East Retford was the scene of a tragic misunderstanding that led to murder. When Walter Prince, 32, discovered a sore on his penis he decided that Harriett Shaw, 21, a girl with whom he had recently had sex, had given him a venereal disease. So without more ado, on Monday, JUNE 18th, 1934, he strangled her.
He was arrested and charged, and while he was in prison awaiting trial a doctor told him that the sore, already disappearing, was unconnected with any sexually transmitted disease.
At his Nottingham trial Prince pleaded insanity. The court agreed, and he was sent to Broadmoor.