Daniel Raven

Timeline

• 10th October 1949 — Daniel Raven took his wife’s parents to visit her and their four day old child in a maternity home in Muswell Hill.
• 10th October 1949 (evening) — After spending time with his wife Marie, Raven drove his in-laws home and used “the heavy base of a television aerial” to beat Leopold Goodman and Esther to death.
• 10th October 1949 (about 10.30pm) — Raven received a telephone call from police asking him to come to his in-laws’ house in Ashcombe Gardens.
• 10th October 1949 (about 9.55pm) — Frederick Fraiman, along with his wife and daughter, called at the house to inquire about Marie and the baby; when there was no response, Fraiman climbed in through an open window and found the bodies of the Goodmans in their blood-soaked dining-room.
• 22nd November 1949 — Raven’s trial opened at the Old Bailey.
• 24th November 1949 — Raven was found guilty and sentenced to death.
• 6th January 1950 — Raven was hanged at Pentonville Prison.

Background

Daniel Raven was a 23-year-old Jewish advertising agent with a reputation for always being “immaculately turned out.” His wealthy in-laws were 49-year-old Leopold Goodman and Leopold Goodman’s wife, 47-year-old Esther; both were Russian Jews. Raven’s wife Marie had just given birth to their son.

The offence

On the evening of Monday 10th October 1949, Daniel Raven took his wife’s parents to visit her and their four day old child in a maternity home in Muswell Hill. After spending time with his wife Marie, he drove his in-laws home. Using “the heavy base of a television aerial,” Raven beat Leopold Goodman and Esther to death.

Investigation

After the murder, Raven went home. At about 10.30 that night he received a telephone call from police asking him to come to his in-laws’ house in Ashcombe Gardens. He had not expected the bodies to be discovered until the next day at the earliest, so he had to quickly change into “smart, clean clothes,” stuffing the bloodstained dark blue suit he had been wearing into the boiler.

Unexpectedly, Frederick Fraiman—Mr Goodman’s business partner—along with his wife and daughter, called at the house at about 9.55pm to inquire about Marie and the baby. Getting no response to his ringing, Mr Fraiman climbed in through an open window and found the savaged bodies of the Goodmans in their blood-soaked dining-room.

Police investigating the killings noticed that Raven was dressed smartly. They considered the clothes and the timing notable, questioning why he had changed so late in the day. On checking, they discovered it was not the same clothes he had worn earlier in the day.

A search of Raven’s Edgewarebury Lane house turned up the remains of the blue suit in the boiler. Forensic examination showed bloodstains on the trousers and on a pair of freshly-scrubbed shoes hidden in the garage. The driver’s seat of Raven’s car had also been scrubbed.

Arrest

Raven was arrested and charged with the joint murder of his in-laws.

Trial

Raven’s Old Bailey trial opened on Tuesday 22nd November. His defence was that, like Mr Fraiman, he had entered the house after getting no reply to him knocking. He said he discovered the bodies, got blood on the suit when he knelt by his mother-in-law’s body, and fled in panic.

On 24th November he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

Appeals

An appeal supported with evidence of insanity was dismissed.

Outcome

Raven was hanged at Pentonville Prison on Friday 6th January 1950.

Other details

• Raven was described as being “immaculately turned out.”
• The in-laws were Leopold Goodman (49) and Esther Goodman (47), described as Russian Jews.
• Raven’s wife was named Marie.
• The child was described as four days old.