MRS. HARVEY

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Recent mention on this blog of the ‘mummy in the cupboard’ mystery of 1960 brought a reader’s request for a reminder of some details.

While Mrs. Sarah Jane Harvey (pictured above) of 35 West Kinmel Street, Rhyl, was in hospital for observations, her grown-up son Leslie decided to do some decorating in her house. Leslie opened a cupboard which he believed to hold belongings of Frances Knight, a disabled lady who some years before had been a lodger in Mrs. Harvey’s house.

What he found turned out to be the mummified corpse of Frances Knight whose weekly benefits Mrs. Harvey had continued to collect.

Mrs. Harvey was charged with murder and intent to defraud. She was not convicted of murder because there was insufficient evidence that she had been actually responsible for the death, but she served a prison sentence for obtaining money by deception and thereafter died in an old people’s home.

These notes are from a longer article by Harry Thomas in his book ‘Memory Lane Volume 1’ borrowed from Rhyl Library. The book was published in 2003 by Gwasg Helygain, Rhyl, tel (01745) 331411, email: info@gwasg.com

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