Evening Mail : Gay Murder : 18 May 1964
1964
Birmingham Evening Mail and Dispatch
Monday, May 18, 1964
Headline: Murder Victim ‘happy-go-lucky’ type: clubs searched
Midland C.I.D. men confer in B’ham
Senior C.I.D. officers from all over the Midlands conferred this afternoon with Birmingham detectives investigating the Cofton Park Murder. Men from 16 Midland forces exchanged ideas and suggested lines of enquiry in the talks at the Police Training Centre at Tally Ho!, Edgbaston. The conference came after a night of intense police activity after the identification of the murder victim as 20-year-old printing apprentice Mr. David Leonard Palmer.
Mr. Palmer had lodged at 164 Walford Road, Sparkbrook for the past two years. He worked for a Moseley Road firm, J. H. Butcher and Co. Ltd. His parent who keep a boardoing house in King Edwards Street, Barmouth, North Wales were travelling to Birmingham today.
Keen Dancer
Detective Chief Superintendent G. Baumer, head of Birmingham C.I.D. who is leading the murder enquiry said today Mr. Palmer was a “happy go lucky” respectably dressed young man. He was a keen dancer and a frequent visitor to clubs, dance halls and public houses in the city. Policemen and policewomen would be visiting such places with composite photographs of the dead man, which would also show his clothing. Mr. Baumer also said that Mr. Palmer spent two nights a week at night school in Gosta Green.
His landlady Mrs. Joyce Banaster, had not contacted by police earlier because she thought Mr. Palmer was merely away for the weekend.
Mr. Baumer added “I would like to thank the press for the publicity which has undoubtedly resulted in the identification of this man. It has taken us three days and now we know where we are starting. As a result of the composite photographs which were produced by the ‘Evening Mail and Despatch’ yesterday, one of the two other young men staying at…….
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Contributed by: Evening Mail