Dredd to Thieftakers Volume 2- VICTORIANS

First off we have William Saville, one of the most notorious cases of the 19th century. His wife and three children were found dead in a local wood with their throats cut. He claimed later that the wife had killed the children and he had killed his wife in a struggle. Any dead bodies found during this period were taken to a pub in what today would be the function room upstairs where the coroner would do an inquest and gather evidence for a future trial. Saville was later sentenced to death in 1844 but that wasn’t the end of the story. The crowd that gathered for the execution was so large that 12 people died in the crush. 5 more later died of their wounds. There are accounts of people in the crush being thrown in the air and involuntarily crowd surfing. Other unruly behavior included pickpocketing and grabbing a mans hat and throwing it across the crowd. Saville was buried in the exercise yard of the gaol.

In contrast Joseph Marshall got in an argument with his wife in 1856 and wounded her with a knife cut to the throat and received three months.

Henry Smalley was one of many arrested on drunk and disorderly chargers which increased amongst the urban poor as the century progressed. He was let off on good behavior and went home without trial.

Hannah Grocock stole 156 pairs of stockings worth £7 from one employer and then another 200 from another before attempting to sell them on. The 20 year old received 6 months in the County Gaol.

Samuel Blower was transported to the colonies in the dying years of that particular punishment for burglary. He was given a ten year sentence which began once you reached your destination. Only 5% returned as you had to pay your own fare. Saying that one man came back to Nottingham from Australia twice.

Mary Hopewell was the last woman from Nottingham to be transported in 1852 for stealing lace, which was a common enough crime in the town known for its lace mills.

Henry Smith Westly– was in his late teens when he shot his father dead for “always finding fault with me” and going on the run. The Police checked the solicitors office where he worked as a clerk and found the body of teenager William Onions who had been beaten and stabbed with a two foot fish knife. Henry had prepared himself by killing the boy first before shooting his father. Onions had always irritated him at work by chewing loudly and coffing. Henry was found hiding in an out house. He was considered insane and was sent to Broadmoor.

Mary Ann Boot– stole a dress worth 28 shillings and received six months in gaol.

Ann Wilson– was caught spending counterfeit coins and charged with Uttering and received 12 months. A crime that carried the death penalty in the Georgian version of the game.

John Jackson– was a common poacher which was a very common 19th century crime and in 1856 was sentenced to seven years transportation to the colonies.

Joseph Simpson-was a burglar with a sentence of transportation for life but in 1844 he and six other inmates at the County Gaol overpowered a guard and took his keys. During the break out attempt the gang got lost around the building before eventually bumping into another gaoler who they gave a fractured skull and fled the prison. One man was recaptured at the door by a pursuing staff member while the others escaped. One was caught an hour later still wearing his distinctive prison uniform. He claimed to be an inmate of the local lunatic asylum out for a walk. One man was found a few weeks later hiding out at a friends armed with a gun. Another was found in London five years later after his girlfriend ratted him out. Simpson and the others who had sense to steal a change of clothes and flee were never seen again.

William Hancliffe was sentenced to two months by magistrates for being a bigamist. I’m sure those two wives weren’t still around when he got out.

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.

The final batch of perps starts with former mayor of Nottingham John Margaret Pigot doctor of medicine. Nottingham has had a few bad Mayors in history which involved shooting people and Pigot carried on this tradition. The sheriffs men knocked on his door acting as bailiffs reclaiming a debt. In response Pigot pulled a gun on the door knockers and a scuffle followed. The ex mayor was arrested and so was one of the bailiffs one for attempting to discharge a pistol and the second for assault. Both men were released on bail.

17 year old Vincent Webb was arrested for manslaughter after he fired a cap gun at another teenage boy which killed him. Despite being found guilty the Judge put it down to “boys being boys” and he walked away with a shilling fine.

Elizabeth Topham was an abortionist working from a yard at the back of a pub (now a beer garden) when one mother to be died after the procedure. Topham was given the death sentence but later had the sentence dropped to life as she had not intended to kill the victim. The picture of Elizabeth is the only genuine image of the real individual.

John Watts was part of a three man gang that committed a robbery and assault. They dragged the victim off his pony and sat on him while emptying his pockets of a gold sovereign, an handkerchief and a lancet case used to cause self bleeding (Fun) One gang member got life but John was transported for 15 years. In Western Australia he was later shot dead.

George Burton put his sick father out of his misery by choking him to death in his bed with blocked fumes from the fire. He attempted to end his own life during the incident but survived. The Judge felt sorry for the unfortunate man and he was acquitted.

George Bean was a frame work knitter convicted of  violently assaulting Elizabeth Else with intent to ravish and carnally know her against her will. He ended up in the House of Correction for three months doing hard labour

The only woman to escape from the county gaol was Irish pack lady Joanna Ledwhich who climbed down a 70foot wall using bed sheets. The rope snapped and she landed in a yard before picking herself up and hobbling away to freedom. The thief had a 15 year sentence in Australia but she was never seen again.

Joseph Tucker often got in drunken arguments with his wife and after one such night he poured the contents of a paraffin lamp over her dress while she slept and set her on fire. When helped arrived alerted by her screams he calmly stood back and watched, smoking a cigarette he said “let the beast burn. She died a week later and Tucker went to the gallows.

Now I have a list of criminals I need to look at the action cards which contain odd events and bonuses for our players to use against each other during the game.