Julia Wallace Murder Case

[IAN DAVID FRYER]

THANKS Ged..EXCELLENT PIECE! I think MARK, I've been a "Qualtroughite"all my life as WALLACE couldnt possibly have battered JULIA himself! In recent times,I swung to become "Quallaceite" on the basis that obviously somebody badly want JULIA dead & WHW is the obvious(only?)candidate & now a plausible motive has surfaced(her old age & lying about it!). PARRY was surely Qualtrough. I think theft & the Anfield Burglar can both be dismissed..the killer/Wallace tried to point the police towards the theft/breakin theory..but importantly,JULIA KNEW her killer & showed him into the "parlour" & lit the gas for him(strange thing to do for a sneak-thief/House Burglar!!!) Also, if the Anfield Burglar was in the habit of battering his victims why wer'nt his other robberies carried out like this? With John Parkes statements,I initially thought them far fetched...but the Atkinsons clearly believed him & backed him up.I dont think he would have tried to frame PARRY because he had a grudge against him..for 50 years?? Also,he was terrified of Gordon Parry..he was brave to go as far as he did at the time & the police must have convinced everyone at Atkinsons that they had the killer(WHW) & Parry was in the clear!! FJumble(IAN)

[Mark R]

There is still no evidence though to say that Parry WAS Qualtrough Ian! I cannot believe Wallace didn't know Julia's correct age. The photo we all know of Julia was more than likely taken many years before - maybe 30 years before - she certainly doesn't look older than 40 on it (well I don't think so anyway).
On the contrary, I still think one of the Anfield Housebreaker's is still a viable possibility. I have to say, there is no proof that it was one burglar targeting the area. Many people (a lot of them elderly) have and still allow complete strangers into their homes. A stranger could have told Julia that he was Qualtrough and that he has called on Wallace and that he could wait for his return...It is not an impossibility. After bludgeoning her to death he could have been caught in an overwhelming state of panic and fled - the only doubt I have about that is the lack of blood outside the room...Surely a fleeing killer would have left traces...or if he didn't, then Wallace didn't (which drives me around the bend thinking how he managed to avoid spatter, something which I cannot believe!!)
I'm just not convinced that Wallace would devise such a plan with an accomplice when he could have dispatched her in a much easier method - and without anyone else knowing.
With regards to Parkes - he said he was scared of Parry, yet said to his face he didn't trust him. It doesn't sound like he was that scared of him. Yes, it is possible for a deep rooted hatred to fester for 50 years. I'm not saying Parkes was making it up - maybe he wasn't - but I find it ludicrous that a guilty Parry would have disclosed his connection with a murder,
saying to Parkes regarding the glove; 'if they found that it would hang me...' Hey maybe it was Parkes in collusion with Wallace thereby framing Parry. Parkes worked late at night giving him time to execute the phone call and the murder

[Acrosstheuniverse]

But the Anfield Housebreaker committed all sorts of crimes without ever involving an ingenious phone message the day before. I think this was a much more personal plan from the get-go.

[Mark R]

But the Anfield Housebreaker committed all sorts of crimes without ever involving an ingenious phone message the day before. I think this was a much more personal plan from the get-go.

We don't know that exactly though. I think the only way it can be called an 'ingenious' phone call is if Wallace made it (and I wouldn't call it ingenious then either!). If it wasn't Wallace 'Qualtrough' was taking a chance just by hoping that Wallace would carry it through. He was putting all his faith on him falling for it and making the trek. He didn't know for definite that Wallace would make the journey to Menlove Gardens and if he didn't go up to Menlove Gardens 'Q' could hardly try the same trick again without Wallace being suspicious.
If it was Wallace that made the phone call he took one of the biggest risks ever. I'm sure he would never have wanted the call traced but managed to get it traced - I wouldn't call that ingenious!

[Acrosstheuniverse]

We don't know that exactly though. I think the only way it can be called an 'ingenious' phone call is if Wallace made it (and I wouldn't call it ingenious then either!). If it wasn't Wallace 'Qualtrough' was taking a chance just by hoping that Wallace would carry it through. He was putting all his faith on him falling for it and making the trek. He didn't know for definite that Wallace would make the journey to Menlove Gardens and if he didn't go up to Menlove Gardens 'Q' could hardly try the same trick again without Wallace being suspicious.
If it was Wallace that made the phone call he took one of the biggest risks ever. I'm sure he would never have wanted the call traced but managed to get it traced - I wouldn't call that ingenious!

Mark, I completely agree with the difficulties you presented for Wallace not being Qualtrough.....that is why I think he was in effect (I believe he was not the actual caller, but the mastermind.) I think you're splitting hairs...so let's say instead of ingenious perhaps 'elaborate' would be a better adjective.

[Mark R]

Mark, I completely agree with the difficulties you presented for Wallace not being Qualtrough.....that is why I think he was in effect (I believe he was not the actual caller, but the mastermind.) I think you're splitting hairs...so let's say instead of ingenious perhaps 'elaborate' would be a better adjective.

I cannot believe someone as educated as Wallace would even contemplate using a call box so near to his house. If Wallace was the mastermind, wouldn't he have been better planning to have Julia murdered on the Monday instead? He could have spent the whole evening at the chess club. Or was the Tuesday chosen to give a contract killer a better security of mind in that Wallace had less of a 'concrete' alibi? 'Strangers on a Train' film springs to mind...

[Ged]

Whoever sent WHW on that wild goose chase could never have known his pedantic searching and asking would have resulted in such a strong alibi - which in effect it turned out to be.

If Parry sent WHW up to Menlove, he could reasonably assume he'd know the route and not have to ask tram conductors, maybe ask one or two people when he found it difficult to find then come home with maybe any persons he asked would not be found when the police appealed for them?

But then, maybe it could also be assumed he'd consult a street map. I doubt, given the possible commission available he'd pass it over to the local Allerton agent.

I still think WHW had nothing to do with it.

[Mark R]

But then, maybe it could also be assumed he'd consult a street map. I doubt, given the possible commission available he'd pass it over to the local Allerton agent.

I still think WHW had nothing to do with it.

Yes that is a good point re: the commission Ged. I think it is James Murphy (and other Wallaceites) who say he should have passed the business over to another agent, one in the Allerton/Mossley Hill area. Why would anyone do this when the individual stands to gain in commission? Also the idea that instead of the elaborate phone call 'Qualtrough' could have posted a note through 29 WS. This also, doesn't hold any water. It would be a risky venture in case of being seen, or the handwriting being identified.

[Max]

There is still no evidence though to say that Parry WAS Qualtrough Ian! I cannot believe Wallace didn't know Julia's correct age. The photo we all know of Julia was more than likely taken many years before - maybe 30 years before - she certainly doesn't look older than 40 on it (well I don't think so anyway).
On the contrary, I still think one of the Anfield Housebreaker's is still a viable possibility. I have to say, there is no proof that it was one burglar targeting the area. Many people (a lot of them elderly) have and still allow complete strangers into their homes. A stranger could have told Julia that he was Qualtrough and that he has called on Wallace and that he could wait for his return...It is not an impossibility. After bludgeoning her to death he could have been caught in an overwhelming state of panic and fled - the only doubt I have about that is the lack of blood outside the room...Surely a fleeing killer would have left traces...or if he didn't, then Wallace didn't (which drives me around the bend thinking how he managed to avoid spatter, something which I cannot believe!!)
I'm just not convinced that Wallace would devise such a plan with an accomplice when he could have dispatched her in a much easier method - and without anyone else knowing.
With regards to Parkes - he said he was scared of Parry, yet said to his face he didn't trust him. It doesn't sound like he was that scared of him. Yes, it is possible for a deep rooted hatred to fester for 50 years. I'm not saying Parkes was making it up - maybe he wasn't - but I find it ludicrous that a guilty Parry would have disclosed his connection with a murder,
saying to Parkes regarding the glove; 'if they found that it would hang me...' Hey maybe it was Parkes in collusion with Wallace thereby framing Parry. Parkes worked late at night giving him time to execute the phone call and the murder

Having a read through this thread again and the controversy over Julia's age is interesting. None of the articles I've read ever mention it and wouldn't funeral services and such be checking up this info?

[Ged]

Having a read through this thread again and the controversy over Julia's age is interesting. None of the articles I've read ever mention it and wouldn't funeral services and such be checking up this info?

The crux of it is though, whilst she was alive, it is supposed that William knew nothing of this age deception and could his finding out about it have been a cause for murder? I'm not sure even in death whether the funeral directors need to know such things in detail, only what you tell them. However, the registrar making out the death certificate may look up the records. Perhaps someone might know for sure.

[Mark R]

Having a read through this thread again and the controversy over Julia's age is interesting. None of the articles I've read ever mention it and wouldn't funeral services and such be checking up this info?

I'm pretty sure the funeral services did not check up on the information regarding Julia's correct age. The police didn't even do it during their investigations either.
I am sure if Julia's accurate age would have come to light the police would have used it: a) As a possible (but tenuous) motive - difference in age, and b) It could also throw doubts on Wallace's character - being party to lying and of a fraudulent nature (it could be argued that he didn't know Julia's actual age but I think he did)

[Prefrab]

I'm pretty sure the funeral services did not check up on the information regarding Julia's correct age. The police didn't even do it during their investigations either.
I am sure if Julia's accurate age would have come to light the police would have used it: a) As a possible (but tenuous) motive - difference in age, and b) It could also throw doubts on Wallace's character - being party to lying and of a fraudulent nature (it could be argued that he didn't know Julia's actual age but I think he did)

I feel the age discrepancy is not relevant. Even today some men and women keep their true ages from their partners, and in a lot of cases it only comes to light after their death, and as for a motive for murder from all accounts they had a stable amicable marriage, and what gain would Wallace have from her death, particularly as during any investigation her true age would then come to light.The other thing to remember is that as "Victorians" large age difference between married couples was not unusual.

[Mark R]

I feel the age discrepancy is not relevant. Even today some men and women keep their true ages from their partners, and in a lot of cases it only comes to light after their death, and as for a motive for murder from all accounts they had a stable amicable marriage, and what gain would Wallace have from her death, particularly as during any investigation her true age would then come to light.The other thing to remember is that as "Victorians" large age difference between married couples was not unusual.

Note I did say a 'tenuous' motive