Seventy years ago, a crime took place that horrified the region – the murder of a blind man by a relative, who was tracked down after a nationwide manhunt. Mark Tallentire reports.

BLIND William Anderson is washing up after finishing his breakfast.

He thinks he hears a cat, calls for it and feels his way to the bottom of the stairs, but from the second step, his great-nephew Edward brings an axe crashing down onto his head.

With the old man lying bleeding on the floor, the 19-year-old goes upstairs and steals his life savings.

On the way back down, he steps past his body, helps himself to a mackintosh, an attache case, a pair of shoes, a fountain pen and a cap and leaves.

Seven weeks later, Edward Anderson was hanged for murder at Durham Prison.

Sadly, this gruesome story is a true one. Thankfully, it happened nearly 70 years ago, with the horrific details to be retold in the latest edition of a true crime magazine.

Matthew Spicer has rediscovered the shocking tale for this month’s True Detective magazine.

He tells how Edward, released from prison only a week before having served three months for theft from Tynemouth’s Grand Hotel, where he worked as a porter, spent the night of June 10, 1941, in woods outside Durham.

The next morning, he watched his father, Joseph Anderson, who lodged with William, leave their home, in Moor End Terrace, in Belmont, Durham, for work, before entering through the back door and attacking him.

William was found three hours later by his brother, Alfred, who lived next door.

Police discovered the bloodstained axe in a cupboard, the passage walls splattered with gore, the house ransacked and a bureau and cash box forced open.

William mistrusted banks and kept all his savings hidden at home. The 63-year-old died in hospital more than a week later, on June 19.

Edward, having been traced to Hull, was found with the stolen raincoat, pen and case.

He admitted the attack, but denied murder.

A jury at Leeds Assizes found him guilty and recommended mercy because of his age, but there was no reprieve, and Edward was hanged on July 31.

Mike James, editor of True Detective, explained why the story was being retold.

He said: “We have had quite a lot of reader interest from the Durham area, so we were looking round for a good story.

“It is a chilling story and has many local reference points. I am sure readers will find it extremely interesting.”

This month’s issue of the magazine is on sale at newsagents, or send a cheque or postal order for £2.80 made out to Forum Press, PO Box 735, London, SE 26 5NQ.

Alternatively, go to truecrimelibrary.com