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Sam MorganMurderer
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Murder in Seaforth
- The Investigation
- The Suspect
- The Clues
- The Nurse's Testimony
- The Suspect Emerges
- The Arrest
- The Siblings
- The Bandage
- The Conviction
Murder in Seaforth
The VictimOn a gloomy November evening in 1940, the body of a young girl, later identified as 15-year-old Mary Heagan, was discovered in a coastal bunker at Seaforth, Preston.
The Investigation
William Ferns, the director of Northwest Forensic Science Laboratory, was summoned to the scene. Amidst the chaos and debris, he meticulously examined the crime site and the victim's body, which bore signs of strangulation, bruising, and dirt.
The Suspect
Sergeant Floyd, the investigating officer, provided Ferns with initial details. Mary Heagan had left her home to purchase a newspaper and tobacco for her father. She was last seen buying items at local stores near the crime scene. Upon learning of the girl's demise, her parents launched a frantic search, eventually finding her in the bunker.
The Clues
Ferns' examination of the bunker revealed crucial evidence: a newspaper dated November 2, a handkerchief, a glove, soil samples, and a bloodstained bandage with a possible ointment residue. Ferns suspected that the bandage might belong to the killer, who may have injured his thumb while struggling with Mary and then pressed his bloodied finger to her neck.
The Nurse's Testimony
Ferns' examination of Mary Heagan's wounds revealed a bloodstain on her neck, which could not be fingerprinted. However, recalling the bandage, he theorized that the bloodstain could have come from the assailant's injured thumb.
The Suspect Emerges
Detective Inspector Floyd's investigation led him to a suspicious individual named Samuel Morgan, who was seen near the crime scene that fateful evening. Morgan's physical description also matched that of a man who had attacked and robbed a woman on October 4.
The Arrest
On November 13, Morgan was arrested in London. Despite an initial denial, he confessed to finding Mary Heagan on the ground, taking her money, and leaving her unharmed in the bunker.
The Siblings
Floyd's subsequent investigation revealed that Morgan's brother, Francis, had also deserted from the barracks and was missing. Francis was eventually apprehended and admitted to meeting Morgan on the evening of November 2. Francis confirmed that Morgan had a bloody thumb and asked for bandages.
The Bandage
Morgan's sister-in-law, Mildred, testified that she had bandaged Morgan's thumb on October 31 and November 1. Analysis of the bandage material positively matched that found in the bunker and on Morgan's clothing, conclusively proving his presence at the crime scene.
The Conviction
On February 10, 1941, Samuel Morgan was charged with murder. Despite retracting his confession, the jury convicted him based on the overwhelming circumstantial evidence. On April 4, 1941, he was hanged for the murder of Mary Heagan.
