One Sunday night in August 1933 Mrs Fox was woken up by sounds from downstairs. She thought she heard the sound of breaking glass. She nudged her husband and whispered to him what she had heard. Reluctantly he got up and went downstairs to investigate. He walked into the sitting-room and emerged moments later with a knife in his back. Mrs Fox's husband died in her arms.

Police investigating the killing in Moor Street, West Bromwich, soon found out that this had not been the only break in that night. There had been another break-in at a butcher's shop, owned by a man named Newton, in nearby Bromford Lane. The burglar had taken a few pounds that had been in the till but most extraordinarily the burglar had left behind a few things. To start with he had left a bowl of soapy water and Newton's razor. While in the shop he had actually shaved himself. Secondly, he had left out a sewing basket where he had used a needle and thread, perhaps to replace a missing button. Finally he had helped himself to a bottle of milk and in doing so had left it covered in his fingerprints.

With such a good clue it did not take long for Chief Inspector Fred Cherrill of Scotland Yard One of the greatest experts in the field of fingerprinting to identify the culprit responsible for the break-in at the butcher's and, probably, the murder. It was the first time that the BBC used its network to broadcast the description of a man who police wanted 'to help them with their inquiries'.'

Hobday was on his way north from Birmingham in a stolen Jowett motorcar. An Irish labourer was working in a field near High Leigh, in Cheshire, when he was astonished to see a car come hurtling through the air, turn a full somersault and land back on its wheels. The driver got dazed but otherwise unhurt and walked away. As usual Hobday always seemed to leave something behind and this it was his suitcase.

He started to walk towards Carlisle and he passed a farmer moving a herd of cows for milking. The cowman thought he recognised the man from the broadcase he had heard on the radio so he called the police.

A couple of hours later he was arrested by PC Elder, of the Cumberland Constabulary. He did not cause a fuss but went quietly with the policeman. He was charged and his trial took place at Stafford Assizes in November 1933. The evidence was overwealmingly conclusive and the jury had no difficulty in finding him guilty. He was hung on the 29 December 1933 at Winsom Green prison by Tom Pierrepoint at 8 am. 

Stanley Eric Hobday

These days Stanley Hobday would be described as 'vertically challenged'; in 1933, he was described by one witness as "an overgrown dwarf." Hobday was also extremely stupid.

On Sunday 27th August 1933 Mrs Gladys Fox was awoken by the sound of breaking glass. She nudged her husband, 24-year-old Charles William, and whispered to him what she had heard. He went downstairs to investigate. He went into the sitting room and emerged moments later with a knife in his back. He died in his wife's arms. He had received seven stab wounds. The murderer had stolen fourteen shillings.

Police investigating the killing at 8 Moor Street, West Bromwich, soon found out that there had been another break-in that Sunday night. This had occurred at a butcher's shop, owned by Robert Arthur Newton, in nearby Bromford Lane. A few pounds had been stolen but the burglar had left behind a few things. Firstly there was a bowl of soapy water and Newton's razor. The burglar had shaved himself. Secondly, he had left out a sewing basket where he had used a needle and thread. Thirdly, he had left his fingerprints. These were on an empty bottle of milk that he had helped himself to.

One of the greatest experts in the field of fingerprinting was Chief Inspector Fred Cherrill of Scotland Yard. It took him minutes to identify the culprit responsible for the break-in at the butcher's and, probably, the murder. It was the first time that the BBC used its network to broadcast the description of a man who police wanted 'to help them with their inquiries.'

By this time Hobday was on his way north from Birmingham after stealing a Jowett motorcar from close to the scene of the Bromford Lane burglary. An Irish labourer was working in a field near High Leigh, in Cheshire, when he was astonished to see a maroon car come hurtling through the air, turn a full somersault and land back on its wheels. The driver got out and walked away. This was Hobday. Always leaving something behind was Stanley, this time it was his suitcase, as well as his fingerprints on the starting handle.

Hobday walked. He got almost as far as Carlisle on foot. Then he got entangled with a herd of cows being taken along the road for milking. 'Watty' Bowman, the cowman, (no pun intended) was sure that he knew the man stuck in the middle of his herd, but could not think where from. 'Watty' owned a radio set and it later dawned on him that he recognised him from the description that had been broadcast.

A couple of hours later PC Elder, of the Cumberland Constabulary, faced the diminutive figure and 21-year-old Stanley Hobday 'went quietly'. His trial took place at Stafford Assizes in November 1933. The evidence was conclusive and the jury took only forty-five minutes to find him guilty. Hobday was hanged by Thomas Pierrepoint, assisted by his nephew, Albert. The entry in Pierrepoint's diary for 29th December 1933 read "Hobday. 8am, Winson Green Prison, Birmingham."

Murder-UK.com