Bashall Eaves UNSOLVED murder of JAMES DAWSON (1934) // True Crime
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- On the fateful night of March 18th, 1934, 46-year-old James Dawson, having spent a few hours at his familiar haunt, the Edisford Bridge Inn, began his journey home.
As he trudged down the shadowy Back Lane, a sharp, eerie 'clicking' sound pierced the stillness of the night. A sudden, searing pain shot through his shoulder, but he brushed it off, unaware of the danger that had struck.
Four days later, Dawson tragically succumbed to his mysterious injury, sparking a colossal manhunt for his elusive killer.
To this very day, the enigma of his death remains shrouded in mystery, unsolved and haunting.
Join us as we visit each location in this disturbing and asking the many questions that have been asked before.
Documentary footage courtesy of Barry Shaw & The Village That Would Not Talk (1979)
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Music in this video :
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The Six Realms - I Think I Can Help You
Dark undertones Haunting Atmospheric Soundscape - บันเทิง
Loved the story. All i can add, is that i live in Lancashire and had an old uncle back then who was always at war with his neighbouring farmers - they all battled over land, money and property and in the main, hated each other - it was the norm back then.
Yeah we have heard this was the case back then. Thanks for watching and commenting Robert.
I enjoyed the video thank especially as it's my neck of the woods. I remember the story being told locally as a young lad, not quite as much nowadays as everyone involved or living locally will have died like you said. Sorry if you already mentioned it on the video but do you know the whereabouts of Tommy Kenyon on that night? Was he at the pub as well and would he have had to go home along Back Lane also? That would go towards explaining the mistaken identity theory if so and somebody waiting for Tommy Kenyon by the farm gate.
PS It's too late now for this video but if you ever wanted to take a photo for your podcast or film Bashall Hall in the future for any reason, the track goes right past the house and it is a public right of way.
We did a segment talking about Kenyon and his whereabouts, but that, along with another file, the sound was dire as the mic caught a lot of wind, so it was unsuitable. But Kenyon was one of the passengers in the second car. He was sat in the back as they drove past James. He and his mates were going to the Edisford Inn from the Red Pump just up the road. I should have added an overlay mentioning this.
Great research into another fascinating local story. Thanks Chris & Vickie. 👍
Many thanks Paul. We tried to fit most of it it but there was more we could have added, but the video would have been much longer.
Thanks Paul for watching and commenting, glad you enjoyed 😊
Great video
Many thanks for the kind words. 😀
Very interesting and detailed and so sad. It must take a lot of research to make these videos. Thanks for another great story ❤
The research is the best part for myself (Chris). But we both love visiting these places to bring them more to life and show you guys where they all took place.
@DaysofHorror Being at the locations is definitely my favourite part of your videos.
It feels like we are transported back to the actual event.
Brilliant! Recently found your videos and subscribed I’m just binge watching them at the moment. I do watch a lot of crime stories mostly from the states so showing stuff close to home is great, being a Lancastrian too I find them compelling. James Dawson it’s seems was in the East Lancashire regiment my great uncle was in the same regiment which is one of the regiment’s that amalgamated and became the regiment I served. Keep up the great work. Have you found any stories from Ossy? That’s where I’m originally from. Cheers.
We have two stories from Oswaldtwistle we haven't yet done. Both early 1900s 😀
@@DaysofHorrorI will certainly look forward to watching those when you get around to them, I’m being entertained by your great broadcasts from all over in the mean time❤
Glad to have you on board, thanks for watching and commenting, appreciate your support 😊
Brilliant video this case always fascinates me as I knew people that lived around the area at the time of this crime. One lady I knew used to walk from Clitheroe to Hurst Green on her own late at night around the time of the murder and she used to smoke 2 cigarettes and talk to herself when near to the turn off for Bashall Eaves just incase the murderer was watching her. She thought she was safe if she was part of a pair!
Thanks for commenting and glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your support 😊
It's sad that he went off to war and survived those horrors only to die this way 😢
So true...😢
Interesting video. We pass that area nearly every week. I did not know of this sad story. My friend's late husband had relatives that lived in Bashall Eaves.
We came across this story a few years ago, and it's always been one that's fascinated us both. So many twists and turns.
@DaysofHorror I only mentioned to my friend yesterday that I had this story to watch, and she said to me that she knew who did it. Years ago, her late husband received a letter from a relative resident of Bashall Eaves naming the perpetrator. She didn't mention the name.
@gingermolly234 that adds a little more now to the story and, again, more intrigue 🤔
Chris have you got the pacing correct? One good length pace is a yard so you should be 20 paces up that road. Think of a cricket pitch, and I play cricket, is 22 yards long which is miles shorter than the distance to the road I reckon. Just a thought. Fascinating story.
We say in the video its not exact, so we just went of small strides to give a rough idea of how far away James was from the gate posts. I cant imagine a catapult being strong enough to send a projectile through a farmers thick jacket, several layers of clothing and then deep into his shoulder. So I think we was much closer to the main road than he originally thought.
@@DaysofHorrorno definitely not a catapult couldn’t do that
Very unusual story. Love your channel♥
Thank you, we both appreciate that type of comment. Have a nice evening, Vickie
Thank you for yoir support, we really appreciate it 😊
Thanks once again for a very interesting story. It doesn't surprise me that the case went cold, since there was no forensic evidence collected except the man made instrument taken out his body. No witnesses who saw anything. Very funny that James Dawson's dog was also killed. Funny that Tommy Simpson took his own life, could be that he couldn't live with his conscience. Then again it could have been that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. May James Dawson's soul R.I.P. 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks again for sharing 👍👍
Yes it does make you wonder doesn't it. Thanks for your support as always. Glad you enjoyed 😊
I grew up in a small town. The secrets of small towns are interesting indeed.
I bet! 😮
Very thought provoking. But going back to when he was shot by the projectile. When I did my K53 driving test one of the things I remember was the lesson that if you drink your perception of distance is altered and the vehicles around you on the road are closer than you think. This could be the reason that the distance mentioned in the press is suspect.
Another thing which I seriously wonder about is how a projectile shot so far away could only hit his shoulder. If as you have said that he would have been walking against driving rain and strong winds there would have been enough resistance from the elements to cause the projectile to be badly effected by the gravitational pull of the earth. The velocity of the weapons mentioned would maybe (I would need an expert to confirm this) would be markedly different. Surely an object shot from a catapult would be slower than the same object being shot from a gun or similar ordinance. So if he was hit as such a large distance between himself and the perpetrator the attacker must have shot well above his shoulder for it in the mentioned elements to reach its eventual target. However there is I suppose the possibility that the attacker was actually aiming for his head.
I think it is very unfair to label the suicide victim as the attacker when at the time nothing was proven. His terrible financial situation as well as his daughter being in the family way could have just been too much for him and possibly affected hum si badly that he lost all hope of recovering from his problems. We honestly don't know what emotional and psychological trauma he went through. He himself is probably haunting the area right now.
But one thing does make me very sad. James worked as a stretcher bearer in a vicious war. He would have seen the results of the war in the terrible injuries suffered by the other soldiers. He should have had a very good idea that if a bullet wound or something similar is not immediately treated, sterilized and the shrapnel or bullets removed that gangrene very quickly sets in. What a pity that he did not think of that. I researched my grandfather's experiences in the 1st world war and thus was often mentioned in letters from other soldiers.
May he rest in peace.
Brilliant work guys.
Many thanks Leigh. We can't believe this one has taken off so well!
@@DaysofHorror I used to live near the Edisford pub and cycle those lanes!
Thank you Leigh. 😊
I live in Clitheroe, we go in the edisford bridge pub regularly. Great content.
We were actually allowed to film a short segment the morning we did this video from inside the pub. The cleaner was in working away, and the pub was closed to the public, but the lady was so kind to allow us to film inside. Unfortunately, we didn't use that footage as the video was turning out to be too long as it was.
@@DaysofHorror It's a nice pub,great in the summer weather to sit outside either the front of it or the back.
Thank you Stuart 😊
Fascinating story. I remember staying at the Red Pump Inn quite a few years ago. xx
It's one place we haven't ourselves ever been to. The Edisford Bridge we popped into during this story, the cleaner was on her own but allowed us to have a look inside.
I remeber back I think late 70's a BBC or Itv into this thanks Chris
ITV I think it was on, back in 1979.
Another interesting story , you put a lot of research, facts and theories into your video’s. And so with all the facts you spoke of Im convinced it was Tommy Simpson who accidentally shot James Dawson by mistake identity. Thank you both for another true video 😊
And thank you Sue for your continued support, we really do appreciate it 😊
What a very sad story...and how pretty convoluted the events could get. You two investigators do a very thorough job...i salute your investigation. How do you feel about doing more investigations on other murders from many years ago.... from other areas around you maybe ? As you intimated, the man you think was the perpetrator most likely is the culprit...there are always small cliques in small communities, and when they wish to hide events.... it is done and kept quiet sometimes, for all time.
In our videos, we visit the places where these stories all took place and if they are hard to get too, such as a street (for example) that may no longer be there, we then go to the cemeteries or graveyards where the victims are buried.
Well done guys I've really enjoyed watching your new videos today keep up with a good work guys can't wait to see more X👍🤗
😊 thanks
At 20 yards from the gates, even with the best shot in the world, the attacker would have a problem seeing James, even at 20 feet it would not have been easy to aim accurately in a very dark night.
Thanks for commenting Janette, we just covered the story as it was recorded along with the distance of the shot. It was a strange case/story.
My goodness what a lot of information to this story
Well done Chris & Vicky for all your research on this story
I do think James Dawson was an innocent victim & the “bullet” was meant for Tommy Kenyon,Simpson couldn’t live with the guilt & took his own life
A brilliant bit of research guys 👏🏻👏🏻
Yep agree I don't think it was for James imo.
Well researched and narrated. This adds or takes nothing away but the road where the cars were wasn't there in 1934. The cars that passed James must have used Back Lane.
I've just taken a look at old OS maps from the 1920s to 1940s and the road is there 🤔 I'll take another look later using another service, but I'm pretty sure that road was there back then. Plus the cars passing him where travelling from the direction of the Red Pump Inn, which was along that stretch of road but further up in the distance.
@@DaysofHorror I know the cars were coming from the direction of Bashall Eaves or Chaigley. In those days they would have to go through Bashall town. I've just checked a map published in 1947 and the short link road isn't shown.
@davepeel7546 strange how differing maps shows the road being there on one, but on others, it doesn't. We have one clearly showing a road in 1934, whereas one in 1930, the road isn't there 🤔 Bizarre.
As most farmers had shotguns then and access to the powder to make shells for shooting and all that. I think the weapon is a home made piece with a fairly low velocity and bad powder. With the projectile you explained, crudley made and probably the barrel also, its possible to make a weapon which would be not loud, not really that accurate, but enough power to penetrate an inch or so. So infection would be the way of death,as it was left too long, just my experience with firearms opinion. Great vid guys.
Well this is a real tangled web isnt it. Any one of the theories could be right. One thing im certain of, no way was a catapult used.
Great work Chris and Vicky 🙂👍
Hello guys im waiting 🤗
Hi Liz - not long now 🙂
Ballistics on a wet and windy day, a shot from the last distance would have been someone who shot in a club. It had to be someone who could use a gun and know about reloading etc. To fit a piece of metal like you say it is into a barrel would be dangerous. Therefore it is likely to be a catapult. Could someone else have been in the bushes and he didn't see him. Anyone could have worked with a piece of metal like that from a teenager to a grown man. It is difficult not knowing who he was seeing and who else was in the mix. A very interesting case in an area I know quite well. Lots of love from NZ keep up the good work.
It's interesting as James said it was a clicking sound, which led detectives into saying it was either a catapult or an air-cane that had been used, as there was no sound like if it had been shot from a rifle or pistol.
For a direct hit, I reckon it was either a very bright moon that night or the shooter had been a trained sniper in the army.
It must have been pitch black on that lane.
From all accounts, it was a dark, miserable night with plenty of wind and rain. We reckon James was much closer to the road than he probably realised and made it much easier for his attacker to strike with ease.
@DaysofHorror Yeah, I agree. There's no way he could have seen him well enough from a distance like that.
hi great delivry and enjoyed the story .. I have only one theory about the case and its on the delivery of the bullet . i had quite a lot of expericnce of firing guns when younger and alos air rifels an catupults etc as is had and interest in hunting when young . NOW . There is no way in my opinion that the projectile that would have had to penetrate the coat and under jacket of the victim was fired from either a catupult or air rifle . it would have had to be have fired with force and from a gun . Y es a proper gun whether made form metal .lead of other it would have had to fired at force from ever twety yards to penetrate the coats. and bury itsel in the body of the man . no doubt whatsoever ..however done . by a silenced muzzel of ever other . it was fired using powder the only other was would be if the perpetrator got close enought to drive it into the man lile on top of a spear . and this would also explain why the dog died and no projectile was found in the dogs case . thanks for the story . i was glude to the thing .
It was always mentioned that perhaps James knew who the attacker was and it does make you wonder IF it was indeed a more powerful weapon and one that would have made a louder sound, but james didn't mention this because he knew who it was and for some reason was protecting them?
Great video Chris and vickie. I could be wrong im no sherlock Holmes😂 but i think its a disgruntled husband to a lady he was seeing he was an handsome young man. Poor dog he didn't do anything to anybody
I know poor dog. Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching Emma, yeah could be, and yeah why the dog 😢
Hello everyone
Hello you, hope your well 😊
@@Vickie76 yer getting there Rick's been ill lately with tummy flu bless him but slowly getting back to normal
It was a poacher cane after the cane was taken to Whalley nab
I think that's what Tommy Kenyon was talking about, it being a cane. He says along with the poker, it was taken to Whalley to be hidden.
lt sounds like a crossbow round, possibly coated with garlic or some other poison. Was he, by any chance, related to Lord Dawson of Penn? Also was it 1934 or 1938 as indicated in your header?
Well spotted with the error in the headline. That's changed now. As for the projectile, it was removed from James back and was a homemade bullet shaped object. It was around 1cm to 2cm in length. There's never been anything mentioned about poisons or garlic being used as far as I'm aware 🤔 I think the infection came from the old, metal rod that was used, in that it could have been used or just left around outside in all elements of weather.
@@DaysofHorror Thanks. Not being a smartarse - promise. The King was murdered in 1936 so the name association bears little reference in regard to motive. Crossbows or smooth bore shotguns and air guns can accurately shoot such projectiles over the distance you have measured. My suggestion of poison is because of the wound being less likely to be fatal without it. Good video. Much thanks.
@vbprogman I didn't read anything bad into your comment 😆 It's better when people do comment on the videos, and it helps people learn more, so we can only thank you.
Hello all 😊
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks Andrea. Always appreciate your support 😊
Poor James I think it was a mistaken identity by the murderer (Tommy Simpson) thank you for the story it was very interesting as usual 👏👏👏👏👏👏
I'm with you on this..😊
You have a nice Lady wife who helps making all these history Videos.
Many thanks Ronnie!
Thank you for noticing 😂
I imagine. It was an. Air cane.
Thanks for commenting, Maurice. We are loving how involved all you kind people are in this story. It's good to see people coming up with ideas, and their own theories. Thanks so much 😀
Seems the folks at the end, know alot about it ?
Yep, this was filmed in 1979 and it does have a bit of a sinister vibe to it. The locals really do seem to be a close-knit community.
Sounds like Simpson was the guilty one, more than likely wrong place wrong time.
Totally agree 👍
Could it have been a blow pipe?
That was never recorded in any papers/articles so unsure.
Like you Chris think Tommy Kenyon was the intended target- seems like Simpson was the murderer to me- poor dog though🏴
Yeah I too (vickie) think wrong person got shot that night. Thanks for watching
Totally agree, and why the dog 😢