With special thanks to Richard Hodge for researching and writing this article.
Discovering the Truth
Until 2016, my interest in Arthur Boyce had been purely as a family historian, based on the information I had found through various genealogy sites. I knew nothing else about him—or various other goings-on in my family—as he and others were not discussed, for now obvious reasons. The only family members I knew growing up were those I actually met, and they said nothing. Those people would have known all about him.
What prompted me to look deeper into Mr. Boyce’s past was a remark by one of his grandsons that, at a party, someone had been led to believe that Arthur had either been murdered or was a murderer. As we now know, it was the latter which proved to be the case.
That chance remark led me to investigate further. I am now in possession of transcripts of both the murder investigation and the trial, obtained from the National Archives. Additionally, because of an entry in the investigation papers, I was able to trace his Army Service Records, which I also now have.
This, then, is the story of Arthur Robert Boyce—assembled from family history data and official records from the National Archives and the military. Many press reports existed at the time, including about his victim, Elizabeth McLindon. Some of those reports were, I believe, unfounded. This article aims to provide a more accurate account of the man and his life.
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Early Life and Background
Arthur Robert Boyce was born on 12 January 1901, the youngest of six children of James and Martha Boyce. The family was from the Poplar area of London, where Arthur continued to live until at least 1940 when he joined the Army. It appears that he and his wife separated around that time.
He started school in September 1904, though it’s unclear when he left. In those days, it was common to leave school at around 14. Arthur’s oldest brother, James, married in 1907 and moved to Guildford for work. Their father died in 1911, leaving Martha to raise five children alone.
World War I and the Absence of a Father Figure
When World War I broke out in 1914, Arthur’s two oldest brothers, James and Albert, signed up to fight. It’s uncertain how much contact Arthur had with them, but the absence of a father figure during these formative years may have been a factor in his eventual downfall.
Early Criminal History
Arthur’s first conviction came in November 1917 for the theft of a watch. He was “bound over,” but this was no deterrent. In January 1918, he was again convicted of stealing a watch and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.
Marriage and Family Life
In February 1920, Arthur married Emily. Their first two children died in infancy—Emily in 1920 and Arthur Robert in 1921—which undoubtedly affected the couple. In February 1923, a daughter named Eileen was born, who lived for many years.
Despite the responsibilities of family life, Arthur continued to offend. In April 1924, he served six weeks in prison for stealing a bicycle.
Continued Offenses and Imprisonment
- 1925: Another child, a son, was born.
- 1926: One month in prison for “leaving his wife chargeable.”
- 1927: Three months with hard labour for stealing lead.
- Later in 1927: Six months with hard labour for stealing money from a meter.
Clearly, repeated incarcerations had little effect on curbing his behaviour.
Alleged Injury and Inconsistencies
In 1929, Arthur claimed to have suffered a serious head injury while working at the docks, alleging he was unconscious for 24 hours and hospitalised for 18 months. He claimed to have worn a spinal jacket for three years.
This information comes from a medical examiner’s report from his 1946 trial. However, records from Dreadnought Hospital (available up to 1930) show no admission under his name. His daughter claimed he received compensation for the injury and started a greengrocer’s business in Poplar, which is plausible, as records show him working as a pneumatic driller in 1939. His wife and daughter were listed as assisting in the shop.
Conflicting Accounts
By 1942, the property no longer existed. Yet Arthur’s Army records show he was serving by then, contradicting claims of running a shop until that time.
More Theft and Incarceration
In 1931, Arthur was convicted of stealing 22½ bottles of whisky, 5,000 cigarettes, 200 cigars, and 5¼ lbs of tobacco. He received six months of hard labour. The sentence casts further doubt on his spinal injury claims.
Military Service and False Claims
Arthur joined the Pioneer Corps of the Territorial Army in April 1940. He was listed as a labourer. In June that year, another son was born, and he and his wife likely separated around this time.
He claimed he served in Europe and escaped via Dunkirk, and later served in the Middle East where he was “blown up by a mine.” However, records prove he never left the UK.
In September 1942, he deserted and was arrested in Norfolk. He was later sentenced to three months for various charges including identity theft, then returned to his unit. By June 1943, he was discharged as unfit for further military service—ironically coinciding with the time he claimed to have been “blown up.”
Bigamy and Deceit
Post-discharge, he worked at an aircraft factory near Bournemouth and married a fellow worker in January 1944. He falsely claimed to be a bachelor and listed his occupation as an electrician.
In October 1944, he was charged with bigamy and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He had told his new wife his previous wife had died in an air raid. She discovered the truth, although how remains unknown.
Fraud and the Road to Murder
After prison, in October 1945, he rented a room in Fulham. In March 1946, he deposited a cheque for £75 at a Walham Green bank, but altered the slip to read £2,075. He issued cheques totaling £1,100—none of which cleared.
Briefly employed as a labourer in Fulham, he was fired due to inefficiency. Around March, he moved to Brighton and worked on Brighton Pier. There he met Elizabeth McLindon, who was then employed by a local doctor.
Relationship with Elizabeth McLindon
Arthur and Elizabeth became close. She later gained work as a housekeeper to the exiled King of Greece. It’s been suggested, though not proven, that Arthur forged references for her.
Despite Elizabeth’s concerns about Arthur’s supposed “wealth” and his possession of a gun—of which she spoke to others—she agreed to marry him. Arthur claimed to have thrown the gun into the sea, but he was seen on Brighton Pier after the murder.
The Murder of Elizabeth McLindon
Elizabeth was found dead in a locked basement room, fully clothed, seated at a table with the phone receiver in her hand. She had been shot from behind. Some reports say the phone book was open to the police station listings.
Investigation and Arrest
A spent cartridge case, which Arthur failed to retrieve, proved critical. A former roommate legally owned a .32 calibre pistol. Boyce had stolen the weapon from the man’s luggage before he left for Wales. Forensic analysis confirmed the cartridge at the scene matched one found at the legal owner’s home.
Arthur was first arrested for forgery, then charged with murder. He maintained innocence, blaming others, and only admitted to forgery.
Trial and Execution
Boyce’s trial began at the Old Bailey on 16 September 1946. On 19 September, an all-male jury found him guilty. His appeal was dismissed on 17 October. He was hanged at Pentonville on 1 November by Albert Pierrepoint and Henry Critchell.
Motive and Manipulation
No definitive motive was presented. It’s speculated that Elizabeth may have discovered Arthur’s fraudulent past and was preparing to expose him. Boyce even tried to cover his tracks by writing letters and making phone calls to her after her death—going as far as contacting her sister.
Lies and Fabrications
Arthur was a skilled storyteller and manipulator. He claimed to have:
- Served with “Monty” in the Commandos
- Been a Sergeant Instructor in the RAF
- Underwent eye surgery and temporary blindness
- Lost his family to enemy action
- Previously served with the London Regiment (no record exists)
None of these claims stand up to scrutiny.
Family Reactions
Only his two older sisters supported him, even writing appeals. His brothers, wife, and daughter showed no support. Oddly, a daughter who supported his bombing story was apparently already deceased.
Elizabeth McLindon: The Victim
Some reports cruelly labeled Elizabeth a “High-Class Prostitute.” In truth, she was born in Bathgate, Scotland, in 1905 to Irish parents. She later moved to Liverpool and eventually London.
She served in the ATS for about a year, then worked for the American Red Cross, and finally became a housekeeper. When she became engaged to Boyce, he wrote worthless cheques to her family, supposedly to help them travel to the wedding. These, like many others, were returned “refer to drawer.”
Final Thoughts
I’ll leave you to decide whether Arthur Robert Boyce truly deserved the ultimate punishment of judicial hanging—or whether it was simply his “bad luck.”
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