6 Bringing Old Belfast To The New
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HORRIFIC MURDER AT THE BELFAST DOCKS
Glenravel Local History Project
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
There is perhaps no more fruitful for of education than to arouse the interest of a people in their own surroundings These words were written by Richard Livingstone and appeared in a book by Alfred Moore called Old Belfast over fifty years ago. Looking back its hard to imagine that they are as true today as they were way back then. More and more people are becoming interested in the history of Belfast and it was out of this that the Glenravel Local History Project were born in May 1991. Many could be forgiven for assuming that this name derived from the famous Glens in Co. Antrim and they would be right but in a roundabout way. Glenravel Street was situated directly behind in the old Poorhouse on North Queen Street and contained quite a few beautiful and historic buildings. One of these buildings was situated at its junction with Clifton Street and although it was officially known as the Ulster Ear, Eye and Throat Hospital it was known to most people as the Benn Hospital. This was due to the fact that it was built by Edward Benn (brother of the famous Victorian Belfast historian George). Mr Benn lived in the Glens of Antrim where Glenravel is situated. Although Glenravel Street contained all this history the street itself was totally obliterated to clear the way for the modern Westlink motorway system leaving us to question schemes such as historical areas of importance as well as buildings. The Glenravel Project was established by local historians Joe Baker and Michael Liggett and has now went on to become the main local historical group in the whole of Belfast. Over three hundred publications have been published by the group as well and several web sites, DVDs and countless newspaper and magazine articles. The Project also conducts several walking tours ranging from the Belfast Blitz right through to a walking tour of the historic Cavehill area. One of these tours is also around the historic Clifton Street Burying Ground which is also situated behind the old Poorhouse and which was opened by them in the mid 1790s. Although our original aim was the historical promotion of this site we have now went on to cover the whole of Belfast as well as assist numerous local historical schemes far beyond our city’s boundaries. This magazine is now our main focus for the local and factual history of Belfast and we welcome all articles of interest relating to the history of our city. And our aim:-
To secure a future for our past
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HORRIFIC MURDER AT THE BELFAST DOCKS ne of the most mysterious murders ever to occur within the city of Belfast is undoubtedly that of Mr Samuel Stranix which happened in June 1955. Mr Stranix was a timekeeper at the Harbour Estate and after one of the biggest manhunts ever launched by the R.U.C. the killer eluded detection. Mr Stranix was very well known at the harbour where he had been employed for over 33 years. He took up duties there following service with the Royal Marines during World War 1 and with the Black and Tans in Southern Ireland, (he was also an Air Raid Warden during the Second World War.) Mr Stranix was a member of a number of societies; he was a founding member of the Press Orange Lodge, a member of the Apprentice Boys and was also well known in Masonic circles.
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which was very unusual. Mr Dodds, who had his own key, opened the door and inside he discovered Mr Stranix lying on the floor very seriously injured. He ran to a nearby electrical repair shop to seek assistance. An ambulance was then called for but by the time it had arrived Mr Stranix had died.
HORRIFIC DISCOVERY On the morning of Tuesday, June 28th, 1955, Mr Stranix reported for work as usual. It had been a cold wet day and everything within the harbour was normal. Later in the morning, at around 11.40 a.m., Mr Samuel Dodds went to the timekeepers office to check Stranix had been a member of the notorious out. When he reached the office he Black and Tans during the Irish War of independence discovered that the door was locked, 3
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Mr Stranix was an Air Raid Warden during the Blitz on Belfast
MURDER INQUIRY The police had also been sent for and when they arrived they began a murder inquiry instantly. When local reporters began to arrive one of them was told by a police officer that “the crime appeared to have been committed by a person who knew his way about the Harbour Estate, and who went at the slack time to the timekeepers office with the weapon intending to attack Mr Stranix. The very severe injuries inflicted were mostly on the head and face.” At the beginning of the inquiry the police believed that robbery could not have been a motive as there was never any money kept in the office, however, at eleven o’clock the same evening the police had released the following statement;
It has been established that two wallets which the deceased had in his possession are missing. No. 1 is a black Morocco wallet of ordinary size - approximately 6in. by 3in. - fold over type. No. 2 is a pigskin wallet, also of the fold over type, but slightly smaller than No. 1. It is tan in colour and the name ‘Domer Twist Drill Company’ appears on the inside flap. One of these wallets contained possibly two steamer berth tickets for the journey from Belfast to Douglas, Isle of Man, for a date unknown. Should any person find a wallet answering the description or have any information regarding them they are requested to communicate with the police at telephone number 24242 or go to the nearest R.U.C. Barrack. 5
MANIACAL ATTACK The police had also stated that they were looking for the murder weapon which they believed was ‘a steel bar with a cloven end. (a crowbar) Dr J Firth, Director of the Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory at Preston, who was assisting the R.U.C., stated that it was a bar such as this which killed Mr Stranix after he had held a post-mortem examination. He also stated that; “The attack was of a maniacal nature and that four major blows were struck, the first of which was sufficient to cause death. He was hit as he sat at his desk and the presumption is that the attack was by someone who knew the dead man.” As the police investigation continued there were now four different theories which the R.U.C. were considering as a motive.
Mr Samuel Stranix 6
1. That he was killed by a harbour employee in the heat of the moment after a dispute about working hours. 2. That the murderer was someone who held a personal grievance against him. 3. That although no money was kept at the office Stranix may have had money with him in the missing wallets, and that robbery could have been a motive for the killing. 4. That the murderer was a pathological killer who killed for the sake of killing - and may strike again.
BLOODSTAINED CLOTHING Detectives stated that the murderers clothing must have been bloodstained, and as the murder was committed between 10.45 and 11.15 a.m. when men were working nearby and walking up and down the road, it would have been difficult for the killer to pass out of the office unnoticed. At this stage the detectives had ruled out one major fact. At the given time of the murder there had been heavy showers and there is no doubt that all those around outside would have sought shelter inside nearby huts. The police were now concentrating on discovering the murder weapon. They believed that it may have been thrown into the Abercorn Basin and a large electromagnet was connected to a dredger crane in order to recover any metal objects at the bottom of the basin.
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FINGERPRINTS They had also uncovered a large number of fingerprints inside the office but all these were eventually linked to the harbour workers.
“MAN IN GREY” The police continued to interview everyone who was employed in the Harbour Estate and as they were doing so a lorry driver came forward saying that he had seen a man standing outside the timekeeper’s office on the morning previous to the murder. The police then issued an appeal in the local newspapers stating that they wished to interview this person who was described as “The man in grey.”
CONFESSION Exactly one week after the murder was committed the police thought that the case was solved when a man confessed to the killing. Forty nine year old William Henry Bailey went to Willowfield Barracks and told a Constable Kelly that he had murdered Mr Stranix. Bailey made a voluntary statement here and another at Mountpottinger District Headquarters. In one statement Bailey told the police that he had met two men in a public house one whose name seemed, from the conversation, to be Tommy, who told Bailey that he had been a commando. The other man’s name was Paddy. During the conversation money matters came up and ‘Tommy’ said that he knew where there was money to be had. He then spoke about Stranix and said, “it is only a matter of knocking him and getting whatever he had.” The statement went on - “he said have you anything at home?” I said I had an old Webley revolver without any ammunition. He said to bring it “it is only a matter of giving him a touch and getting the money.”
The lorry driver said that this man had been wearing a grey suit under an open raincoat. A man, who fitted this description, came forward and was ruled out of the investigation. At this stage the police had no suspects and no one had been identified as having a motive.
REMANDED The men arranged to meet, the statement said, and they walked past the timekeeper’s office. ‘Tommy’ went in and Bailey heard him ask Stranix for money and being refused. Bailey then walked into the office and ‘Tommy’ gave him a nod and he hit Stranix with
The day after the murder the police thought they had made a breakthrough in the case when a constable discovered a bar which fitted the description on top of a scrap heap. Investigation revealed that it was not the murder weapon. The search of the basin had uncovered over one hundred bars, none of which, the police believed, was the murder weapon.
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the revolver. ‘Tommy’ had an iron bar and Bailey said he thought ‘Tommy’ hit Stranix as he had went out of the office. Later, the three went to a public house and Bailey was handed £10. ‘Tommy’ said he had only got £25. Bailey was then taken to the Belfast Police Office where he was formally charged with the murder of Samuel Stranix and after a brief court appearance he was remanded in custody to the Crumlin Road jail.
involved not only the local police but also the police in the Irish Republic. As the R.U.C. believed that two steamer tickets were taken from the murdered man’s wallet the police in Britain were also asked to assist.
FALSE STATEMENT When the manhunt involving the three police forces failed to find the two men the R.U.C. decided to interview Bailey in prison to see if he could help the police discover their whereabouts. County Inspector Albert Kennedy went MASSIVE MANHUNT The R.U.C. then launched a massive to the jail on the 11th of July and when manhunt to find ‘Tommy the he began the interview Bailey made commando’ and Paddy. This search another remarkable confession.
The Belfast Harbour Estate at the time of Mr Stranix’s murder 9
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William Henry Bailey was remanded in the Belfast Prison on the Crumlin Road for the murder of Mr Stranix but events were to take a strange twist
Inspector Kennedy told Bailey, “I have called to see if you can give me any further information which would assist the police in tracking Tommy and Paddy.” In reply Bailey said, “I want to tell you that the statement I made to you was entirely false. All I can say is that I don’t know whether it was a mood I was in or what actually caused me to do what I did do, but the mood I was in made me not care what happened to me.” Inspector Kennedy was shocked to discover that one of the biggest manhunts in the British Isles was as a result of a false statement. Bailey was then told to make a new statement and in this Bailey said, “I would like to say that I am very sorry for the trouble the police and other
persons have been put to. I realise now, having had time to think about it, that I did wrong. I also thought that if I told the story to the police the real murderer or murderers might come forward.” The police, because of another line of inquiry, believed Bailey. He was recharged with wasting police time and was convicted for the offence the following October. The R.U.C. resumed their original investigation and their attention was again turned on the man who they had previously suspected and who evaded arrest due to the false confession of Bailey. 11
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UNUSUAL DECISION Detective Head Constable James Simms accompanied by Sergeant Rankin returned to the Harbour Estate and went to the engineer’s hut. There they approached Samuel Gilmore Dodds, (who had discovered the body of Stranix.) The detective told him, “I am taking you to the Police Office where I intend to charge you with the murder of Samuel Stranix.” Dodds, who was shocked, was then removed and interviewed. The following day Dodds appeared in court where evidence against him was to be heard over the next seven days. The court then made an unusual decision. Under a law dating back to the middle of the previous century, no reports were to be made by journalists. When the week’s evidence was heard, Dodds, who vigorously denied the charge, was returned for trial in October. COURT ACTION THREAT Samuel Dodds stood for trial before Lord Justice Black at the Belfast City Commission in October 1955. Crowds came to gain admittance to the public gallery and a police man had to be placed on duty in order to control them. During the first court appearances almost 60 witnesses had been examined. When the court began, Detective Head Constable Simms was called to give evidence on why and how Dodds committed this murder. He stated that during a search of Dodds’s
house on July 16, he found a communication from the legal department of a store in a box on top of a wardrobe in a back bedroom. The communication, which was dated June 24, 1955, and addressed to Dodds, said:Sir, Your name has been given to this department for action. We have been informed that repeated calls have been made concerning the account. As nothing has been done, it is apparent that you have no intention of paying the debt unless you are prosecuted and brought before the court. Instructions have been received that unless a substantial amount is paid within four days action will be taken without further delay. Head Constable Simms then described timing the journey between the Queen’s Road time office and the junction of Victoria Road and Victoria Wharf on Dodds’s bicycle. Riding at a leisurely speed he completed the journey to the junction in three minutes 45 seconds. Riding fast on the return journey it took him two minutes 20 seconds. “CHARGE ME” On July 26, the head constable continued, he saw Dodds in the engineer’s yard at Sydenham Road and told him that he was going to charge him with the murder of Samuel Stranix. He stated that before he had time to caution him Dodds replied, “Charge 13
me.” He then cautioned him and on the way to the Police Office Dodds asked, “Have you told them at home?” In reply the policeman told him, “No, but that he would do.” At the Police Office the head constable preferred the charge of murder against Dodds and cautioned him again. Dodds replied: “I don’t want to say anything if that’s the way I plead not guilty.” BLOOD DEPTH In cross-examination Head Constable Simms told Mr E Jones, Q.C., senior defence counsel, that in the course of police inquiries into the murder, over 400 statements were taken and thorough searches made of Dodds’s home at Downshire Park Central. When Mr Jones stated that the police were looking for someone covered in blood the head constable disagreed. “How deep was the blood in the time office?” Mr Jones asked, “Did you measure it?” Head Constable Simms replied that measurement was not made, but the blood was of appreciable depth. CLOTHING Detective Sergeant Rankin was then called to give evidence. He told the court that on July 16th he took possession of a green tweed overcoat in the crane office on the harbour estate. Later that day he searched Dodds’s house and took away articles of clothing, documents, and account 14
books. He said that the total amount due weekly on the account books was £5. 13s. 10d. Among the documents was a final notice issued by the Corporation Electricity Department on June 29th, for £2. 10s, and three notices including a final demand, dated July 15th, from the Belfast Water Commissioners, for £2. 6s. 8d. On July 16th he saw Dodds at Mountpottinger police barracks and showed him the clothes he had taken earlier that day. Dodds disputed the ownership of some of the articles to which the sergeant said: - “At any rate we have got all the clothing you were wearing on the day of the murder.” Dodds replied that all he was wearing that day was the jacket, the brown corduroy trousers and the green overcoat. DROPPED BAR Robert Mawhinney, welder, was then called to the witness box. He stated that on June 28 he was welding a tank on the stern of a ship in the Victoria Yard. At approximately 10.30 a.m. he left the tank for a breath of fresh air, and wandered around the vessel. He said that he was standing about 47 feet above the footbridge. “As I stood there I saw a man dressed in a loose fitting overcoat and cap come on to the bridge wheeling a bicycle from the Victoria Wharf end. He paused a little way along the bridge, leaned the bicycle against his hip, passed his right hand across his body and underneath his
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overcoat. He withdrew a bar - or whatever it was - and dropped it into the water.” Mawhinney went on to say that there were two men, one sitting, one standing, on a pontoon below the footbridge, and the man on the footbridge appeared to speak to them. They turned around as if answering him. Mawhinney said in crossexamination that he was not sure if it was an iron bar that was dropped into the water. BRAINS KNOCKED IN Next in the dock was boilermaker Louis Duke. He said that from about 8.30 a.m. on June 28th he was working with three other men on the Victoria Wharf ferry pontoon. Between 10.30 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. Dodds spoke to him from the footbridge about one of the other men’s time board number. Dodds had a dirty and wet coat on him but Duke could not see whether it was long or short. He could not say whether Dodds was wearing a cap or had a bicycle, as he was only visible from the waist upwards. Dodds usually travelled by bicycle. Duke said that he was not spoken to by any other person from the footbridge that morning. At about 3.30 p.m. that day he again saw Dodds on Victoria Wharf. Dodds approached him with his bicycle and someone asked him if he knew anything about the murder. He said he did, that he was 16
the first man to discover the body, and he described what he saw. Dodds told them that Stranix’s “brains were knocked in and there was blood on the floor and the walls.” Dodds, Duke said, was very excited and all of a sudden he said: “Ah to hell. I’ll have to go and see if anybody wants a pass out.” Dodds then jumped on his bicycle and ‘rode like mad’ over the footbridge. Duke added that he had known Dodds for six and a half years and he had never seen him behave in that way before. LOAN William Rice, building contractor, Downshire Park Central, told the court that towards the end of May, 1955, Dodds told him that his wife was in hospital and required an operation which would cost £15. He said he had to pay half the cost but had only £2. 10s. Rice said he loaned Dodds £5 and Dodds left, saying he was going to the hospital to pay. The money had been repaid by Mrs Dodds only recently. “NO CHANGES” Henry McManus, telephone attendant in the Thompson and Alexandra Pumping Station gave evidence that at 10.45 a.m. on June 28th in the pumping station. Dodds asked him, “Any changes Harry?” Witness replied “No changes Sammy.” Two or three days later Dodds complained to him about
Police guard the timekeepers office where Mr Stranix was murdered 17
the grinding he was getting from the to work on the ferry pontoon at Victoria police, and said that he had lost over a Wharf. He said that no timekeeper stone in weight. would have known where the men were going to work, before he gave ADDITIONAL WITNESSES them their instructions. Hamilton A number of other witnesses were agreed that Dodds’s returns were called to give evidence on the financial correct as far as the four men were matters concerning Dodds. After these concerned. the next to give evidence was Thomas William Collins, chief timekeeper at OBJECTION the Harbour Estate. He said that he had Next in the witness box was a labourer talked to Dodds and David Hall - named William McClelland. Before he another travelling timekeeper - about was allowed to give evidence Mr Jones half-an-hour after Stranix was found made a formal objection on the grounds dead. Hall said that he had seen Stranix that part of his evidence would not be at 10.45 a.m., and Dodds said that he relevant. Lord Justice Black asked the had found him at 11.40 a.m. Collins Attorney-General, Mr J Warnock, if the stated that the returns made by Dodds evidence was crucial, remarking: “We for the day of the murder showed that are not trying anyone else.” Joseph Charles was at work at Mr Warnock said that during crossTillyburn and that William Black was examination Mr Jones had put another working at the Thompson and person’s movements in issue, and he Alexranda Pumping Station. He submitted that the evidence would be agreed with Mr Jones in cross- completely admissible. examination that Dodds’s work had McClelland said that on June 28th always been satisfactory and that his David Hall - who gave evidence earlier records on June 28th were correct up in the hearing - came into the engineers to the point of his seeing four men on yard at Sydenham Road about 10.15 a pontoon at Victoria Wharf. a.m. and remained there until about 11.50 a.m. Dodds came into the yard Joseph Charles, craneman, and William about 11.35 a.m. and gave witness the Black, who work in the Thompson and time-board of Vincent Murray who was Alexandra Pumping Station, swore that working at Tillysburn. During crossthey were not at work on June 28. examination McClelland agreed with the defence that it was fortunate for Alexander Hamilton, foreman Hall that he could verify his boilerman, gave evidence that at 8.00 movements for the morning of June a.m. on June 28th he detailed four men 28th. 18
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Mr Jones - There were a lot of inquiries going on down there, and it was nice for anyone who could say he was in a certain place at a certain time. McClelland - Yes.
yards. He further admitted that he had made a mistake in saying at the preliminary hearing that Dodds had been wearing a cap when he met him at Victoria Wharf. He denied suggesting that he had met Dodds at Mr Jones - I note Charles, Black, 10.20 a.m. The morning of June 28th Hamilton, and McClelland were the was very wet, he said, but it was not witnesses whose evidence the wet at 10.30 a.m. Attorney General intimated on Wednesday that he would put in as DELIVER TIMEBOARDS additional evidence. Next called was Patrick McKeown, sweeper. He told the court that he saw MADE A MISTAKE Dodds while working on the main Edward Coulter, paver, who had a Queen’s Road, near Harland Road, at squad of men working at Victoria about 10.45 a.m. on June 28th. Dodds Wharf of June 28th, said that as he left told him that he was going to the bank for the toilet at about 10.35 a.m. he met to deliver some timeboards. McKeown Dodds cycling about 100 to 150 yards said that he thought that the bank up Victoria Road from the Wharf. meant, ‘somewhere about the airport.’ Dodds had on an overcoat, but was McKeown said that Dodds was without a cap, “if my memory serves wearing an overcoat and cap. me right.” During their conversation Coulter said he asked Dodds to sign TERRIBLE MORNING the timesheet for the men working at James Lewis, labourer, who said he the wharf. He loaned Dodds a pencil, had an office in a hut near the airport, and when the men’s numbers were stated that Dodds called with him at written down Coulter initialled the 11.13 a.m. on June 28th, and stayed sheet. Examining initials on a until 11.20 a.m. making entries on his timesheet produced in court, Coulter timesheet. Dodds was wearing an said that the ‘C’ resembled his, but the overcoat and remarked that it was a ‘E’ did not. terrible morning. In cross-examination, Coulter was asked by Mr Jones if the distance of ASKING FOR LOANS 100 to 150 yards he had mentioned had The next witness called was a grown a little. Coulter admitted that at travelling timekeeper named James the preliminary hearing he had given Caddell. He told the court that on one the distance as approximately 100 occasion in the Queen’s Road time 20
office, Stranix produced an envelope which he claimed contained ÂŁ200. This was about six weeks before the murder, and Dodds was present at the time. Another travelling timekeeper named William Kindness, stated that Stranix was in the habit of carrying large sums of money in his pockets and of producing the money in the office and asking if anyone wanted a loan.
SON OF CROWN WITNESS At the next hearing the first witness called was Thomas Coulter who was the son of a Crown witness. He told the Court that he had been employed by the Harbour authorities and worked in the main office at Corporation Square. In the course of his office duties he was relief telephone operator to Miss Robinson.
The desk at which Mr Stranix was murdered 21
NO FAULTS ON LINE On June 28th, some time between 10.40 a.m. and 10.50 a.m., he had taken over from Miss Robinson and his spell on duty continued until 11.10 a.m. During that period - he could not be exact about the time - he had received two incoming calls on the extension from Stranix’s office. He inserted the answering key and asked “number please” but on both occasions there was no reply. In cross-examination Coulter stated that there had been no faults in the line that day and was most definite that he had received no call at that time from another extension. NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE Samuel Dodds was then called to the witness stand. He told the court that he was married and had nine children whose ages ranged from 17 years to three months. He had served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during the war, and had never been in trouble before. He had worked as a travelling timekeeper on the Harbour Estate for three and a half years. Describing his movements on June 28th, Dodds said that he had arrived at the time-office about 7.35 a.m. and left the hut, from which he gave out his timeboards, at 7.50 a.m. His hut that morning was at the Thompson Pumping Station. It was a wet morning, and when he had performed his duties he had returned to the time-office, at approximately 8.15 a.m. 22
Between 9.30 a.m. and 9.50 a.m. he went to the nearby crane department to obtain cotton wool and plaster so that Stranix might dress his boils, as he had done before. With the necessary material he returned to the time-office, where Stranix and Hall, another travelling timekeeper, were drinking tea. Stranix said to him:- “there is a drop of tea for you.” While he was having the tea, Mr Ardis, assistant superintendent of cranes, entered - it was about 9.35a.m.- and borrowed Stranix’s shaving soap and went into the toilet at the back to shave. After they had finished their tea, Dodds took off his coat, pullover and shirt and Stranix dressed his boils. The boil on his ear was practically better and only required a little plaster, but the other one under his arm, was “well up to a head” and Stranix lanced it and opened it up. BOILS DRESSED While this was being done, Hall left. The time then was almost 9.45 a.m. Ardis left shortly afterwards, and, when his boils had been dressed, Dodds put on his clothes. That day he was wearing a grey jacket, pullover, shirt, and brown corduroy trousers. He went out into the Queen’s Road to try and see Hall, whom he wished to deliver a time-board to the engineers yard, which was on Hall’s run. The timeboard was for a man named Murray, who was working at Tillysburn.
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BET ON A FRIDAY Dodds said that he did not see Hall, but met a fitter called Albert Woods, who was going across Queens Road from the Abercorn Basin for his lunch in the crane department. Dodds asked Woods if he had seen Hall and Woods replied that he had. The time then was roughly 9.55a.m. He left Woods at the door of the crane department and returned to the time-office where he found Stranix alone. Dodds then put on his coat and cap and began talking to Stranix, who was not working then, but as he left he saw Stranix ‘toting up a column.’ Asked about the conversation with Stranix during this time, Dodds said that earlier a remark had been passed by Ardis about his boils, and Stranix said that that remark must have sickened Hall because he had gone away. Dodds said that he had asked Stranix if he thought his son, who was working at Monlough, would have a tax rebate the following week, and continued to talk to him about holiday payments. When he left Stranix it had been around 10.00a.m. and 10.15 a.m. In reply to Mr Jones, Dodds said that he had his overcoat and cap on then but did not have his bicycle with him. He went round to the crane department to see Roy Norwood, an apprentice fitter, with whom he backed horses and studied ‘the form.’ He said that he could not afford to back horses a lot, but he usually had a bet of 5s on a Friday. 24
Going to the fitting shop door he asked if Roy was in and someone replied that he was up on the crane. Dodds asked which crane and Woods said number 16, while McIlory said it was the second one along from the Abercorn Basin. DENIED STOPPING Only a minute or two was spent in the crane department and from there he went to the time-check-office for his bicycle. It had a puncture in the back wheel and he pumped it up. He then went down the Queens Road to its junction with Victoria Road. Going down Victoria Road to Victoria Wharf he met Edward Coulter, foreman paver, about 100 yards from where his men were working at the junction of Victoria Road and the wharf. He cycled along the wharf and spoke to Larry Duke and the men working on a pontoon and took their numbers. He then cycled across the footbridge. Dodds denied stopping at all on the footbridge and denied dropping an iron bar into the water. He said that he did not have an iron bar with him. Having crossed the footbridge, he went to the Alexander Dock and then to the Thompson Dock Pumping Station where he saw Harry McManus. From there he went to Queen’s Road and ‘next to the city side’ spoke to Paddy McKeown. While they were together, a man came along Queen’s Road and, in reply to McKeown’s query about the
Dr. G. B. Manning, Dr. J. B. Firth and Mr. A. J. Howard leaving the murder scene 25
time, said it was 10.45a.m. or 10.50a.m. Dodds then stated that he went to the Musgrave Road, the Musgrave Channel, Hamilton Road and on to the Airport Road, where on the Connsbank he met the ‘nipper’ of Rickerby’s squad, who told him that “the squad was the same as yesterday.” After he had visited the airport he went on to Lewis’s hut and entered the part that was used as an office. Here he wrote up the numbers of the timeboards. He had been very wet, and he rewrote a complete page which had been destroyed by the rain. Leaving the hut at 11.20a.m. he started back to the time office, first calling at the engineers yard, Sydenham Road, where he saw Hall and delivered a time-board for Vincent Murray. He explained that the yard was not on his run, and he had wanted to give the board earlier to Hall.
Dodds - No sir. Mr Jones - Did you hit him at all? Dodds - No sir. Mr Jones - Did you murder him? Dodds - No sir. Dodds denied that at the time of the murder he owned a pair of grey flannel trousers. He had bought a pair, he thought, in June 1954 but they had been worn out at the knees and the last time he remembered wearing them was in September or October. They had been given to his son, who had worn them to his work under his dungarees. He did not wear grey flannels on the morning of the murder. Dodds said that he could not explain why it had been sworn that there was blood on the lining of his overcoat. It might have come from his boils or from any of his eight small children. He denied that it had come from an iron bar under his coat.
SAW BLOOD OOZING When he got to the time office he opened the outer door with his key and immediately saw blood oozing into the office. After seeing what had happened in the inner office, he summoned help. He met Collins and Hall after the discovery and Collins asked who had seen Stranix last. “As I have heard Collins say, Hall said he saw him at 10.45 a.m., but I think he said five past eleven.” Mr Jones - Did you at any time assault Stranix in any way?
UNAWARE OF LETTER Explaining the financial position of the family, he said that he earned £6. 15s, the eldest boy had £3. 6s of which £2. 10s was handed into the house, the eldest girl gave in £1. 16s. 8d and one of the younger boys earned 22s. 6d delivering papers. Added to all that there was £2 family allowance. At the time of the murder he was in no greater money difficulties than usual, and on June 28th he was not aware of the letter from the legal department of a Belfast store
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Dodds said, during cross-examination by the Attorney General Mr Warnock, that Stranix was not his boss and would not have had any authority to tell him “it is time you were away on your round or duties.” He admitted that on the morning of June 28th he was ‘skimping’ his round of duty. He said he did not go to Tillyburn to deliver a timeboard to Vincent Murray because Murray had called in the engineers yard earlier that morning and “it is the practice of the timekeepers to take the boards to where they were ordered from and Murray’s was ordered from the engineers yard.” Mr Warnock - Why were you hanging around the time-office when you should have been out on your rounds? Dodds - I went back to the time office and had a conversation with Stranix. Referring to the dressing of Dodds’s boils by Stranix Mr Warnock said - I put it to you that your boil was not lanced at all. Dodds - My boil was lanced that morning. Mr Warnock - I put it to you that you invented it to create blood. Dodds - I had no need to create blood. Dodds told the court that he did not know Stranix’s head had been battered in when he found him, although other people had said he had come out stating that. He agreed that the only man who could have known Stranix’s head had been battered in at that time was the man who had done it.
NEVER DESPERATE FOR MONEY Questioned about his conversation from the footbridge with the man on the pontoon at Victoria Wharf, Dodds said that from the corner of the wharf the bridge of the pontoon could be seen. He denied that he was ‘well on’ the bridge before he saw the man. Dodds said that he was never desperate for money, but was never well off. He did lie to Rice to obtain money from him. Dodds denied being an untruthful man but admitted that he had told lies. He said that he had seen Stranix with sums of money amounting to £60 or £70, but refuted the suggestion that he was present at a time when Stranix produced £200. Dodds agreed that it would be dangerous for a man to carry large sums of money about, and that it would be particularly dangerous if a large number of people knew of his practice. He had never heard any talk about it being dangerous for Stranix to be carrying the money. Mr Warnock - Do you remember being in a boilerhouse and picking up an iron bar? Dodds - I didn’t. Mr Warnock - Have you ever heard any talk, even a jest, about relieving Stranix of his money? Dodds - Never, never. Mr Warnock - Did you ever say to McNerlan that “That would be a good thing to hit Sammy with?” Dodds - No sir, never. 27
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Dodds said it was definitely not him who dropped the bar over the footbridge. He had no explanation to offer for bloodstains on his jacket and the lining of his overcoat. “I cannot explain why the blood is there. I know it isn’t Stranix’s,” he stated. Neither could he explain the rust marks on the coat, and said he did not know there was a hole in the coat pocket. Re-examined by Mr Jones, at the end of Mr Warnock’s cross-examination, Dodds said that the reason he did not deliver a timeboard to Murray was that it was a very wet day. WORNOUT TROUSERS Mrs Sarah Kathleen Dodds, wife of the accused, was then called to the witness stand. She told the court that they had been married for 18 years and that they had nine children, the youngest of whom was born the previous November. She could not hope for a better husband, or father for her children. She said she managed the money matters in the house. Mrs Dodds explained that her husband’s grey flannel trousers had become worn out and had been passed on to their eldest son. The trousers were given to a rag man early in 1955, and brown corduroy trousers were bought to take their place. In cross-examination Mrs Dodds said that at the time of the investigation there were no grey trousers in the house. The police had searched in vain, and had even dug in the garden.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL The Crown case concluded at 12. 26 p.m. and Mr J. Brown, junior defence counsel, in his opening address to the jury, said that the trial had entered its fifth day with 59 witnesses having been called to give evidence. There was no one, he said, who could state - “I saw Dodds do this deed.” The evidence was circumstantial, and although it had been said that circumstantial evidence could be very strong, he felt the members of the jury would say that the evidence against Dodds was, to put it no more violently, weak. There was no sinister reason, he said, for the accused’s bread account being overdrawn, and the fact that the final notices from the Corporation electricity department and the Belfast Water Commissioners were not received until after the murder, did not throw light on the mind of Dodds on June 28th. “You will find,” he added, “that these facts massively arrayed against Dodds, are relatively trivial matters when it comes to suggesting a motive for murder.” Mr Brown suggested that the jury would be satisfied that it was not Dodds who had thrown the bar over the footbridge. Referring to the fact that Dodds’s overcoat, which was bloodstained, had been left hanging openly in the timeoffice for two days after the murder, 29
he asked:- “Can you believe that if this man had done the deed, and had known there was any risk of incriminating blood being found on his overcoat, he would have left it for two days in the place where the murder was committed?” No attempt had been made, he said, to group the blood on the overcoat, and no sample and been asked for or taken from Dodds.
described how Dodds went along Queen’s Road to Victoria Wharf, then to the Thompson and Alexandra Dock Pumping Station, back to Queen’s Road and up the Musgrave Channel to the airport. He said he left the hut at the airport about 11.20 a.m. and that he had done his rounds on a bicycle. Dodds related how on going into the outer portion of the time-office he found the inner door locked, which was unusual. He saw blood coming DISCREPANCIES through the door from Stranix’s office. Mr Brown went on to say that the He opened the door with his key, and Crown had made a great deal of alleged saw Stranix lying on the floor. He then discrepancies in times, but if the ran out shouting for help. evidence of one of the witnesses, who had telephone conversations with FULLER ACCOUNT Stranix, was correct, and if Stranix had District Inspector Walker told the court made entries in his ledger for four that on July 4 Dodds agreed to give him minutes, then the murder could not a fuller account of his movements on have been committed more than a June 28th. He made a statement saying minute before 10.30 a.m. Just after that he had left the office at 10.05a.m. or time Dodds, on the Crown’s own case, 10.10 a.m. and again described his was 1,000 yards or more away, talking round of the estate. He said he was to the ganger of the paving squad. wearing a green cloth overcoat. Inspector Walker said that when he was RAN SHOUTING FOR HELP taking the second statement, Dodds had The first of the three remaining Crown told him he had left the time-office at witnesses called was Joseph Glass, a 9.50 a.m., as in the original statement. former head-constable in the R.U.C. The inspector said he then informed He read the notes of a statement in Dodds that a man called Crawford had which he said he and District Inspector seen him leaving the office at 10.09 Walker had taken from Dodds on the a.m. Dodds thought for a moment, then afternoon of June 28th. In this Dodds said he had put on his clothes after had said he had left the time-office at having his boils dressed by Stranix, and 9.50 a.m. to go on his rounds. Stranix that it might have been 10.05a.m. or was then alone. The statement 10.10 a.m. when he left. 30
Dodds said that he did not remember meeting Crawford when he left the office, but that he did see him turning his van at the entrance to the crane office. County Inspector Kennedy was then called to give evidence. He told the court that he had taken two statements at two different dates. One was given the day after the murder at the crane office when a woman constable was present. FRIENDLY TERMS Dodds gave an account of his movements in which he said that on the morning of the murder the travelling timekeepers had chatted about the tennis at Wimbledon with Stranix. Dodds said he left the time-office about 9.50 a.m. and in the course of his rounds was at Lewis’s hut about 11.00 a.m., leaving at 11.20 a.m. when he went to the engineers yard. Dodds said he had known Stranix since working at the harbour about four years previously. He was on friendly terms with him. Many of the employees at the harbour were members of the television club run by Stranix, and it was well known that on many occasions he had money in his possession. He did not know whether Stranix carried the money on a particular day of the week to pay for the television set drawn on the previous Saturday
WARNED TO BE CAREFUL County Inspector Kennedy then read a statement said to have been made by Dodds on July 16 at Mountpottinger Police Barrack at 8.45 p.m. Before this statement was made he told Dodds he wished to ask him questions about the previous statements and warned him to be careful of his answers as the questions were about the murder of Samuel Stranix. In this statement Dodds said that although he had previously said he had left the time-office at 9.50a.m. he now said: “I did not leave until 10.10a.m., when I went round to the fitters shop and asked for Roy Norwood.” Afterwards he went to collect his bicycle in the passage-way outside the time-office, and, seeing Stranix inside, went in and stood talking to him. During the twenty minutes they were there Stranix did no work. They talked about ‘big wages’ which were due, and he left the time-office at 10.15. a.m. Dodds said that it would be untrue if anyone said that he had seen Stranix at 10.20 a.m., or if anyone said they had seen him leaving the time-office at 10.30 a.m. Dodds denied dropping anything into the water from the footbridge. He said he was wearing his coat and cap when he spoke to the two men on the pontoon. He was on the bridge for about four minutes, and then cycled to the Alexandra Pumping Station. The time was about 10.40 a.m., and he 31
remained at the pumping station for about ten minutes. Mr Kennedy told Mr Jones in crossexamination that Dodds was interviewed for a total of 10 hours by the police. He denied that Dodds was being ‘probed’ all that time. ‘Probed’ was the wrong word he said: he would describe the examination as ‘ discussions.’ He added that Dodds had not been put on an identification parade. MAJOR LINKS Mr Jones, senior counsel for Dodds, said that the Crown had sought to fasten the charge on Dodds by a chain of circumstantial evidence. He suggested that there were four major links and four minor links in the chain. The major links were (1) the time factor in relation to the time Dodds had left the time-office and the time Stranix was known to be alive: (2) the blood: (3) the episode on the footbridge concerning the bar: (4) the alleged incident in the pumping station when a witness claimed that Dodds picked up an iron bar and made an observation about hitting “Sammy with it.” The minor links were (1) Dodds’s failure to do his work perfectly on the morning of June 28: (2) his change of times in his statements: (3) the allegedly missing trousers: (4) his financial situation. After referring to the evidence concerning the links, Mr Jones submitted that a case had not been 32
proved against Dodds, and said the jury might feel that the evidence had proved he was not guilty. Addressing the jury on behalf of the Crown Mr Nicholson said that the Crown maintained that the jury must be convinced, awful though the decision might be, that Dodds was the man who committed the murder. ROBBERY MOTIVE There were certain things about the case which he felt were beyond question. Seventeen blows had been inflicted on Stranix, with one reason only - to make quite certain that he was dead and would tell no tale. It was also clear that the murderer knew Stranix and that Stranix knew the murderer. Mr Nicholson said it was a reasonable inference that Stranix had recognised his murderer before he died. He suggested that the jury could have no doubt that the motive for the crime was robbery. It was not a crime of passion. He added that the fact the murder had been committed in broad daylight showed that the murderer was ‘resolute and ruthless.’ FIENDISH AND BRUTAL Lord Justice Black said in his summing-up that all the evidence in the case was circumstantial. It was sometimes said that circumstantial evidence could not lie, while direct evidence could be mistaken or untruthful about what they saw.
His Lordship, remarking that time was of vital importance in the case, said the jury would have to be very careful that the times given were accurately assesses. “In this case accuracy in a few minutes may make a vital difference.” The judge stated that the Crown case
was that Dodds loitered for about halfan-hour after he should have started his round of the harbour estate so that he might have the opportunity of attacking Stranix. The murder, his Lordship said, was “most fiendish and brutal,” committed by a man with no feelings, who was
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playing for high stakes. Lord Justice Black referred to the coincidence of two witnesses having described both the bar thrown into the water from the footbridge and the one said to have been picked up by Dodds in the pumping station as being seveneighths of an inch in diameter. There might be nothing sinister in the explanation, but he thought it was a “funny coincidence.”
final day’s sitting in the six day trial, people having queued for over three hours before the sitting started. All day there was an overflow queue outside the courtroom and during the jury’s retirement from 4.03 p.m. to 5.03 p.m. people gathered on the street outside the building to await the verdict.
JURY DISCHARGE The members of the jury who were in strict confinement during the case, NOT GUILTY were told by Lord Justice Black, after From the evidence, many people Dodds’s discharge, that they would be believed that Dodds was going to be excluded from service for 15 years. found guilty and subsequently hanged. After a retirement of exactly one hour NOT ENOUGH! the jury of nine men and three women So who killed Samuel Stranix? Today found Samuel Dodds not guilty of the this case remains unsolved as the brutal murder of Samuel Stranix. investigation into it failed to discover Immediately after the verdict was any additional evidence. In relation to announced, the judge ordered Dodds the trial itself there were a lot of to be released, and the 38 year old man, questions which went unanswered. For who had been in prison for six months example why did one person say they awaiting trial, hastily left the courtroom saw Mr Dodds lift an iron bar and to return home. another say that they saw him dispose of it? If they were telling the truth then POLICE ESCORT this would explain why the blood and Dodds was given a police escort by the rust appeared inside the overcoat. Was request of his solicitor. He was joined this not enough to convict Samuel by his wife, whose ninth child, a Dodds? Obviously not. daughter, born while he was in custody, In the Autumn of 1992 Samuel Dodds he still had to see. It was because of died. A feature on the Stranix murder the indisposition of his wife, a defence appeared in a Sunday newspaper that witness, that Dodds’s trial had been December and when a reporter asked postponed from the previous City Mrs Dodds about the events of 1955 Commission. all she would say was:- “It destroyed The court was crowded throughout the our lives.”
As part of the New Lodge Festival the Glenravel Project are organising a few events which might be of interest to our readers Sunday 23rd August 7am (yes 7am!) HISTORIC DUBLIN This will be a walking tour of Dublin City Centre, a visit to Kilmainham Jail and Glasnevin Cemetery. Cost ÂŁ10 Saturday 29th August 11am WALKING TOUR OF THE HISTORIC CLIFTON STREET CEMETERY Visit the graves of prominent United Irishmen including its founder William Drennan as well as two of the largest 'famine graves' in this part of Ireland Admission Free Sunday 30th 11am HEALTHY HISTORY A walk up Cavehill to look at some of the stories associated with this marvellous area. Good walking boot or shoes recommended as well as refreshments. We also promise not to get lost this year! Admission Free FOR ADDITIONAL INFO CONTACT THE GLENRAVEL PROJECT ON 9074 2255
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