Murder At Gorse Hall

[belinda]

What do you think of the Croydon Poisonings episode and his verdict on the Errol murderer?

[sdreid]

I loved the Croydon presentation though I don't think the conclusion is right. He probably got Errol correct. Those are my feelings anyway.

[belinda]

Have you read this book on the Croydon Poisonings?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poisonous-Lies-Croydon-Arsenic-Unsolved/dp/0752453378/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2D96TUKRNR97T&colid=2W2LTGV6013B3

[apricot]

Hi Belinda,

I have read this book, I've been interested in this case ever since I read "The Riddle Of Birdhurst Rise" by Richard Whittington-Egan, in fact that was the first true crime book I read.
I thought "Poisonous Lies" seemed to be very well researched, I am probably an old cynic, but I wasn't convinced by the conclusion Diane Janes came to, must admit to feeling sorry for Sir Bernard Spilsbury, his reputation has come in for a bit of a kicking in a few books just lately, nevertheless, interesting read. What did you think?

KR Angie

[sdreid]

I haven't read any books about the case. All I have are some case study books that have a chapter on the case. If Tom did it with the pre-frame-up murder, he has to be about the most diabolical murderer in history

[belinda]

I haven't read the book but it sounds like it's worth the money.I must try and track down the other one you mentioned.

I think Tom could have done it from what I kinow he had a lot to lose.

Does the book give any information on what happened to him after he went to America?

[apricot]

Hi Belinda,

As you probably know, Tom and family moved to America in 1930 and started an antiques business, he regularly returned to England but never made any contact with Grace, he wrote an autobiography in 1977 called "Echoes of the Past" he also penned an after word in Richard Whittington-Egan's book,where he seems to accept Grace's guilt, I believe he died sometime in the 1980's, Margaret and both his children are also deceased as are all Grace's children, she, herself, died in 1973.

"The Riddle of Birdhurst Rise" was written in 1960 but because of libel laws (RWE says it was Grace) he couldn't publish till 1975.

As I said "Poisonous Lies" is a good read I'm just not convinced by her conclusions.

KR Angie

[belinda]

I don't actually know anything about this I only found out about it watching A Most Mysterious Murder.

I'd never heard of it before.

The only one in the Series I'd heard of was Florence Bravo and a vague bit about Eroll from a film I've never actually seen

Any ideas on Rose Harsnett?

[sdreid]

The film White Mischief is great!

I think Gardiner was most likely guilty for Harsent. That was one of the three verdicts that I didn't go along with in the series.

[apricot]

So sorry, Belinda, blathering on!

I think both books are worth a read to get two different perspectives, also think the inquests reached the right conclusion, murder by person or persons unknown; and, of course we never will know!

If I remember rightly, Julian Fellowes thought that the Church Elders wife murdered Rose, (sorry, can't remember her name) Seems a very bloody and violent murder for a woman to have commited to me. curious case though.

[belinda]

Apricot please blether on I'm learning lots

Stan I'll see if I can find a copy of that film.

The George Harry Storrs one still stands out.

How did the killer get in? Could somebody in the house have let him in?

[apricot]

Evenin' All,

Just thought I'd mention that several episodes of Julian Fellowes Investigates is on You Tube now, including Gorse Hall, Lord Erroll, Rose Harsent, Birdhurst Rise and Charles Bravo, have just spent a happy afternoon off refreshing my memory, shameful really, it's been a glorious day and I should have been doing my garden, heyho!

[sdreid]

I first learned about the Storrs case in 1979 as a part of The Mammoth Book of Murder.

[apricot]

To coin a phrase:- It is a most mysterious murder and JF's theory sounds as good as any to me, I think it rates along side Julia Wallace and Birdhurst Rise as the most baffling of cases, but that's why we are still intrigued by them now, we wouldn't want them solved really!

KR Angie

[sdreid]

I first learned about the Storrs case in 1979 as a part of The Mammoth Book of Murder.

That account was written by Freeman Wills Crofts, whoever he is. It was supposedly from a book called Great Unsolved Crimes.