During a visit to the National Archives I came across a story that, whilst initially horrific, demonstrated how strange life can be and how, despite all that comes our way, love can sometimes still shine through.
On Wednesday 19 November 1941, The Honourable Sir Malcolm Martin Macnaghten, a Justice of the High Court, presided over 16 criminal cases held at the Shire Hall, Stafford. Of these, 6 involved serving British soldiers. Two were charged with Bigamy, one with Rape, one for Murder and two for Attempted Murder.
A case of attempted murder was heard against 23 year-old Private Samson Cross, of 14, Burn Street, Chadsmoor, serving with the South Lancashire Regiment. He had been named after his uncle, Samson Cross, who was reported missing on the 13 October 1915 at Loos, whilst serving with the 1st/6th South Staffordshire Regiment.
On the morning of 15 September 1941, Cross told a Policeman, P.C. Weaver, he had murdered his girlfriend, 19 year-old Vera Muriel Woollaston, who lived at 8, Burn Street, Chadsmoor. They had known each other for many years but had been “keeping company” for six months at which point there had been a “tiff” between them. On that morning, Vera was doing housework when Cross called at her home and asked if they could come to some understanding. She replied: “You should know by now.” He asked her for a letter he had written to her and when she handed it over, he tore it up. She was then bending down to change her boots when Cross put his hands around her throat and attempted to strangle her, after which he picked up a hammer and struck her on the head. She fell to the floor, and Cross left the house.
He approached P.C. Weaver saying, “I have just murdered a girl by hitting her with a hammer and strangling her.” The Policeman entered the house where he found a pool of blood on the kitchen floor and a blood-stained hammer on the table. Cross made a statement describing how he attacked Vera, adding, “I intended to kill her, but my nerve failed me.” He appeared at Cannock Police Court on 23 September 1941, and was held in remand until his case could be heard at the assizes.
Vera, however, had survived the attack, all she remembered was finding herself lying face downwards and alone in the room. She had no recollection of being struck. Her injuries were, it seems, quite minor. Cross pleaded guilty to wounding Vera but not guilty to a more serious charge of wounding with intent to murder. He was described by his defence as a man of good character, who had acted in an isolated outburst of violence committed while in a fit of jealousy. Macnaghten sentenced the soldier to be bound over on good behaviour for three years. He also made a condition that Cross could not go within 10 miles of Vera’s home without the written permission of her father or grandfather with whom she lived.
It seems that permission was soon granted, as Samson and Vera were married just a few weeks later. They had one child, Samuel, who was born in December 1945 (passed away 2011). Despite this dreadful incident, they remained together for more than 40 years, until 7 November 1984 when Vera passed away aged 62. Samson, seemingly broken-hearted, died just three weeks later.
Remember Them.
Source:
National Archives – HO144/21640
Ancestry (Vera Muriel Cross)
In The Frontline 