Alfred Rouse was convicted for murder in 1931.

The identity of his victim was never determined. In early November 1930 two men in Northants saw a fire in the distance. A man approaching them from the direction of the fire observed that 'somebody must be lighting a bonfire'. The two men went to investigate and discovered the fire was coming from a Morris Minor that was ablaze. The licence number identified the car as belonging to a Alfred Arthur Rouse, a north-Londoner. Rouse had gone to Wales to one of his girlfriends, but returned to London a day later. He was arrested and confessed, saying that he had picked up the victim during a ride to Leicester. While Rouse went to urinate, the man lit a cigarette in the car. According to Rouse, there was a flash of light, and subsequently the car burst in flame. Alfred Rouse stood trial in Northampton in January 1931, and was found guilty of murder.

On March 10, 1931, he was hanged in Bedford.

References

• J.H.H. Gaute and Robin Odell , The New Murderer's Who's Who, 1996, Harrap Books, London