Acrosstheuniverse:
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Regarding the Johnston theory...I've never been convinced it was them. The idea that they could monitor Wallace's movements and do other things are a possibility but I don't think it was them. The arguments Tom Slemen put forward that Julia was asleep in the front room, putting the heater on to keep warm (whilst she had a cold) is, to me anyway, not likely. Surely she would have been better (and warmer?) in the back kitchen/room were the range was? Or possibly even in bed? If I remember correctly, Slemen stated that Johnston killed her not for the money, but for some item that was in the Wallace house. Slemen alluded to it being something that would be detrimental to Johnston and that Johnston was eager to get his hands on it, whatever it was...I think he also stated that the Johnston's were watching the movements of WHW and Julia on the evening of the 20th January, and that Wallace walked up the entry with Julia. The Johnston's believed that Julia had gone out with Wallace on his errand to Menlove Gardens. this is not consistent with the facts. Wallace said that Julia went to the back door and 'closed the door behind me.' On the other hand if Wallace was guilty, then Julia was dead at this time so she couldn't have been in the yard/entry. It makes no sense that Julia walked up the entry with Wallace. I think maybe that idea arose from Fred Williams (the first policeman on the scene) who claimed that Wallace had said to him that Julia walked down the entry with him. I believe PC Williams misheard (or misconstrued) what Wallace said/meant.
I think Slemen also claimed that Johnston was the elusive 'Housebreaker'...
Ged you flatter me!! Murphy claims the police followed up Parry's 'alibis.' I have to say that I never found anything of Parry's statement(s) among the Police Files...The alibi Lily Lloyd gave Parry was for the murder night (20th) Ged. I think she said that he picked her up about 9.00pm at the Clubmoor cinema. You are right of course - he could have been late on the evening before. Lily Lloyd's mother gave Parry an alibi in the fact that he visited her house (7 Missouri Road) at about 7.15 on the 19th. The phone call from Box 1627 was logged at between 7.15-7.24. But Mrs. Lloyd could have been wrong in her testimony. People can get times wrong. Perfect example of this is Sidney Hubert Green's remark that he saw WHW near MG West at about 7.10. This is impossible - Wallace was travelling along Smithdown Road at this time. He alighted on the corner of Menlove Gardens West at 7.20pm...
Yes, you would think the Wallace defence team would have looked for other possibilities. I think though in all their wisdom, the main thing was getting Wallace off with it more than another theory, but then again, Roland Oliver did make the assumption that it could have been somebody else. One thing I have always found intriguing is the fact that Hubert Moore's daughter Imelda was Parry's fathers' secretary...
Yes, Parkes' mention of the iron bar...I wonder if it is (still???) there?!!
Great photos Lindylou. I was in Clubmoor last week. The area still looks very oldie-worldie
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