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Murder(s) most foul In 1943 a pleasantly spoken and charming gentleman came to work in Crawley. His name was John Haigh. He lodged with a local family and joined in many of the local activities. His main interest was musical events. John Haigh was a popular man about the town and rented a small workshop in a yard in Leopold Road in West Green. After a while he returned to London but retained his links with Crawley. In February 1949 he was arrested in London and charged at Horsham Magistrates Court with having murdered a woman in Crawley. It was alleged that he had shot and killed her in the workshop in Leopold Road and dissolved her body in acid. Whilst the body was dissolving he took tea at the Ancient Priors and dinner at The George. Rubber gloves, acid, a revolver, and ammunition were found at the premises along with evidence that a body had been disposed of, although not completely. A jeweller in Horsham gave evidence that a 'gentleman' purporting to be a solicitor had sought valuation of items of jewellery claiming that it was required for probate. The jewellery was identified as belonging to the murdered woman. After the trial, in Lewes, Haigh was hanged on 10th August 1949. The local townspeople were far more interested in this case than the start of construction of the 'New Town', the work starting in West Green and the compulsory purchase orders on properties and land in the area. The murder became known as “The Acid Bath Murder”. |
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