THE TENFOOT THAT HIDES A TRAGIC PAST

WHILE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS RAGING, THERE WAS A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE IN HULL

FEW of us will give a second glance to the sprawling industrial landscape of Wincolmlee, but these units and warehouses hide a very dark and tragic secret.

During the Second World War, this area on the River Hull was quite a different landscape with rows of houses rather than yards and depots.

One of those streets was Wilson Row has now long gone, but it was once a row of houses adjacent to the Cottingham Drain.

The drain has since been filled in and built upon with industrial units, warehouses, and car and lorry parks, but during the Second World War it was the scene of a terrible family struggle that resulted in the death of Henry Dawson.

Local historian looks back at the tensions which built up into a murderous explosion.

Dawson was a career criminal who targeted Hull in a reign of terror spread over five years, which resulted in him being involved in theft, assault, wounding, and even stealing lead from the Lord Mayor of

Hull.

Dawson was in an out of Hull prison during a prolific criminal career.

The events which led to his brutal killing began on Monday, February 28, 1944, when Dawson assaulted Mary Ann Wright.

At the time, Dawson was living in Wilson Row, Wincolmlee, and was sentenced at the Hull Police Court that day for the assault.

Mary Ann Wright’s teenage son, James, said the lodger Dawson had beat his mother, which had resulted in her being treated for cuts and bruises and even had her head wound receiving stitches.

Dawson, however, blamed the family, claiming they had mistreated him.

But the evidence against him was damning and it was revealed he had now committed 15 offences.

He was given a three-month prison sentence with hard labour after admitting two charges of unlawfully wounding.

But less than a year later, Dawson’s life was to be taken.

At the turn of 1945, Dawson, 40, was shot by Mary Wright’s 17-year-old son, James.

Wright was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder while Dawson was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary. Wright was remanded until January 11.

The incident took place at 12.45 on New Year’s Eve in 1944 on Wilson Row.

Detectives Ollett and Hather were called to the scene accompanied Dawson to the infirmary.

It was later revealed Wright had shot Dawson in the chest because he kicked Wright’s brother and ill-used Wright’s mother.

Dawson died of his injuries on Saturday, January 6, 1945, and the attempted murder charge became a more serious murder charge. After hearing the evidence, Wright was remanded until January 25, 1945.

The inquest was held the same day with the body of Dawson identified by his sister Winifred Rodgers.

The house surgeon, Dr Honig, testified saying the deceased had been drinking and had a small abrasion at the foot of the nose, a slight laceration to the skull, and a puncture wound on Dawson’s left side.

His liver was lacerated and his stomach was perforated. An X-ray was taken, but it was advised not to remove the bullet. But by Saturday afternoon, he had died.