'19th Century Barnsley Murders' is a telling account of crimes in the Barnsley area that have remained unpublished for more than a century.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. AUTHOR: Local historian Margaret Drinkall retired in 2009 in order to concentrate on her passion for researching and writing. Background to Margaret's writings and interests can be seen on her website, margaretdrinkall.co.uk, which also offers publication advice to new writers. SELLING POINTS: ? Many of the crimes in this book have never been written about before. ? Includes two separate cases that brought Barnsley to national attention, when the crimes caused questions to be asked about capital punishment and Home Office's power to commute some death sentences and not others. ? Illustrated with an array of archive and modern photographs. ? Drawing on a wide source of newspapers and archive material, these cases will fascinate anyone interested in true crime and Barnsley's history. 50 illustrations
