In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Jarrow was a thriving
shipbuilding town. People from all walks of life moved to the area in
search of work and a new beginning, bringing their families - and often
their troubles - with them. A local newspaper, The Jarrow Express, was
circulated from 1873 to 1918 and published everyday stories, gossip and
news about the local population, and author Natasha Windham has delved
into the archives and other local records to reveal the dark side of
life of the ordinary people of Jarrow at this time, including tales of
vicious murder, revenge, manslaughter and suicide. The stories include a
one-legged arsonist who later became a well-known comedian and dancer,
an absentee from the army who, in a bid to evade capture, jumped in the
River Tyne and drowned, and a police inspector who was murdered by one
of his former officers who had been suspected of leading a bombing
campaign. 'The Murder of Maggie' is the sad tale of a woman killed by a
single blow to the head in 1886. Another more amusing tale tells of
three women armed with a poker, a frying pan and a children's chair who
in 1881 chased two bailiffs down the street and were subsequently fined
for their actions. This collection of true crime stories gives a vivid
insight into life in Jarrow. This book will fascinate anyone with an
interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more
about the history of Jarrow and the north-east of England.
