Murder of George Harry Storrs: Difference between revisions

George Harry Storrs
George Harry Storrs
Born	Stalybridge, Cheshire, England
Died	November 1, 1909; Stalybridge, Cheshire, England
Cause of death	Stabbing
Known for	Victim of unsolved murder

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The murder of George Harry Storrs occurred on 1 November 1909 in Stalybridge, Cheshire, England. Despite two trials, no one was convicted of the crime.

Storrs had been receiving anonymous threatening letters following the suicide of his former lover. He was placed under police protection but was found stabbed to death within his residence. There were at least six known suspects in the murder, but no motive for the murder could be established. The description of an unnamed suspect seen by Storrs' cook did not match either of the two men who were placed on trial.

In 2010, a historian connected this murder to the murder of Hannah Etchells, which took place months after Storrs' murder.

Background

George was the third son of William Storrs,^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] a very successful builder^[5] in Stalybridge, Cheshire. George inherited control of William's business. George lived at Gorse Hall in Stalybridge, with his wife, Maggie (née Middleton). They had married when he was 30 and she was 35. To the public, the marriage appeared loveless and childless, unlike that of George's older brother James, and it is possible that this was a cause of friction between the two brothers. However, there was solid evidence of Maggie and George sharing a deep love for each other, as witnessed by their niece, Marion Lindley.

Another brother William Henry had died in 1903. Cornelius Howard, a cousin of George Harry Storrs, was originally a petty thief but joined the British Army and rose to the rank of Bombardier. Cornelius was not liked by George. When Cornelius approached George for a position in the company, George refused.

Extramarital affair

George's friend Robert Innes, a local solicitor, employed a governess for his children and George allegedly began a relationship with the young woman, Maria Hohl. Maria suddenly decided to leave Stalybridge, purportedly to attend Oxford University. She then returned, equally as suddenly, some eight months later but did not see George again. Goodman^[6] wrote that Maria gave birth to a child during her absence from Stalybridge. After her return to Stalybridge, Maria Hohl committed suicide by drowning herself in a canal.

Robert Innes was a distant relation to George Harry Storrs through marriage. Robert Innes' first wife was Eliza Storrs and they had a daughter Eliza Storrs Innes. Eliza's father, John Storrs, was involved in the management of Taylor, Lang & Co the major textile engineering company in the town. He and his cousin William, George Harry's father, lived next door to each other in Mottram Road, Stalybridge.^[7]^[2]

Threats preceding the murder

After Maria's death, George started receiving anonymous threatening letters. Following her death, he may have felt that he had a debt to pay, and thus feared a reason that he could be killed. This meant he could only really confide in his faithful servant, James Worrell.

Shortly afterwards, Gorse Hall was attacked twice. The first attack, Goodman held, was staged (Goodman called it a burlesque), so that the police would take the threats seriously. A gun barrel was thrust through a window. This was probably done by Worrell. The attack made the police start patrols of the ground and a bell was installed to summon help in times of danger. George tested the bell, causing a lot of goodwill for George to evaporate.

Murder

The second attack, on the evening of 1 November 1909, was the fatal one. After "testing" the bell, George was not told by the police that they were protecting election buildings. At the time, there were preparations for the January 1910 general election.^[8]

This preoccupation of the police meant that help only arrived as he was dying. Maggie Storrs rang the bell for the second attack and refused to attend her husband's side as he lay dying. Her refusal was speculated to be her possible avoidance of hearing a confession of infidelity from her dying husband. Despite this, Maggie was very visibly shaken by her husband's murder and was reported to faint on several occasions.

Witnesses reported seeing an intruder with a gun, but Storrs was stabbed to death, with 15 stabs being noted on his body.^[8]

Trials

There were two trials: the first for George's cousin, Cornelius Howard, and the second for another local man, Mark Wilde. Wilde was brought to the attention of investigators after he had attacked a young courting couple. Both Howard and Wilde were defended by barrister^[9] Edward Theophilus Nelson, a British Guianan who had graduated from St John's College, Oxford, in 1902.^[10] Both men were acquitted.

Worrell's suicide

James Worrell committed suicide by hanging shortly after the burial of his employer.^[11]

Suspects

The two trials both resulted in acquittals and nobody was definitely proven to be the murderer. However, there are quite a few suspects. The case is examined in The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs by Jonathan Goodman,^[12] and featured in an episode of the television series In Suspicious Circumstances in 1995 ^[13] and Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder in 2005.

James Worrell worked with knives and guns, but had no reason to murder his employer.
Some people felt that James Storrs and/or Maggie Storrs hired a hitman. While James had no real motive, Maggie probably did know about Maria's baby.
Cornelius had no alibi, but again, had no real reason.
Mark Wilde had a compelling case against him, even though his mother had given an alibi for him. He suffered from mood swings, possibly caused by syphilis. He and George were enemies and he did have a conviction for a violent offence.
Julian Fellowes believes that the younger brother of Maria Hohl, John Gottfried Hohl, was the killer, and did it for revenge. This possibility was outlined by Goodman^[6] in 1983.

A year after the murder, Mrs Storrs had Gorse Hall torn down.^[14]

Modern day

In November 2009, the Friends of Gorse Hall, in conjunction with 2 Boards & A Passion Theatre Company, staged a walk through the town which culminated at the site of Gorse Hall. On the way, they stopped at the pub where James Worrell was drinking, and the theatre company performed scenes whilst in period dress.^[15]

In April 2010, local historian Barry Sullivan stated that he believed the murderer was a travelling carter named Alfred Derrick. Derrick had been convicted of killing his lover, Hannah Etchells, for which he was sentenced to life in prison. This murder occurred just a few months after the Storrs murder, and it is theorised that Derrick confessed to Etchells and then murdered her when he thought she was going to go to the police. Derrick's description seems to fit that given by the cook on the night of the Storrs murder, something that does not apply to Cornelius Howard or Mark Wilde.^[16]

References

^ Hill, Samuel (1907). Bygone Stalybridge, Traditional, Historical, Biographical. Samuel Hill. p. 291.
^ ^a ^b Cheshire, 1902. Kelly's Directory. Retrieved 7 August 2022. Gorse hall, G. Harry Storrs esq. ....Storrs George Harry, Gorse hall; Storrs James, The Hollies, Mustyn st; Storrs William, 219 Mottram road; Storrs Wm. Hy. Fern bank,Mottram rd;
^ Hinchliffe, J. H. (1909). History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, 1859-1909: With Chapters on Robert Owen, G.J. Holyoake, the Co-operative Movement Prior to 1859, and the Cotton Famine. Co-operative Printing Society. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ Hinchliffe, J. H. "History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society (II.)". Ian Petticrew. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ "Church of the Holy Trinity Ashton‑under‑Lyne - Building". Architects of Greater Manchester. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b Jonathan Goodman, The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs, Allison & Busby, London 1983
^ 1881 England and Wales Census
^ ^a ^b "Mystery walk for unsolved murder". BBC News. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
^ Reg Little (19 October 2006), Black Day for History, the Oxford Times, retrieved 29 November 2012
^ Jeffrey P. Green, Black Edwardians: Black people in Britain, 1901-1914, Taylor & Francis, 1998, ISBN 0-7146-4426-9, p.199
^ "The Murder". gorse-hall.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
^ Jonathan Goodman, Steve Fielding and Edith Brocklehurst. "Murder at Gorse Hall". stereograffiti.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
^ "In Suspicious Circumstances" The Golden Goose (1995)
^ "Gorse Hall". gorse-hall.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
^ "The unsolved Gorse Hall Murder". www.tameside.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
^ Weir, Kate (18 April 2010). "New suspect in 100-year-old murder". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

External links

[google/books=PA291=900GAQAAIAAJ-1] Hill, Samuel (1907). Bygone Stalybridge, Traditional, Historical, Biographical. Samuel Hill. p. 291.

[jstor.30136556-2] Cheshire, 1902. Kelly's Directory. Retrieved 7 August 2022. Gorse hall, G. Harry Storrs esq. ....Storrs George Harry, Gorse hall; Storrs James, The Hollies, Mustyn st; Storrs William, 219 Mottram road; Storrs Wm. Hy. Fern bank,Mottram rd;

[Hinchliffe-1909-Co-op-1859-1909-3] Hinchliffe, J. H. (1909). History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, 1859-1909: With Chapters on Robert Owen, G.J. Holyoake, the Co-operative Movement Prior to 1859, and the Cotton Famine. Co-operative Printing Society. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

[4] Hinchliffe, J. H. "History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society (II.)". Ian Petticrew. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

[5] "Church of the Holy Trinity Ashton‑under‑Lyne - Building". Architects of Greater Manchester. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

[ReferenceA-6] Jonathan Goodman, The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs, Allison & Busby, London 1983

[7] 1881 England and Wales Census

[Mystery_walk_for_unsolved_murder-8] "Mystery walk for unsolved murder". BBC News. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

[BBC_savage-9] Reg Little (19 October 2006), Black Day for History, the Oxford Times, retrieved 29 November 2012

[10] Jeffrey P. Green, Black Edwardians: Black people in Britain, 1901-1914, Taylor & Francis, 1998, ISBN 0-7146-4426-9, p.199

[11] "The Murder". gorse-hall.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

[12] Jonathan Goodman, Steve Fielding and Edith Brocklehurst. "Murder at Gorse Hall". stereograffiti.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

[13] "In Suspicious Circumstances" The Golden Goose (1995)

[14] "Gorse Hall". gorse-hall.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

[15] "The unsolved Gorse Hall Murder". www.tameside.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

[16] Weir, Kate (18 April 2010). "New suspect in 100-year-old murder". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

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+{{Short description|1909 murder in Stalybridge, England}}
 {{More citations needed|date=February 2010 | find=Gorse Hall murder | find2=William Storrs Stalybridge}}
 {{use British English|date=February 2017}}
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 ==Background==
-George was the third son of William Storrs,<ref name="google/books=PA291=900GAQAAIAAJ">{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Samuel |title=Bygone Stalybridge, Traditional, Historical, Biographical |date=1907 |publisher=Samuel Hill |page=291 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=900GAQAAIAAJ&dq=Storrs&pg=PA291 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jstor.30136556">{{cite book |title=Cheshire, 1902 |publisher=[[Kelly's Directory]] |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.30136556 |access-date=7 August 2022 |language=English |quote=Gorse hall, G. Harry Storrs esq. ....Storrs George Harry, Gorse hall; Storrs James, The Hollies, Mustyn st; Storrs William, 219 Mottram road;  Storrs Wm. Hy. Fern bank,Mottram rd;}}</ref><ref name="Hinchliffe-1909-Co-op-1859-1909">{{cite book |last1=Hinchliffe |first1=J. H. |title=History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, 1859-1909: With Chapters on Robert Owen, G.J. Holyoake, the Co-operative Movement Prior to 1859, and the Cotton Famine |date=1909 |publisher=Co-operative Printing Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g07wAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22William+Storrs%22&pg=PA154 |access-date=7 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hinchliffe |first1=J. H. |title=History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society (II.) |url=https://minorvictorianwriters.org.uk/Lancashire%20Miscellany/c_Stalybridge_Co-op_2.htm |website=Ian Petticrew |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref> a very successful builder<ref>{{cite web |title=Church of the Holy Trinity Ashton‑under‑Lyne - Building |url=https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/buildings/church-of-the-holy-trinity-ashtonunderlyne |website=Architects of Greater Manchester |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref> in [[Stalybridge]], [[Cheshire]].  George inherited control of William's business. George lived at [[Gorse Hall]] in Stalybridge, with his wife, Maggie (''née'' Middleton).  They had married late, he at 30 and she at 35. The marriage was both loveless and childless, unlike that of George's older brother James, and it is possible that this was a cause of friction between the two brothers. Another brother William Henry had died in 1903.  Cornelius Howard, a cousin of George Harry Storrs, was originally a petty thief but joined the [[British Army]] and rose to the rank of [[Bombardier (rank)|Bombardier]].  Cornelius was not liked by George. When Cornelius approached George for a position in the company, George refused.
+George was the third son of William Storrs,<ref name="google/books=PA291=900GAQAAIAAJ">{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Samuel |title=Bygone Stalybridge, Traditional, Historical, Biographical |date=1907 |publisher=Samuel Hill |page=291 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=900GAQAAIAAJ&dq=Storrs&pg=PA291 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jstor.30136556">{{cite book |title=Cheshire, 1902 |publisher=[[Kelly's Directory]] |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.30136556 |access-date=7 August 2022 |language=English |quote=Gorse hall, G. Harry Storrs esq. ....Storrs George Harry, Gorse hall; Storrs James, The Hollies, Mustyn st; Storrs William, 219 Mottram road;  Storrs Wm. Hy. Fern bank,Mottram rd;}}</ref><ref name="Hinchliffe-1909-Co-op-1859-1909">{{cite book |last1=Hinchliffe |first1=J. H. |title=History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, 1859-1909: With Chapters on Robert Owen, G.J. Holyoake, the Co-operative Movement Prior to 1859, and the Cotton Famine |date=1909 |publisher=Co-operative Printing Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g07wAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22William+Storrs%22&pg=PA154 |access-date=7 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hinchliffe |first1=J. H. |title=History of the Stalybridge Good Intent Industrial Co-operative Society (II.) |url=https://minorvictorianwriters.org.uk/Lancashire%20Miscellany/c_Stalybridge_Co-op_2.htm |website=Ian Petticrew |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref> a very successful builder<ref>{{cite web |title=Church of the Holy Trinity Ashton‑under‑Lyne - Building |url=https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/buildings/church-of-the-holy-trinity-ashtonunderlyne |website=Architects of Greater Manchester |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref> in [[Stalybridge]], [[Cheshire]]. George inherited control of William's business. George lived at [[Gorse Hall]] in Stalybridge, with his wife, Maggie (''née'' Middleton). They had married when he was 30 and she was 35. To the public, the marriage appeared loveless and childless, unlike that of George's older brother James, and it is possible that this was a cause of friction between the two brothers. However, there was solid evidence of Maggie and George sharing a deep love for each other, as witnessed by their niece, Marion Lindley.
+Another brother William Henry had died in 1903. Cornelius Howard, a cousin of George Harry Storrs, was originally a petty thief but joined the [[British Army]] and rose to the rank of [[Bombardier (rank)|Bombardier]]. Cornelius was not liked by George. When Cornelius approached George for a position in the company, George refused.
 ==Extramarital affair==
-George's friend Robert Innes, a local solicitor, employed a governess for his children and George began a relationship with the young woman, Maria Hohl.  Maria suddenly decided to leave Stalybridge, purportedly to attend [[Oxford University]]. She then returned, equally as suddenly, some eight months later but did not see George again. Goodman<ref name="ReferenceA">Jonathan Goodman, The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs, Allison & Busby, London 1983</ref> wrote that Maria gave birth to a child during her absence from Stalybridge. After her return to Stalybridge, Maria Hohl committed suicide by drowning herself in a canal.
+George's friend Robert Innes, a local solicitor, employed a governess for his children and George allegedly began a relationship with the young woman, Maria Hohl. Maria suddenly decided to leave Stalybridge, purportedly to attend [[Oxford University]]. She then returned, equally as suddenly, some eight months later but did not see George again. Goodman<ref name="ReferenceA">Jonathan Goodman, The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs, Allison & Busby, London 1983</ref> wrote that Maria gave birth to a child during her absence from Stalybridge. After her return to Stalybridge, Maria Hohl committed suicide by drowning herself in a canal.
-Robert Innes was a distant relation to George Harry Storrs through marriage. Robert Innes' first wife was Eliza Storrs and they had a daughter Eliza Storrs Innes. Eliza's father, John Storrs was involved in the management of [[Taylor, Lang & Co]] the major textile engineering company in the town. He and his cousin William, George Harry's father, lived next door to each other in Mottram Road, Stalybridge.<ref>1881 England and Wales Census</ref><ref name="jstor.30136556"/>
+Robert Innes was a distant relation to George Harry Storrs through marriage. Robert Innes' first wife was Eliza Storrs and they had a daughter Eliza Storrs Innes. Eliza's father, John Storrs, was involved in the management of [[Taylor, Lang & Co]] the major textile engineering company in the town. He and his cousin William, George Harry's father, lived next door to each other in Mottram Road, Stalybridge.<ref>1881 England and Wales Census</ref><ref name="jstor.30136556"/>
 ==Threats preceding the murder==
-After Maria's death, George started receiving anonymous threatening letters.  Due to her death, he felt he had a debt to pay and felt that he would be killed. This meant he could only really confide in his faithful servant, James Worrell.
+After Maria's death, George started receiving anonymous threatening letters. Following her death, he may have felt that he had a debt to pay, and thus feared a reason that he could be killed. This meant he could only really confide in his faithful servant, James Worrell.
 Shortly afterwards, Gorse Hall was attacked twice. The first attack, Goodman held, was staged (Goodman called it a [[burlesque]]), so that the police would take the threats seriously. A gun barrel was thrust through a window. This was probably done by Worrell. The attack made the police start patrols of the ground and a bell was installed to summon help in times of danger. George tested the bell, causing a lot of goodwill for George to evaporate.
 ==Murder==
-The second attack on the evening of 1 November 1909, was the fatal one. After "testing" the bell, George was not told by the police that they were protecting election buildings. At the time, there were preparations for the [[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|January 1910 general election]].<ref name="Mystery walk for unsolved murder">{{cite news|title=Mystery walk for unsolved murder|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8334147.stm|accessdate=20 February 2017|work=BBC News|date=30 October 2009}}</ref>
+The second attack, on the evening of 1 November 1909, was the fatal one. After "testing" the bell, George was not told by the police that they were protecting election buildings. At the time, there were preparations for the [[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|January 1910 general election]].<ref name="Mystery walk for unsolved murder">{{cite news|title=Mystery walk for unsolved murder|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8334147.stm|accessdate=20 February 2017|work=BBC News|date=30 October 2009}}</ref>
-This preoccupation of the police meant that help only arrived as he was dying. Maggie Storrs rang the bell for the second attack and refused to attend her husband's side as he lay dying. Her refusal was attributed to her wish to avoid hearing a confession of infidelity from her dying husband, thereby protecting her own reputation. Despite witnesses reporting seeing an intruder with a gun, Storrs was stabbed to death, with 15 stabs being noted on his body.<ref name="Mystery walk for unsolved murder"/>
+This preoccupation of the police meant that help only arrived as he was dying. Maggie Storrs rang the bell for the second attack and refused to attend her husband's side as he lay dying. Her refusal was speculated to be her possible avoidance of hearing a confession of infidelity from her dying husband. Despite this, Maggie was very visibly shaken by her husband's murder and was reported to faint on several occasions.
+Witnesses reported seeing an intruder with a gun, but Storrs was stabbed to death, with 15 stabs being noted on his body.<ref name="Mystery walk for unsolved murder"/>
 ==Trials==
-There were two trials: the first for George's cousin, Cornelius Howard, and the second for another local man, Mark Wilde. Wilde was brought to the attention of investigators after he had attacked a young courting couple. Both Howard and Wilde were defended by barrister<ref name="BBC savage">{{citation | url=http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/features/977154.Black_day_for_history/ | author=Reg Little | title=Black Day for History | publisher=the Oxford Times | accessdate=29 November 2012}}</ref> [[Edward Theophilus Nelson]], a [[British Guiana]]n who had graduated from [[St John's College, Oxford]], in 1902.<ref>[[Jeffrey P. Green]], ''Black Edwardians: Black people in Britain, 1901-1914'', Taylor & Francis, 1998, {{ISBN|0-7146-4426-9}}, p.199</ref> Both men were acquitted.
+There were two trials: the first for George's cousin, Cornelius Howard, and the second for another local man, Mark Wilde. Wilde was brought to the attention of investigators after he had attacked a young courting couple. Both Howard and Wilde were defended by barrister<ref name="BBC savage">{{citation | url=http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/features/977154.Black_day_for_history/ | author=Reg Little | title=Black Day for History | date=19 October 2006 | publisher=the Oxford Times | accessdate=29 November 2012}}</ref> [[Edward Theophilus Nelson]], a [[British Guiana]]n who had graduated from [[St John's College, Oxford]], in 1902.<ref>[[Jeffrey P. Green]], ''Black Edwardians: Black people in Britain, 1901-1914'', Taylor & Francis, 1998, {{ISBN|0-7146-4426-9}}, p.199</ref> Both men were acquitted.
 ==Worrell's suicide==
@@ Line 51: / Line 56: @@
 ==Suspects==
+The two trials both resulted in acquittals and nobody was definitely proven to be the murderer. However, there are quite a few suspects. The case is examined in ''The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs'' by Jonathan Goodman,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.stereograffiti.com/gorse/murder.htm | title=Murder at Gorse Hall | author=Jonathan Goodman, Steve Fielding and Edith Brocklehurst | publisher=stereograffiti.com | accessdate= 20 February 2017}}</ref> and featured in an episode of the television series ''[[In Suspicious Circumstances]]'' in 1995 <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0610474/ "In Suspicious Circumstances" The Golden Goose (1995)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and ''[[Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder]]'' in 2005.
-The two trials both resulted in acquittals and nobody was definitely proven to be the murderer. However, there are quite a few suspects.
-The case is examined in ''The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs'' by Jonathan Goodman,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.stereograffiti.com/gorse/murder.htm | title=Murder at Gorse Hall | author=Jonathan Goodman, Steve Fielding and Edith Brocklehurst | publisher=stereograffiti.com | accessdate= 20 February 2017}}</ref> and featured in an episode of the television series ''[[In Suspicious Circumstances]]'' in 1995 <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0610474/ "In Suspicious Circumstances" The Golden Goose (1995)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and ''[[Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder]]'' in 2005.
 * James Worrell worked with knives and guns, but had no reason to murder his employer.
-* Some people felt that James Storrs and/or Maggie Storrs hired a hitman.  While James had no real motive, Maggie probably did know about Maria's baby.
+* Some people felt that James Storrs and/or Maggie Storrs hired a hitman. While James had no real motive, Maggie probably did know about Maria's baby.
 * Cornelius had no alibi, but again, had no real reason.
-* Mark Wilde had a compelling case against him, even though his mother had given an alibi for him.  He suffered from mood swings, possibly caused by [[syphilis]]. He and George were enemies and he did have a conviction for a violent offence.
+* Mark Wilde had a compelling case against him, even though his mother had given an alibi for him. He suffered from mood swings, possibly caused by [[syphilis]]. He and George were enemies and he did have a conviction for a violent offence.
-* Fellowes also believes that the younger brother of Maria Hohl, John Gottfried Hohl, was the killer, and did it for revenge. This possibility was outlined by Goodman<ref name="ReferenceA"/> in 1983.
+* [[Julian Fellowes]] believes that the younger brother of Maria Hohl, John Gottfried Hohl, was the killer, and did it for revenge. This possibility was outlined by Goodman<ref name="ReferenceA"/> in 1983.
 A year after the murder, Mrs Storrs had Gorse Hall torn down.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gorse Hall|url=http://gorse-hall.co.uk/index.htm|website=gorse-hall.co.uk|accessdate=20 February 2017}}</ref>
 ==Modern day==
-In November 2009, the Friends of Gorse Hall, in conjunction with the Two Boards and a Passion Theatre Company, staged a walk through the town which culminated at the site of Gorse Hall. On the way, they stopped at the pub where James Worrell was drinking, and the theatre company performed scenes whilst in period dress.<ref>{{cite web|title=The unsolved Gorse Hall Murder|url=http://www.tameside.gov.uk/ttv/gorsehallmurder|website=www.tameside.gov.uk|accessdate=20 February 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010042/http://www.tameside.gov.uk/ttv/gorsehallmurder|archivedate=21 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
+In November 2009, the Friends of Gorse Hall, in conjunction with 2 Boards & A Passion Theatre Company, staged a walk through the town which culminated at the site of Gorse Hall. On the way, they stopped at the pub where James Worrell was drinking, and the theatre company performed scenes whilst in period dress.<ref>{{cite web|title=The unsolved Gorse Hall Murder|url=http://www.tameside.gov.uk/ttv/gorsehallmurder|website=www.tameside.gov.uk|accessdate=20 February 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010042/http://www.tameside.gov.uk/ttv/gorsehallmurder|archivedate=21 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
-In April 2010, local historian Barry Sullivan stated that he believed the murderer was a travelling carter named Alfred Derrick. Derrick had been convicted of killing his lover, Hannah Etchells, and dumping her body in a canal, for which he was sentenced to life in prison. This murder occurred just a few months after the Storrs murder, and it is theorised that Derrick confessed to Etchells and then murdered her when he thought she was going to go to the police. Derrick's description seems to fit that given by the cook on the night of the Storrs murder, something that does not apply to Cornelius Howard or Mark Wilde.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weir|first1=Kate|title=New suspect in 100-year-old murder|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/new-suspect-in-100-year-old-murder-977375|accessdate=20 February 2017|work=Manchester Evening News|date=18 April 2010}}</ref>
+In April 2010, local historian Barry Sullivan stated that he believed the murderer was a travelling carter named Alfred Derrick. Derrick had been convicted of killing his lover, Hannah Etchells, for which he was sentenced to life in prison. This murder occurred just a few months after the Storrs murder, and it is theorised that Derrick confessed to Etchells and then murdered her when he thought she was going to go to the police. Derrick's description seems to fit that given by the cook on the night of the Storrs murder, something that does not apply to Cornelius Howard or Mark Wilde.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weir|first1=Kate|title=New suspect in 100-year-old murder|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/new-suspect-in-100-year-old-murder-977375|accessdate=20 February 2017|work=Manchester Evening News|date=18 April 2010}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 87: / Line 91: @@
 ==External links==
-* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060205200126/http://www.tameside.gov.uk/corpgen/millennium/yearbook13.html Tameside Murders]
 * [http://www.stereograffiti.com/gorse/murder.htm Murder at Gorse Hall]
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060205200126/http://www.tameside.gov.uk/corpgen/millennium/yearbook13.html Tameside Murders]
 {{Authority control}}
@@ Line 97: / Line 101: @@
 [[Category:20th century in Cheshire]]
 [[Category:Deaths by stabbing in England]]
-[[Category:Male murder victims]]
 [[Category:November 1909 events]]
 [[Category:Stalybridge]]