The ‘pretty schoolgirl’ found murdered on allotments and the railwayman who killed her

The Pretty Schoolgirl Found Murdered and the Railwayman Who Killed Her

A tragic tale unfolds as a young girl is found murdered, leading to a shocking revelation about her suspected killer

Crime

Mary Drury, Crosby, Lancashire, Murder, Railwayman

Crosby: Back in February 1920, a man heading to work stumbled upon something horrific. He found a young girl’s body in a ditch, and it was a real shocker.

This girl, just 15, had her dark hair all messed up and was in a terrible state. Her mouth was tied shut, and there were serious injuries to her throat. It was heartbreaking.

The police didn’t find any weapons at the scene, but they did come across a couple of important clues. A cigarette holder and a handkerchief were the only things that could help them figure out what happened.

Mary Drury, the girl, had left home that evening, saying she was off to see a friend. But when she didn’t come back, her dad got worried and started looking for her.

He found out she hadn’t even gone to her friend’s house. Mary had also mentioned visiting an uncle, but that didn’t happen either. Her dad was really concerned since she was usually home by 9.

After searching all night, the police got involved the next morning. They took the clues they found but still couldn’t locate any weapon.

Mary’s body was examined, and it was clear she had suffered serious head injuries. Thankfully, there was no sign of sexual abuse, but it was still a brutal crime.

Then, just a day later, a railway worker was found dead near Sandhills Station. This guy, Leahy, had talked to Mary before, and he had blood on his coat that night.

Mary’s friend said they often met, and he even owed her some money. When questioned, Leahy seemed to know too much about the murder, which raised eyebrows.

Hair matching Mary’s was found on his coat, along with blood. The jury later decided he was the one responsible for her death.

Sadly, Leahy took his own life on the railway track, and the inquest ruled Mary’s death as murder. Hundreds showed up for Mary’s funeral, and it was a really emotional day.

It’s a tragic story that shook the community, and it’s hard to believe something like this could happen.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/pretty-schoolgirl-found-murdered-allotments-30744229