CHAPTER 6

A Gentleman of the Theatre The Murder of Alfred Oliver 1929

Alfred Oliver had not had the happiest of lives. His first wife had drowned herself after the death of their only child, but things had begun to improve for him when he met and married his second wife, Annie Elizabeth, in 1920. The couple lived a quiet enough life and friends would say that they were deliriously happy together. Now, in 1929, Alfred ran his tobacconist’s shop from 15 Cross Street, Reading, whilst his wife ran a corsetiere business from the house at the back.

At around 5.00pm on Saturday 22 June 1929, Alfred went into the dining room behind the shop, with Annie, for his evening meal. After they had finished, Annie Elizabeth took over in the shop whilst Alfred cleared the crockery away and, during the next twenty-five minutes or so, served six male customers.

Once he had finished, Alfred returned to his duties behind the shop counter whilst his wife went upstairs. It was then some five or ten minutes before 6.00pm, and soon afterwards, Annie heard the clock strike six.

It was about then that Annie took the dog through the yard at the back of the shop, and took it for a short walk. She was gone for perhaps fifteen minutes, during which she heard no sounds of any disturbance. It was around 6.15pm when she went back inside.