Writer
‘solves’ murder mystery
by ANDY PARKER
Burton Mail
A CRIME writer claims to have
solved a Burton murder which has baffled investigators for
nearly a century.
Teenager Clara Durose was stabbed to death at a
farm near Burton in April, 1910, but police failed to track down
the killer despite extensive investigations.
Now author Scott Lomax claims he has finally established the identity of the
killer.
The 27-year-old says he has evidence implicating Mary Wrathall,
one of the daughters of the owner of the farm.
Lomax claims that Wrathall managed to get away with
her crime after a farm student, Cyril Bernard, helped cover her tracks by
hiding the pitchfork she used to kill her 15-year-old victim.
The claims come in a new book by Lomax, whose previous works include studies
of parent-killer Jeremy Bamber and Barry George, who was jailed but later
cleared of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando.
Lomax, from Brimington, near Chesterfield, was a leading voice in the
campaign to clear Mr George of the crime.
His latest book recalls how Clara Durose, a
domestic servant, was killed at Rolleston Park
Farm, near Burton, by a single wound from
an implement that penetrated her skull.
Lomax says police originally attributed the death to an accident but later
identified seven suspects.
The main focus of their investigations was farm worker Robert Frost, who had
been seen arguing with the victim, but there was no evidence against him and
he was never arrested.
He says the real killer attacked Clara after reading a letter in which the
girl claimed she was “treated like a dog” by the family.
Mary told a neighbour she planned to scare Clara, with Lomax’s
investigations suggesting she gave a false account of her movements on the
day of the killing and that bloodstains had been found on a basket she used
to collect apples.
Lomax said: “While it is impossible to say for absolute certain, I
firmly believe I know the identity of Clara Durose’s
murderer. After 99 years it is clear to me who was responsible.
“It is sad to think that had the police treated Clara’s death as
a murder from the outset and carried out their investigations in a
professional manner, her killer would have been brought to justice.
Instead she was able to continue her life, carrying her secret to the grave.
“Mary Wrathall had a motive to commit the
crime, she had the opportunity and the evidence points to her alone.
“It’s amazing that police failed to identify her as a suspect but
sadly they were too busy looking in other directions.”
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