Hope you found this account of Dorothy Mills interestingi. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content. As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
My wife Phil was 18 at the time and she remembers the case well, there were rumours at the time that the murderer was a hairdresser from Smethwick a married man, but as you say never any firm leads, interesting video Phil, my wifes best friend at the time was the cousin of dorothy mills although she never met Dorothy, the way my wife explained it to me many years ago was that the tennis courts were right behind Christ Church but a quick visit revealed that could never have been the case, so you have solved a mystery for me Phil, when you showed the photo of the constables emerging down to the pavement with the gate the corner of the wall to the right the two large corner stones built into the wall are still there so yes Inspector Phil, they needed Dixon of Dock Green on the case, I have a book entitled Tales from Four Towns which details a murder that took place in Dudley St, a man name of Robert Spencer in 1881, there phil thers a project for you, , Good video Phil, even I remember reading about it in my Dads West Bromwich Chronicle I think it was and I was only 8
Many thanks for your comment, much appreciated. There was in fact a tennis court in the grounds of Highfields House next to Christ Church Its amazing that the alleyway is still there but the scene all around it has changed an awful lot as the car park would have had houses and back gardens
Hi Phil the sad demise of Dorothy Mills was very interesting I can see as usual you have done your homework its a shame no one was charged with Dorothy's murder all the best Paul
Dear Phil, This is a really great video. I’m a new subscriber to your channel and I’m loving the content. Have you thought about doing more true crime videos from around the area?
Many thanks for your support. There will be a follow up to this video im just waiting for a FOI request about this case. True crimes in West Brom are very few but I will investigate further to see what I can uncover. Again many thanks, Much appreciated
I'm born and bred and still live In West Brom, I was One year old at the time so It wasn't me lol. But If she was pregnant that shines a whole different light on things and that bloke you mentioned knows more than he's letting on, how strange she's murdered when she's pregnant and then he resigns from being the chairman, somethings tells me, he Is prime suspect
I have today sent in a freedom of information request to archives asking on what basis did the police not arrest Jack Mason and what alibis he had on the night in question. It seems bizarre he was a named suspect but nothing seems to have come of it. Anyway the FOI could take till Sept but when I hear anything further I will make a final follow film relating to this case, Many thanks for your comment
Yes all very suspicious he was definitely involved and 99pct sure he was the father and probably the guilty party. A home office file of the case which cannot be released until 2051 is again extremely suspicious but also very telling J. Mason was the suspect.
Hi Phil We lived in Hardware Street which is off Bratt Street and our Mom used to tell us the story of poor Dorothy Mills. Locally Jack Mason was judged to be the murderer. As you say he was the president of the tennis club, was married and attended Wesley Methodist church. Sadly Dorothy paid the price.
Yes Jack Mason was the only named person by the police and I have submitted an FOI to Kew Archives for what alibi did Jack Mason have in order for him NOT to have been charged. When I get a reply I will make a final follow up film of this case and share the details with you, many thanks for your comment
@@dianabailey5175 me too, i will be visiting archives soon and will see if they have anything - I will be doing a follow up to this video soon with more information- many thanks for your comment
@@awalkwithphil AWESOME!! That would be so amazing. Thank you for your content . I will be looking forward to more . I love history especially family history .
This tragic case touched so many lives. It was huge in West Bromwich at the time with so many being interviewed but only one name stands out. I have put in a freedom of information request regarding a Mr Jack Mason hoping to hear back soon and when I do I will share it on a final follow film regarding this case. I appreciate your comment, many thanks
Interesting video. When it was mentioned that she sometimes used different names for herself, i thought maybe she was " on the game". However all i can say is a former president of a tennis club must have had a very strong alibi for his whereabouts on the night in question...🤔
Many thanks for your comment - Im going to submit a freedom of information request regarding this case and what evidence did the police gather in order not to charge the president, Jack Mason. Doubt I'll get anywhere with it but I will make a follow up video if I get a reply.
@@charlesjames799 Agreed, I have a submitted a freedom of information request for further details regarding the police investigation into this particular angle and also what alibis Jack Mason had for the night in question. I doubt I will get any further but its worth a try. I will undertake a follow up film if I do get any further info. Many thanks for your comment
Very interesting case indeed . Terrible tragedy that Dorothy Mills was brutally murdered and that it still remains unsolved. Unfortunately many decades have past . There is a book on Amazon in paperback about the Murder of Dorothy Mills . Someone mentioned if there was abook about it. I was 5yrs old.at the time.
I have just come across your channel and I will follow it going forward, I enjoyed this video true crime interests me, shame about poor Dorothy though. Considering she was living a double life and pregnant at the time boyfriends would have been prime suspects, getting a girl pregnant especially in those days if you were married would have been a disaster. Why didn’t the police keep back blood samples fingerprints and other forensic evidence.
We lived in Hardware Street I was about 10 at the time of Dorothy Mills murder. The alley where she was found, my recollection was that it was a right of way to the houses in Bratt Street. In fact a friend of ours lived in that end House. The Tennis courts as I remember were on the opposite side of Bratt Street and were next to The Highfields Education dept. Which I think changed many years later to the Registry Office. I think It was The Public works which backed on to the far end of Bratt Street. The Public Works or as we called it the Corporation Yard, it went from Sandwell Road where there was a weighbridge right through to Hardware street. I attended Wesley Chapel where, Jack Mason and Dorothy Mills attended. The rumours were that the weapon used, shovel or something similar was bricked up in a wall somewhere. It Brings back so many memories. I moved away 50 years ago. Thank you.
Many thanks for your comment. Just to add that the tennis courts were at the rear of peoples back gardens and there were 2 courts in Bratt street one of which you can see on the photograph that is shown on the film. There was one tennis court by Highfields House which is now a car park but that one is unrelated to the murder of Dorothy Mills. Thanks for commenting on the rumour regarding a bricked up weapon that is something that i had not heard of. Again many thanks
Amazing wasn't it, When you consider that the spot where she was murdered was surrounded by houses and back gardens. My film shows the car park next to the alleyway but back in 1961 there were plenty of other buildings.
@@Alan-gh8X unsure has to how I misspoke the street name but I have offered a correction in the comments section as well as in the main title as Bernard Street - I will be revisiting the area soon to correct officialy I’ve also made a video of carrolls birthplace check it out if you can many thanks
Doubt we'll ever know - nobody has ever been arrested for this crime. The national archives at Kew has a file on this case, but information is still being suppressed until 2051, with regards to a certain Jack mason a named defendant in this case. The record provides a note saying that the naming of a defendant within this file does not imply their guilt in any way. But I feel most who were close to the case think otherwise
@@awalkwithphilHi phil having spoken to my wife she tells me that her best freind at that time was Dorothy Mills Cousin and wirh a slight correction to my previous comments which I have edited, the rumours at the time was that a hairdresser not a butcher from smethwick and a married man was under the police radar but nothing was ever proven
@@Outandaboutwithpoggy Thanks poggy, I believe the only person of interest was Jack Mason the President of the club who was married. Im not aware of a hairdresser in the frame BUT Jack Masons wife owned a ladies hairdressers shop in Smethwick
@@filevans it most certainly is a possibility at the moment I’m awaiting a freedom of information request regarding the main character j mason hopefully it will conclude as to why wasn’t mason arrested as he was the only named suspect. Will arrange a follow up video once I receive a reply
@@awalkwithphil it's unlikely she would have arranged a rendezvous with someone at the tennis club that is nothing to do with the tennis club though, which points to a tennis club connection, but i suppose maybe she hadn't arranged to meet anyone and they just turned up there knowing she played there
@@awalkwithphil I've got a new theory now, he was in the free masons, that would explain why he wasn't touched by the police. Either that or he paid someone to do it, that would also make him look innocent
The president of the Tennis club Jack Mason was the only named suspect but one needs to see the case files to know why he was never charged, but the files will not be available till 2051
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Hope you found this account of Dorothy Mills interestingi. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content.
As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
My wife Phil was 18 at the time and she remembers the case well, there were rumours at the time that the murderer was a hairdresser from Smethwick a married man, but as you say never any firm leads, interesting video Phil, my wifes best friend at the time was the cousin of dorothy mills although she never met Dorothy, the way my wife explained it to me many years ago was that the tennis courts were right behind Christ Church but a quick visit revealed that could never have been the case, so you have solved a mystery for me Phil, when you showed the photo of the constables emerging down to the pavement with the gate the corner of the wall to the right the two large corner stones built into the wall are still there so yes Inspector Phil, they needed Dixon of Dock Green on the case, I have a book entitled Tales from Four Towns which details a murder that took place in Dudley St, a man name of Robert Spencer in 1881, there phil thers a project for you, , Good video Phil, even I remember reading about it in my Dads West Bromwich Chronicle I think it was and I was only 8
Many thanks for your comment, much appreciated. There was in fact a tennis court in the grounds of Highfields House next to Christ Church Its amazing that the alleyway is still there but the scene all around it has changed an awful lot as the car park would have had houses and back gardens
I would have been 8 as well at the time, things look a bit different in those old photos mind you I was living in London.
Your wife is named Phil?
Hi Phil the sad demise of Dorothy Mills was very interesting I can see as usual you have done your homework its a shame no one was charged with Dorothy's murder all the best Paul
Thanks Paul
Very interesting and informative video. I watch many of your videos and subscribed.
Many thanks for your support
Dear Phil,
This is a really great video. I’m a new subscriber to your channel and I’m loving the content. Have you thought about doing more true crime videos from around the area?
Many thanks for your support. There will be a follow up to this video im just waiting for a FOI request about this case. True crimes in West Brom are very few but I will investigate further to see what I can uncover. Again many thanks, Much appreciated
@@awalkwithphil There are plenty of true crimes happening in West Brom these days...
I am surprised nobody has written a book about her 😮
I'm born and bred and still live In West Brom, I was One year old at the time so It wasn't me lol. But If she was pregnant that shines a whole different light on things and that bloke you mentioned knows more than he's letting on, how strange she's murdered when she's pregnant and then he resigns from being the chairman, somethings tells me, he Is prime suspect
I have today sent in a freedom of information request to archives asking on what basis did the police not arrest Jack Mason and what alibis he had on the night in question. It seems bizarre he was a named suspect but nothing seems to have come of it. Anyway the FOI could take till Sept but when I hear anything further I will make a final follow film relating to this case, Many thanks for your comment
Yes all very suspicious he was definitely involved and 99pct sure he was the father and probably the guilty party.
A home office file of the case which cannot be released until 2051 is again extremely suspicious but also very telling J. Mason was the suspect.
@@awalkwithphil thank you very much
I was only a kid when this happened so I have only just learned of it from your vlog. How tragic. Interesting Phil. Tfs
Hi Phil
We lived in Hardware Street which is off Bratt Street and our Mom used to tell us the story of poor Dorothy Mills. Locally Jack Mason was judged to be the murderer. As you say he was the president of the tennis club, was married and attended Wesley Methodist church. Sadly Dorothy paid the price.
Yes Jack Mason was the only named person by the police and I have submitted an FOI to Kew Archives for what alibi did Jack Mason have in order for him NOT to have been charged. When I get a reply I will make a final follow up film of this case and share the details with you, many thanks for your comment
APOLOGIES - I should have said the name of the street was BERNARD STREET not Herbert Street. Not sure how the 2 streets were mixed up.
I would have loved to have seen pictures and or video of the way the route looked like in ‘61 .
@@dianabailey5175 me too, i will be visiting archives soon and will see if they have anything - I will be doing a follow up to this video soon with more information- many thanks for your comment
@@awalkwithphil AWESOME!! That would be so amazing. Thank you for your content . I will be looking forward to more . I love history especially family history .
@@dianabailey5175 Thank you for your support
Very sad indeed. Thanks for a most interesting video, Phil.
Thanks for your comment
Fascinating vlog here well done Phil for sharing...,
Hopefully will do a final follow up to this tragic case in the near future, hopefully with some new information. Many thanks for your support
I was a pupil at Cronehills school at the time of the murder. I remember it was in the local news a lot.
Murders were big news back then today it just warrants a few small paragraphs in the newspaper. Many thanks
I attend the Lyng regular so I'll find and look at thise streets 😊
Apparently my Grand Dad was interviewed in connection with the murder but denied any involvement but died a month later in February 61
This tragic case touched so many lives. It was huge in West Bromwich at the time with so many being interviewed but only one name stands out. I have put in a freedom of information request regarding a Mr Jack Mason hoping to hear back soon and when I do I will share it on a final follow film regarding this case. I appreciate your comment, many thanks
A very good news article brought up to date detective Phil. Who dun it?
Those who knew of this case back in the day have a strong suspicion of who it might have been
Interesting video. When it was mentioned that she sometimes used different names for herself, i thought maybe she was " on the game". However all i can say is a former president of a tennis club must have had a very strong alibi for his whereabouts on the night in question...🤔
Many thanks for your comment - Im going to submit a freedom of information request regarding this case and what evidence did the police gather in order not to charge the president, Jack Mason. Doubt I'll get anywhere with it but I will make a follow up video if I get a reply.
Exactly what I thought on the game and got knocked up. The old bill should have looked at her associates with a lot more vigour.
@@charlesjames799 Agreed, I have a submitted a freedom of information request for further details regarding the police investigation into this particular angle and also what alibis Jack Mason had for the night in question. I doubt I will get any further but its worth a try. I will undertake a follow up film if I do get any further info. Many thanks for your comment
Very interesting case indeed . Terrible tragedy that Dorothy Mills was brutally murdered and that it still remains unsolved. Unfortunately many decades have past . There is a book on Amazon in paperback about the Murder of Dorothy Mills . Someone mentioned if there was abook about it. I was 5yrs old.at the time.
Thanks for your comment i will upload a follow up video soon relating to this case hopefully with a little more info.
I have just come across your channel and I will follow it going forward, I enjoyed this video true crime interests me, shame about poor Dorothy though.
Considering she was living a double life and pregnant at the time boyfriends would have been prime suspects, getting a girl pregnant especially in those days if you were married would have been a disaster.
Why didn’t the police keep back blood samples fingerprints and other forensic evidence.
Me too, l was hooked with this story about poor Dorothy, things so different back then, look forward to the follow up
We lived in Hardware Street I was about 10 at the time of Dorothy Mills murder. The alley where she was found, my recollection was that it was a right of way to the houses in Bratt Street. In fact a friend of ours lived in that end House. The Tennis courts as I remember were on the opposite side of Bratt Street and were next to The Highfields Education dept. Which I think changed many years later to the Registry Office. I think It was The Public works which backed on to the far end of Bratt Street. The Public Works or as we called it the Corporation Yard, it went from Sandwell Road where there was a weighbridge right through to Hardware street. I attended Wesley Chapel where, Jack Mason and Dorothy Mills attended. The rumours were that the weapon used, shovel or something similar was bricked up in a wall somewhere. It Brings back so many memories. I moved away 50 years ago. Thank you.
Many thanks for your comment. Just to add that the tennis courts were at the rear of peoples back gardens and there were 2 courts in Bratt street one of which you can see on the photograph that is shown on the film.
There was one tennis court by Highfields House which is now a car park but that one is unrelated to the murder of Dorothy Mills. Thanks for commenting on the rumour regarding a bricked up weapon that is something that i had not heard of. Again many thanks
Didn't anyone hear her screaming at sll - very odd 🤔
Amazing wasn't it, When you consider that the spot where she was murdered was surrounded by houses and back gardens. My film shows the car park next to the alleyway but back in 1961 there were plenty of other buildings.
🙏🙏🤲
Phil, Herbert st is the top of bull st by the tiny tots nursery leading up to the park gates in beeches road
Apologies - I have made a pinned comment
@@awalkwithphilHerbert st was where madeleine Carroll was born
@@Alan-gh8X unsure has to how I misspoke the street name but I have offered a correction in the comments section as well as in the main title as Bernard Street - I will be revisiting the area soon to correct officialy I’ve also made a video of carrolls birthplace check it out if you can many thanks
They often say that a murderer will return to the sceneof the crime many many years later, so I just wonder is the answer closer to home ?
Doubt we'll ever know - nobody has ever been arrested for this crime. The national archives at Kew has a file on this case, but information is still being suppressed until 2051, with regards to a certain Jack mason a named defendant in this case. The record provides a note saying that the naming of a defendant within this file does not imply their guilt in any way. But I feel most who were close to the case think otherwise
@@awalkwithphil Very odd 😯
@@awalkwithphilHi phil having spoken to my wife she tells me that her best freind at that time was Dorothy Mills Cousin and wirh a slight correction to my previous comments which I have edited, the rumours at the time was that a hairdresser not a butcher from smethwick and a married man was under the police radar but nothing was ever proven
@@Outandaboutwithpoggy Thanks poggy, I believe the only person of interest was Jack Mason the President of the club who was married. Im not aware of a hairdresser in the frame BUT Jack Masons wife owned a ladies hairdressers shop in Smethwick
@@awalkwithphilwhy would a murder of this type have a file that cannot be released until 2051, I mean it’s not exactly high profile.
That’s Bernard Street not Herbert St.
Apologies - I have made a pinned comment.
Makes me wonder if it could of been the Yorkshire ripper because he used a hammer 🤔
I wonder if we'll ever know.
Good try👍
another possibility is that she was two timing, and one of the people found out, as it said she lived a double life
@@filevans it most certainly is a possibility at the moment I’m awaiting a freedom of information request regarding the main character j mason hopefully it will conclude as to why wasn’t mason arrested as he was the only named suspect. Will arrange a follow up video once I receive a reply
@@awalkwithphil it's unlikely she would have arranged a rendezvous with someone at the tennis club that is nothing to do with the tennis club though, which points to a tennis club connection, but i suppose maybe she hadn't arranged to meet anyone and they just turned up there knowing she played there
@@awalkwithphil was Jack Mason married?
@@filevans yes he was
@@awalkwithphil I've got a new theory now, he was in the free masons, that would explain why he wasn't touched by the police. Either that or he paid someone to do it, that would also make him look innocent
Was she meeting someone do you think? Was she having an affair?
The president of the Tennis club Jack Mason was the only named suspect but one needs to see the case files to know why he was never charged, but the files will not be available till 2051
@@awalkwithphil 👍