Description

William Hodge & Co. Ltd [Published Date: 1947]. Part of the Notable British Trials series. Hardcover, 313 pp. No other printings listed. Red cloth covered boards with blind-stamped publisher's mark on front and faded gold lettering on spine. Light nicking and fraying to cloth at corner tips and top and bottom of spine. Light to moderate overall scuffing, aging and soiling to covers as well. Spine cocked and cracked along front and rear hinges but pages and text block are still intact. Previous owner's name on front free end paper and a few other small marking on front and rear paste-downs. Otherwise pages are aged but unmarked, with occasional light spotting and soiling. A solid reading copy. Some black and white illustrations. provides an in-depth analysis of the infamous 1946 "Chalk Pit Murder," where John McMain Mudie, a barman, was found murdered in a chalk pit near Woldingham, Surrey. The crime was orchestrated by Thomas John Ley, a former Australian politician, who believed Mudie was romantically involved with his mistress. Ley enlisted the help of Lawrence John Smith to kidnap and murder Mudie. The trial, held in 1947 at the Old Bailey, led to both men being found guilty and sentenced to death, though Ley was later declared insane and committed to Broadmoor Asylum, where he died the same year. Contents include: Introduction, Chronological Table, The Trial, and detailed transcripts of court proceedings, witness testimonies, and legal arguments. Features: A comprehensive legal record of the case, including photographs, courtroom illustrations, and plans related to the crime scene. A valuable resource for legal historians and true crime enthusiasts.