A fearful case of supposed murder has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Bootle, a young woman named Helen MAKIN aged 21, daughter of a master cart owner.
It appears the deceased whose parents live close to Derby Road, Bootle, left her home on the evening of Friday the 24th, ult, telling her brother she would not be absent more than a quarter of an hour. Since that time nothing had been seen or heard of her until Friday morning when the upper part of her body from below the waist, was discovered by some flatmen upon the Leeds Liverpool canal near Millers Bridge Bootle. The other portion of the body was later found in the canal near Bankhall Road, both parts badly decomposed.
There was evidence of foul play when both parts of the body were put together, it was evident the poor girl had been by some means cut in two and thrown into the canal. When the deceased left home she was dressed neatly and respectfully, her underwear being almost new, as were her boots and outside clothes, but when her remains were found there was nothing on her but a light flannel, everything else gone, it being clear she had been deprived of her clothes before being thrown into the canal. The police are making inquires
Later particulars
Further particulars tend to show that the body may in such a decomposed condition have been caused by passing boats. At an Inquest since held it was stated that the deceased after discharge of her situation as a servant was of a desponding mind, it is now believed she committed suicide, verdict accordingly.
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Evening Telegraph Sept 30th 1878
Alleged brutal murder at Bootle
Three persons in custody at Bootle, Liverpool charged with being concerned in the murder of an Irish servant girl named DALEY whose body has been found in the river Mersey and upon medical examination has been found to be brutally outraged before death. Two of the three persons are a married couple named LEES. The other named MAKIN is a married man whose wife and children are in Ireland. He had cohabited with the deceased, who was last seen alive in the company of the three prisoners.
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Liverpool Mercury January 9th 1880
Murder of a grandchild at Bootle
Inquest and Verdict
An inquest was held yesterday at the Crosby Hotel, Crosby by Mr BARKER deputy coroner touching the death of Catherine KIERMAN, the infant child whose body was found in a ditch at Crosby on Tuesday and whose grandfather, Richard MAGUIRE and old man aged 52, is in custody on suspicion of causing her death.
Thomas KIERMAN the father of the child who lives at20 Howe Street, Bootle, said the child was aged 1 year and 10 months and was his only child his wife was the daughter of Richard MAGUIRE the accused. MAGUIRE was formerly a seaman and resided with witness. Since the child was nine months old MAGUIRE had carried it out. He was fond of the child and witness thought he could take care of it. Witness last saw the child alive at the house on Saturday That morning MAGUIRE said they had better take care of the child because he had dreamt that he had been burying her with his wife who had been dead many years. They took no notice of this. MAGUIRE took the child out during the absence of the mother on Saturday. MAGUIRE had sustained an injury and had been an inmate of Haydock Lodge Lunatic Asylum for three months. He did many strange things and witness considered him weak-minded. Witness did not see MAGUIRE again until Sunday morning when he came home wet, dirty and wild-looking. They had in the meantime been seeking everywhere for the child. When he came in the wife of the witness asked where was her child, he replied, In heaven I hope. Witness asked him to tell her where the child was and he said he was in Bankhall sitting on a step and her grandmother came and took her from him and said that after a while she would return and tell him how the little angel was. Nest morning after MAGUIRE had slept witness asked again where the child was. He said a woman with fair hair had taken her from him and had said she would bring her back again He said he was like a father to the child and she was his only comfort.
Joseph WHARTON who resides at Gorsey Lane, Sefton said he saw MAGUIRE on Saturday in Edge Lane walking towards Crosby He had a child with him who he had by the hand and it seemed tired. Witness asked was the child tired and he said she was not. The child was crying for the mother and MAGUIRE said the mothers head was burnt and said there was a man in the ditch they then walked on.
William LUPTON, Moor Lane Great Crosby said about 6pm on Saturday he saw MAGUIRE and the child going towards Crosby Village. The child seemed tired and he asked the old man to carry it, but he said he was too wet to do so. Witness then carried the child, he asked why the child was so wet and MAGUIRE said it had been in the canal. He had tried to save it and got wet. Witness left him at the village and showed him the way to Bootle.
Sarah FRANCIS a cook in the service of Dr MAY, Crosby, said she saw the accused at 10 minutes to eight on Saturday night, he was in the orchard belonging to Dr MAY she asked what had brought him there and he said he had been in the canal looking for his granddaughter, he seemed very distressed.
Joseph SIMPSON, coachman, Great Crosby Road said he had seen MAGUIRE on Saturday night alone, walking up the village street at Crosby, towards Bootle. Witness asked what he was doing there he said such a thing has happened that has never happened before in this world. Witness asked what happened the accused said he had been christening the child that morning and he was sitting with it in his lap and someone took it from him. Witness asked who took it and he said how should he know. I suppose it was the good people, if I had been drinking I would have thought nothing of it, but I have not tasted. The old man left on the way to Bootle.
Police sergeant SHEPARD of the Bootle Police spoke to finding the body of the deceased on Tuesday in a ditch at the end of York Road, Crosby. It was lying on its face covered in water.
Sergeant HAYDEN of the Bootle Police, spoke to taking the accused into custody. When he charged him with murdering the little girl, he replied you will never find her, you will never find where she is, just as I missed her it said ta gran as to say goodbye. The prisoner was taken to the cells and was caught later attempting to put his head in the water closet.
Dr HAY made a post mortem and found suffocation from immersion in water was the cause of death.
The jury found MAGUIRE guilty of the wilful murder of Catherine KIERMAN. The accused will be brought before the magistrates at Basnett Street police court tomorrow.
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Liverpool Mercury January 9th 1880
The charge of murdering a grandchild at Great Crosby
Richard MAGUIRES aged 64 a seaman was indicted for the murder of Catherine KIERMAN his grandchild at Great Crosby on the 3rd of January Mr McCONNELL prosecuted and Mr SHEE defended.
It was stated that the question the jury would have to consider, was not the facts as that of the state of mind in which the prisoner was at the time the act was committed. The prisoner lived with his son in law Thomas KIERMAN, Howe Street, Bootle. KIERMAN was the father of a little girl 18 months old and the prisoner had always shown great affection for her. Previous to the time in question the prisoner had been confined in a lunatic asylum from which he was released last year. On the morning of January 3rd he told the parents of the child they would better be careful of her as he had been dreaming he was burying the child along with his wife, the same forenoon he took the child for a walk and remained away for the whole day. That night he was seen some distance from Howe Street, afterwards he was seen in Moor Lane, Great Crosby with the child v y the hand. The last time the child was seen alive.
The same night the prisoner was seen at the back of a house in Moor Lane the child was not with him. He seemed to have lost his way a woman spoke to him and said he had been to the canal looking for the child of his daughter, which was lost. Next morning he returned to the house of his son in law without the child. He was asked where the child was and replied in heaven I hope.
A search was made and on the morning of the 6th of January the body of the child was found in a ditch at Great Crosby.
Dr BARR surgeon of Kirkdale gaol was called after the case had been opened and said he believed the prisoner to be a man of unsound mind. After hearing further evidence on this point his Lordship stopped the case and the jury by his direction found the prisoner was of unsound mind.
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Liverpool Mercury, July 23rd 1896
Supposed suicide at Bootle
Last night about 7pm some boys playing on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, near Coffee House Bridge, Bootle found an old man unconscious with a half pint whiskey bottle by his feet, containing a teaspoonful of pure carbolic acid. The police were called and he man was taken to the Borough Hospital on the horse ambulance in charge of Firemen JONES and ROGERS, Dr MAUDE House Surgeon received the case and declared that on arrival the man had died from carbolic acid poisoning. Nothing was known of the identity of the man, he was 50 to 60 years and had the general appearance of a painter. He was medium height with prominent eyes thick grey moustache, grey hair and bald spot on the crown of his head. He was wearing a white painters jacket, brown vest and dark brown trousers, white stockings and low shoes. The body lies at the Bootle mortuary waiting identification.