The Violent Death of Ann Heggie Spital Hill Sheffield 1947
When evidence is not to be had, theories abound. Even the most plausible of them do not carry conviction- London Times Nov. 10.1888
From The Manchester Guardian dated 1st September 1947
From The Sheffield Daily Telegraph
Report from the Evening Post dated 3rd September 1947
Elevated view of Torbay Road with Ellesmere Road in the background - circa 1970
Both Harold and Anne are buried in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery
HEGGIE, Harold W (~, age 40).
Died at 5 Torbay Rd; Buried on September 5, 1947 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 5276, Section HH of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, R D Hughes:
Removed from Sheffield
HEGGIE, Ann W (Wife of ~, age 40).
Died at 11 Torbay Rd; Buried on September 4, 1947 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 115, Section J6 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, R D Hughes:
Removed from Sheffield Parish.
The Burial Register states that they both died in "Torbay Road" which is not correct. And not surprisingly, they were not buried together but in different sections of the Cemetery.
Footnote
I found these two reports in the British Newspaper Library. The first is from the Western Gazette dated 18th January 1929
The second is from the Evening News dated 19th January 1929
Given the evidence that was presented to the Court and the nature of the injuries that were inflicted on Ernest Bliss, the verdict must have been one of the greatest miscarriages of justice ever seen in an Assize Court - it was touch and go that he was not killed but the jury saw fit to acquit Heggie on the charge of malicious wounding. I wonder if they were influenced by the applause of the public gallery when the defence counsel for Heggie suggested that the defendant was within his rights to repulse Bliss in the way he had done. Yes Heggie was within his rights to repulse Bliss but nearly kill him, no!
Notes
Births Jun 1906 HEGGIE Harold Fylde Volume 8e Page 675
1911 Census - Name Harold Walter Heggie Relationship to Head of Household Son Condition Single Gender M Age 4 Estimated Year of Birth 1907 Occupation School Employed N Working at Home N Place of Birth Gloster City Enumerator Information Address 30 Herbert Street Gloucester Parish Gloucester Town Gloucester Type of Building Private House Number of Rooms 6 Inhabited Y Reference RG14PN15309 RG78PN926 RD325 SD3 ED15 SN81 Administrative County Gloucestershire Registration District Gloucester Registration Sub District Gloucester Southern Enumeration District 15
Surname First Name(s) Spouse District Volume Page
Marriages March 1931 Cook Ann W Heggie Harold W Devonport 5b 536
Probable given the location of the marriage that Harold was in the navy.
A contributor to the Sheffield Forum in October 2008 added the following information on the tragedy
"The shop was a funny wedge-shaped place
because there was an alley behind that came out on to Spital hill at an angle.
It was right opposite the end of Carlisle Street and some years later -after it
had been repaired - it became a DIY shop.
I thought the lady did dressmaking and alterations but she might also have sold
second-hand clothes.
As far as I remember, the lady was sitting there, possibly at her sewing
machine. The husband rushed in, threw petrol all over her and then set it
alight. She had no chance. Then he rushed out for his appointment with the
train. Yes it was a sensation"
Sources
The Sheffield Daily Telegraph
The Sheffield Star dated 3rd September 1947
The Manchester Guardian dated 1st September 1947
Evening Post dated 3rd September 1947
Western Gazette dated 18th January 1929
Evening News dated 19th January 1929
This page was last updated on 28/01/17 15:12