Ackhurst Hall Murder.

Today marks the 155th anniversary of the Ackhurst hall murder, one of the most horrific crimes to have ever taken place in this district.
The attached news article tells the story of the terrible events which took place on the evening of Tuesday 15th December 1868.
Although two men were arrested at different times on suspicion of being the killer, it was established beyond doubt that they could not have been responsible – the first suspect, who was ‘feeble minded’, was over forty miles away at the time of the crime. The second suspect had been in the company of his employer at the time.
In both cases, Catherine Houghton, sister of the victim, and survivor of the attack, was also able to say they were not the person responsible.
The crime remains undetected to this day, and a mystery.

Liverpool Mercury, Thursday 17th December 1868

I know the hall well as we used to steal pears from the tree at the bottom of the garden, adjacent to Porters Wood.

I've heard of this murder before and someone knows who dun' it and has probably passed away by now. Very interesting, mickrick.