Reginald Rowley murdered Muriel Gertrude Emery, 21, in the grounds of the Three Counties Hospital between 18th and 19th August 1943. This is the story of the murder and police investigation.
Nurse found dead in hospital grounds, 20th August 1943
Scotland Yard officers are investigating the death of nurse Muriel Emery, aged 21. Her body was found in the hospital grounds at Arlesey, Bedfordshire, on Thursday morning. She was last seen on Wednesday night, and early on Thursday morning she was reported missing. Nurse Emery was employed at the Fairfield Emergency Hospital, which, though a separate institution, is in the grounds of the Three Counties Mental Hospital. A police constable found her body with severe head injuries suggesting that she had been violently attacked. She was wearing uniform but without her cap which was found a short distance away.
Man detained in mystery of nurse, 21, murdered in grounds of mental hospital
The police last night detained a man for questioning about the death of Muriel Gertrude Emery. She was found murdered in the grounds of Three Counties Mental Hospital, Arlesey, Bedfordshire. Nurse Emery's body was found on Thursday with severe head injuries. She was fully clothed, except for her cap, which was found some distance away. She had been a probationary nurse for four months at Fairfield Emergency Hospital which stands in the grounds of the mental hospital, but is not connected in any other way with it. Her home was a guardian at Bishop Stortford, Herts. Nurse Emery left Fairfield Hospital at 8.30pm on Wednesday and told friends she was going for a walk. When she failed to report for duty on Thursday, a search party was organised. Her body was found by police constable Fisher of the local police.
11.00pm scream may be clue to nurse's murder, 21st August 1943
A scream in the night and a few strands of hair clutched in the hands of a 21 year old nurse found dead in the grounds of the Three Counties Mental Hospital in Arseley, Beds, may provide clues to her murderer. When the girl, Muriel Gertrude Emery, did not report for early duty at the emergency hospital the police were called in and a search made. She was found in a shrubbery with head injuries. Chief Inspector Arthur Thorpe and Detective Sergeant W. Fisk of Scotland Yard, who have taken over the investigation from the Bedfordshire police have worked all night on the few clues to the girl's death. Today local police have been searching the extensive grounds in which the hospital stands. The nurse, who was in uniform, was found in a spinney know as the boundary, near a road leading from the hospital to a farm which is also part of the property. She is believed to have been attacked when returning to the hospital late on Wednesday evening. Chief Inspector Thorpe has established that she visited a searchlight battery that evening and met one of the soldiers on duty there.
Seen at 10.45
She left at 9.30 and was last see alive at 10.45. A man who passed the hospital at about 11 o'clock told the police he heard the scream but paid no attention. Nurse Emery, who had only just celebrated her 21st birthday, came from Norfolk to work in the emergency hospital which is in the grounds of the Three Counties institution but is not connected with it. She was the adopted daughter of Mrs Emery, a widow, who is a post mistress at Earsham, Norfolk. One of her brothers came to Arlesey today to see the police. The inquest will be opened up on Monday.
Soldiers questioned
Scotland Yard was called in by Inspector Sandell of the Bedfordshire constabulary, and Chief Inspector A. J. Thorpe and Sergeant Fisk took charge of the case. Three soldiers were taken to the police station for questioning but were allowed to leave after they had satisfied the police about their movements. "Nurse Emery was 21 this month," a local resident told the Daily Mirror. "I think she came to the Fairfield Emergency Hospital from Norfolk."
Inquest on dead nurse adjourned
At the request of Chief Inspector Thorpe of New Scotland Yard the inquest on 21 year old nurse Muriel Gertrude Emery, found dead with severe head injuries in a copse at the Three Counties Mental Hospital, Arlesey, Beds., was yesterday adjourned until 11 October. Dr. Hazel H. Gregory, in charge of the Fairfield Hospital where nurse Emery was a probationary, said that the body was found lying face downwards in the undergrowth near a hedge. Nurse Emery had been dead several hours. Chief Inspector Thorpe said the police has no questions to ask at this stage.
Police hunt a stranger in nurse murder riddle, 23rd August 1943
Chief Inspector Thorp and Detective Sergeant Fisk of Scotland Yard are organising a double hunt to solve the murder of 21 year old Muriel Gertrude Emery in the grounds of the Three Counties Mental Hospital, Arlesey, Beds:
- For the stranger. The detectives believe that after leaving a soldier friend that night, nurse Emery was accosted by a stranger on her way back to the hospital. When she screamed, he took fright and he struck her down.
- For the weapon: It is established that nurse Emery died following a fracture of the skull by a weapon which has not yet been found.
New moves in nurse crime, 28th August 1943
Developments are expected shortly in the investigation into the murder of nurse Muriel Emery at Arseley, Bedfordshire. Yesterday afternoon Chief Inspector Thorpe made a hurried visit to London to carry our further investigation. There was a conference with a superintendent at Scotland Yard to discuss fingerprints found at the scene of the crime. The police believe these will give them a lead to the murderer. An intensive search is still being carried out for the weapon used by the murderer.
Hedges searched for killer's weapon
The search was resumed in undergrowth and hedges early yesterday for the weapon believed to have been used by the slayer of 21 year old Muriel Gertrude Emery whose body was found in a copse at the back of the Three Counties Mental Hospital, Arlesey, Beds.
Reginald Rowley murdered Muriel Gertrude Emery, 21, in the grounds of Three Counties Hospital, Stotford, Beds., between 18th and 19th August, 1943. After being discharged from the army because of epilepsy he went around attacking girls. On the night of the murder, Muriel Emery had met her boyfriend in a grove of trees near to the Three Counties Hospital. At around 10pm, she left to return to the hospital. Reginald Rowley then crept up on her, strangled her and beat her to death with a piece of wood.
Reginald Rowley was not caught until six months later when he attacked an elderly storekeeper who survived and identified him. He had shown police the lake where he threw the stick he beat her with and where he had dragged her 20 yards face down on 18th August 1944. He was found guilty but insane and sent to a mental institution.
Born 6th Feb 1920 in Biggleswade (he was the bastard child of Miss Rowley), convicted at Bedford Assizes 20th May for murder and sentenced to penal servitude. Married 1972 to Joan H Colebeck, in St Albans, and died in Stevenage in 1988.