Ep 289: The Body on the Moor Part 1
“To that Providence, my sons, I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted.”
Description:
On Friday, December 11, 2015, at 9:04 a.m., a man started a train journey at Ealing Broadway Station in west London, England. At 9:50 a.m., he arrived at Euston station to book an over two-hour trip to Manchester. The next day, at 10:47 a.m., his body was discovered by a cyclist close to the Chew Track near Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District National Park. The man was 6 feet 1 inch tall, white, of slim build, and had receding grey hair and blue eyes and determined to be between 60 and 70 years of age. However, this description was the only identifying factor initially discovered about him. He had no ID, wallet, phone, or keys, nothing to tell who this man was. He was dressed nicely but inappropriately for a hike in such inclement weather. The only item found on his person was a container of Pakistani origin labeled for thyroid medication but which now contained strychnine. This was the poison that led to his death. The cyclist also found the man in an odd position; his arms crossed over his chest and next to the trail as if peacefully napping. This was another puzzling clue, as victims of strychnine poisoning are usually writhing in agony before their horrible demise. The pathology technicians who examined the body gave the unfortunate stranger the name of "Neil Dovestone" after the Dovestone reservoir near his resting place. So, who was Neil Dovestone, and why did he travel such a long distance to this specific spot for a careless hike, or was it for a darker purpose? Who removed his identifying items, and did he take his own life or fall victim to murder? Join us for part one of our investigation into The Body on the Moor.
Reference Links:
“Dovestone Reservoir and Chew Reservoir Circular” on AllTrails.com
The Clarence pub, Chew Valley Rd, Greenfield, Oldham, England www.the-clarence.co.uk
Manchester, England, United Kingdom — Sunrise, Sunset, and Daylength, December 2015
“Dakota Air Crash Near Oldham (1940-1949)” on the British Pathé YouTube channel
“'A lovely man': The woman who dated the Man on the Moor” from BBC News
“Bill O’ Jacks Murders” on Dove Stone Heritage – A Ranger’s View
“The Bill O’ Jacks Murders” from Mysterious Britain & Ireland
“27 Killed in Plane Crashes” from the Greensburg Daily Tribune - Aug 19, 1949
Location:
The approximate location where the body of “Neil Dovestone” was found next to Chew Track on Saddleworth Moor.
Suggested Listening:
The Belief Hole Podcast
You know, this world is full of mystery. And chances are, if you’re listening to this show you’re always looking for more deep dives into the unknown, and that’s why we recommend the Belief Hole Podcast. Every other week, the brothers of the Belief Hole present the strangest, true stories, combining corroborative research with immersive storytelling. From documented cases of near-invisible sky creatures that float hidden in the world just above to sinister mimicking entities that lure you into the dark, the Belief Hole is a veritable grab-bag of the bizarre. Whether you’re hungry for new stories of scarcely heard hauntings, unsettling encounters with roadside dogmen, or clandestine cases of psychic government projects, the Belief Hole is the place to dig. The guys take the topics seriously but have natural brotherly banter and are just weird enough to often make us feel like we’re laughing in the dark with friends. So Join us in listening to the Belief Hole podcast, Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Website
Linktree
Youtube
From the Astonishing Legends Network:
Join us on Patreon!
Click HERE or go to patreon.com/astonishinglegends to become one of our Patreon members and receive exclusive offerings, like our bonus Astonishing Junk Drawer episodes (posted every weekend the main show is dark) commercial-free episodes, and more!
SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR SPECIAL SPONSORS:
FIND OTHER GREAT DEALS FROM OUR SHOW’S SPONSORS BY CLICKING HERE!
CREDITS:
Episode 289: The Body on the Moor Part 1. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2024 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.