Ratcliff Highway Murders - The Survivor's Testimony

The Survivor's Testimony

Richard Ryder, the Home Secretary responded to public panic and pressure and appointed Aaron Graham, a Bow Street magistrate, to the enquiry. The city's newspapers focused on the crimes for some three weeks, and a coroner's inquest was called in the Black Horse tavern across from the Kings Arms. John Turner was now in a better state of mind to testify, and this time he was believed.

Turner claimed he entered the tavern around 10:40 that night and went to his room on an upper floor. He heard Mrs. Williamson lock the door, then heard the front door bang open "hard," and Bridget shout, "We are all murdered!" with Williamson then exclaiming, "I am a dead man." As he lay in bed, listening, Turner heard several blows. He also heard someone walk about, but so quietly that he believed their shoes had no nails. This was a significant detail, as the shoeprint outside was made by a shoe with nails. After a few minutes, he left his bed and went to investigate.

As Turner crept down the stairs, he heard three drawn-out sighs and saw that a door stood open, with a light shining on the other side. He peered in and caught a glimpse of a tall man, estimated at six feet tall, wearing a dark flushing coat leaning over Mrs. Williamson, going through her pockets. Turner saw only one man before going back up the stairs.

Rather than become a victim as well, he then tied two sheets together in his bedroom and lowered himself out of the house. He knew that Williamson's watch was missing, and described it, but could not recall there ever being an iron bar in the tavern like the one found next to the corpse. The conclusion was that it must have been brought there by the killer.

Those who had seen the corpses testified, the surgeon who had examined them also gave his report. The jury returned a verdict of willful murder by a person or some persons unknown.