Alleged Threats against Wife – Sequel to Letters Received At Conisbrough

February 1957

South Yorkshire Times, February 23, 1957

Alleged Threats against Wife
Sequel to Letters Received At Conisbrough

“I’m no murderer,” said Philip P. K. Ferguson, 41, labourer, of High Street, Linlithgow, Scotland, who at the Doncaster West Riding Ct on Thursday was committed for trial to the West Riding quarter sessions charged with sending letters threatening to kill his wife. Priscilla, and another person and with sending to Conisbrough a coastal package enclosing an obscene communication. Ferguson, who was granted bail, pleaded “not guilty.” and reserved his defence.

Mr. J. E. Wilson, prosecuting, said Mrs Ferguson was cohabitating with a man named Holmes in Conisbrough, and she had received letters from her husband containing threats. The letters were identified as being in Ferguson’s writing. On January 16th the police saw Ferguson and he admitted writing the letters. That day, Thursday he had said “I don’t deny any of the charges. I have finished with her she is no good.”

Percy Frederick Holme, a furnace man of Pine Grove, Conisbrough, said that since the beginning of 1955 he had cohabitating with Mrs Priscilla Ferguson and was the father of the child born to her in November. 1956. He identified three letters written in November as those shown to him by Mrs. Ferguson from her husband.

Mrs Annie May Jackson, of Chestnut Grove, Conisbrough identified five letters produced as being in Ferguson’s writing.

Ivor Purser, a miner, of Pine Grove, Conisbrough, said he was the occupier of the house where Mrs Ferguson and Percy Holmes lived. He identified a letter as one addressed to him from Ferguson.

PC Norman Topping, of Bridgend, Linthingow, said that on December 24th he interviewed Ferguson and said he was enquiring about threatening letters sent to his wife and to Mr Purser. Ferguson, as he left the police station, said: “I am telling you, sir. I will do her in.”

D.O. Leonard Bell of Conisbrough. Produced extracts from letters and said that on February 20th he received Ferguson into custody and charged him. He said: “I don’t deny any of the charges. I did it all. She is no good.