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Martha Holland

Age: 43

Sex: female

Date: 14 Apr 1928

Place: 21 Hewertson Street, Newport

Martha Holland was found injured at her home covered with bruises and blood and later died in hospital.

A coal trimmer, aged 39, was charged with her murder and tried at the Monmouthshire Assizes in June 1928 but was found not guilty and was discharged.

Martha Holland was a widow and lived at 21 Hewertson Street with her 18-year-old son.

On the Saturday night, 14 April 1928, Martha Holland had gone out with the coal trimmer and was thought to have returned with him later at about 10.30pm. Neighbours said that they later heard smashing of crockery and high words being spoken.

Shortly before midnight Martha Holland's son returned home and found his mother unconscious on the couch in the kitchen. She was badly bruised about the head and broken crockery lay about. He told the neighbours who then called the police who then took her to hospital where she later died on the Sunday evening.

At the trial the court heard that there was not enough evidence to indicate that her injuries were not accidental and a doctor admitted that the injury to the front of her head could have been caused by a fall against some woodwork.

The coal trimmer said that he had hit her in self-defence.


*map pointers are rough estimates based on known location details as per Place field above.

see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

see Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 15 June 1928

see Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 14 June 1928

see Sheffield Independent - Friday 15 June 1928