by her husband, who then set fire to the premises (they were wooden), and ran across Spital Hill to near the end of Carlisle Street and down into the railway goods yard --where he threw himself under a train. I recall that it was a tremendous sensation at the time, but because it was an open-and-shut case of murder and suicide it has never been featured in any of the books on Sheffield murders. I was a lad at the time, and I am not exactly sure of what year this happened, but I do believe it was in the late 40s. Anybody any memory of this?

Thanks, Xenia, that is helpful. Seems to ring a bell, though when you mention Russian, I always think of the Russian Edna case which was at around that time (well, at least within a few years). But it is a start. I have done a fair search in the newspaper files, but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack when one doesn't have even a rough date. If I knew a name, of course, I could search for a death under that name. The fact that it was a murder-suicide means there was never a trial, but, at the time, it must have been a front page story. If it hadn't happened when I was a kid, and if I hadn't seen the burnt-out shop the next day, I might not have been interested in finding some info all these years later, but it is intriguing!

Watson, we seem to be getting somewhere, did the deceased, when found under the train that finished his existence have, perhaps under his arm or maybe in a nearby bag, a loaf of bread that was itself indicative of its source e.g the name of the baker?

If so, whilst we have not solved the mystery we are, making progress, I have to go now the Bloodhound needs feeding.

If we can examine the loaf and carbon date it we'll have the date of the murder and suicide.

Its not the Russian Edna case, Edna was murdered some years later, her murderer was released on license and the last time i saw him he was working as a chef at the Fiesta, he used to call for a drink at the Mulberry when i worked there. Thanks, Xenia, that is helpful. Seems to ring a bell, though when you mention Russian, I always think of the Russian Edna case which was at around that time (well, at least within a few years). But it is a start. I have done a fair search in the newspaper files, but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack when one doesn't have even a rough date. If I knew a name, of course, I could search for a death under that name. The fact that it was a murder-suicide means there was never a trial, but, at the time, it must have been a front page story. If it hadn't happened when I was a kid, and if I hadn't seen the burnt-out shop the next day, I might not have been interested in finding some info all these years later, but it is intriguing!

Hi,

I think it was in the late 1940's or very early 50's. The shop was a funny wedge-shaped place because there was an alley behind that came out on to Spital hill at an angle. It was right opposite the end of Carlisle Street and some years later -after it had been repaired - it became a DIY shop.

I thought the lady did dressmaking and alterations but she might also have sold second-hand clothes.

As far as I remember, the lady was sitting there, possibly at her sewing machine. The husband rushed in, threw petrol all over her and then set it alight. She had no chance. Then he rushed out for his appointment with the train.

Yes it was a sensation.

You must also remember the other Spital Hill classic a few years later. The fatal shooting at the pub further up "The Hill" - opposite the bottom of Spital Street/Bramber Street. Didn't they call it the East House or something. Never been in the place.

Regards

I used to work with a bloke who was shot in the East House. He always said that if he had not thrown his hand up the shot would have missed him completely.

The man who carried out the shootings was released years ago, there was a piece in the Star about it, I think he went back to West indies.I used to work with a bloke who was shot in the East House. He always said that if he had not thrown his hand up the shot would have missed him completely.

My mother who is in her late 80s does have a memory of this incident.
She has no memory re dates other than she thought it was around Xmas time. Her memory of the incident is quite strong as she states that she was pregnant at the time
Hope this helps

Erm...butting in here, but seeing that laddo's quest would be a lot easier with a year....if your mum was pregnant at the time, surely that would mean that either you or a brother or sister was on the way?
So unless she had umpteen children, wouldn't it be just a case of scribbling down your ages and working it backwards to arrive at a (selection of, perhaps) year?
Or have I misunderstood?!

Never thought about that, thanks, It would make it 1946.Erm...butting in here, but seeing that laddo's quest would be a lot easier with a year....if your mum was pregnant at the time, surely that would mean that either you or a brother or sister was on the way?
So unless she had umpteen children, wouldn't it be just a case of scribbling down your ages and working it backwards to arrive at a (selection of, perhaps) year?
Or have I misunderstood?!

First chance I get I will check the newspapers for December 1946 and report back.

What's Bolton's bakery at Chapeltown got to do with a sensational double drama on Spital Hill?

Nothing to do with it I suppose, but it might have something to do with the price of bread :hihi:

We have explored that possibility and recruited expert help to no avail.Nothing to do with it I suppose, but it might have something to do with the price of bread :hihi:

I have searched through copies of The Star for Dec 1946 and Jan 1947 with no success.

I will try to contact some of my old friends in Sheffield and try to get some dates of them. It seemed to me that it would have been in the early 50's, definately no later than 59

Anybody got any memories of a drama that occurred on Spital Hill, I think in the 1940s, when a woman who had a clothes (second hand?) shop was murdered in the shop by her husband, who then set fire to the premises (they were wooden), and ran across Spital Hill to near the end of Carlisle Street and down into the railway goods yard --where he threw himself under a train. I recall that it was a tremendous sensation at the time, but because it was an open-and-shut case of murder and suicide it has never been featured in any of the books on Sheffield murders. I was a lad at the time, and I am not exactly sure of what year this happened, but I do believe it was in the late 40s. Anybody any memory of this?

I can now confirm that the tragedy occurred on the last Saturday of August 1947, and the couple involved were Mrs and Mrs Heggie.

I can now confirm that the tragedy occurred on the last Saturday of August 1947, and the couple involved were Mrs and Mrs Heggie.

There are 2 deaths registered in Sheffield in the July/August/September Qtr. 1947:
Ann W. Heggie aged 40
Harold W. Heggie aged 40

A possible marriage:

Marriages Mar 1931
Cook Ann W Heggie Devonport 5b 536
Heggie Harold W Cook Devonport 5b 536

Thanks Duffems. I did get a message that suggested the couple had married in 1931 at Devonport, which suggests that Harold was a navy man at that time.
First chance I get I will try to look up the local coverage of the case.

i remember the east house shootings on spital hill it was around christmas 1959/60. we had a friendly games night about 2 weeks before it happend it was between dog and gun, and east house we were both in the tetley league playing darts,dominoes, and crib. never meeting any of their team before i don't know if any were killed.what a way to remember r.i.p.

i remember the east house shootings on spital hill it was around christmas 1959/60. we had a friendly games night about 2 weeks before it happend it was between dog and gun, and east house we were both in the tetley league playing darts,dominoes, and crib. never meeting any of their team before i don't know if any were killed.what a way to remember r.i.p.

2 of the men Shot where my uncles, Uncle Michael died instantly & Uncle Don lived after a brain operation to save his life, but he had to learn to walk & talk all over again after the shooting, he passed away in his 50's due to a brain hemorage, possibly caused by the shooting all those years earlier.

http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=4630&st=120
You may get some info from here.About half way down.

I have just been talking to my 2 older brothers and they said my sister saw the lady on fire in the street.I will ring her up to see if it is right.