Sweethearts

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Lady Justice is a true crime podcasttherefore deals with incidence of violence, disturbing
imagery and explicit content. Listener discretionis advised. The Lady Justice Podcast offers
their deepest condolences to victims' families andwish just to offer thanks to those who
work in emergency services. Hello,my love, please, and welcome to

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Lady Justice True Crime and the episodeSweethearts. My name is Chantelle, and
thank you ever so much for joiningme. So without further ado, here's
some background on the location and timeframeof this case. We are taking a
look at a crime from nineteen tenthis week, and it was a year

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of uncertainty and change. Edward theseventh would die on May sixth, leading
to his son George the fifth becomingking, ushering the end of the Edwardian
era. There was not just one, but two general elections this year,
with the Liberal Party under hh askwithkeeping majority power in the Commons. There

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were clashes on the streets in SouthWales when the then Home Secretary Winston Churchill
approved the use of the army againstprotesters during the minor's strike. Doctor Crippen
would be found guilty of murdering hiswife at a trial at the Old Bailey
of The first production of Everyone's favoriteSourccside Postcard started this year too. We

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are visiting Gateshead this week. Locatedopposite Newcastle on the south bank of the
River Time, there has been asettlement there since Roman times and has been
through many redevelopments over the centuries.Today stands as one of the most iconic
spots in England, with the Angelof the North, the Baltic Center for

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Contemporary Art, and the Sage beinglocated in the town. As always,
sources are listed in the show notes. Thomas Craig had eagerly waited five years
and four months to be reunited withhis love, a girl called Annie Finn

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from the northern town of barnard Castle. They had long been separated due to
a situation that he had found himselfin during the later half of nineteen oh
four. He already knew Annie atthis point. In fact, they had
been courting each other for almost twoyears at this point, however, the

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upcoming proposed engagement would have to wait. When he was incarcerated for rape on
October twenty sixth, nineteen o fourin his hometown of Spennymore that then eighteen
year old accompanied fifteen year old HannahGriffiths on her journey from Merrington Lane to
her grandfather's house where she lived inEast how It was eight pm and Thomas

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Craig was walking that way anyway toget to his job down the pits.
It was on this journey he attackedher. At his trial, held on
the twenty first of the following monthat Darhama's Size, Mister Justice Darling was
to sentence him to seven years penalservitude. It was that which had separated

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the now twenty four year old manfrom Annie. She was a year younger
than him, and they had metwhen Thomas would be sent to dear Bolt
Camp located nearby, as part ofhis annual trainee as a private in the
third Darham Light Infantry. Dear Boltinterestingly later became hm P deer Bolt,

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a Young Offender's institute which still standstoday, taking male prisoners to the age
of twenty eight. Annie had alwayslived in Barneard Castle, being born to
Irish Patrick Finn and his wife Catherineon July second, eighteen eighty seven.
She was well loved by her siblingsand the family lived in humble accommodations on

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Bridge Gates. The local flax millemployed many people in the area, including
the women of the Finn family,with Annie's mother and two elder sisters taking
work making sheoth read. Annie hadstarted working there when she was just fourteen
in nineteen oh one, near monthsbefore she met Thomas Craig. She was

(04:50):
well known in the area and describedas having excellent character. Thomas, as
I say, had come to BarnardCastle after he joined the militia, something
that would greatly influence his life,his gate being notably affected by his training.
He was originally bored in another partof County, Durham, thirty one

(05:14):
miles north in Spennymore, to Henryand Mary Anne. Historical records would record
his family name as both Craig andCraig, with Craig being the name used
by Thomas later in his life.He was born on August twelfth, eighteen
eighty six. Though his parents wouldseparate some time after and lived apart,

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it seemed he had a mischievous sideas a child. He originally attended Spennymore
Board School whilst living at one JacksonStreet, but by the age of twelve,
records show that he was living inLeeds at Eastmore Community Homeschool. He'd
been admitted there on October twenty sixth, eighteen ninety seven for stealing, and

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their offense was his third. Hisprevious punishments had been six whips each time.
He would remain at reformatory school untilOctober twenty fourth, nineteen o one,
as was his sentence given down inBishop Auckland's by mister Nelson. Thomas
would leave the reform school and staywith his father, gaining employment down the

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Pits before join the militia, wherehe first came across Annie when he was
just seventeen and her fifteen. Theyquickly grew close, and although in nineteen
o four he stood trial for rape, Annie stood by his side, believing
in his defense that it had beena case of mistaken identity. Whilst on

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bail before the trial, he askedfor her to come to Spendymore, where
they talked about their future, withthe young lovers agreeing that if he was
to be in that she would writeto him in jail, promising to wait
for his return so they could marry. Annie naturally was devastated by the turn

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of events and lent on her closefamily for support. They knew how much
she adored Thomas, and she wasopen about keeping in contact with him.
As he began his sentence, Shewould for a time leave employment of the
mill to take up a domestic jobunder John Raine at the Burn'shead Hotel.

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It was tough as day to daylife passed on, and soon Annie would
find herself back at the mill,working as a swifter, taking enjoyment in
receiving letters from Tom and writing back. They shared much affection for each other,
and soon days turned into weeks,which in turn we gave months and

(07:54):
the years. Thomas also delighted inmessages from his sweet chart telling of Annie
and her life. He had worriedthat she would find somebody else, but
she proved faithful through the years.Offense, such as Annie's mother died in
nineteen oh five, hurt Thomas ashe wished to be there by her side

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to comfort her, but he knewthat if he could just keep his head
down, there may be a possibilityhe could be released early on license.
That time was coming close in Septembernineteen o nine, and Thomas wrote to
Annie of how close there were tobe reunited once again. Although Annie's reply

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never came. He would write again, desperately wondering what he'd done to upset
her, Yet again no reply.It would be a painful two months while
sat at Portland Prison, off thesouth coast of England, until he would
receive another letter from the north,and to his upset, it wasn't from

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his Annie Finn. The letter,addressed a prisoner six h six was from
Annie's elder sister, Winifred, andit contained terrible news. In the handwritten
note, she explained that Annie wasfor her to write and explained that Annie
had met somebody else and that shewas happy and although that once she loved

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him, she was now engaged toa man by the name of Thomas William
Henderson. Annie did not want toengage in any more contact. Desperation,
sadness, anger and confusion engulfed theimprisoned man. He wrote one further letter
to Annie, which he sent withhaste and hoped that she would reconsider.

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In Barnard Castle, Annie was preparingfor her marriage. Thomas Henderson or Tom
had met fire friends. Tom's motherwas born in Barnard Castle and would come
to visit often, and just likethat, the pair had fireworks. Tom
was a few years older than Annie, born on December twenty third, eighteen

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eighty four, in Gateshead, tillWilliam and Mary Anne. He was employed
at Sowerby's Elliston Glassworks and had beenknown to all as a good man.
Annie was still working in the millat the time, though the pair would
make great efforts to see one another, their company being noted by Rennie.

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Soon they became more serious, andAnnie confessed to Tom about Craig and her
when she was just fifteen. Shepromised to wait for him and until they
had met. She had written toCraig. Tom understood and still wanted to
be with the young woman, askedfor her hand in marriage soon after,

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when he described them as a quotehappy and devoted couple, with the commitment
to one another sealed. On Februaryfifth, nineteen ten, Annie left her
job at the mill and moved fromBarnard Castle to the much more urban Gateshead,
thirty eight miles north. Craig,however, did not know this,

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and spent months muling over the lastletter he sent to Annie, hoping that
she had kept true to her promiseand was still his girl. On Thursday
March twenty fourth, he became afree man. The journey from the southern
coast to northeast England was a longone, with his train finally arriving in

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Darlington at three am on Friday morning. Once there he would go to find
the officer stationed at the railway PCWhylan, and once he arrived at the
office he would request that accommodations couldbe sought for him. He was taken
to a calf in the marketplace,where he stopped to eat a nap.

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In the morning, he was tospeak to the owners and stated that he
was going to go to Barnard Castlefor the day. When he arrived,
he went directly to Peel Street,the address of Wilifred Finn. He was
overcome with emotion as he raced upthe streets and knocked on the door,
visibly breaking down in tears. Whenseeing the woman, he asked her,

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where is my Annie, to whichWillifred explained to him that she was not
there and that she had married.The news sunk to the bottom of his
stomach and he became even more emotional. He pleaded with the sister to tell
him where Annie was, for hecould convince her that. Then he switched

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to her anger as he realized herbetrayal, telling Winnie, if I meet
her husband first, she will haveno husband to go home to. He
then flipped back to what upset andsat stunned for a while, as Whennie
tried to calm him, she toldhim, look here, Tom, We've

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had plenty of trouble these last fiveyears. Let's have no more, to
which he replied, I don't thinkI'll do anything Winnie. Before he left,
he shook her hand and once againasked where Annie was, to which
she said that he wouldn't find outfrom her where she was, with him

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letting her know that he was goingto catch the train back to Darlington.
He did do such, arriving backat a cat the next day on Saturday
twenty sixth. The weather was warm, or You told others that his plan
for the day was to take thetrain north to Newcastle in hopes of gaily
employment. He did have some money, good behavior money in fact, to

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the total of around five pound,but he knew he needed to get back
on his feet properly if he wasever going to win back his girl.
Craig did not take a direct routeto Newcastle, however, and stopped at
Krook, where he would look foranother relative of Annie's at Stanley Hill Top

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stood the height of elves In,where carpenter Thomas Prufsman would regularly drink.
He was Annie's brother in law,and Thomas and Craig would speak for some
time before Craig inquired about Annie.Prufsman was actually unaware of the actual address,
but didn't know somebody who might,and accompanied Craig to see young man

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called Harrison. He had the answerthat Craig was so desperately looking for,
and he jotted down the address onthe back of an envelope he had been
carrying. Priestman would tell Craig ofthe train times and asked for him to
write to him when he got home. Craig replied and would never get the

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chance to write, before disappearing justbefore lunch. The train he took would
take him to Newcastle, and hestopped by a shop in the center of
the town before taking a short walkacross the River Tyne to Gateshead. Annie
and Tom Henderson had set up homeat number sixty Oakwell Gate, just behind

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the high Street. A contemporary newspapergave a description of the area at the
time, so for context, I'llread it here. At the southern portion
of Oakwell Gate there stood a buildinga few years ago known as Palace Place,
to which popular tradition fixed as thepalace of King John. The exteriors

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of some of the dwellings still showevidence of their once having been residents of
wealthy families. Their glory, however, is departed, for the whole of
the district now consists of tenements ofone to two rooms in which the poorest
people of Gateshead reside. Craig wasunfamiliar with the maze of titanies and lanes

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they made up. They're built uparea by the river, and he would
stop a youth by the name ofWilliam Tate. It was around three fifty
pm and he approached Tate and askedwhere the Hendersons lived. This question was
rebutted by which Henderson's, with Craigtelling him Tommy Henderson that works at the

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gas office. Tate knew who hehad meant and began to give him verbal
directions, but Craig asked if hecould just walk him there. As they
reached East Street, they spotted apolice officer and Tate saw Craig jump up
and dart into the shadows of breweryyard. Craig said to him in harsh

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tones, standing here, I don'twant that policeman to see me. I
got pinched for gambling this morning.Tate did the same and waited tensely as
the officer moved on by with hispatrol. Just as they came out,
it was mere seconds before they reachedthe door of eleven Oakwell Gate. Craig

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knocked and a woman older than hewas expecting answered. He made inquiries as
to where Annie Henderson was, witha woman asking why. Craig explained to
her that he was her cousin whohad traveled to see her for the afternoon,
and on hearing this, the womanreplied that Annie was her daughter in

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law and she would taken to seeher. He followed the woman out and
passed eight with Craig telling him itwas okay to leave, and they disappeared
down the road. Annie and Tomlived in a two room tenement accessed by
an outside rear stairs from Carter's yard. The woman, Mary Jane Henderson,

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took lead as they walked the mereminute journey and entered the home just as
the couple were tidy their kitchen.Mary Jane crawled out for her daughter in
law, saying that she had someoneto see her, and then the man
enter the room. Annie stood back, a ghost from the past in the

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doorframe. He slowly drifted towards theback of the room, where she stood
frozen. She managed to say quietly, you're Tommy Craig, aren't you.
The man stared back at her,almost forgetting there were other people in the
room, and asked in return,aren't you anything. There was a silence.

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Thomas Henderson and his mother, MaryJane, didn't say a word.
Tom had been removing a clothesline fromthe kitchen wall, but had slowed listening
for the reply. Annie spoke atlast, stating, no, I'm missus
Henderson. Now this is my husbandand this is his mother. Craig stood

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flabbergasted, his voice broke with aneye, and stood watching on as his
former lover reached out her hand tohim. It wasn't in the way that
he wanted, but he touched heronce more. As they shook hands.
Tom, he'd been removing the line, knocked a picture from the wall.

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The frame fell to the floor andthe nail dropping moments later, it was
tense in that small room. Thenoise was deafening. Tom got off the
chair that he'd been balancing on andtook a stride towards Craig, reaching his
hand for a handshake also. Althoughit was a cold response from Craig,

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who refused to acknowledge the action,Tom, being a lighthearted man, took
little notice and went in search forthe nail that had dropped, Whilst the
young newly wed bride addressed her visitorsaying that he quote didn't look too bad
for it, meaning his time inprison. Mary Jane went into the other

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room, leaving the couple in peacewith their visitor. Craig to her seat
on the chair and quietly watched thepair. As Tom asked Annie to bring
a hammer. He interrupted them toask Annie, why did you throw me
so easily? She answered with brutalhonesty, because I loved my husband better

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than you. It was painful forthe man who had envisioned a future with
Annie for so many years. Whilstin prison, he yearned for her touch.
He had pinned so much for her, He had pinned so much hope
on the words that she wrote tohim. She was his only lifeline in

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this world, but she had movedon. He sat and watched in silence,
moving through thoughts and emotions. Tomhad got him back up on the
chair, and Annie had stood upon the arm of the couch to help
hold the picture frame as they werere hanging. All Craig could think of

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was that should have been him.Without mourning, Craig arose from his seat
and raised his right arm. Aflash of light and smoke billowed out into
the small room, and then suddenlya loud bang of a revolver pistol from
the next room. Mary Jane jumpedout of her skin. It sounded so

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close that she ran back into thekitchen. As she entered, her vision
was blocked by the smoke, somewhatonly making out the shapes of three people
in the room. Before she couldreally account for anything, there was another
series of bangs and pops of light. She heard the cries of her child

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and daughter in law call out atDay had been shot. Tom was clean
down off the chair and grabbed outat his right side. Annie had taken
shelter behind the sofa, then hadtried making her way around the kitchen table
towards the door She had just reachedthe open exit when a bullet came past

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her. Mary Jane ran out tothe cries of Annie, asking her for
help, thinking that Craig was goingto make his escape, having seen him
leave through the door. Though asshe made her approach, Craig doubled back
and she was face to face withthe gunman revolver pointed inches away. She

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stopped. Her body went tense,and she pleaded with the young man,
Oh God, spare me. Hepaused and lowered his arm, turning his
back on her. Tom had begunto make chase on Craig, who disappeared
in the smoke out of the door, jumping multiple stairs on his way down.

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Outside. The streets were full.It was a busy working class area
and many were enjoying the bright,sunny afternoon. They had all heard the
distinctive sound of gunshots, and onhearing the cries for help, they came
rushing to give assistance. Tom Hendersonhad made his way from the bottom of

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the stairs and onto Oakwell Gate.He made a turn to the right towards
the direction of the high street,thinking that is where Craig would naturally head
in his escape. His eyesight thoughhad began to blur and his chest felt
heavy, his legs felt tight.He could just make out the tramlines ahead

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of him, two sets of tracksin the center of the tarmac road.
Panic set in and he called outto Margaret McShane, one of the shopkeepers
standing in the doorway, who'd comeout after hearing commotion. He was still
moving a remark to her as hepassed, Oh, missus McShane, he

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has killed me. The woman wasshocked and looked around to see if anybody
was following him, before looking back. Just at the moment that Tom dropped
to his knees on the tramlines.She went to step forward and saw him
struggle to his feet, stumbling backa little, and then forwards closer to

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her shop front. Once again,he called out to her in desperation.
Missus McShane undone at once people onthe street where in action. Water was
fetched and the police were called tothe spot on the High Street offices and
missus McShane tried to make Tom comfortableas a stretcher was collected and a doctor

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called. However, their efforts seemedto be hoped plus soon Tom could not
drink any water as clotted blood beganto fill it in his mouth until he
could not contain it. He splutteredas he tried to speak, telling the
police who had arrived at the scene, that his feet was swelling and that

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he was in great pain. MissusMcShane could see that his back was bleeding
on the right side towards the top, and stayed with him as he began
to drift in and out of consciousness. He was still alive, abit barely
where he was removed to the policestation. He died within half an hour.

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As all of this was happening lessthan a hundred yards away at the
Henderson home. An Mary Jane hadmanaged to collect themselves and just get to
the door. At the moment theCraig made his way out of Caster's yard,
he went left the opposite direction ofTom. They shouted out, and

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residents would begin to give chase inthe direction of the river. They had
ran almost two hundred yards and onegood Samaritan had come within twenty yards of
the villain when near the end ofthe street by the railway arch, Craig
had darted left into an alleyway.That alleyway was one of the many connecting

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lanes and dark turning alleys decorated amaze. He soon vanished from view,
making his way back to Church Walk, where he casually walked across the swing
bridge towards the city of Newcastle.The women were in shock and it took
a few moments for Annie to realizethat she'd been hit by a bullet,

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with blood appearing through her clothes,and Mary Jane, thinking she should join
the hunt for the gunman, wastold instead to send for the police,
so she did as she was told. Annie had been hit an inch below
her left breast, the shot clearlyaimed at her heart. She was quickly

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taken to the Royal Infirmary in Newcastle, where surgery was performed to remove the
bullet. Thankfully, it had notembedded too deep, and she was allowed
to return to stay with her motherin law that evening, having said to
be suffering deeply from shock. Shewas not told of Tom's death until the

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following morning, where she relapsed intohysteria for hours. Tom had been moved
from Gateshead stationed the mortuary on thenight of the murder, where the assistant
police surgeon, doctor West would conductthe post mortem. He would stated that
The course of death was hemorrhage ofthe lung caused by a laceration of a

(29:02):
blood vessel fire a bullet. Theidentification of his body was formerly conducted by
his wife of just seven weeks,Annie, who had with her Tom's mother,
Mary Jane, and an unnamed friend. That friend would speak to the
press and told of the moment Anniesaw Tom once again, saying that she

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broke down and sat weeping beside hisbody until she was told to leave.
She said they were quote so happytogether, they were just like lovers.
Thomas William Henderson was laid to reston Saturday, April second, at a
funeral attended by more than fifty thousandpeople from the surrounding communities. The case

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of the husband killed by the scornedformer sweetheart was one that captured national media's
attention, and in fact, innineteen ten, over six hundred and seventy
articles were written about the Gateshead tragedy, with many sympathizing deeply with Annie and

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Tom. The police investigation had startedmuch easier than for other murders. In
this case, there were eyewitnesses tothe murder. They knew who, they
knew how, they knew where,they even knew why within hours of the
crime being committed. The one thingthey were missing, however, was the

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perpetrator, Thomas Craig, who hadmade his amazing escape across the tyne.
It struck the police extraordinary as astranger to Gateshead had managed to navigate the
labyrinth that made up the back walkwaysthat he escaped through. All through the

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rest of Saturday March twenty six,officers accompanied by worried residents of the area,
searched through the shadowy passages and tightlypacked homes. Craig, as I
said, had escaped over the riverby the swing bridge on foot, and
as newspapers would put it, hewould quote within two minutes have been in

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the lowest slam quarter of the city, where common lodging houses abound and narrow
streets of tenements off are hiding.Gateshead Police notified their piers across the river
and issued a description of the wantedbrand that all surrounding forces and press.

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A recent photograph of the twenty fouryear old was issued that has come from
Portland Prison, which accompanied the following. Thomas Craig, twenty four minor five
ft five and a half fair hairhair busy in the front and coming well
down over forehead, very fresh complexion, stout build wearing a coarse blue suit,

(32:13):
heavy bulcher boots, turned down collarand a wide gravat tie. It
was also stated that he was withouthis cap, having left it behind at
the crime scene, and police wereto have reporters that they believed it was
a possibility that he may have leftthe district via one of the two train

(32:36):
stations that had regular services to bothSouth Shields and Sunderland, leading away from
the region. It was thought thathe may have left before dusk, though
it was only a theory and thepolice advised everyone to be on the lookout.

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Officers from the gateshead Borough Police werejoined by officers borrowed from surrounding areas
as they began to search the quotedubious places that he could have taken shelter
in. Newcastle was a busy cityand it would have been easy for Craig,
even without his cap, to driftaway in with the swell of people.

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For the most part, it seemedthat he had done. Craig had
compelled the best magic act the policehad seen. He had completely disappeared.
The days after the murder. Everystreet, alley and doc had been searched

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for him, yet there was notrace. His effacion of the law became
a sensation and everyone in the regionhad been on alert. Extra descriptions of
Craig had been issued stating that hemay have been going on to the alias
of Creak, also telling of hisappearance as follows, two small scars on

(34:07):
either side of his forehead, twosimilar ones the front of his forehead,
scars to the right hand side ofhis neck, and another on the back.
Left hand side has a blue scaron the front and second finger of
the right hand, a scar onthe front of the left hand, a

(34:27):
scar on the front of the forearm, two scars on the back of the
left hand, as a burnt scaron the front of the thumb of the
left hand. No one had seenhim. Rumors began to become a rife
that perhaps the jilted lover had thrownhimself in the River Tyne, or that
he'd shot himself, Yet police werenot eager to speculate. One detective was

(34:54):
created as saying the disappearance was oneof the most inexpicable I've ever known.
He had not been located even fourdays after the murder, when the inquest
into Tom's death was opened by thecoroner, mister Graham, at ten fifteen
a m. On Wednesday the thirtieth, at the town hall. At the

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hearing, Annie arrived in a weakstate, who was seen to be supported
on the arm of a friend,extremely pale and wearing black in mourning.
She sat patiently as her mother inlaw, Mary Jane Henderson, gave testimony.
I had been in the bedroom afew minutes when I heard a shot

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and I saw Craig pointing at thedeceased's wife, who was on the couch.
I did not see what he hadin his hand, but there was
smoke in the rain. As Ientered the kitchen, my son deceased ran
out into the scullery and I shoutedTom and police. I then heard two
more shots fired. She went onfurther to say she had at least five

(36:07):
shots. This was collaborated by evidenceround at the scene. It was believed
that at least three shots fired wereaimed at Tom, yet only one henry
contact, striking him in the back. One bullet had been recovered from the
wall where the picture was hung.Two other shots fired were aimed at Annie.

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Annie was then to give testimony,and she spoke in a low but
clear voice. Throughout she gave evidenceabout her relationship with her husband, telling
of how they had grown close andhow she had made Tom aware of her
previous relationship with Craig. She deniedthat she and her husband's killer were ever

(36:55):
engaged to be married, but admittedthat they would have been if he had
not been sent to prison. Talkingof their relationship when they had kept company,
she said that Craig was of aquote very jealous disposition, and he
would often threaten her if she wantedto leave him. She said that she

(37:19):
continued to write to Craig in prisonto keep up his spirits, as she
had cared for him, but whenshe met her husband, she knew she
wished to marry Thomas Henderson. Shewould reveal that in early January of that
year, weeks before the wedding,she was called upon by Superintendent Johnson of

(37:40):
Barnard Castle Police. With him wasa letter that had been penned by Craig,
but due to the contents, ithad been forwarded to the police before
she could read it, as itcontained a very distressing message. It had
been the last letter Craig had writtento Annie after finding out from her sister

(38:04):
that she was due to be wed, and it was dated on January fourth.
It would read as follows my own, dear Annie, I received your
sister's lesser very cool, as Iwon't believe. Besides, if you've got
to united, you will still bemy sweetheart, as I will have it

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no other way, and will betrue till death, as you said to
me, not by mouth, butby letter. As I've got a nice
little bundle which will prove my case. I mean it as I will give
a few pounds out of my ownpocket to get to know where you are,
as I will soon find out,be it across the ocean, I

(38:51):
will go, be it in thesunniest place in the world. I will
find out. I will get knowwhen I come out, as I will
be there next month. So yousee, as it has come at last,
has that glorious day when I meetyou face to face to repay you

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once and for all, you willfind out as I am not going to
stand any more of you, Annie, as you know if you are a
true woman, what a promise means. As I do you believe you as
in your promise, as in onlast August, since you said keep your
heart up, Tom till we meet. As it made me glare when I

(39:36):
read about you, I would liketo see you dressed in green as a
new It would attract other fellows.So now you look nice, but no
one will have you. You willsee what sorrow is when I come,
as you will go where your motheris. As you know that Sally Shore,
you'll be like her in a fewweeks next month. As my flesh

(39:59):
and lad cannot stand this. Idid not mind if you had said this
twelve months back, as I shouldhave forgotten you. But it's too late
now. As you said a fewmonths ago you would wait ten years.
What have you got to say aboutthat. I've got all of the letters,

(40:20):
So if anything goes wrong, Ihave the letters because I won't forget.
I shall be hot when I meetyou, so sudden you will find
me sharp. You will think I'vebeen living amongst mustard, pepper and clothes.
As I shall be hot, Iwill spit it all out, and

(40:42):
coming with the letters, I amyour Tom. Still I will come like
death itself, down to the laundry, the bluebell and the mill. As
you know, Annie, there isbut to do and die as you leave,
only to die once. And Iam not afraid to die. As

(41:04):
I told you before, I amnot going to live after I leave,
as I will be sure to meetyou like death that meets us. All
your happiness will be a short one. You will find that I am coming
to pull the castle down. Iwill break up the little parlor for you,
as I will be burning it.I will be clean mad, I'll

(41:29):
go in a frenzy. I willtest my strength against the chap who has
robbed me of my love and happiness. I am not going to stand it,
and my blood boils too hot forit. I never did anything wrong
to you, any that I knowof, as I was afraid to hurt
or insult your little love. Iwill find you out, but I will

(41:52):
forgive you if you are still anythin. If you are not, it
is God will help you straight toyour mother. You will go like a
flash, but you will see youand feel I will marry you straight away
if you give up this nonsense ofyours. I am in earnest, Annie,

(42:13):
and I mean what I say.Annie then stated that although she had
knowledge of the letter before the wedding, she had withheld it from Tom until
after the ceremony. He had toldher not to worry, saying that he
didn't believe Craig would act on thewords he had written out, but asked

(42:34):
her that when he was not athome, to keep the doors locked.
The police at the time, beingaware of this letter, did have some
concern, and Annie was issued apaper to be given to any police officer
if Craig attempted to make contact withher on his release. However, she
said very plainly to the inquest thatit was useless. There was no policeman.

(43:02):
When he came. He hardly saida word. Then he drew a
revolver and fired three shots at myhusband, afterwards firing at me. Tom
wanted to kill us because I toldhim we were happy. She finished her
evidence by stating that when Craig arrivedand she first saw him, she didn't

(43:23):
recognize him, thinking that he wasthe insurance man, that after the shots
were fired, she had no memoryof the offense of until she awake at
her mother in law's home Wheniverred Finnalso gave evidence of writing the letter before
Christmas in nineteen o nine, sendingit because Annie had asked her to and

(43:47):
stating that she was visited by theaccused killer the day before the murder,
in which he had come looking forhis former Threethearts. Police would state that
although they were conducting a quote vigilantsearch for Craig, he had yet to
be apprehended, and say the inquestwas channed until further police investigation could be

(44:12):
conducted. In the days following,many would come to visit the Henderson family
and offer their help in searches ofthe rural landscapes on the outer edges of
the town. Police would release anotherphotograph of Craig, this time showing him
clean shaven, in hopes that someonesomewhere would find him. On Friday,

(44:38):
April eighth, almost two weeks afterthe crime, it seems likely that the
case would end up going cold.Yet that afternoon a tip had been called
in by a farm hand of misterWigham, who had a property nick Gibbside
Wood, close to Newcastle. Hesaid that he came across a piece of

(45:01):
ripped newspaper that depicted an image ofCraig and with it a note. That
afternoon, thirty four officers and agreat number of civilians gathered with sticks to
begin searching the locality as detective toa custody of the note. It said

(45:22):
that by the time the person wasreading it, Craig would be dead in
the woods, it being signed bythe former prisoner. A great effort was
made, with the search going onthrough the night and in the following days.
However, it was thought to bea cruel hoax, finding no further

(45:44):
evidence of anyone being in the woodlands, the town council would announce a fifty
pounds reward for information that led tothe capture of Craig. That's around about
four thousand, one hundred today,But it seemed that Craig really had gone.
A glimmer of hope had been offeredon the evening of April twelve,

(46:07):
when in the village of Tea Bayin Cumbria and arrest was made by PC
Woods. He had taken a maninto custody on suspicion of being Thomas Craig
and sent a telegram at once toGateshead. Superintendent Dickinson of Appleby was sent
to confirmed identity, however, saidthat although the man bore a striking facial

(46:32):
resemblance to the wanted man, itwas not him. The coroner's inquest was
resumed the following day, and withthe agreement of Chief Constable Trosser, found
that there was no further need fora journey as the capture of Craig was
unlikely. The coroner finished the proceedingsby describing the murdered man as a quote

(46:58):
peaceful, perfectly behaved and good livingman, and stated that a more heartless,
cord blooded and cruel murder could hardlyhave been committed. Day twenty one
of the search for the suspected murdererwas one they began with restrained hope for

(47:19):
the police. Chief Constable Trotter hadbeen informed of a number of reports made
approximately twenty one miles east near thesettlements of Corbridge. Dilston House, an
attractive manner home now a luxury holidaylet, had been broken into on the

(47:40):
two previous nights, with the owner, mister Price, stating that only minor
items had been taken, such asfood and drink. Another came from Sefferton
Farm, located nearby, where thefarm laborer and his wife had discovered cigarettes

(48:00):
and some hay. Others in thearea had made reports to the police that's
a suspicious looking tramp had been inthe area over the past few days.
A total of six officers were compiledof Gateshead Borough Police and the County Constabulary
and they were sent across the beginningthe search just as dawn broke on Saturday,

(48:24):
April sixteenth. No success had beenfound in the two farms that they
first searched, but undeterred, theyvisited the farmhouse of mister Gilbertson and his
wife just before nine fifty am.The couple agreed to show officers where they

(48:44):
had discovered the cigarettes in the hay. It had been in a cowshare that
they had been working in on thatmorning, and they escorted the officers to
the small building. On opening it, the officers saw a grew of cows
and their calves and fire access aladder. There was a hayloft sat above.

(49:07):
PC Reid of Gateshead Police was thefirst to climb up, being on
his hands and knees searching through thehay. On pressing into the hay with
his hands, he came across thefirm. He called back to mister Gilbertson,
who stood below, there's a bagup here, to which Gilbertson said

(49:30):
there wasn't. PC Reid responded,well, it must be a man,
and carefully glanced over. At thetop of the hay, almost completely covered,
was a man, thin to thebone, laid face down with his
right hand stuffed snugly in his pocket. He was fast asleep, unaware of

(49:53):
the people nearby. He would awakenwith a start when PEC suddenly grabbed him
from the left, with a DetectiveJohnstone taking the tight hold of his right
arm, to which, when slowlylifted, revealed that the man was armed
with a small five chambered nickel platedrevolver. There was only slight resistance.

(50:22):
The man could clearly having fallen asleepafter the effects of alcohol, being groggy
and confused. PC Reid confirmed hisname and that being of course Thomas Craig.
He was secured and taken to thelower level whilst the scene was searched.

(50:45):
He was dressed in almost the exactsame outfit that he'd been wearing on
when he committed the murder on Marchtwenty sixth, with the same trousers,
shirt and waistcoat, only his jacketbeing a new addition, food items such
as cakes, onion and brett,as well as some drinks including a number

(51:07):
of small beers, a bottle ofwhiskey and some brandy which clearly had been
consumed. Other items found included fiveshillings and threepence in money, some of
letters addressed to him and signed byAnnie Finn too, overcoats, some prison
issued prices, and some small ballcartridges. The much the calibra that being

(51:30):
used in Thomas Henderson's killing. Whilstthere, questions were being asked of Craig,
with the residence of the farm stoodnearby and shocked. Missus Gilbertson explained
to the officers that she'd been workingin that cow shed earlier that morning with
her husband. Craig interrupted and saidthat he'd been above them whilst they were

(51:54):
there, as she had milked thecattle, telling her bluntly that if they
had come across him, he wouldhave shot them too. He also disclosed
to the couple that he had triedto break into their home but found it
too protected, before saying it wasthe brandy that did me. I was

(52:15):
very hungry and the brandy sent meinto a sound sleep. Arrangements were made
to bring him back to Gateshead,where he alighted at Newcastle Central Station around
two thirty that afternoon. On histravels, he would explain that he would

(52:36):
sleep by the day and traveled bynight. News of the arrest had spread
quickly, and before he had evenarrived in the northern city, a large
crowd had amassed by the barriers.They would watch on as the man accused
of murder was twice handcuffed for extraprecaution and secure to Sergeant Hall as he

(53:01):
smiled sarcastically at them. His featureswere raw with the stresses of being on
the run for three weeks, hisbeard grown and his eyes tired. He
would continue to smile as he wastaken past the people waiting and onto the
street, where he was placed ina taxi cab for the last leg of

(53:23):
his journey. Once they had begunto drive, more crowds of people collected,
with some spotting the taxi as itwas approaching the high level bridge.
Pedestrians started a race towards the station, shouting out to the police, good
lads, you've got him now.Craig was quickly taken inside the station and

(53:46):
placed in a single cell. Hewas given time to have a good wash
that was said to be well needed, and a substantial meal which he ate
quote heartedly for. He had ashort talk with officers and retired for a
long sleep. After his arrest,he was first seen at the magistrate's court

(54:08):
on the following Monday, where hewould be remanded into custody. During his
time with detectives, he would remainopen about his crimes and what he'd been
up to. After he'd made hisgreat escape. He repeated that he'd only
wished to cause minimal injury to ThomasHenderson and that he only really wished to

(54:31):
kill Annie. Whilst he was onthe run, he would speak to stopping
in three locations, including Chesterly Street, his descriptions feeling eerie. One of
these descriptions was how he broke intoan occupied farmhouse where the elderly woman who

(54:52):
resided there was asleep in the bedroomupstairs. There was a man of the
house on guard downstairs, but hehad fallen asleep on the city. Thomas
had walked into the property and madehis way into the kitchen, where he
opened the pantry and helped himself toa quote good meal of cold meat and

(55:14):
bread. He'd sat and ate hisdinner at their own kitchen table as strolled
past the man as he left.It was as another prophecy that he'd broken
into that he first learned that hisplan to kill Annie had been unsuccessful.
He had discovered a newspaper which borean article on the crime. He was

(55:37):
stated that he traveled throughout Durham andNorthumberland, but his real destination was Scotland.
He had planned to make his escapeto the northern country by way of
Carlyle to the west. However,he had attempted five times to find his
way, each time failing. Oneof the items that he had taken from

(56:00):
Dulstan House was a bicycle that hehad found he had not used one before,
and took us under the cover ofa night to attempt to ride to
the machine. He felt it wouldhave been a quicker way to travel,
yet after an hour of falling off, he returned it to where he found
it. At the committal hearing heldon Saturday twenty third of April before magistrates,

(56:24):
Craig kept his court and collected demeanor. Though from the outside of the
court there seemed to be little interest, with money not gathered outside. Inside
the court, the public gallery wascompletely filled with curious folk from across the
region. The chair of the bench, Mister Michael Corbett would listen as mister

(56:49):
Pearce for the Prosecution would outline thecase, stating in his opening speech that
it was simple. It was anact or revenge brought on by Thomas Craig's
own jealousy. Many witnesses would becalled that could place Craig throughout his search
for the happy couple across the Northeast, such as Winnifred Finn, Thomas Priestman,

(57:14):
and PC Wheeland. Although it wouldbe a tense moment when Annie Henderson
would come face to face again withher former sweetheart and husband's killer, Craig
was defending himself. Unable to crossexcimon witnesses, he forcefully asked the young

(57:36):
woman he claimed to love, didyou ever say he would be true to
the death to me while I wasin prison? She reluctantly replied yes.
In England and Wales in nineteen ten, there was still the use of grand
juries, which were used to indicta person or persons to trial by the

(57:59):
use of citizens. At Durham's size. On June twenty third, Thomas Craig
would face a grand jury who founda true bill of indictment against him,
sending him to trial just days later. Just two days later in fact,
where he was once again seen inDurham. On Saturday June twenty fifth,

(58:22):
before Mister Justice Grantham, the twentyfour year old Craig walked confidently into the
crowded court, showing no considerable concernfor the events unfolding around him. Before
pleading not guilty. Mister Bruce Williamsonfor the prosecution, would open the crowd's

(58:45):
case, stating the facts and statingthat the evidence proved the case for a
deliberately planned murder. Witnesses would testify, such as Thomas Simpson, the manager
of the shop Misters Papes in Newcastle, in which Craig had bought the revolver

(59:06):
used in the murder. He wouldtell the court that the accused had come
to the premises at two in theafternoon and brought the weapon with a box
of fifty cartridges. Simpson had saidthat Craig had told him his name was
John Wilson and that he owned aproperty at one North Road in Durham and

(59:28):
the gun was the protection of saidproperty. He omitted that Craig showed no
gun license. Evidence was also givenby police such as PC Rubin Reid,
who had arrested him, and SergeantHall, who spoke to him after his
arrest, speaking to why he hadnot completed suicide. It was said that

(59:52):
the defendant had remarked two officers,I did not kill myself because I did
not see Annie drop. For thedefense, which was led by mister Griffith
Jones, Thomas, Craig's father,Henry, was to take the stand.
He would say that he believed hisson must have had a complaint of the

(01:00:15):
mind, as his mother was quotenot right in the head the year of
his birth. It was submitted bythe defense that the jury should consider a
verdict of man's laughter, as clearlythe defendant had been provoked into such a
deed by the woman he loved tothe point where his mind was weak.

(01:00:40):
Letters that Annie had written to Craigwhilst he was incarcerated were read in the
court. An excerpt of such asfollows, when you know you're not forgotten
by the girl, you can't forget. When you find the girl left behind
is thinking of you, yet roundyour heart a feeling khn's stealing to drive

(01:01:04):
away regret. When you know you'renot forgotten by the girl. You can't
forget three weary years and smiles andtears. I'll be constant and true and
you will learn when you return.I'm still waiting for you. The judge,
in summing up, agreed much withthe prosecution's evidence and stated that it

(01:01:27):
would be ridiculous for someone to killsomeone's husband or a judge because they were
annoyed. This was stated because afterhis arrest, Craig had said that he
had originally planned to also kill misterJustice Darling, the judge who was sentenced
him to prison. Originally, however, he could not find mister Justice Darling's

(01:01:51):
address. In this trial, though, the judge stated that he believed that
there was no evidence that pointed toa defense of provocation and that he was
of sound mind when he committed thecrime, stating there could be a no
more determined man in this world thatthe prisoner has shown himself in the commission

(01:02:14):
of this crime. The jury wouldreturn a verdict of guilty, but with
a recommendation of mercy. Thomas Craigrose from his seat where he had sat
surrounded by four warders, and hetold the court, I have nothing to
say, sir, and quite willingto face death Sir Craig, since his

(01:02:37):
child had been of a quiet,reserved disposition in the condemned cell at Durham
Jail. On July twelfth, hewould take firm steps up to the scaffold
where Pierrepoint, acting as executioner,would prepare him for his death. He
was hung that morning without wishing tospeak, dying instantly after the drop.

(01:03:00):
Almost a month after his son's execution, on Friday August fifth, Henry Craig
would make national news after he madean application to the Bench for the revolver
that had been used in the murder. The garnet was still in police custody
and the father claimed that Craig hadleft the item to him in his will.

(01:03:23):
This fact was also reported within thepress, and as his evidence,
Henry produced an article taken from anewspaper. The court, however, advised
him that a newspaper clipping could notbe considered, asking him if he had
possession of Thomas Craig's will. Hehad not. However, he was able

(01:03:46):
to produce to the bench a letterthat had been written by his son which
mentioned the gun and was signed.Yet this evidence was also dismissed. The
Chair told him that the application wasrefused. Henry then made the reply can
I have the revolver? He wastold rather firmly, you will never get

(01:04:12):
it. You will understand what thatmeans. Before he left defeat it that
said a gun would also be subjectto one more day in court. On
August sixteenth, when at Newcastle PoliceCourt before Alderman John Beattie, the shop
manager Thomas Simpson was seen. He'dbeen brought up on charges of selling the

(01:04:36):
gun illegally as Thomas Craig had notproduced a gun license, to which Simpson
gave a guilty plea. The casewas specifically looked into by Chief Constable Wilson
at the request of the Home Secretary, with Simpson being made a show of
he was fined a total of fiveshinnings and costs. So that brings us

(01:05:00):
to the end of the case,and of course we keep Thomas William Henderson
in our thoughts. Eight quick fewannouncements before the act of Kindness. This
week on July twenty second, Caseyfrom the Cult Vault podcast, which if
you haven't listened to, is amazing, is doing a live stream in aid

(01:05:24):
of Sound Choices Coalition. I've prepareda case for the stream too, and
I'll be taking a look at thesex scandal there happened at HMP Down for
Women's Present where Adding Governor Russell Thornewas convicted on charges of misconduct after engaging
in sexual relationships with prisoners. Now, since I have been able to produce

(01:05:46):
a few more episodes Abit, lastweek did have my own little mystery.
I completely lost the cable from amicrophone. But now that things are a
little bit more regular, I thoughtit may be best to try to be
a little bit more social on thatlittle thing we call social media. There
is now actually a discussion group forthe podcast where you can have a chat

(01:06:06):
about episodes or whatever else. Socome join in just search Lady Justice True
Crime Discussion Group and say hi,I do actually love getting to know you
guys. This show is as muchyours as it is mine, so I'd
love to have a space where Ican pick your minds about stuff too.

(01:06:28):
Also, I do quickly want tomention that Crime Crime UK, in partnership
with CBS Reality, your home ofexpert led true crime television, will be
in Glasgow in just a few weekson September tenth, and I want to
see you there. This event isperfect for the biggest true crime crans as

(01:06:49):
it's just one day jam packed withall your favorites. It's going to be
talks, book signings, a podcastrow and a buffer lunch with the community.
The organizers have offered listeners of thisshow and extra ten percent of ticket
prices if you use the code Lady, so buy yourself a little extra when

(01:07:13):
you're at the checkout. That codeLady can also be used for your London
twenty twenty three tickets, which areon sale right now. They are currently
at early bird prices, but theyare limited so if you do want to
get the very best prices with installmentplans available to spread out the cost,
now is the time to be buyingyour tickets for June tenth and eleventh,

(01:07:36):
twenty three. Now there's just enoughtime for us to try and balance out
those scales somewhat with a small actof kindness this week. My suggestion is
one inspired by an answer from thediscussion group where I ask what's your favorite
act of kindness to receive or giveand one of you, Lovely's said,

(01:07:59):
give a hug. So please thisweek give a hug to someone, even
if you think they don't need one, because hugs are human and wonderful and
ever so lovely. And with that, my lovelies, go be good people,
Go be kind, Go be safe, and most importantly, go be happy.

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