Murder on Franchise Street, Pendleton
Catherine Quinn (kate) was found dead at 71 Franchise Street where she and Thomas Leatherbarrow lodged with Mary Sweeney.
Early Saturday morning 8th January 1887 Leatherbarrow several months out of work kissed Kate as he left the house telling her he had found work and would be returning home around two o’clock that afternoon. Mary left for work a few minutes later leaving Kate alone in the house. Leatherbarrow arrived home much earlier than expected, neighbours heard the couple having another disagreement, presumed about money. Kate came to the front door and shouted acrossthe road asking Frank Craddock the 12 year old son of Catherine and Thomas Barrett to go to Cotterells cotton mill where she worked and collect her wages from the previous week and she would pay him two pence for his trouble. The boy went off, returning he went to give the money to Kate but Leatherbarrow grabbed the wages from him in an agitated state and pushed past the boy uttering he was going to find a glass of whisky for Kate. Next door neighbour Eliza Doyle noticed the boy handing over the wages and shortly after sent her young daughter Maggie to visit Kate and collect a small amount of money that she had borrowed earlier in the week. The child well known to both Kate and Mary let herself in through the back door and shouted Kate, thinking her busy upstairs the girl climbed the stairs and found Kate dead lying on a mattress in a bedroom.
The distraught girl ran home and told her mother who sent for the police, constable John Baxter along with Sergeant Hollingworth arrived at the house. Baxter took Kates wrist, feeling no pulse he immediately sent for a doctor. Kates estranged husband John Quinn of 53 Joseph Street, Pendleton formally identified her body.
A search for Leatherbarrow was swiftly arranged, he was discovered by police constable Cochrane walking along the Crescent. As he was arrested Leatherbarrow asked “ is she dead? I hope she is dead; I intended doing it; I will swing for her at the assizes; I know my doom and I am ready to die.” He appeared to be quite drunk and announced he would not set a foot beyond the Black Horse without a glass of whisky. Cochrane contained the prisoner in the public house until assistance arrived and he was hence removed to Salford Town Hall and locked up. Eventually appearing sober the following afternoon he was charged with the wilful murder of Kate. Leatherbarrow said “is she dead?” to which Cochrane replied “yes” he then responded “ then I am satisfied”. His first appearance at the Salford Police Court before magistrates J. Makinson and G. W. Gadd took place on the 12th January where he pleading guilty and was remanded in custody . A subsequent court appearance was arranged for the following week when autopsy and inquest reports would be available for consideration.
A search for Leatherbarrow was swiftly arranged, he was discovered by police constable Cochrane walking along the Crescent. As he was arrested Leatherbarrow asked “ is she dead? I hope she is dead; I intended doing it; I will swing for her at the assizes; I know my doom and I am ready to die.” He appeared to be quite drunk and announced he would not set a foot beyond the Black Horse without a glass of whisky. Cochrane contained the prisoner in the public house until assistance arrived and he was hence removed to Salford Town Hall and locked up. Eventually appearing sober the following afternoon he was charged with the wilful murder of Kate. Leatherbarrow said “is she dead?” to which Cochrane replied “yes” he then responded “ then I am satisfied”. His first appearance at the Salford Police Court before magistrates J. Makinson and G. W. Gadd took place on the 12th January where he pleading guilty and was remanded in custody . A subsequent court appearance was arranged for the following week when autopsy and inquest reports would be available for consideration.
Witness Dr William Wilson, surgeon of Broad Street performed the autopsy, in his judgement death was caused by violent blows to the head with a blunt instrument, possibly a hammer or person wearing clogs.
He uncovered considerable bruising and swelling over the right cheek bone, bruising of the left eye, several puncture wounds around her mouth, a deep wound on the left side of her jaw penetrating to the bone and two deep wounds to the back of the head.
It was agreed with the coroner the wounds could not have been self-inflicted, nor caused by a fall. The first blow would undoubtedly have rendered her incapable to offer any further resistance.
Leatherbarrow followed this evidence with another angry outburst saying “A hammer was never used. I am not afraid to tell. I did it with my fist and clog, and she did not live two minutes. She was done by the first kick under the jaw.”
He uncovered considerable bruising and swelling over the right cheek bone, bruising of the left eye, several puncture wounds around her mouth, a deep wound on the left side of her jaw penetrating to the bone and two deep wounds to the back of the head.
It was agreed with the coroner the wounds could not have been self-inflicted, nor caused by a fall. The first blow would undoubtedly have rendered her incapable to offer any further resistance.
Leatherbarrow followed this evidence with another angry outburst saying “A hammer was never used. I am not afraid to tell. I did it with my fist and clog, and she did not live two minutes. She was done by the first kick under the jaw.”
Since Leatherbarrow had pleaded guilty to the murder charge, the declaration by the High Sheriff of Lancashire (Sir A.B. Walker) confirming the date of Execution for 8 a.m. Tuesday 15th February 1887 within the confines of Strangeways prison was merely a necessary formality.
It transpired during the trial that Leatherbarrow was well known to the police for his violent and drunken behaviour, in 1880 whilst living in Cook Street with his family he was charged with the attempted murder of his wife and son. After a heavy drinking session his wife Elizabeth attempted to wake him for work. Leatherbarrow attacked her with a hammer fracturing her skull and cutting her with a razor, his son John harmed trying to protect his mother. Elizabeth lay critically ill in hospital, although released from hospital after several weeks she sadly passed away a few years later leaving behind a son and three daughters. It was said the trauma from the assault contributed to her death, she is interred in a common grave of Catholic denomination at Weaste Cemetery. A court sentenced him to five years imprisonment for the ferocious attack.
The prisoner it transpired slept well the night prior to the 15th February, though needed no rousing by prison officers at 6 a.m. the usual rising time for condemned criminals on the execution morning. Approaching 7 a.m. he consumed a breakfast of tea and bread. Executioner Berry entered the convicted man’s cell at 7.56. With his arms securely bound Leatherbarrow submitted willingly to the scaffold at the end of B wing led by Berry along with an officer on either side of him, Reverend John Draper prison chaplain conducted the expected prayers. Throughout his three weeks in prison Leatherbarrow had the privilege of daily religious instruction though gave little or no heed to any comfort this may have presented. His son and three daughters accompanied by other relatives paid him numerous visits in gaol, on no occasion did he display any signs of repentance for his crime. His final audience with family took place the previous Friday when all four children and relatives bade him goodbye. He told the children he had no regrets having killed Kate wishing them to think well of her in their memories. Of Mary Sweeney he was still outraged and in a final torrent of abuse told those who cared to listen his only remorse being she had escaped his vengeance, adamant to the end that she was the cause of all his troubles and if there was a way to come back and haunt and torment her he would do so.
So Kate Quinn would not be laid to rest without a fitting funeral neighbours collected money to pay for her internment at Weaste Cemetery. Two thousand people lined the streets to pay their respects.
It transpired during the trial that Leatherbarrow was well known to the police for his violent and drunken behaviour, in 1880 whilst living in Cook Street with his family he was charged with the attempted murder of his wife and son. After a heavy drinking session his wife Elizabeth attempted to wake him for work. Leatherbarrow attacked her with a hammer fracturing her skull and cutting her with a razor, his son John harmed trying to protect his mother. Elizabeth lay critically ill in hospital, although released from hospital after several weeks she sadly passed away a few years later leaving behind a son and three daughters. It was said the trauma from the assault contributed to her death, she is interred in a common grave of Catholic denomination at Weaste Cemetery. A court sentenced him to five years imprisonment for the ferocious attack.
The prisoner it transpired slept well the night prior to the 15th February, though needed no rousing by prison officers at 6 a.m. the usual rising time for condemned criminals on the execution morning. Approaching 7 a.m. he consumed a breakfast of tea and bread. Executioner Berry entered the convicted man’s cell at 7.56. With his arms securely bound Leatherbarrow submitted willingly to the scaffold at the end of B wing led by Berry along with an officer on either side of him, Reverend John Draper prison chaplain conducted the expected prayers. Throughout his three weeks in prison Leatherbarrow had the privilege of daily religious instruction though gave little or no heed to any comfort this may have presented. His son and three daughters accompanied by other relatives paid him numerous visits in gaol, on no occasion did he display any signs of repentance for his crime. His final audience with family took place the previous Friday when all four children and relatives bade him goodbye. He told the children he had no regrets having killed Kate wishing them to think well of her in their memories. Of Mary Sweeney he was still outraged and in a final torrent of abuse told those who cared to listen his only remorse being she had escaped his vengeance, adamant to the end that she was the cause of all his troubles and if there was a way to come back and haunt and torment her he would do so.
So Kate Quinn would not be laid to rest without a fitting funeral neighbours collected money to pay for her internment at Weaste Cemetery. Two thousand people lined the streets to pay their respects.
For some time after large crowds of sightseers descended outside the house on Franchise Street to view the crime scene. As a deterrent it was renamed Rossall Street.
Rossall Street was demolished in the house clearances of the 1960's to make way for the shopping centre. The location is now marked as Rossall Way.
Rossall Street was demolished in the house clearances of the 1960's to make way for the shopping centre. The location is now marked as Rossall Way.
Research and text © Susan Tydd 2023
Please do not reproduce without permission
Please do not reproduce without permission