The murder of Gladys May APPLETON 1944

Evening Express April; 8th 1944

St Helens Murder

Further evidence

Deputy Coroner A., V. CUNLIFFE unexpectedly reopened inquest proceedings at St Helens into the circumstances surrounding the death of Gladys May APPLETON, aged 27, of Bishop Rd, St Helens, who was found strangled in the gardens of The Elms, Cowley Hill Lane on March 20th.

The Coroner said he adjourned originally until May 24th, but in view of the developments concerning John Gordon DAVIDSON, who had been charged with murder, he proposed to take further evidence as to the cause of death, and to adjourn until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against DAVIDSON.

Dr Frederick Battison SMITH, Pathologist Royal Infirmary, Preston, said he made post mortem on Gladys APPLETON on March 21st, external and internal examination led him to the conclusion that death was due to strangulation and shock.

The Coroner, strangulation was effected by the means of a scarf ? .Yes.

The Coroner, a long scarf wound three times around the neck, the end thrust into the mouth ?. Yes

The Coroner, there were other injuries. Can they be ignored from the point of view of the cause of death. Yes.

Inquest adjourned until the conclusion of criminal proceedings

Evening Express April 20th 1944

Footprints on soil clue

St Helens murder Allegation

John Gordon DAVIDSON, 19 ,years old, a soldier of Kerse Rd, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, was at St Helens, today charged with the murder of Miss Gladys May Appleton, aged 27, of Bishop Road St Helens

Mr E. G. ROBEY appearing for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said Gladys May APPLETON had been friendly with Mr BARKER for four years. On March 19th she had been to see BARKER at his home in Knowsley Road and had left to go home about 10…40pm. Her normal way home was along Cowley Hill Lane, past the house called the Elms which was the divisional headquarters of the N . F. S.

Next morning when a postwoman went to the Elms to deliver letters she noticed what at first she thought was a dummy figure lying on the lawn. It was the body of Miss APPLETON. Her clothing had been ripped from her body. There were stains on the body and teeth marks. There was a small split at the back of her skull, which h might have been caused by a fall,

Amazing Sequel

The scarf she was wearing was tightly wound around her neck and the ends were crossed into her mouth. There were 20 inches of scarf thrust into her mouth and there was a red furrow on her neck. It was clear she met her death through strangulation.

When the police were called in there was no clue whatever at the scene of the crime to point to the identity of the assailant, but one line of inquiry which suggested itself was followed up and had an amazing sequel.

At 10.30pm on March 19th a Mrs GALVIN of 10 Gamble Ave near to the home of the dead gorl, was walking home when she was accosted by a soldier at the corner of North Rd and Volunteer St. He attached himself to her and walked with her up the road, talking to her right up to her front gate. When she wanted to get rid of him at the gate he insisted on coming in. He tried to kiss her. She was frightened and ran to the front door, whereupon the soldier attempting to cut her off, ran across the flower beds in the garden. Mrs GALVIN knocked on the front door loudly and the soldier then left her. That was about 10.45pm. At that time Miss APPLETON had been on her way home about 5 minutes. When the soldier ran across the garden of Mrs GALVIN he left very distinct foot prints in the flower-beds. That was the clue that was followed up successfully

The marks were of a square toed boot and showed a circular stud protector on the outside of the heel on each boot. The soldier spoke with a strong Scottish accent. Shortly after he had parted from Mrs GALVIN a Mr and Mrs CORRIGAN were accosted by a soldier with a strong Scottish accent at the junction of Cowley Hill Lane and Bishop Rd and he was directed by them up Cowley Hill Lane in the direction of the Elms. There seemed little doubt that this was the soldier who met Mrs GALVIN shortly before. Mr ROBEY went on to suggest that disastrously for Miss APPLETON she and the soldier came together outside the gateway to the Elms at the same time.

Somewhere in the neighbourhood at 11pm, Miss LEE reached the junction of Oxford St and Windle St and heard a loud scream which ended in moaning then stopped. In the submission of the prosecution this was a scream from Miss APPLETON from the lawn of the Elms, where she had been killed, 70 yards from where Miss LEE was. At 11. 15pm Mr and Mrs JENKINS were at the junction of Wynne Rd and Cowley Hill Lane, when they were spoken to by a serviceman with a strong Scottish accent, he was directed by them to Duke St.

A Mrs LANGLEY and a Mrs BRADLEY were also spoken to by him at Central Station. At 11.30pm a Mr NAYLOR was in Victoria Square, when a soldier spoke to him he accompanied him up to the theatre, where the soldier went in. An extensive search was made and the examination of the kit of hundreds of soldiers. Eventually on March 31st the missing shoes were found in the kit bag of the accused, also his cap.

Alleged Statement

Asked to account for his movements on March 19th, it was alleged he said he was at the bar of the Rifle Corps Hotel until 10pm. He left there with L/ Cpl GREEN and Pte SANDERSON.

DAVIDSON said he wanted SANDERSON to leave the girl he was with to him. The other soldier would not take his arm away. Accused was rather annoyed and said, You can have her and walked away.

They turned left when they came out of the hotel, then accused turned back and walked into the direction of the Rifle Corps Hotel. Then they walked to the Y.M.C.A, corner. Mr ROBEY commented that he was coming to the moment where he was at the same place and same time as Mrs GALVIN. He denied escorting any woman as far as her home, and added he was too late to get the bus, and, therefore slept in the theatre. He then failed to account for an hour of his time it was about 10.30pm when Mrs GALVIN met him and 11.30pm when he went into the theatre.

He was then taken from a detention camp where he had been questioned to St Helens Police Station where he was seen by Superintendent BALL and Chief Inspector PHILPOTT of Scotland Yard. Questioned there about his movements on the night of the 19th, he admitted to raking the lady home and attempted to kiss her and chased her. Asked why he denied this he said he did not want to be mixed up in the murder. He said he did not see any other woman after that. He was then left in charge of Detective Sergeant McGINN OF Scotland Yard and Sergeant SPEEDING of St Helens

He suddenly broke down and started to cry. Sergeant McGINN asked him what was the matter and it was alleged he said, I did it, I did it, the poor girl. My God, what made me do it How shall I die, let me tell you about it.

He then made a statement which he signed. In this it was alleged he said, “I was in St Helens on the 19th of March with L/ Cpl GREEN and Pte SANDERSON, of the Rifle Corps. There were two young girls there and an old woman. I left there and met a woman and took her home. She would not left me kiss her and went into the house I started to walk when I met that girl I asked her to show me the way and took her to the gate and kissed her she did not like it, I choked her with my hands, she struggled. I put her on the ground, on the grass, I killed her there, I just choked her, I tore her clothes.”

After further describing his movements, and what he attempted to do. Accused said he ran away. H then went to the theatre and stopped there until morning. He went back to the camp at 6.30am.

On April 1st he was cautioned and charged with murder he replied, “I did not mean to do it.”

His clothing and the girls were taken possession of Dr FIRTH examined both the girls and that of the mans clothing. O the military greatcoat he found bloodstains and rabbit hairs similar to that on the clothing of the girl. O the back of the trousers were blue fibres identical to blue fibres on the dress of the girl which she wore at the time.

Concluding his statement Mr ROBEY in his submission for the prosecution said there is an abundance of evidence of which you can commit the man for trial. Obviously he wanted the girl, he failed to get her he wanted Mr GALVIN he failed to get her, he met this unfortunate woman and had to kill her to satisfy his passions.

Liverpool Daily Post April 21st 1944

Girl found strangled

A soldier charged with murder

John Gordon DAVIDSON, 19 ,years old, a soldier of Kerse Rd, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, said to be an illegitimate child brought up by a woman now aged 78, was at St Helens yesterday committed for trial at the Manchester Assizes, on a charge of murdering Miss Gladys May Appleton, aged 27, on March 19th. The girls body with torn clothing was found on the lawn of the Elms, Cowley Hill, Lane, St Helens. She had been strangled with her scarf.

Mr E. G. ROBEY prosecuting said a footprint clue in a flower bed was followed up successfully. Hundreds of soldiers kits were examined and the wanted shoe was found in the kit bag of Davidson, together with a bloodstained greatcoat. When DAIVIDSON was asked about his movements on the night eventually began to cry and said he did it.

He made a statement saying he asked the girl to show him the way. He took her in the gate and kissed her, she did not like it, and he choked her with his hands.

He had to kill her to satisfy his passion, declared Mr ROBEY

Liverpool Daily Post May 9th, 1944

Elms Murder

Soldier sentenced to death

John Gordon DAVIDSON, a soldier aged 19, of Kerse Rd, Grangemouth, Scotland, was yesterday at Manchester Assizes found guilty of the murder of Gladys May APPLETON, aged 27, of Bishop Rd, St Helens. The jury who were absent for about 40 minutes added a strong recommendation for mercy on account of his youth.

Mr Justice HILBERY sentenced DAVIDSON to death.

Mr N. J. LASKI, K.C, prosecuting, said the murder took place on the night of March 19th, when Miss APPLETON was on her way home after seeing her fiance. On the following morning Mrs BAINES, a postwoman, delivering mail, found the girl with her clothes ripped off lying on the lawn of the Elms, St Helens, she had been strangled.

In his submission, DAVIDSON, who pleaded not guilty, committed the crime in seeking to gratify his passion.

A MANIAC

Dr F. B. SMITH, pathologist, replying to Mr Kenneth BURKE, defending, agreed that it was possible that the man who committed the offence was a maniac. Mr BURKE --------It is inconceivable that a man of normal mental balance would behave in such a way ? Some people of normal mental balance are temporarily very violent.

Superintendent BALL, said he asked the girl the way to the cinema, then took her in a gate and kissed her, she did not like so he choked her with his bare hands. She struggled he took her over the grass and killed her there, he then ran away.

Dr James MURDOCH medical officer at Liverpool prison, said DAVIDSON showed no evidence of mental disease.

Mr BURKE said the defence was one of insanity, and urged the act was that of a madman.

Evening Express July 12th 1944

Soldier pays death penalty

John Gordon DAVIDSON, 19 ,years old, a soldier of Kerse Rd, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire was executed at Walton Prison today for the murder of Gladys May APPLETON, aged 27, of Bishop Rd, St Helens on March 19th.

DAVIDSON was convicted at Manchester Assizes and his appeal was dismissed.

Miss APPLETON was found dead in the grounds of the N.S.F station known as The Elms set among trees on Cowley Hill Lane. The discovery was made by a postwoman, the girl had been strangled, her clothing torn there were signs of a struggle. The only clue was a footprint found on the lawn of which the police mad a plaster cast. DAVIDSON was found through a kit inspection at his depot, his shoe fitted the footprint

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