John was the son of THOMAS GILL, a cab driver and his wife MARY ANN (nee SHARP). He was Baptised on 2nd January, 1884 at St. Peter's Church, Bradford.
He was a bright happy child and enjoyed helping the local milkman WILLIAM BARRETT to deliver milk to the nearby residents, for which he often received a penny or two. He would take his pennies home proudly to show his mother, before racing off to the shop to buy a few sweets, which he would share with his sisters.
On the morning of Thursday 27th December, 1888 JOHN left his home at 41, Thorncliff Road to accompany WILLIAM BARRETT on his daily milk delivery round. When later questioned by the Police, BARRETT claimed JOHN had jumped off the cart at around 8.30am and told him he was going home for breakfast. He never saw him again.
When JOHN did not return home that afternoon, his parents raised the alarm and the Police and local residents organised a search party to look for him. No trace of him was found. The following day they searched again in vain.
On Saturday 29th December, 1888 his dismembered and eviscerated body was found in a stable yard by 15 year old butcher's boy JOSEPH BUCKE who had gone to attend to his employers horse ready for the day's work.
JOHN had suffered two stab wounds to the chest, which the Corner said would have caused almost instant death. His clothes had been removed, his limbs and ears were cut off and laid on the trunk of his body, then the body wrapped up in his jacket and tied with his trouser braces in the form of a parcel. There was no blood at the scene and the body had been drained of all blood and washed. The Coroner recorded the murder and post-death mutilation had been carried out elsewhere.
The milkman WILLIAM BARRETT having been the last known person to see little JOHN, was arrested and questioned but no charges were raised against him. No one living in the area could believe he was capable of such a heinous murder. He was aged 23, newly married and with a small child. His disposition was said to be very gentle and agreeable.
Gossip was rife and it was claimed JOHN had been the victim of JACK THE RIPPER, who it was claimed had fled to Bradford from London to escape arrest for the murders carried out in the autumn of 1888. This was never proven and was not part of the official investigation into the murder
His remains were buried in an Oak coffin, carried to the cemetery in a carriage drawn by two black Belgian horses. Hundreds of people followed the carriage and there were scuffles at the cemetery gate, when a crown of young people all tried to get a look at the coffin behind the glass sides of the carriage. Police had to hold them back and restore order before the burial could commence.
No one was ever charged with the murder of little JOHN GILL and his murder remains unsolved.
He was a bright happy child and enjoyed helping the local milkman WILLIAM BARRETT to deliver milk to the nearby residents, for which he often received a penny or two. He would take his pennies home proudly to show his mother, before racing off to the shop to buy a few sweets, which he would share with his sisters.
On the morning of Thursday 27th December, 1888 JOHN left his home at 41, Thorncliff Road to accompany WILLIAM BARRETT on his daily milk delivery round. When later questioned by the Police, BARRETT claimed JOHN had jumped off the cart at around 8.30am and told him he was going home for breakfast. He never saw him again.
When JOHN did not return home that afternoon, his parents raised the alarm and the Police and local residents organised a search party to look for him. No trace of him was found. The following day they searched again in vain.
On Saturday 29th December, 1888 his dismembered and eviscerated body was found in a stable yard by 15 year old butcher's boy JOSEPH BUCKE who had gone to attend to his employers horse ready for the day's work.
JOHN had suffered two stab wounds to the chest, which the Corner said would have caused almost instant death. His clothes had been removed, his limbs and ears were cut off and laid on the trunk of his body, then the body wrapped up in his jacket and tied with his trouser braces in the form of a parcel. There was no blood at the scene and the body had been drained of all blood and washed. The Coroner recorded the murder and post-death mutilation had been carried out elsewhere.
The milkman WILLIAM BARRETT having been the last known person to see little JOHN, was arrested and questioned but no charges were raised against him. No one living in the area could believe he was capable of such a heinous murder. He was aged 23, newly married and with a small child. His disposition was said to be very gentle and agreeable.
Gossip was rife and it was claimed JOHN had been the victim of JACK THE RIPPER, who it was claimed had fled to Bradford from London to escape arrest for the murders carried out in the autumn of 1888. This was never proven and was not part of the official investigation into the murder
His remains were buried in an Oak coffin, carried to the cemetery in a carriage drawn by two black Belgian horses. Hundreds of people followed the carriage and there were scuffles at the cemetery gate, when a crown of young people all tried to get a look at the coffin behind the glass sides of the carriage. Police had to hold them back and restore order before the burial could commence.
No one was ever charged with the murder of little JOHN GILL and his murder remains unsolved.
John was the son of THOMAS GILL, a cab driver and his wife MARY ANN (nee SHARP). He was Baptised on 2nd January, 1884 at St. Peter's Church, Bradford.
He was a bright happy child and enjoyed helping the local milkman WILLIAM BARRETT to deliver milk to the nearby residents, for which he often received a penny or two. He would take his pennies home proudly to show his mother, before racing off to the shop to buy a few sweets, which he would share with his sisters.
On the morning of Thursday 27th December, 1888 JOHN left his home at 41, Thorncliff Road to accompany WILLIAM BARRETT on his daily milk delivery round. When later questioned by the Police, BARRETT claimed JOHN had jumped off the cart at around 8.30am and told him he was going home for breakfast. He never saw him again.
When JOHN did not return home that afternoon, his parents raised the alarm and the Police and local residents organised a search party to look for him. No trace of him was found. The following day they searched again in vain.
On Saturday 29th December, 1888 his dismembered and eviscerated body was found in a stable yard by 15 year old butcher's boy JOSEPH BUCKE who had gone to attend to his employers horse ready for the day's work.
JOHN had suffered two stab wounds to the chest, which the Corner said would have caused almost instant death. His clothes had been removed, his limbs and ears were cut off and laid on the trunk of his body, then the body wrapped up in his jacket and tied with his trouser braces in the form of a parcel. There was no blood at the scene and the body had been drained of all blood and washed. The Coroner recorded the murder and post-death mutilation had been carried out elsewhere.
The milkman WILLIAM BARRETT having been the last known person to see little JOHN, was arrested and questioned but no charges were raised against him. No one living in the area could believe he was capable of such a heinous murder. He was aged 23, newly married and with a small child. His disposition was said to be very gentle and agreeable.
Gossip was rife and it was claimed JOHN had been the victim of JACK THE RIPPER, who it was claimed had fled to Bradford from London to escape arrest for the murders carried out in the autumn of 1888. This was never proven and was not part of the official investigation into the murder
His remains were buried in an Oak coffin, carried to the cemetery in a carriage drawn by two black Belgian horses. Hundreds of people followed the carriage and there were scuffles at the cemetery gate, when a crown of young people all tried to get a look at the coffin behind the glass sides of the carriage. Police had to hold them back and restore order before the burial could commence.
No one was ever charged with the murder of little JOHN GILL and his murder remains unsolved.
He was a bright happy child and enjoyed helping the local milkman WILLIAM BARRETT to deliver milk to the nearby residents, for which he often received a penny or two. He would take his pennies home proudly to show his mother, before racing off to the shop to buy a few sweets, which he would share with his sisters.
On the morning of Thursday 27th December, 1888 JOHN left his home at 41, Thorncliff Road to accompany WILLIAM BARRETT on his daily milk delivery round. When later questioned by the Police, BARRETT claimed JOHN had jumped off the cart at around 8.30am and told him he was going home for breakfast. He never saw him again.
When JOHN did not return home that afternoon, his parents raised the alarm and the Police and local residents organised a search party to look for him. No trace of him was found. The following day they searched again in vain.
On Saturday 29th December, 1888 his dismembered and eviscerated body was found in a stable yard by 15 year old butcher's boy JOSEPH BUCKE who had gone to attend to his employers horse ready for the day's work.
JOHN had suffered two stab wounds to the chest, which the Corner said would have caused almost instant death. His clothes had been removed, his limbs and ears were cut off and laid on the trunk of his body, then the body wrapped up in his jacket and tied with his trouser braces in the form of a parcel. There was no blood at the scene and the body had been drained of all blood and washed. The Coroner recorded the murder and post-death mutilation had been carried out elsewhere.
The milkman WILLIAM BARRETT having been the last known person to see little JOHN, was arrested and questioned but no charges were raised against him. No one living in the area could believe he was capable of such a heinous murder. He was aged 23, newly married and with a small child. His disposition was said to be very gentle and agreeable.
Gossip was rife and it was claimed JOHN had been the victim of JACK THE RIPPER, who it was claimed had fled to Bradford from London to escape arrest for the murders carried out in the autumn of 1888. This was never proven and was not part of the official investigation into the murder
His remains were buried in an Oak coffin, carried to the cemetery in a carriage drawn by two black Belgian horses. Hundreds of people followed the carriage and there were scuffles at the cemetery gate, when a crown of young people all tried to get a look at the coffin behind the glass sides of the carriage. Police had to hold them back and restore order before the burial could commence.
No one was ever charged with the murder of little JOHN GILL and his murder remains unsolved.
Inscription
In loving memory of
JOHN GILL
The beloved son of
THOMAS and MARY ANN GILL
Of Thorncliffe Road, Manningham
Who was found dead December 29th 1888
Having met his death at the hands of one who
Will someday seek repentance,
In his 8th year.
"Suffer little children, to come unto me
And forbid them not, for of such
Is the Kingdom of Heaven"
Also of the above
THOMAS GILL
Born February 25th, 1855
Died November 15th, 1908
And the above
MARY ANN GILL
Born November 4th, 1855
Died 11th June, 1932
.
