The Last Word

And last but not least in issue 11, a new feature to set you thinking:

A strange affair which allegedly happened many years ago was that of the vanishing villain. He vanished in the nastiest way possible – his flesh slowly dropping off until there was nothing left.

It happened 10 years after the Hawden Hole murder in which Samuel Sutcliffe was strangled in his bed. James Shackleton, of Good Greave Farm, Hardcastle Crags, returning home flush with money after selling a cow at Kebcote Fair, was set upon, murdered and robbed by a gang of ruffians.

No-one could say for sure who the guilty parties were but suddenly one man in particular – notorious for his lack of capital - seemed to have money to burn. The police waited for him to make his first mistake but he never had time.

To his horror – and that of his neighbours – his flesh began to rot. According to local lore it took 10 weeks for the suspected villain to die. What was left of him was buried in an unmarked gave at Heptonstall.

More weird and wonderful local lore in issue 12.

Read the full story in Milltown Memories, issue 11. If this or other stories stirs a memory, we'd be happy to know - send us your memories and comments.