Murder in Radford

Reading posts about a couple of murders reminded me of one that I remember, which happened, as I remember, around the early to mid-1950s, in a house in Styvechale. The house was owned by a Mr Mogano, of Italian origin. It caused quite a stir at the time, since the press reported that the victim, Mrs Mogano (who I think was not Italian), had had her tongue cut in two lengthwise. It caused a heavy suspicion to be placed on the husband, as the press claimed that this was a "typically Italian" thing to do (for which, I guess, read "Mafia"); however, there was a complete lack of evidence, and despite suspicions, no-one was arrested for it, including Mr Mogano himself. I think he sold up and left Coventry not long afterwards, possibly returning to Italy. I wonder if anyone remembers that murder?

Hi Keith, I think you will find that the Mogano murder happened in Holland Rd just off the Radford Rd, I believe the couple were connected with ballroom dancing. Regards.

This is one I personally remember. We lived in Banks Road, close to the home of the couple involved. I don't know if it happens today but several of the investigating detectives used to call in at our house for a cup of tea. One day I was shown a photo of Mrs Mogano and asked if I recognised her, yes, said I, daft as a brush, I had seen her photo in the newspaper. I think her husband was the main suspect but had an alibi as being at work. The case still stands out in my mind as if it was yesterday.

Thanks to you all. It was an intriguing business wasn't it, heritage? I well remember all the speculation and rumours at the time. I think I'm right in saying the couple had no relatives in Coventry, and no children, so I suppose there was nothing to keep Mr M there. It would make a very interesting 'cold case' now, wouldn't it?

I recall this story as a Radford child. I can remember the murder of Mrs Mogano was in Holland Road, Radford, by the Radford Common, her husband worked at the same factory if I recall as my dad, her husband had done the murder according to a lot in Radford thought at the time, he came out on his break from work, not telling anyone he had gone, so they assumed his alibi was sound being at work at the time. If I recall they thought it was a southern door knocker that had gained entry to her home as other neighbours stated he was making sexual advances but they never let him in, this is what I've always known from a child whether it be true I don't know but it was definitely Radford this crime was committed.

I had a look on the internet about it. The National Archives won't allow access to the case details until January 2039! The details that I could find talk about the 'southern door knocker', supposedly an electrician, but I don't recall that in the papers at the time (18 Jan 1954), and the description doesn't match with what I recalled. Ah well, 'twas a long time ago!

As a child I remember the Mogano murder, we passed the house on our way to school every day (Barker Butts). Remember trying to see into the house, we had been told it was a bit gruesome, we thought it exciting, a murder on our doorstep so to speak. My dad did not share my excitement, he got arrested and interviewed as a suspect. The story goes, my dad called into the Radford Club to collect a ticket for a kids' outing organised by the club but he had forgotten to book the trip for me, he was so angry and slammed open the door on the way out and pushed his hand through the glass. Next a trip to the hospital to get stitches put in a bad cut to his hand. Now at the time the Police were looking for a man, bloodstained. He was of course released next day. Colin Walton.

We used to think it exciting too, Radford kid, to talk about the murder even years later as I was born in the year of the murder, but still was talked about up until I was about 7, my sisters and brother used to go to Barker Butts too. I'm sure they found it to be her husband as I recall being told he had done it in his dinner break at work. Sorry to hear your dad got arrested but so quick in arresting him compared with nowadays.

Police weren't too good then, were they? I bought a disc of "No Hiding Place" episodes. It was quite a shock to realise just how crude policing was, even ten years after the Mogano murder. (Anybody remember that programme? Or "Murder Bag", its forerunner?) We're spoiled today, with DNA and all the other technological things!

No they weren't were they, always going by the book instead of common sense. Yes you wouldn't get away with it nowadays with all the high tech stuff. Yes lol I remember No Hiding Place, Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars. About the Mogano murder my eldest sister has just enlightened me, the husband went to Australia, as she is 10yrs my senior she would remember more than me, she said she never knew her tongue was cut like that, as the press just said her tongue was cut out, she said she too used to try and look in the window while passing to go to school at Barker Butts

I remember my grandad telling us about it. Mr. Mogano worked in a machine shop, next to the one my grandad worked in, at Daimler Radford

Yes that's right Greg, my dad worked at the Daimler too

Hi Morgana, Greg I didn't know Mr M worked at Daimler! Or that he went to Oz - as I remember the press said that he went back to Italy. The info about her tongue was from the press, and there was a lot of significance given to it, because it was most unusual (and also suggested the motive wasn't a sex attack). In particular, it was said to be "an Italian thing to do", hence the finger being pointed at Mr M. Could have something to do with why the file is closed until 2039, too.

Yes I agree with the tongue being cut out not for a sexual reason, more like she has said something out of turn and does fit with mafia, I can only say what my sister said about him going to Australia, I would have thought it more fitting going back to Italy. Yes he worked at the Radford Jag Daimler.

There was a death of a female Mogano age 44 in Coventry in 1954 - she married in the Isle of Wight in 1931 - they had two sons born in Coventry (1938 and 1940) Her husband (born IOW) died in Coventry in 1986 age 77 I believe that at least one of the sons is still alive in the Midlands, as are several grandchildren, and therefore I have omitted any names as I don't believe it right to include them here