Margaret “Madge” T. Kirby

On the 6th January 1908, a group of school-friends, were playing by the reservoir at Kensington Gardens (behind Kensington Library/Liverpool), when out of the blue, a stranger approached them, and spent time with them to chat, play and laugh with the children. After some time, the man asked one of the girls (Annie McGovern) if she wanted to come with him, to buy some sweets, but she refused. The man, then turned his attention to another girl in the group, Madge Kirby. Madge sent her 5-year old brother home, and unfortunately, decided to go with the man and was never seen alive again. The school-friends went home and told their parents, who then informed the Prescot Street Police Station.

Prescot Street Bridewell (Police Station)

Madge Kirby, was the seven-year old daughter of a Plumber (David Kirby), who was well respected in the area, and lived at 55 Romilly Street/Kensington. Madge was one of several children in the household, both boys and girls, and sadly, their mother had recently died from childbirth, just 2 weeks previous to Madge’s disappearance.

Despite numerous searches from police headed by Detective Inspector Moore, and helped by residents of the area… the search went from, not only the local vicinity, but all over the city, looking in derelict and empty houses, as well out-buildings, ashpits and parkland, but all to no avail. After some months the searches became less frequent, and it was thought that the mystery, would simply fade into the history of unsolved cases.

Great Newton Street

Great Newton Street… today

However, on 11th August 1908, a full seven months after the little girls disappearance, the whole case was reopened with the ghastly discovery in front of an empty house on Great Newton Street. Labourer, Thomas Moody was walking along the pavement, when he discovered a sack, lying between 17 & 19 Great Newton Street. Upon opening the sack, he found it to be the badly decomposed body of a little girl. Police were called. and were subsequently directed to number 15 Great Newton Street, upon entering the property from the rear, which was in the process of being demolished, a dreadful smell was emanating from the kitchen area. As they entered the kitchen, they noticed the door to the cellar below, had recently been ripped from its hinges. They made there way down the stairs, and with lanterns lit… they discovered the outline of a child’s body on the floor, with decomposed flesh and hair stuck to the stones. articles of clothing were scattered around the cellar, which was later identified as belonging to Madge, by her father David.

Madge’s father… David Kirby

The police deduced that Madge had been murdered at the house, or in the near vicinity, and the body placed in the cellar. However, they also found, that by some strange twist in events and probably because the house was being demolished, that the murderer, had returned to the scene, some hours before the finding of the sack, to bag the child, and leave her on the pavement in front of the house, where she would be quickly found, as a policeman had patrolled the street earlier that morning and noted nothing unusual.

Statements from neighbours whose houses backed onto number 15 Great Newton Street, said that they had seen a man exiting the empty house, from the rear, but could not identify him. Police had a number of letters in their possession apparently from the murderer, giving clues to the whereabouts of the child. These letters were investigated at the time. but drew a blank.

A letter to Detective Inspector Moore

Dear Sir,

I should like to throw a little light on the murder of my victim Madge KIRBY . Some time ago I was a lodger at 15 Great Newton St, so that I know the house thoroughly. I am still in possession of a key to the front door which I used in those days.

On the night of January 6th at 8:45, I took the girl through the front door, and it was quite dark. We had been to the ‘Worlds Fair’ before then. That is the way I treated her, and then I did away with her. The way I killed her, you will no doubt find out today.

At 5:35 on Tuesday morning last, I entered the house once more with my key, not with the intention of moving the body for good, but with the intention of letting the world know, what became of the child. If I had not been drinking I don’t suppose I would have attempted the task. It may leads to my arrest, and only the drink have I to thank for it. I am now going to give you a real clue to work on [I am a regular at the public house mentioned]. Since I have made this confession, I will be obliged to say goodbye to [a persons name is here given]. I suppose they have been good friends to me. I have given you a chance of your money now, so do your best, but I am sure your manhunt will be in vain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A subsequent chase through the city (watched by 2000 onlookers), of the suspected murderer, saw him slip into the crowds, at Lime Street Station. the station was sealed and a Blood Hound named ‘Czar’  was brought up, to search for the man. However, he could not be found, and the cry went up “He’s Gone” more sightings of the murderer were reported…

A few months after Madge’s body was found, David Kirby the children’s father died, it was said in reports that he had died of a broken heart, but whatever it was, the fate of the children, upon further research has been unearthed… as orphans, they went into the children’s homes of the city…

A typical Liverpool Children’s Cottage Home of the day

In the latter part of the month that Madge’s body was found… it was reported, that an odd looking man, had passed by the house, removed his hat and saluted towards the door, before writing in chalk, the initials M.K. on the steps of the house, he then walked off, along the street… On 29th June 1909, the police charged ‘Albert George Noakes’ with the murder of Madge Kirkby… and residents identified him as the man who chalked the initials. However, when in front of the Magistrate at a future hearing, the Magistrate ruled that Noakes could not have murdered the girl, as his alibi was so strong, and he was subsequently released.  The true murderer on Madge Kirby, was never found…

However, Dewsbury police, were to receive a chilling letter, on 24th October 1908, with great similarities to the original letter, and drawing on facts in said letter, which went on to promise a child killing in this new town…

Additional Note… Police investigations, at the time, also reopened an earlier child death in the city. the case of Elizabeth Peers (aged 10), known as the ‘Cullen Street Tradgedy’ in the Autumn of 1905… It had ‘chilling similarities’… to the Madge Kirby murder.

The Kirby grave and headstone, can be found in Liverpool’s ‘Ford’ Cemetery, a little distance outside the city, towards Seaforth…

Headstone Inscription reads…

Jane wife of David KIRBY Died 15 September 1907, aged 39
also Margaret (Madge) daughter of above, died 1908, aged 7.
also David KIRBY father of above, died 27 September 1908, aged 38
also Emily, daughter of above, died 21 April 1909, aged 15 months
also George KIRBY eldest son of above, died 25 March 1960, aged 66