Sponsored by
Wearside Echoes: Most killers are “ordinary folk”
MURDER SCENE: Suddick Street at the time of the murder. Suddick Steet ran from Cornhill Terrace (later Southwick Road), down to the railway lines. These tiny cottages were often shared by two or more families. Fifteen people were packed into number 44, the scene of the tragedy.
IT is a question which has long occupied the minds of criminologists – what turns someone into a murderer?
“Not every killer is a Ted Bundy or a Mary Ann Cotton – most are ordinary folk like you or me,” said local historian and retired Northumbria Police inspector Norman Kirtlan.
“If the ingredients are right, we are all capable of murder.”
in the early years of the 20th century, the ingredients for murder had been simmering for some time for Southwick man Alfred Johnson.
“Unemployment, drink and a family of nine people all crammed into two small rooms in Suddick Street were bad enough,” said Norman, who works as a forensic artist for the police.
“But add to that explosive mix a lazy, work-shy criminal son, and it was only a matter of time before matters came to a head. On Tuesday, November 10, 1903, the scene was set for a tragedy.”
Alfred treated himself to a few drinks that night, though he could barely afford it, before leaving the Sun Inn to collect his youngest children from a neighbour’s house.
But, as he ushered them into the terraced cottage he shared with another family, Alf was immediately confronted by his eldest son, Ernest, lounging on the sofa.
“The lad was half dressed and drunk as usual. To make matters worse, Ernest was also in a dark and belligerent mood,” said Norman, who unearthed details of the story in old newspapers.
“The only money coming in at the time was 15-year-old John Johnson’s eight shillings a week pit wages and, with nine mouths to feed, the family was desperate for every penny.
“But, when Alfred enquired if Ernest was going to get himself a job instead of lounging about all day, his son simply answered ‘No!’”
As far as Alfred was concerned, enough was enough – and he ordered Ernest out of the house.
“If he wouldn’t work, then he would certainly not be taking food from the plates of the other bairns,” said Norman, map archivist for Sunderland Antiquarian Society.
Alfred ran into the kitchen and picked up a knife. Not for the first time, Ernest and he squared up – but young John stood between them and pleaded for sanity to prevail.
Eventually Ernest fell back on to the sofa, resuming his idle pose. Alfred, however, stood with his back to the fire, the knife still in his hand, staring at his work-shy boy and seething at his idle ways.
Then, fuelled by anger and drink, 54-year-old Alfred finally snapped.
“Running across the room, he plunged the knife into Ernest’s head, smashing it through his skull and into his brain,” said Norman.
“Without waiting to see the consequences of his actions, he ran from the house and up to Southwick Green, where he saw Police Constable Henderson on his evening patrols.”
Breathlessly, Alfred told the officer what had happened, repeatedly telling him, “He’ll be all right, though. I left the knife sticking in his head.”
But, as the two men made their way to Suddick Street, young John was doing his best to tend to his dying brother – pulling the knife out of his head and throwing it to the floor.
“Upon arrival, PC Henderson called for the assistance of a Dr Carruthers, who offered what little help he could to the dying man,” said Norman.
“Ernest was taken to Monkwearmouth and Southwick Hospital, where, despite the efforts of medical staff, he died the following day.”
Alfred was charged with the murder of his son and, standing in the dock a few weeks later, he had little option but to accept the consequences of his actions.
“He told the court Ernest had hurt his feelings for many years, but that he was sorry for what he had done. His apology was not, however, enough and he was sentenced to hang,” said Norman.
In a strange turn of fate, just before he was due to be executed, the Home Secretary granted Alfred a reprieve. Penal servitude for seven years would be his eventual fate.
“Alfred Johnson was just another ordinary man who could take the drudgery of life no longer,” said Norman. The ingredients for murder were all there, packed into two small rooms in Suddick Street. All it took was a good drink and a sharp knife.
“The Johnson family never stood a chance.”
l Look out for more grisly tales from Norman in Wearside Echoes next week, and on his website at www.sunderland-ancestors.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland won’t prevent Everton move for Richardson
- Lee Cattermole: Martin O’Neill will take chance to shake up squad
- Sunderland look to offload McCartney to promoted West Ham
- Transfer Rumours May 23, 2012: Arsenal, Manchester United, Blackburn, Stoke, Tottenham, Wolves
- Norwich striker Holt tight-lipped on future
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Edna Bunions
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 03:14 PMWell there's no excuse for it. No excuse at all I say. Eeeh I was brought up in a sewerage tunnel that me and my 26 brothers and sisters had to share with 18 other families and an escaped lunatic dwarf called Alan from Gateshead , but eeh we were all taught to have respect for folk and we all went out to work 18 hours a day in the prawn factory. Aye, prawns. No excuse at all. Bring back the birch I say. Eeeh. And ANYONE who thinks they can just go around killing folk and pleadiing all kinds of pitiful mitigations ought to be publicly hanged and gibbeted. And I for one would gladly pull the rope.
Roland Rat
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:17 PMA whole house for only 15 people? They didnt know they were born. There are 79 in our family,and we live in a drainpipe.
haggiemcbiscuit
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 02:06 PM“Alfred Johnson was just another ordinary man who could take the drudgery of life no longer,”..... Indeed.... Makes me wonder why there weren't a whole lot more "ordinary" female killers back then..... or even in more recent times, for that matter.... :)
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.