A NEWPORT writer is appealing for help to solve a Valleys murder, six decades after the crime was committed.

Writer and researcher Monty Dart is investigating the 1939 murder of Pontypool landlord William Lewis, after coming across the case at the National Archives.

Fifty-nine-year-old Mr Lewis, also known as Dripping Lewis, was a wealthy landowner with 70 properties when he was killed in his home, Plasmont, in Conway Street, Pontypool, in May 1939.

A builder and decorator who had been renovating Mr Lewis’ house discovered the body, which was on his bed with a pillow over his face. The story made headlines both locally and nationally.

Despite the involvement of Scotland Yard detectives, the murder was never solved.

Earlier this year, while researching capital punishment at the National Archives in Kew, Mrs Dart found a file on the killing – including 400 statements – and decided to investigate further.

Mrs Dart said: “Nearly half of Pontypool was interviewed – if you weren’t interviewed then you would have known somebody who was. It was a very notorious crime.

“Technically the murderer could still be alive if they were young at the time.

“That’s quite a frightening thought.”

Mrs Dart is appealing for anyone who has information about Mr Lewis or the crime to get in touch. She hopes eventually to turn her research into a book.

She said: “Knowing the murder was committed such a long time ago my thought was not to solve it, but I’m going to have a good go at writing it up.”

Anyone with information can e-mail jessica.best@southwalesargus.

co.uk or telephone 01495 751751.

  • Monty Dart will be giving a talk at Pontypool Museum called “Who killed Dripping Lewis?” on August 17 at 2.30pm.