This is the story of the brutal murder of Mrs Mary Maud Wiltshaw, on 16th July 1952, at her home, ‘Estoril’ on Station Road, Barlaston. Leslie Green, aka Terrance or Terry, former chauffeur of the Wiltshaws, was hanged for the murder on 23 December 1952, but right up to the moment of his death, he denied being there and carrying out the murder. Why indeed would he present himself to Longton Police Station, saying, “I hear you are looking for me”, if he had done the murder? He would have disappeared off the scene – long gone!
This book sets out the true prosecution and defence cases that led to his sentence of hanging. However, I wanted to give another possible side of the story that could conceivably have had a bearing on Leslie Green’s state of mind at the time – a reason why he professed all along that he did not murder Mrs Wiltshaw and that he was elsewhere - a mind that, from his early childhood and mistreatment had manifested itself into blackouts, loss of memory - when he experienced a sense of ‘loss of time’ – a schism into three different personalities.
5* Review: A fascinating insight into a vicious crime. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2021 The Barlaston murder is a subject I have been aware of for many years but this book has really brought me up to date. The main character - Leslie Green - has left little in the form of a historical footprint. This is possibly due to his being hung shortly after the trial. I don't think there should be any apology for his story being filled in by way of a fictional account of him. This makes for a thought provoking process which calls into question the legal system of the 1950 's whilst retaining respect for the victim." The Barlaston Murderer: Leslie Green https://amzn.eu/d/6yeTlbu |