In November of that year, the bodies of Hanlon's sister Catherine and of Margaret Annie Dickinson were found at a house in Grey Street, Darlington, where Catherine lived with two of her brothers, John and Patrick. Catherine's throat had been cut and Dickinson, the mother of John's two children, had been strangled. John Hanlon was tried at the Durham Assizes and found guilty of the murder of his sister but deemed not responsible for his actions by reason of insanity, and was detained at His Majesty's pleasure as a criminal lunatic. No evidence was offered on the charge relating to Dickinson.[8]
Hanlon helped Shildon win the Durham Challenge Cup in his first season, and remained with the club until 1910 when he moved on to Darlington, another North-Eastern League club.[9] He established himself at wing half, and helped them progress through five qualifying rounds and eliminate First Division Sheffield United and Second Division club Bradford Park Avenue on the way to the last 16 of that season's FA Cup,[10] an achievement which remains the club's joint best performance in the competition.[11] They eventually lost to Swindon Town, who finished the season as Southern League champions.[10][12] Hanlon was reported to have been ever-present in Darlington's North-Eastern League matches, and "was regarded as one of their strong men."[4]
He followed Darlington teammate Matt Cornock to Second Division club Barnsley in May 1911.[4] He performed well in pre-season and for the reserve team in the Midland League,[13] and when first-team centre-half Tommy Boyle was sold to Burnley, Hanlon took his place.[14] Although not of Boyle's quality, he was initially viewed as an adequate replacement,[15] and kept his place for six matches,[16] in the last of which, away to Leeds City, he scored what proved to be his only Football League goal.[1][16] After Hanlon was injured, the reserve-team right half, Phil Bratley, came into the side and made the centre-half position his own for the rest of the season.[14][16] Hanlon was a regular member of the 13-man training squad that prepared for FA Cup matches as Barnsley went on to win the competition,[17][18] but did not make the team. He did make a further six appearances in league competition, generally standing in for Bratley when the latter was rested before or after a Cup tie.[16][18]
Barnsley chose not to retain Hanlon's services, and he returned to Darlington,[19] where he contributed to their winning the North-Eastern League title for the first time in 1912–13.[20] In the 1914–15 FA Cup, Hanlon scored the only goal with two minutes remaining of the match against London Caledonians to take Darlington through to the first round proper,[21] in which they faced Bradford City. The Yorkshire Post reported that in general Darlington paid the First Division club too much respect, but picked out Hanlon and Percy Sutcliffe as "effective spoilers of their opponents' tactics".[22]
Later life
Hanlon enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1915. In the following August, he was wounded in the thigh by shellfire at Thiepval; his injuries were such that he was medically discharged.[5] His war experiences affected his nerves and left him prone to "terrifying" nightmares.[23] After leaving the Army, Hanlon studied anatomy and took up a career as trainer of football teams. He held posts with Darlington,[5] then with Third Division North club Grimsby Town during the 1923–24 season,[24] before succeeding George Utley as trainer of Bristol City of the Third Division South in July 1924.[25]
Death
In the early hours of 10 September 1925, Hanlon got out of bed at home apparently intending to go downstairs, but slipped and fell. He was found unconscious at the foot of the staircase, where he died of a fractured skull and laceration of the brain. The inquest jury found that the after-effects of his war service were a contributory factor in his fall.[5][26]
His funeral was well attended, and hundreds of people, including children from local schools, lined the route of his cortege.[27] An appeal fund was set up to support Hanlon's widow, Kathleen, and their six children. Bristol City arranged a benefit match with First Division club Cardiff City, the previous season's FA Cup runners up, who not only sent a strong team containing five international players but also covered the expenses of the match so that the entire proceeds could go towards the appeal.[28]
^"Swindon Town". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
^"A Barnsley kick-about". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 21 August 1911. p. 12. Of the new men signed recently, Taylor, Hanlon, and Cornock were the most prominent. "Midland League. The power of Barnsley Reserves". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 18 September 1911. p. 3. Hanlon, the new centre half, was on the top of his form, and was about the most prominent man on the field. In him the Oakwell team have a valuable acquisition.
^"Burnley at Oakwell". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 2 October 1911. p. 3. The display of Hanlon was a matter for satisfaction among the Barnsley supporters. He is not a Boyle, but the right stuff to develop is there.
^Sports Editor (6 March 1912). "By the silver sea. The best trained team in England". Yorkshire Telegraph & Star. p. 5. Hanlon and Cornock are the reserves in training, but it is unlikely that a call will have to be made on them.{{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ ab"For the third meeting. Barnsley again getting ready at Lytham". Yorkshire Telegraph & Star. 15 March 1912. p. 5. Accompanying the team were Hanlon, Cornock, and Hall. The last-named is reserve back, while Hanlon will deputise Bratley, and Cornock displace Tufnell in the team for the match with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
