Dougie's asking the questions!
Just down the valley in which I live is a town/village called New Mills; a certain Walter Rowland came from there and by all accounts he was not to be messed with. New Mills was a very tough place when I was young.
A prostitute, Olive Balchin, was murdered in Deansgate Manchester in October 1946. She had had her head smashed in with a hammer that was found close to her body. Walter Rowland came to the police attention and he was charged with her murder. There were three witnesses against Walter Rowland; none at the scene but witnesses to Rowland’s movements etc.
Two officers investigated the crime Stainton and Douglas Nimmo of Manchester police.
Rowland went to court and was found guilty and sentenced to death. Whilst awaiting his appointment with the hangman another man serving a prison sentence in Walton, David Ware made a statement admitting the murder of Olive Balchin. Two days later he made another statement to Stainton and Nimmo. He then made a third statement to Rowland’s lawyers elaborating on the murder.
Barrister JC Jolly was asked to conduct an immediate enquiry and Ware was taken to Strangeways where Rowland’s appointment was fast approaching.
Jolly reassembled the three witnesses, one who had sold the hammer to a man, and put Ware on an ID parade.
The witnesses were given the following instructions:
“Now I want you to walk along the line and tell me whether you see anyone who resembles the man Rowland whom you have already identified. Do you understand?”
Of course Ware was not picked out he did not look like Rowland.
Rowland hanged no doubt to the relief of Nimmo and David Ware later turned himself into the police saying he could not control an urge to hit women on the head. He was found guilty of the attempted murder of Adelaine Fuidge and sentenced to life in prison. He hanged himself inside.
Detective Chief Superintendent Douglas Nimmo went on to conduct investigations into Hanratty’s Rhyl alibi. The witnesses called him “Sir” and he spoke to them using their surnames. From the interviews I have read I would have felt very uncomfortable being interviewed by Mr Nimmo.
Tony.
Just down the valley in which I live is a town/village called New Mills; a certain Walter Rowland came from there and by all accounts he was not to be messed with. New Mills was a very tough place when I was young.
A prostitute, Olive Balchin, was murdered in Deansgate Manchester in October 1946. She had had her head smashed in with a hammer that was found close to her body. Walter Rowland came to the police attention and he was charged with her murder. There were three witnesses against Walter Rowland; none at the scene but witnesses to Rowland’s movements etc.
Two officers investigated the crime Stainton and Douglas Nimmo of Manchester police.
Rowland went to court and was found guilty and sentenced to death. Whilst awaiting his appointment with the hangman another man serving a prison sentence in Walton, David Ware made a statement admitting the murder of Olive Balchin. Two days later he made another statement to Stainton and Nimmo. He then made a third statement to Rowland’s lawyers elaborating on the murder.
Barrister JC Jolly was asked to conduct an immediate enquiry and Ware was taken to Strangeways where Rowland’s appointment was fast approaching.
Jolly reassembled the three witnesses, one who had sold the hammer to a man, and put Ware on an ID parade.
The witnesses were given the following instructions:
“Now I want you to walk along the line and tell me whether you see anyone who resembles the man Rowland whom you have already identified. Do you understand?”
Of course Ware was not picked out he did not look like Rowland.
Rowland hanged no doubt to the relief of Nimmo and David Ware later turned himself into the police saying he could not control an urge to hit women on the head. He was found guilty of the attempted murder of Adelaine Fuidge and sentenced to life in prison. He hanged himself inside.
Detective Chief Superintendent Douglas Nimmo went on to conduct investigations into Hanratty’s Rhyl alibi. The witnesses called him “Sir” and he spoke to them using their surnames. From the interviews I have read I would have felt very uncomfortable being interviewed by Mr Nimmo.
Tony.
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