George Ball

Offence

George Ball murdered his employer, Christina Bradfield.

Christina Bradfield, a 40-year-old spinster, managed her brother's Old Hall Street shop, Bradfields, which made and sold tarpaulins. Ball acted as a tarpaulin packer. Elltoft also worked for Bradfield's.

On 10 December 1913, Bradfield was beaten to death with a blunt instrument. Her body was then sewn into a sack along with some iron bars for extra weight.

Ball and an 18-year-old man, Samuel Angeles Elltoft, loaded the sack and its contents onto a handcart, pushed it to the Leeds and Liverpool canal, and threw the sack into the water.

Investigation

The sack later obstructed one of the lock gates on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. When it was examined, the body was found and recovered to dry land. Bradfield was identified as Christina Bradfield and was found to have been battered with several savage blows from a blunt instrument.

A manhunt was launched for Ball and Elltoft.

Arrest

Elltoft was quickly found at home in bed.

Ball had vanished. The manhunt continued for a further ten days before he was discovered in a lodging-house in the city. Ball was disguised when he was found.

Miss Bradfield's watch was found in Ball's pocket.

Trial

Ball and Elltoft were tried in February 1914 at Liverpool Assizes.

Ball tried to claim that a man had broken into the shop and threatened staff with a gun, then hit Miss Bradfield and escaped with the takings. The claim was rejected because Bradfield had been bludgeoned and sewn into a sack.

Ball was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Elltoft was found not guilty of murder but guilty of being an accessory after the fact, for which he was given four years penal servitude.

Sentencing

George Ball was sentenced to death.

John Ellis and William Willis hanged Ball.

Outcome

George Ball was executed by hanging at Walton Prison on February 26, 1914 in Liverpool.

Elltoft was given four years penal servitude for being an accessory after the fact.

Timeline

• 10 December 1913 — Christina Bradfield was beaten to death with a blunt instrument; her body was sewn into a sack with iron bars and disposed of in the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
• Following day — A sack obstructing a lock gate on the Leeds and Liverpool canal was found to contain Bradfield’s body.
• Ten days after the manhunt began — Ball was discovered in a lodging-house in the city.
• February 1914 — Ball and Elltoft were tried at Liverpool Assizes; Ball was convicted of murder and sentenced to death; Elltoft was found not guilty of murder but guilty as an accessory after the fact and given four years penal servitude.
• 26 February 1914 — Ball was executed by hanging at Walton Prison.

Other details

A ship's steward was waiting outside a tarpaulin-maker's shop in Old Hall Street, Liverpool for his girl-friend on 10 December 1913. While waiting, he saw a young lad come out of the shop pushing a handcart with a bundle. The lad was soon joined by another man and the two walked off down the street pushing the cart and its load. The steward had unknowingly witnessed the disposal of a murder victim's body.

A shutter blew down from the shop and hit the steward on the head. A man appeared from inside the shop and apologised.