Devon case features in Pub Murder Guide

The Krays, Lord Lucan, Jack the Ripper and more feature in Murder at the Inn

A riveting case from Devon’s past features in the nation’s first ever guide to historic crimes in Britain’s pubs and hotels.

Murder at The Inn: A History of Crime in Britain’s Pubs and Hotels, published by the History Press, reveals where to find more than 250 hostelries across the country linked to fascinating cases of murder and mayhem.

As well as featuring well known criminals like the Krays, Dick Turpin and Jack the Ripper the book also reveals the details of a fascinating case from Devon…The murder of Jonathan May in 1835. He was set upon by robbers after he left the White Hart Inn at Moretonhampstead – and when his body was found it was brought back here. An extraordinary trial ensued which saw one man, convicted of the killing but given a last minute reprieve and deported to Australia. Decades later he was pardoned. Inside the White Hart hangs an original map showing all the pubs in the town used at the original trial.

This unique true-crime handbook also charts the relationship between crime and our national drinking institutions from a murder in a Roman tavern, through the eras of smuggling and highway robbery to modern day terror.    

James Moore says: “The history of Britain’s pubs, inns and hotels has gone hand in hand with the history of crime. Now, for the first time we link pubs that can still be found today with captivating and sometimes horrifying tales from their past.”

James Moore is a journalist with twenty years of experience writing features for national newspapers and magazines. His work has appeared in The Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mirror and The Sun to name just a few. He has written on pubs and crime before, as well as other history related topics. He is also co-author of six books including Pigeon-Guided Missiles and Ye Olde Good Inn Guide for The History Press. He has a single honours degree in Politics from Durham University and lives in West London.

Murder at the Inn by James Moore is published by The History Press priced £9.99.