The Ratcliffe Highway Murders 1811.

 

Murder.

Mr Timothy Marr was the proud owner of a silk, mercery, lace, pelisse, mantle and fur shop at 29, Ratcliffe Highway, an ex sailor with the East India Company aboard the Dover Castle, and now a shopkeeper, Mr Marr was a hard working family man. Late on the evening of the 7th December Marr sent his servant, Margaret Jewel, out for some oysters and to pay an outstanding bill with a local baker, it had been a busy Saturday and a little treat would be most welcome.

Jewel went upon her errand but unfortunately Mr Taylor's oyster shop was shut, as was the bakers, Jewel then wandered around the area for twenty minutes searching for a place to buy oysters, but failed. Heading back she found the shop shut up and in darkness; "I rang the bell, but received no answer. While I continued ringing repeatedly at the door, the watchman passed by at the other side with a person in charge (a police officer); at this time I heard a foot on the stairs, and I thought it was my master coming to let me in.

I also heard the child cry in a low tone of voice, I then rang again and again, and knocked at the door with my foot, while I was doing so, a man came up to me, abused me very much, and used very insulting language to me.

The watchman and policeman came at last, at one o'clock, and desired me to move on, I told him I belonged to the house, and that I was locked out, I remarked to him that the pin of the shutters was not fastened, he called Mr Marr several times through the keyhole, but there was no answer."

At this point the next door neighbour Mr Murray, a pawnbroker, came out to find out what all the fuss was about, having been told, he went back inside. Appearing again Mr Murray said there was a strong light out the back, he went through his house and over the fence to investigate. Gaining entrance to the back door of number 29 Murray called out to Marr several times. Seeing a light upstairs Murray ascended the staircase, he called out "Marr, Marr, your shutters aren't fastened," but he got no answer.

Going back down the stairs Murray opened the street door to let the watchman, police officer and Jewel in, but before he could he saw the body of James Biggs, their servant, dead on the shop floor, his brains had been bashed out. Towards the shop door was Mrs Celia Marr, her face downwards and her head bleeding, rushing forwards Murray opened the shop door to let the watchman, the policeman, and Jewel in.

Looking around the shop Murray then spotted Mr Marr behind the counter quite dead, Jewel had gone to the kitchen and found Timothy Marr, a baby of fourteen weeks, dead in its cradle, the police officer found a maul spattered with blood and hair. At the inquest watchman Olney stated the he was present when the police officer found the maul with the head on the ground and the handle standing against a chair, "the blood was running from it upon the ground," he also found a chisel, but there was no blood on it. He went on to state that he had seen Marr close his shutters at twelve o'clock, midnight.

A verdict of "wilful murder against persons unknown" was delivered, it was now up to the police to find this vicious criminal, they were still considered a new novelty and the country was watching.

Reward and Interment.

Evening Mail - 13th December 1811.

"We are glad to find that the Government has taken the same means which we suggested, to discover the murderers of Mr Marr and his family, by offering a reward to any one of them, except an actual perpetrator, whose evidence may lead to conviction.

Yesterday the following advertisement was struck up in large characters, in the neighbourhood of Ratcliffe Highway, and other parts of town:- Whitehall, December 12th 1811.

On the 16th December the Marr family were buried in the churchyard at St, Georges In The East, it is located across the road from their shop, a stones throw from the scene of horror on Ratcliffe Highway.

Author's photo taken from where the Marr's shop was located

According to London Chronicle - Monday 16 December 1811;

'Yesterday the neighbourhood of Ratcliffe Highway presented a scene of sorrow and lamentation. Crowds assembled from the house to the doors of St George's Church, waiting for some hours.

The congregation in the church, attending divine service, remained in their stations, to witness the afflicting spectacle. At half past one the procession entered with some difficulty. No language can describe the grief depicted in every countenance on witnessing the coffins containing the unfortunate bodies of Mr Marr, Mrs Marr, and her infant.

The procession entered the aisle of the church in the following order :-

Body of Mr Marr;

Bodies of Mrs Marr and Infant;

Father and Mother of Mr Marr;

Mother of Mrs Marr.

The affliction of the aged parents, and the brothers and sisters of the deceased, was the most heartrending spectacle. After the church ceremony, the corpses were conveyed into the burial ground, and deposited in one grave."

The investigation went on, suspects arrested, The Star - Thursday 19th December 1811;

"Whitechapel Office.

Yesterday the two Portuguese, Le Silvoe and Bornard Jovoe, who were apprehended on Friday last, were brought to the above office and examined near two hours, on suspicion of being concerned in the late murders at Ratcliffe Highway.

It appeared that Le Silvoe and Bornard Jovoe were at the Artichoke public house, near Mr Marr's drinking at half past eleven o'clock, and that they were seen by many of the inhabitants between the above time and a quarter before twelve; also that they were seen near one o'clock, in the streets adjoining.

Le Silvo lodges in Marmont Street, and came home for admittance at one o'clock, and knocked at the door; and his wife let him in as the watchman was going by, and crying past one o'clock. His landlord was waiting to give evidence to the above effect. Mrs Le Silvoe offered to prove that her husband was at home at eleven o'clock, but her testimony was not admitted.

A woman who lives with Bornard Jovoe wanted to prove an alibi, but the evidence appeared very doubtful. The prisoners were committed for another hearing."

Another Dreadful Murder.

The Sun - Friday 20 December 181;

"Another horrible murder was committed last night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, at No. 81, New Gravel Lane, not two minutes walk from the former scene of blood in Ratcliffe Highway.

Between eleven and twelve o'clock , the neighbours opposite were alarmed by a cry of murder, from a person in his shirt (John Turner), who was descending from a two pair of stairs window, by a sheet of his bed knotted together. On his reaching the bottom, he informed those assembled, that murderers  were on the house, committing dreadful acts of blood on the whole family.

An alarm was instantly given, and two resolute men, named Ludgate and Hawse, armed themselves, and broke open the doors - when, horrid to relate! They first found the mistress of the house and the servant maid lying one on the other by the kitchen fire, quite dead, with their throats cut from ear to ear.

In the cellar they found the master of the house quite dead, one of his legs broken, and his head nearly severed from his body. The scene of this bloody dead was the King's Arms public house, and the unfortunate persons murdered are Mr and Mrs Williamson, the landlord and landlady, and their servant maid, Biddy, an Irish girl.

The person who descended from the window is named Turner, and was a lodger; he states, that being alarmed by a great noise, he went down stairs, where he saw two men, one in a large watchcoat, and the other in a flannel jacket, rifling the pocket of the mistress, who was then lying near the kitchen fire; he immediately came to the resolution to get out of the window, and by the aid of the bedclothes he effected his purpose, leaving up stairs in bed Mr and Mrs Williamson's granddaughter,Catherine Stillwell.

It is with the deepest sorrow we have to state, that the perpetrators of this horrid deed have escaped, they got out of the back doors, and crossed Dock Hills."

The Sun of Friday the 20th went on to observe the efforts of the police in their endeavours on the docks, searching various ships and suspicious characters all the way to Gravesend. All the iron shops and blacksmiths were also investigated, particularly with reference to the maul, but without any result.

The inquest was held at the Black Horse on Gravel Lane, Mr Unwin, the Coroner said; 

"The frequent instances of murder committed in the eastern part of the metropolis, which no vigilance has been successful to detect - in a vicinity, where the population of the lower classes greatly preponderates, increased by the number of strangers and seamen discharged from the different docks, and the influx of foreign sailors from all parts of the globe - imperiously call for the solemn attention of those more immediately entrusted with the administration of the Government; for the late and present murders are a disgrace to the country, and almost a reproach on civilisation.

While the excursions of the police, with the ordinary power of the Parochial Officers, are found insufficient to protect men's persons from the hand of violence, and the Coroner has to record the most atrocious crimes, without the possibility of delivering the perpetrators to justice and punishment; our houses are no longer our castles, and we are unsafe in our beds."

This pub was about two building to the left of the Marrs Shop

Stern and terrifying stuff indeed, the verdict was predictable...."wilful murder against some persons unknown,," but the police had not been idle.

The survivor Mr Turner stated he had heard just after he had retired for the night Mrs Williamson go down stairs, soon after he heard the front door bang to very hard, immediately afterward he heard the servant cry out "we are murdered," or "shall be murdered," two or three times, then there was the sound of two or three blows. Shortly after Mr Williamson cried out "I am a dead man," I was still in bed. Hearing nothing more Turner crept down stairs to the first floor, there he heard the sound of heavy sighs.

Naked Turner crept further down stairs, there he saw a man in a large Flushing coat rifling the pockets of the Williamsons who were lying on the ground and not moving, he was putting several items into his pockets. He was dreadfully frightened, so he went back upstairs as carefully as he could, took the bed clothes and made his escape out of the window.

In the street he saw a watchman and he told him of the murders going on inside, the watchman summoned assistance with his rattle, and a Mr Fox, who lived opposite, came running up saying "break the door open." While this was happening Mr Fox ran back inside his house to fetch his hanger.

Once gaining entrance to the pub they saw the carnage wrought by the murderer, Mrs Elizabeth Williamson and the servant Ann Bridget Harrington both lying on the kitchen floor with their throats cut, and in the cellar Mr Williamson, leg broken, hand almost severed and his throat cut, before he was killed the perpetrator must have given him a good beating with a crowbar.

Police officers from Shadwell were soon at the scene and a manhunt was started, the pub was thoroughly searched, upstairs, still in bed was the completely unharmed granddaughter Catherine, who had slept through the entire ordeal.

Suspects.

Morning Post - Tuesday 24 December 1811

Shadwell Office - yesterday.

"John Williams was brought up for examination, under suspicion of being concerned in the murder of Mr and Mrs Williamson. The story which the prisoner gave of himself was far from satisfactory, and being interrogated how he gained his living, a circumstance was revealed sufficient to substantiate his detention.

It appeared that the prisoner, on the day of the murder, borrowed 6d from the landlady of the Pear Tree public house, in Wapping; when he was taken into custody the next day £1 14s in silver and a pound note, was found on his person. The account he gave of his possession of the money was from pawning his shirts ect. The fact was not clearly ascertained, nor the alibi to the time he was at home on Thursday night. Accordingly he was remanded for another hearing."

Whitechapel Office - yesterday.

"John Le Silvoe, Bornard Jovo, Joseph Antonio, and a girl, underwent a third interrogation, on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of Mr and Mrs Marr and family. The Magistrates investigated the additional evidence against the prisoners in private, which continued for some time. The girl was discharged, but the three Portuguese are kept in custody.

Queens Square - On Saturday, Symonds, the man in custody for being concerned (at his own confession) in the murder of the Marrs, underwent a final examination before Mr Colquhoun and Mr Fielding, Magistrates. The prisoner's landlady and father both gave evidence that he was at home on the night of the murders and he was declared innocent, he was warned to avoid intoxication in future. On the payment of 20s to the Recruitment Officer Symonds avoided being detained as a soldier."

Of all the suspects John Williams stuck out, examined again suspicion grew. The maul used to kill the Marrs had been missed from Mr Vermillion's house where Williams had lodged, it had belonged to a ships carpenter called John Peterson, and was marked J.P. Mr Vermillion at this time was incarcerated in Newgate Gaol for debt, but although he couldn't swear it was the same maul, it was marked with the same initials and there was some damage to the maul caused by breaking up firewood, which made it look the same.

Messers Harrington, Austin and Emery were examined for the Williamson murders, Harrington matched the description of the man seen by Turner rifling the pockets of Mrs Williamson. Harrington said that both he and Emery were on board the East Indiaman Astel for the last week, and that his other shipmate, Austin, had only been discharged from the King's Bench after ten days confinement. They were remanded for further investigation.

A certain W. Mitchell was questioned concerning the Williamson murders. After hearing of the murders officers on London Bridge began stopping "persons of notoriety" and searching them. Mitchell was stopped, searched, asked his name, where he had been ect, his answer was that he had been out looking for smugglers, so the officers let him go.

Soon after a description was circulated and this Mitchell's appearance corresponded with it, going to the address he gave, it turned out to be a false one. A search for the man was commenced but nothing was found, he was six feet in height, wearing a watchman's coat which he said he had borrowed, and clay on his trousers.

Two Irishmen, both named Dennis Mahony were detained after one of them was seen with a limp, they were examined and discharged.

Seven men were detained as they were found with shirts and a waistcoat stained with something that resembled blood. They said it was staining from hop vines, as they were hop pickers, they were all detained until a surgeon could be found to substantiate their claims.

A bricklayers labourer called Bailey was taken up by Mr Cook, Magistrate, on suspicion of a felony, while searching his apartments he found a quantity of silver plate and some linen stained with a blood like substance. 

Thinking he could have something to do with the murders Bailey was put into Cheshunt Cage. The next morning when the Constable went into the prison Bailey was found suspended from a beam by his handkerchief, and completely lifeless.

Mirroring the tragedy of young Bailey, there was John Williams.

John Williams.

The Sun - Saturday 28th December 1811.

Cold Bath Fields Prison.

"Yesterday morning, when the Turnkey of Cold Bath Fields prison went to the cell where this wretched man was confined, for the purpose of preparing him to go before the Magistrates of Shadwell Police Office, for further examination, he found him suspended by the neck, from an iron bar, crossing the cell, on which the prisoners hang their clothes.

He was quite cold and lifeless - his coat and shoes were off. The night before, when he was locked up, he appeared tolerably cheerful, and spoke in terms of confidence that he would be speedily liberated. The Magistrates proceeded to examine evidence."

Inquest.

The inquest was held at the House of Correction in St. James, Clerkenwell, before Coroner John Wright Unwin.

Surgeon Thomas Webb stated that he found Williams in his cell lying on his back on the bed where he had been placed after he had been cut down, he was dead, cold and had been dead for many hours.

"On his neck, on the right side, is a very deep impression of a knot, and a mark all round the neck as from the handkerchief by which he had been suspended, I saw no other marks."

Mr Unwin addressed the Jury;

"The miserable wretch, the object of the present inquiry, was committed here on suspicion of being one of the perpetrators of the late alarming and most inhuman murders, and that suspicion is greatly increased by the result which has taken place; for how much augmented is the suspicion of guilt against a man, who, to escape justice, has recourse to self destruction!

All homicide is murder till the contrary shall be shown. The law ranks the suicide in the worst class of murderers, and this is a case of most unqualified self murder.

I have applied my attention to the conduct of those entrusted with the custody of this wretched man, a subject interesting to the public mind, and I leave it with you; I think there is no culpability attaching itself to them. 

It only therefore remains that we consign the body of the self murderer to that infamy and disgrace which the law has prescribed; and leave the punishment of his crimes to him who has said 'vengeance is mine, and I will repay,'  - Verdict; Felo De Se."

A Strange Funeral.

The Sun - Wednesday 1st January 1812.

"On Monday, at midnight, the body of this wretch was removed from the House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields, to the watch house, near Ratcliffe Highway; and yesterday morning, at about 10 o'clock, he was placed on a platform, erected six feet above a very high cart, drawn by one horse.

The platform was composed of rough deals battened together, raised considerably at the head, which elevated the corpse. A board was fixed across the lower end, standing up about six inches, to prevent the body from slipping off. On this platform the body was laid; it had on a clean white shirt, very neatly frilled, quite open at the neck, and without a neck handkerchief or hat, but the hair neatly combed, and the face clean washed.

The countenance looked healthy and ruddy, but the hands and the lower part of the arms were of a deep purple, nearly black. The whole of the arms were exposed, the shirt being tucked quite up. The lower part of the body was covered with a pair of clean blue trousers, and brown worsted stockings, without shoes. The feet were towards the horse.

On the right leg was affixed the irons Williams had on when he was committed to prison. The fatal maul was place upright by the left side of his head, and the ripping chisel, or crow bar, about 3 feet long, on the other side.

About 10 o'clock, the procession, attended by the Head Constable and Head boroughs of the district, on horseback, and about 250 to 300 constables and extra constables, most of them with drawn cutlasses, began to move, and continued at a slow pace, until they came opposite the house of the unfortunate Marr, in Ratcliffe Highway, where they stopped about quarter of an hour.

By the shaking of the cart the head of Williams had got turned to one side, and looked from the house where the murder was committed; but before the cart left the place, a person ascended the platform, and placed the face of the corpse directly opposite the scene of atrocity.

The procession went down Old Gravel Lane, along Wapping High Street, entered New Gravel Lane, by Wapping Wall, and continued slowly to approach the spot where the second murder was perpetrated; on reaching which, it stood for another quarter of an hour, and then proceeded, again entering Ratcliffe Highway, and passing along it until it came to Cannon Street, where it turned up; and on reaching the top where the New Road crosses, and the Cannon Street begins, a large hole being prepared, the cart stopped.

The procession outside the King's Arms.

After a pause of about 10 minutes, the body was thrown into its infamous grave, amidst the acclaimations of thousands of spectators. The stake which the law requires to be driven through the corpse had been placed in the procession under the head of Williams, by way of a pillow; and after he was consigned to the earth, it was handed down from the platform, and with the maul was driven through the body.

The grave was then filled with quick lime, and the spectators quietly dispersed. During the whole procession all ranks of persons who were present conducted themselves with a solemnity rarely witnessed in the east part of town; and until the body was lowering into the earth hardly a whisper was to be heard in the street. Not a single accident happened. Williams is buried close to the Turnpike Gate in the Cannon Street Road."

Afterwards.

But was John Williams the murderer?

Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Monday 27th January 1812.

"Mr Graham particularly examined the late Mr Marr's premises on Thursday, and investigated some witnesses on the spot. Hart and Alblass are kept in close confinement, not being able to account for about a quarter of an hour of their time on the night of the murder of the Williamson's; it having been ascertained that a man can walk at a very quick pace in less than five minutes from that house to the Pear Tree public house.

On Saturday a man and woman who lived next door to Mr Marr, gave evidence respecting the horrible transaction. We understand it is their opinion that they heard three persons walking about at the time these murders were committed."

Cornelius Hart was a carpenter who had done work in Marrs shop on the day of the murders, he had lost his chisel, he denied any involvement, and also denied knowing Williams although  witnesses were found to prove otherwise. Hart lived opposite the Pear Tree public house, on the night of the Williamson murders he was found drunk on the step of his house and was arrested on suspicion.

William Alblass was a seaman who had served with Williams on the Roxburgh Castle, a rather unpleasant man with a limp, he fitted Turners description better than most, it is suggested that Alblass, Williams and Marr had all been shipmates and the motive was robbery. Alblass admitted to drinking with Williams on the night of the murder but left his company and went home. 

 On the 7th February both men were acquitted and set free.

Postscript.

The Crown and Dolphin, Williams Cross Roads.

On the 1st August 1886 it was reported that whilst excavating a trench for laying gas pipes by the Commercial Gas Company, a skeleton was unearthed with a stake driven through it at a depth of six feet, lying next to the bones were some chains. Allegedly the skull was given to the landlord of the Crown And Dolphin on the corner, but it has since disappeared.

The Murder Of William Terriss, A Victorian Tragedy.

 

The victim.

William Charles James Lewin was born in St. John's Wood on the 20th February 1847. His parents were George Herbert Lewin and Mary Lewin nee Friend, his father's profession was a barrister.

Always the athlete and adventurer after school and university Lewin first tried his hand at a career in the Merchant Navy, then as a tea planter in Bengal, before returning to England to briefly work in a hospital where his brother was a surgeon, only to move on and become an apprentice engineer.

Having a keen interest in amateur dramatics Lewin wanted to take to the stage as a profession, and in 1868 he got his first chance at the Prince Of Wales Theatre in Birmingham as Chouser in The Flying Scud, at this point he started using the stage name William Terriss.

Terriss married Isabel Lewis in 1870 and in 1871 they had a daughter, Mary Ellaline, she would go on to be a famous actress in her own right. Even with acting roles coming in his restless spirit was not satisfied, and off the family went to South America and on to the Falkland Islands, where Terriss added sheep farming to his skills.

Returning to England, and the stage, Terriss played roles in various plays such as Ivanhoe, Robin Hood and Rebecca in the West End, but it was a different west that beckoned. Wandering off again, this time to the USA, the Terriss family ended up in Kentucky breeding horses. This was a failure, back in England in 1873 Terriss pick up where he left off and was treading the boards again with gusto, playing choice roles all over the West End.

Irving, Terriss and Terry in Henry The Eighth 1892

In 1880 Terris (sometimes known as Breezy Bill) entered the orbit of the great Henry Irving and his Lyceum company. Irving's Lyceum was the height of Victorian Shakespearian performance and melodrama. Playing alongside other famous actors such as Ellen Terry, Genevieve Ward and Gordon Craig, he would become close friends with Irving, his erstwhile secretary Bram Stoker, and George Bernard Shaw.

It was while he was at the Lyceum that Terriss met the 24 year old actress Jessie Millward. The pair would often be cast as lovers on stage, and soon of it too. They would both enjoy roles at the Lyceum and at the Adelphi, as the Lyceum was the place to see  Shakespeare, the Adelphi was the home of melodrama.

The Lyceum company toured America in 1893 - 1894, on their return Terriss joined the Adelphi company, where he enjoyed even greater success. By 1897 Terriss was recognised as one of the great actors of his age, alongside Henry Irving. On the 24th November the Adelphi began it's season of the play Secret Service, in which Terriss would play Lewis Dumont, and Jessie Millward played Edith Varney.

William Terriss and Jessie Millward

The Murderer.

Richard Millar Archer was born in near Dundee, Scotland, on the 11th May 1858. His father was a ploughman and his mother worked in the fields, he claimed his insanity stemmed from his being left in the sun too much while his mother worked.

Richard Archer Prince

Leaving school at 14 Archer started work in the shipyards, but he had a keen interest in amatuer dramatics. In the mid 1870s his parents moved to London, where he joined them keeping up his acting interests. In 1887, he was a jobbing actor playing small roles in various theatres, including the Adelphi, under the names William Archer Flint and the name he was infamously known as, Richard Archer Prince.

By the early 1890s Prince was a well known character in theatreland, he and Terriss were well known to each other. Terriss often got Prince work and helped him out when he was down on his luck. 

Unfortunately during the mid 1890s Prince's luck was mostly bad, he was getting more dependent on alcohol, which certainly did not help his mental state. His life became more erratic and unstable, people began to call him "Mad Archer". It was during this time that Prince was appearing with Terriss in The Harbour Lights, at some point Terriss was angered at something Prince has said about him, and Terriss had Prince dismissed.

Between 1895 and 1897 Prince went back to Dundee now and then to do labouring jobs, when he was back in London Prince would receive small payments from the Actor's Benevolent Fund, these small payments came from Terriss who would also try and find him acting work.

By 1897 Prince was destitute, his alcohol addiction and his failing mental health made him unemployable. On the 13th December Prince was thrown out of the Vaudeville Theatre after using a free pass he was not entitled to. The next night he was seen arguing with Terriss at the Adelphi, Prince was convinced Terriss was stopping him getting work and achieving any success.

A Murder Most Foul.

IPN, 25 December 1897

16th December 1897.

Earlier that day Prince had been to the Actor's Benevolent Fund asking for money, but he had been turned down. His desperation was reaching boiling point, with the little money he had, he bought a butcher's knife.

At 7pm Terriss and his friend Henry Graves pulled up in a carriage on Maiden Lane, just beside the back entrance to the Adelphi theatre. As they walked over to the door Prince rushed out of the doorway he had concealed himself in. 

In his hand was the butcher's knife, which he plunged into Terriss's back, side and chest.

Prince made no effort to escape from the ghastly scene, he was quickly held by passers by and Mr Graves. P.C Bragg, who was on point duty in the Strand, heard the commotion with cries of "murder" and "police" coming from the vicinity of Maiden Lane, and went to investigate. On arrival he saw Prince being restrained by several people, and eventually the body of William Terriss.

Graves apprehends Prince

Doctors were called from Charing Cross hospital, but it was too late, Terriss was pronounced dead just before 8pm.

P.C Bragg, Graves and Prince then walked to Bow Street Station where Prince was booked into custody and his knife was placed into evidence.

The Trial.

The trial was on the 13th January 1898, at the Central Criminal Court.

The Times 14th January 1898.

"Richard Archer Prince, actor, was indicted for the wilful murder of Mr. William Charles James Lewin, otherwise William Terriss. Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. Horace Avory were counsel for the Crown; Mr. Sands and Mr. Kyd appeared for the prisoner; Mr. Frank Safford watched the case on behalf of the Actors' Benevolent Fund, and Dr. J. D. A. Johnson for other persons.

In reply to the charge, which was read to him by Mr. Mead, the Deputy Clerk of Arraigns, who asked if he pleaded "Guilty" or "Not Guilty," the prisoner said, "Guilty, with great provocation." (Addressing the Judge.) I have a favour to ask you my Lord. I believe it is the law of England to allow me the services of a Queen's Counsel to defend me.

Mr. Sands, interposing, said he was instructed with Mr. Kyd to defend in the matter on instructions coming from friends of the prisoner.

The prisoner - I have no friends. My mother cannot afford a penny to defend me. If counsel are assisting in defending me they must be paid by the people who drove me to commit this crime.

Mr. Justice Channell - You are not entitled by the law to have the services of a Queen's Counsel. On the contrary, if you desire a Queen's Counsel he would have to get a licence to appear for you. You are entitled to be defended by counsel, or to defend yourself.

The prisoner - Thank you, my Lord.

Mr. Justice Channell - Assuming that you are in a position to decide which you will do, you have that choice.

The prisoner - Thank you, my Lord; that will do.

He agreed to be defended by the learned counsel who appeared. In reply to the Clerk of Arraigns as to his plea of "Guilty" or "Not Guilty," the prisoner said, I plead "Guilty, with the greatest provocation."

Mr. Justice Channell - had you not better take the advice of your counsel? You are making a plea unknown to the law. If you insist on pleading "Guilty, with great provocation," I shall consider it as a plea for mercy.

After a consultation with his counsel, the prisoner said, my Lord, I am advised to plead "Not Guilty," and I plead "Not Guilty."

On the cause of death;

The knife Prince used to kill Terriss

Mr. Hayward, senior house surgeon at Charing-cross Hospital, gave evidence as to being called to attend Mr. Terriss on the evening of 16th December. Mr. Terriss was then sinking very fast, and death took place at a few minutes to 8 o'clock. Mr. Terriss was semi-conscious and did not speak. 

Witness afterwards made a post-mortem and found four wounds, one over the spine, one over the left shoulder, a slight superficial wound in the wrist, and the fourth wound, which was the immediate cause of death, was in the chest, penetrating the heart. It must have been caused by very great force. It was such a wound as could have been inflicted with the knife produced."

The trial was an open and shut case, he was obviously guilty, what was really in question was the state of Prince's mind at the time of the murder, was he sane? The trial summed up thus; 

"Mr. Justice Channell -  in summing up the case to the jury, said the question was whether the prisoner was responsible according to law for the act. The crime was of a startling character.

The victim of it was a gentleman well known to a great many personally and to a great many by reputation. The jury must decide the case, not from any preconceived opinion, but entirely by the evidence which had been laid before them. 

If it appeared to them that the prisoner committed the act charged, but was insane, so as not to he responsible for his actions, they must return a special verdict to that effect. There was no doubt that the prisoner committed the act, and there was also evidence that it was premeditated; but premeditation did not prevent a man's being so insane as to be irresponsible at law. 

The whole point was - what was it that made a person responsible or irresponsible at law for crime. The learned judge then referred to the well-known rule of law laid down on the subject in Macnaghten's case (1) by the House of Lords and said it, was clear, according to law, that a person might be insane to a certain extent, and still be responsible. 

Some insane persons were amenable to consideration of punishment and to considerations which showed that, although they had a certain amount of partial insanity, they still could judge an act and, to a certain extent, regulate their conduct. 

Therefore it was that the law had said that the mere fact of insanity was not enough to make a person irresponsible according to law, but what was required to make a person irresponsible was that he must be shown to be, at the time of the committing of the act, labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the true or the quality of the act, or if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing wrong. 

Those were the words in which the law was laid down; by the House of Lords. The learned Judge pointed out that there must be some disease of the mind from which the defect of reason arose. Mere moral deficiency which made a person think a thing right when mankind in general and the law said it was wrong would not be insanity which would prevent him from being responsible. 

It must be a disease of the mind which must go the length of preventing him knowing the nature and quality of the act or that it was wrong. Having referred to the evidence and to the testimony of the medical experts, who had expressed the unanimous and undoubted opinion that the prisoner was insane, the learned Judge concluded: by observing that the questions were, first, whether the jury were satisfied that the prisoner committed the act and, secondly, whether it had been made to appear to them that, at the time be committed it, he was not responsible, according to law, by reason of a disease of the mind.

The jury at 25 minutes to 7 o'clock retired to consider their verdict, and after an absence of half an hour they returned into Court. In reply to Mr. H. K. Avory, the Clerk of arraigns, who asked if they had agreed upon their verdict and if they found the prisoner guilty or not guilty. The Foreman said, 'We find the prisoner Guilty of, wilful murder. We say that he knew what he was doing and to whom he was doing it, but, on the medical evidence, that he was not responsible for his actions. 

Mr. Avory (to the jury). You say that he was insane so as not to be responsible at law for his actions at the time he committed the act?

The Foreman - On the medical evidence, yes.

Mr. Justice Channell said upon that the order of the Court was that the prisoner be detained as a criminal lunatic at Holloway until Her Majesty's pleasure be known. 

The prisoner -  Shall I not be allowed to make a statement of thanks to the Court? I should like to thank all the gentlemen who have assisted in the case.

The prisoner was then removed from the dock."

Prince was removed from Holloway to Broadmoor Asylum, he would be a resident there until his death on the 25th January 1937, aged 78.

His sentence was seen as mild by many, an angry Henry Irving said "Terriss was an actor so his murderer will not be executed."

Madam Tussauds waxwork museum was very quick to modernise their exhibit of William Terriss, by adding a waxwork effigy of Richard Arthur Prince to his tableau.

William Terriss was buried at Brompton Cemetery on the 21st December 1897, a plaque marking the site of the murder was placed on the wall in Maiden Lane next to the stage door of the Adelphi Theatre.

The ghost.

It wouldn't be a Victorian melodrama without a ghost to go with the tragedy. 

The spectral presence of William Terriss has been seen in Covent Garden underground station, even though that station wasn't built at the time of his death, it wouldn't be completed for another ten years. But it was the site of a bakery that he allegedly patronised. 

Maiden Lane, the stage door is in the middle of the large white building

Also in the Adelphi itself, the spirit of Terriss is blamed for various ghostly sightings. In 2022 comedian Jason Manford recorded an interview for the BBC on an experience he had at the theatre in 2012. On a video call to his daughters one of them said she could see a man dressed as a soldier crying behind him, he was in a dressing room positioned above the stage door on Maiden Lane...........

Jason Manford Interview

1. Macnaghten assassinated English civil servant Edward Drummond, mistaking him for the Prime Minister, while suffering from paranoid delusions. The jury retiring, duly returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity.  

The Garrotters Of Old London Town.

                                 The Garrotters!

In the mid-19th century, London was a city of contrasts: a burgeoning metropolis of industry and innovation, yet shadowed by poverty, overcrowding, and social unrest. Amidst this backdrop, a particular form of street crime, garrotting, captured the public's imagination and instilled widespread fear. 

Garrotting, in the context of Victorian London, referred to a method of street robbery where assailants would strangle their victims, often from behind, to incapacitate them before theft. While the term "garrotting" has Spanish origins, the practice was not new to Londoners. However, the mid nineteenth saw a resurgence and a shift in public perception, transforming it from a sporadic crime to a symbol of urban decay and moral decline.

The Anti Garrotte Overcoat, Punch 1856.

The First Garrotting Panic of 1856.

The initial wave of fear surrounding garrotting emerged in 1856. Reports of such crimes, though not unprecedented, were sensationalized by the press. The public's anxiety was further fueled by the perception that these crimes were committed by foreign criminals, particularly Spanish and Italian immigrants, leading to xenophobic sentiments. This panic led to calls for increased policing and harsher punishments, though the actual incidence of garrotting did not significantly rise during this period.

Anti Garrotting Collars, 1862.

The Second Garrotting Panic of 1862–1863.

The most intense garrotting panic occurred between 1862 and 1863. A series of high-profile incidents, including attacks on prominent individuals, reignited public fear. Newspapers published lurid accounts, and satirical magazines like Punch depicted exaggerated scenarios of garrotting attacks. The media's portrayal of these crimes as rampant and widespread led to widespread hysteria.

A typical case from the East London Observer, 20th September 1862.

"At Worship Street, Eliza Cooper, Mary West, Mary Ann King, Elizabeth M'Donald, and Elizabeth Simes, all masculine looking women, were charged with stealing £55 in notes and gold from the person of Mr Thomas Roach, a tradesman, at Stepney, on the 22nd August last.

The robbery was accompanied by violence of a very aggravated character, as the prosecutor was knocked down and subsequently rendered insensible by the pressure of the fingers round the throat.

The prisoners were apprehended at intervals from the information of the others, some of whom confessed participation in the crime, while others stoutly denied it. None of the money has, however, been recovered.

All the prisoners were fully committed for trial."

Punch Magazine's Satirical View on Anti Garrot Fashion.

The garrotting panics revealed much about Victorian society's anxieties. The fear of garrotting was not solely about the crime itself but also about the perceived breakdown of social order. The middle and upper classes, who were the primary victims in reported cases, viewed these attacks as assaults on the sanctity of private life and personal safety.

In response to the garrotting panics, the British government enacted several legal reforms. The 1863 Garrotting Act introduced harsher penalties for those convicted of garrotting. Additionally, the Royal Commission on Garrotting was established to investigate the causes of the crime and recommend measures to combat it. These legislative actions were part of a broader trend of legal reforms aimed at addressing urban crime and maintaining public order .

The press were keen to report these attacks in every detail as they sold newspapers, the truth was that even after the first two "panics" garrotting carried on regardless, here we have a tale from the 12th December 1868;

"John Charles Harvey, 23, vocalist, was charged with having, in concert with three others, garrotted and robbed Mr Charles Edward Ducasse (Naval Captain), of twelve half crowns and a pocket book containing valuable papers.

"and ain't we so precious feared o'bein' 'GARROTTED!"

The prosecutor said he was a commander in the Bengal Navy, only recently come to this country. He was now living in Limehouse, and early that morning he was proceeding through Commercial Street, Spitalfields, when at the corner of Flower And Dean Street, the prisoner and three others passed him.

Witness then saw the prisoner turn around, and immediately he was seized from behind by him and grasped round the throat, and squeezed so violently that he could not call out. He was then dragged backwards, and the three men, with prisoner, rifled his pockets, of twelve half crowns and also his pocket book, which contained his commission, and other papers. 

They also took some papers witness had that morning received from the Secretary Of State, but having looked over them fancied they were of no value and returned them. Afterwards the prisoner released him, and they all ran away up Flower And Dean Street. 

Witness called the police, and one came up. While detailing the circumstances to him, witness saw the prisoner come out of the street and walk towards them. He told the officer to take him into custody, when prisoner turned back and ran off. He was, however, caught, and witness gave him into custody.

Corroborative evidence was addressed by a witness named Townsend: and Police Constable Gaen, 143H, said that when he caught the prisoner after a run. Prisoner said, before a word of the charge against him was mentioned, 'I'm quite innocent.' He was then removed to the station."

On the 30th September 1871 a Pawn Broker had an odd story to tell;

"At an early hour on Sunday morning a pawnbroker, named Thomas Cregg, was on his way home, when he was garrotted and robbed of, among other articles, a valuable breast pin. The next morning one of the parties implicated in the theft offered the pin in pledge to the owner, was given into custody, and remanded."

Ally Sloper's Half Holiday - 30th April 1887

A decline in garotting incidents, however, did not immediately quell public fear. The legacy of the garrotting panics persisted in the collective memory, as we reached the last two decades of the nineteenth century incidents still occurred.

East End Observer - 15th October 1887.

"Daring Robbery At Mile End.

Thursday night, as Mr C. Kerby, of the firm of Messers, C. and F. Kerby, booksellers of 118, Whitechapel Road,, was proceeding, at about half past ten, to his house in Beaumont Square, four men suddenly sprang upon him.

One pinioned his arms, a second garrotted him, a third put a handkerchief over his mouth, while the fourth snatched at his watch. Fortunately, however, the chain broke, and the watch falling back into his pocket, he only lost a portion of the chain.

His calls for 'Police' were speedily answered, but although a chase was at once given, none of the gang were captured."

Garrotting was an exact science, getting it wrong could potentially be the difference between a prison sentence and the rope, sometimes it did go wrong, Penny Illustrated Paper - 29th October 1892;

"The Borough Outrage.

What appears to be a deplorable case of garrotting ended in the death of the victim, Dr William Peter Kerwain.

This sad story of one of our most dangerous quarters in South London, or an important part of the story, was told by an exceedingly intelligent young witness at the inquest held at Guy's Hospital on the body of Dr Kerwain.

Elizabeth Ann Williams, a little girl of ten years of age, residing at 1, Whitecross Street, said that on Wednesday (Oct. 12), about half past two, she was in Whitecross Street, when she saw the deceased and three other men going down the street.

She called out to a neighbour named Mrs Sweeney, 'Look at those four toffs!' Witness saw that they were going down towards the passage leading towards the George IV Public House, and she expressed a fear to the woman that he three men were going to rob the gentleman. She ran past the passage, and noticed as she passed that the Noble was looking out, while someone was lying down in the passage.

The Doctors Body

Shortly afterwards she returned, and at once recognised the gentleman lying on the ground as the person whom she said was afraid the men were going to rob. The detectives were lauded for the prompt and able manner in which they captured Charles Balch, Edward Waller, and James Noble, who were charged with the crime at Southwark Police Court after the jury had returned against them a verdict of 'Wilful murder by strangulation.'

A man named Henry Lee was exonerated by the jury, but was included in the grave charge at the police court, where Mr Sims stated that he had confided to a fellow prisoner at Holloway that he had taken part with Balch in garrotting the doctor."

Each one of the gang was sentenced to fourteen years penal servitude, Noble and Lee died in prison, Waller and Balch were released in 1907.

My final example is a crime involving another doctor, details of this event come from this article in the East London Observer, 17th June 1905;

"Doctor Garrotted.

John Doyle, a bootmaker, of 3, St. Ann's Road, Limehouse, was brought up, on remand, charged with being concerned with three other men, not in custody, in assaulting and robbing Dr W. Munro Dazin Gallie, of 12, Ford's Market, Canning Town.

On the early morning of Tuesday week, prosecutor was near the Limehouse Public Library, when someone came out of the shadow and seized him by the throat. He shouted and tried to free himself, and on turning his head saw prisoner's face. Another man got in front of prosecutor, and someone called out, 'settle him.'

The grip on Dr Gallie's throat tightened, and he became unconscious. On recovering, he found a man trying to revive him. He missed his gold albert chain, an oxydised watch, a diamond scarf pin, an umbrella, and a silver cigar case, the whole valued at £80.

He afterwards furnished the police with a description of the prisoner. When the accused was arrested by Detective Sergeant W. Brown of K Division, he said, 'I expect I should get picked up for this job. I saw it in the newspapers, but I know nothing about it. I was stopping that night with Mrs Gilby, of 71, Chapman Street, Watney Street.' Mr Dickinson committed prisoner for trial at the Central Criminal Court."

The garrotting panics of Victorian London serve as a case study in how crime, media, and public perception intersect. While the actual incidence of garrotting was relatively low, the societal impact was profound. These events highlight the complexities of moral panics and their lasting effects on law, society, and collective memory.