Case Description
Shortly after dawn on October 12th, 1905, the body of an unidentified woman was discovered beside a dirt track near Prinny Hill Lane.
Initial reports suggested robbery, though investigators quickly noted unusual details at the scene, including a white rose carefully placed near the victim.
Detective Sergeant Edmund Cryer would later describe the scene as “disturbingly deliberate.”
Timeline Of Events
4:03 AM
Local labourer Joseph Shaw discovers the body beside the lane and alerts police.
4:35 AM
Police Constable Walter Hargreaves is sent to fetch Edmund Cryer.
4:55 AM
Edmund Cryer arrives at the scene accompanied by Lancashire Constabulary.
5:47 AM
Body of the victim taken to the local mortuary.
7:40 AM
The first witness statements are collected from nearby residents.
10:07 AM
Parcel containing a white rose and a piece of paper hand delivered to Edmund Cryer.
DAY 8
William Kershaw identified as the boy who hand delivered the parcel to Haslingden Police Station.
DAY 9
William Kershaw interviewed by the police but could not give a positive description of the person who paid him to deliver the parcel.
DAY 15
The body of Mary Ashworth is discovered close to Further Side farm. Inside her mouth is a blue ribbon.
Persons Connected To The Case
Detective Sergeant Edmund Cryer
Lead investigator assigned to the Prinny Hill Lane murder.
Detective Constable Arthur Mallory
Detective Constable working alongside Edmund Cryer.
Doctor Arthur P. Hargreaves
Police Surgeon & Medical Officer Haslingden, Lancashire
Sarah Whittaker
The first victim, discovered laying on Prinny Lane.
Joseph Shaw
The labourer who first discovered the victim.
Police Constable Walter Hargreaves
One of the first police constables at the scene of the crime.
William Kershaw
Paid to pass on the box containing one white rose and a piece of paper.
Mary Ashworth
Second victim. Found close to Further Side farm.
Person of interest.
Police seeking this man.
Location Photographs
Prinny Hill Lane
The isolated dirt path where the body was discovered.
Surrounding Woodland
Dense woodland beside the lane searched during the investigation.
OS Map of Location
Old map showing location of victim.
Evidence & Recovered Materials
White Rose
Found positioned near the body.
Cryer's Notes
Handwritten observations recorded during the first examination.