Listers may recall me asking about a week ago whether anyone had ever seen a photograph of Leechmere House in Ryhope. It is my interest in Leechmere House which has led me on to Haswell Lodge and William Fairbairn Hall. It was William's son Thomas, who was the last person to own Leechmere House as a private dwelling. Thomas died in 1930, his wife, Kate Alexander (Comrie) died in 1939. I did finally come across a photograph of Leechmere House, taken for the Sunderland Echo, in 1938. By then, the garden looked overgrown and there was what looked like a simple barbed wire fence around the building. The photograph appeared in the Sunderland Echo with a simple caption to say that it was being sold and was to become a home for retired miners. Judging by the state of the place, Thomas' wife Kate must have moved out quite some time previously. I was interested as to where Thomas' wealth had come from, because his wife didn't seem to have been short of a penny or two herself. However, when Thomas' father William Fairbairn Hall died, he left the impressive sum of £41,760. Probate records indicate William died 6 March 1907. My next project is to find how the press reported the attempted murder of William Fairbairn Hall. If anyone has any cuttings or other information, I would be thrilled to hear from you! Many, many thanks for those who replied this evening to my posting... this list is a frighteningly brilliant resource and populated by some of the most helpful people I have ever come across. Kind regards... David Allan.

Hi David Henry Whittle was found guilty of the attempted murder of William Fairbairn Hall, at Durham Assizes on Monday 28th April 1884. He committed suicide by hanging himself with his handkerchief from the gas-pipe in his cell on Thursday May 1st 1884. The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Friday, May 2, 1884; Issue 14373. Stan Mapstone