Harold Berry

Harold Berry murdered Bernard Philipps 37 who he stabbed to death Near Moulton Hill Farm, Winsford on 3 January 1946.

Bernard Philipps was a money lender and worked for the Refuge Lending Society. Harold Berry had posed as a man called George Wood who wanted to borrow £50 against his farm Moss Side Poultry at Tarporley. Between Winsford and Northwich Harold Berry stabbed Bernard Philipps to death with a commando knife.

After he went on a trip to London with a woman taking a first class train and spending lavishly. Police determined that he was actually only a bacon factory worker earning £5/week would wouldnt have the sort of money he was seen spending.

When they arrested him they found a bloodstained coat, a leather wallet with £22 and a new suit that he had just brought. They also found Bernard Philipps's wallet and cigarette lighter. His wife also said that she had seen a commando knife in the house and asked him to get rid of it in case their son got hurt.

see National Archives - PCOM 9/694, ASSI 91/9, HO 144/22639, ASSI 84/45, HO 144/22638