Dredd to Thieftakers Volume 2- VICTORIANS

Sarah Birch was caught smuggling tobacco into gaol during visiting hours in an attempt to pass it on to her husband. She got one month hard labour in the same gaol for her trouble.

Elizabeth (Eliza Simpson) was 15 and worked as a servant who received 6 months for stealing a shawl from her employers.

Mary Ann Parr was described as having limited intellect and was almost blind. She had been in the Bingham workhouse for some time and after having a baby refused to feed it. Eventually she smoothered the child to death against her own breast. She was given the death penalty but her mental health played a part in commuting that sentence to transportation. No captain wanted anyone insane on such a long voyage so she spent ten years in Bedlam before being transferred to the newly opened Broadmoor criminal lunatic asylum. She was the first ever inmate on their books. She remained their for the rest of her life and passed away in her 70s of kidney disease in 1900.

George Kellet-was arrested for manslaughter but only got 6 months. I’ve decided to replace this criminal with another because I’ve since found two more interesting stories.

Thomas Grey was infatuated with a young lady in his village and when he learned she was engaged he went into the shop where she worked and slit her neck open. He returned home covered in blood and when his brother in law enquired as to what had happened he replied. “Oh Ive been doing murder I think” This is another case where mental health played a part but he was still executed as the Judge ruled that if he could read the bible (Which he did) he couldn’t be insane. He was hanged in private in 1877 by William Marwood and buried in the County Gaol.

John Fenton was arrested after a brutal murder took place in his village in the dead of night. A school master heard a man cry out “Good God what are you going to do” followed by two gunshots. Thinking nothing of it he went back to bed. In the morning a local cow dealer was found dead on the green with his throat slit and two gunshot wounds to his head. His money stolen. Two guns were later found belonging to Fenton who had tried to burn his clothes along with the blood stained evidence. He claimed to be innocent but knew who was responsible although he refused to say who. He was hanged in public although by 1860 a sheet was put up so when his body dropped it wasn’t visible by the crowd.