1881
Historical murder caseEllen Ash
Herbert's Terrace, Wassand Street
A Wassand Street murder case, a death sentence and a reported reprieve, preserved in newspaper and sentencing references.
Read the case : Ellen AshThe historical case files / through 1960
Hessle Road.
Murders &
mysteries.
Eight lives. The streets they knew. The records they left behind.
Explore historical deaths and court cases connected with Hessle Road and its surrounding streets and terraces. Read the accounts, follow the evidence and help us recover more of the people behind the headlines.
1881–1942 in this first collection · No cases after 1960
Explore the eight-case artwork ↗Reading the record carefully
History has details.
And sometimes, gaps.
Different outcomes
This collection includes murder convictions, manslaughter verdicts, an inquest finding and an unresolved death. Each page states its status. A charge or an inquest verdict is distinguished from a criminal conviction.
Places still being traced
Six entries have identified local addresses or street references. Mary Tyler and Emma Brookes remain linked Hull research cases: their precise Hessle Road locations have not been confirmed.
A growing archive
Sources include contemporary newspaper references, archive catalogues and later accounts. Some newspaper links lead to search records or require a subscription. Research gaps are listed on every page.
Open a case file
Eight accounts, in chronological order.
8 cases
1902
Murder convictionJane Elizabeth Allen
10 Andrew Marvel Terrace, Campbell Street
The Campbell Street terrace case that led to William James Bolton being convicted of murder in 1902.
Read the case : Jane Elizabeth Allen1909
Murder convictionFlorence Lily Freeman
4 Kingston Place, Porter Street
A documented Porter Street murder with contemporary newspaper references and a surviving archive trail.
Read the case : Florence Lily Freeman1915
Manslaughter verdictMary 'Polly' Tyler
Hull; exact address under research
The first of the three killings associated with William Burkitt; the final verdict was manslaughter.
Read the case : Mary 'Polly' Tyler1925
Manslaughter verdictEllen Spencer
7 Leslie Avenue, Subway Street
A Subway Street case where the inquest wording and the eventual criminal verdict must be distinguished.
Read the case : Ellen Spencer1939
Manslaughter verdictEmma Brookes
Hull; exact address under research
The third killing linked to Burkitt, followed by a life sentence; the precise local address remains to be verified.
Read the case : Emma Brookes1940
Circumstances under researchMargaret Paterson
170 Hessle Road
A death recorded at a main-road address, retained as a research case rather than presented as a proven murder.
Read the case : Margaret Paterson1942
Inquest murder verdict; criminal outcome unverifiedAlice Ann Widdowson
Disused garage off Boynton Street, near Constable Street and Boulevard
A fourteen-year-old from Constable Street whose death led to a police investigation and a reported inquest murder verdict.
Read the case : Alice Ann WiddowsonNo matching cases. Try a different name, street or year.
Help complete the historical record
A name is only the beginning.
Do you have a reliable newspaper cutting, family document, map or archive reference? Include the case name, source and date so we can check it before adding it. Family information and photographs may help restore a fuller picture of each person’s life.
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