19th Century Barnsley Murders is a telling account of crimes in the
Barnsley area that have remained unpublished for more than a century.
The book reveals the dark heart of the town and reflects not only the
poverty and squalor in which many people of the time lived, but also the
deep-rooted prejudices and double standards of the period.
Crimes include poaching in the local area, a serious poisoning of bread
and butter pudding at an eating house and the tragic story of a man who
was poisoned for a joke. More sinister happenings include a case of body
snatching, which brought the whole town of Barnsley to a state of
complete panic, the distressing murder of a child, and a woman who was
shot down in the street by her former marine boyfriend.
The book also charts cases of attempted murder, including the story of a
woman who was saved from death by her stays and a brutal attack on an
elderly lady, which might so easily have ended in murder.
These macabre tales reveal a side of Barnsley that is not visible in the
modern town of today. The intriguing narrative and in-depth coverage of
Barnsley's criminal past make this essential reading for both local
historians and those interested in true crime.
