A fight in Hyde Park in May, 1938, proved fatal for Thomas Barnwell, a 26-year-old cinema worker and ex-Irish Guardsman.
A friend who was with Barnwell said that as they were walking across the park two men approached them and one of them punched Mr. Barnwell in the face. There was a fight and the two men fled. Barnwell chased the two men and caught up with them. A few seconds later Barnwell fell to the ground with knife wounds, and the two men ran off.
The injured man was taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday, May 24th, nine days after the incident. While he lived he and his friend both said they had no idea who the men were, or why Barnwell was punched.