Andrew Moran (Jail)

Andrew Moran was convicted of the manslaughter of Margaret Mary Hanman.

They had been living together at 22 Hodson Street in Salford. After killing her he fled and was not arrested until nearly a year later when police received information that he was at a farm near Stafford.

When he was arrested he denied having murdered her, saying that she was alive when he had left.

They had spent the night of 31 May 1915 drinking at various public-houses and at their lodgings along with two other fellow lodgers after which Andrew Moran and Margaret Hanman retired to their lodgings but were later heard to quarrel and at about 2am there were the sounds as of Margaret Hanman being badly beaten and she was heard to cry out, 'Oh!', and 'you are killing me! I am dying!'.

It was said that the same kind of thing was heard later in the morning and then the noises suddenly ceased after a heavy bump on the bedroom floor.

Andrew Moran then left the house and it wasn't until the following day that Margaret Hanman was found lying dead in bed having suffered from terrible injuries.

She had died from internal injuries.

Nothing more of Andrew Moran was heard of until 8 May 1916 when the police received information and he was arrested at a farm, Cornerhouse in Texall near Stafford.

When he was charged with Margaret Hanman's death, who was also known as Oldham Lizzie, he replied, 'I don't know anyone named Oldham Lizzie. She lived with me three years. I was teetotal for three months, but got drunk one night and made off. She was not dead when I left!'.

When he was charged with her murder he said, 'I don't remember going to bed that night'.

Andrew Moran had been a labourer.

He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment but appealed his sentence saying that it was too severe. However the appeal judges said that it was not too severe and his application was dismissed.