Bio 

Philip Henry was born around 1928 and was from Stockton-on-Tees in England. By 1953, Henry was serving as a private in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was stationed at Strensall, near York. A barracks near the murder scene became important to the investigation because police began checking soldiers after finding fingerprints and a distinctive footprint at the crime scene.

Murder Story

On March 10, 1953, 76-year-old Flora Jane Gilligan was found dead outside her home on Diamond Street in York, England. Reports state that Gilligan had been raped and battered before being dropped from her bedroom window. The act appeared to be an attempt to make her death look like suicide or an accidental fall.

Police investigated the scene and found fingerprints and a distinctive footprint. Because a barracks housing soldiers from the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was nearby, investigators began fingerprinting soldiers stationed there. The fingerprints were matched to Private Philip Henry. Police also focused on the distinctive shoeprint found at the scene. Henry had reportedly disposed of the shoes, but investigators traced the person who had repaired them and confirmed the sole pattern.

Police also learned that Henry had spent the night of the murder away from camp. He was arrested about seven days after the killing and later charged with murder. Henry’s trial began at York Assizes in June 1953. He denied the killing and continued to claim innocence. Despite his denial, the evidence against him included the fingerprint match, the footprint evidence, the shoe repair identification, and proof that he had been away from camp on the night of the murder.

A jury found Philip Henry guilty of murder. He was sentenced to death. A reprieve was later refused. On July 30, 1953, Philip Henry was executed by hanging at Armley Jail in Leeds. His final legal status was executed.