The Halifax Slasher
The Standard of Freedom,
Copley
Sunday 27 November 1938
15-year-old Fred Baldwin was pushing his bicycle home through the village of Copley, a mile south of Halifax town centre. As he passed the Standard of Freedom inn, a group of men detached themselves from the pub and demanded to know why he wasn't riding it - the light wasn't working. The group drew off and one was heard to say: 'See if you know him, Bill.'
Bill - William Spencer, a 25-year-old who lived just a few blocks from Baldwin - grabbed the boy by the neck, announced 'Yes, it's him,' and began to punch Baldwin in the face. The other drinkers joined in. Other people came out of their houses armed with pokers. Around 50 angry locals had gathered before one woman recognised young Fred. Baldwin recovered his bicycle and crept home as four or five policecars arrived.
New Lane, outside the Standard of Freedom
Spencer subsequently denied that he'd said he'd welcome the £10 Slasher reward as a useful Christmas box. At Halifax Borough Court on 6 December, he pleaded not guilty to the summons brought by Baldwin's father. Someone else had raised the cry, he insisted, and he'd actually rescued the boy and walked him home. He'd later visited the Baldwin's home, only to be attacked by Mr Baldwin and put into the infirmary with stiches in his head. Spencer was fined 10/-.