James Kelly - Liverpool 

Map of stockport: Image taken from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/what-was-this-old-railway-line-in-stockport-and-where-did-it-go.213244/

This entry unlike others on this blog will be quite short, there is very little information about Kelly's background. 

We know very little about Kelly's birth or about his family. The
newspapers at the time report that Kelly was employed at a Stockport mill. This is where it is believed, he formed a relationship with another mill worker called Eliza Faulkner. According to the Liverpool Albion which was published on the 8th January 1849, Eliza's friends were worried about Kelly and warned Faulkner from seeing her. I could not find out if Eliza tried to end the relationship between them, but Kelly's actions as a result of this was completely shocking. Kelly cut his girlfiend's throat, due to a mistaken belief that if he couldn't have her no one else could. 

Mill workers (Kelly is not pictured): Image taken from: https://www.englishfinecottons.co.uk/journal/heritage/potted-history/attachment/textile-workers-victorian-period/

According to the Standard of Freedom which was published on the 13th January 1849, Kelly was already in trouble with the law. He had been sent to Kirkdale Gaol. Although I could not find out what crime he was convicted on. Whether it was a result of this action that made Eliza's friends warn her against a relationship with Kelly, or Eliza had already made her mind up to break the relationship. It is not known. 

Kelly already confessed to the crime, and it was said that he showed deep remorse for his actions. On the day of his exectution on the 6th January 1849, Kelly was apparently restless and distrubed. When the Governor came to see him, Kelly said that even he was given a reprive he wouldn't take it due to the seriousness of his actions. James Kelly was a devout Catholic, and on the day of his execution he had a pale face and he was supported by two prison chaplins to the scaffold. After the noose was placed around his neck, he convulsed for a few moments and then was pronounced dead. 

Picture of Kirkdale Gaol. Image taken from: https://www.naomiclifford.com/betty-rowland/the-county-house-of-correction-1819-also-known-as-kirkdale-gaol/

Of all the information that I could find about the this tragic case, I want to leave you with a letter that Kelly wrote to his mother and sister, which was published in the Liverpool Albion.

Dear Mother and Sister - I address these few lines to you, hoping that they may find you in good health, and with your minds reconciled and and composed, as it leaves me, thank God, for the present. I own the justice of my sentence, and am willing to offer my life as a sacrifice for that which I have taken. I now deeply deplore the crime, and my sins are always before me; and if I had a thousand lives, I would willingly sacrifice them all to restore the one that I have taken. I am filled with horror and dismay when I come to reflect on my past wicked life, and think how I have lived in open rebellion against my divine creator, and fled from the presence of my dear Redeemer, when his mercies pursured me with promises of pardon which should have led me to repentance. But I hope now, by a full confession and a sincere repentence, that I shall obtain mercy through the merits of a crucified Redeemer, and through that mercy, that, when my poor soul has left its tenement of clay, it will join that of poor Eliza in that land where sin, sighing, and sorrow are no more. Being anxious that others should take warning from my fate, I wish to address them a few words; and as the chaplin in his sermon yesterday exactly expressed what I would say upon the subject, I have asked for and obtained permission from him to add it to this letter.

My dear friends, I must now conclude by hoping that you may spend the reminder of your days on this earth in peace and quietness, when I am laid within the silent tomb, 'where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest', and when next we meet,may it be in a happy eternity. This is your feverant prayer from your affectionate but unfortunate son and brother.

James Kelly.

(Note, this letter has been transcibed by the original newspaper. I have not included the priest's words as it sheds little light on Kelly himself. But the rest is Kelly's thoughts to his mother and sister) 

 James Bloomfield Rush - Norfolk

Where the murders took place: Image taken from: http://www.londonancestor.com/norfolk/stanfield-hall.htm.

The gory murders of Isaac Jemy and his son also named Isaac on the 20th of November 1848, shocked polite Victorian society but also made it a capitalizing event with all the pottery models and murder mansions sold to the morbidly fascinated public. Thousands of people crowded the streets of Norfolk castle in April 1849 to witness the perpetrator, James Bloomfield Rush hanged for his crime.

James Bloomfield Rush was born on the 10th of January 1800, the illegitimate child of Mary Rush. Some likely suspected that it was William Howes who promised James' mother marriage but subsequently betrayed her and was eventually sued successfully (no mean feat by Victorian standards). On the 28th of May 1828, Rush married Susannah Soames, from a well-known family. They had nine children together:  Mary, James, John, William, Eleanor, Johnathan, Horace, Susannah and Joseph. In 1835, Rush rented a farm in Felmingham from the Rev. George Preston, when Preston died in 1837, he was succeeded by Rush's eventual victim Isaac Preston.

A sketch of James Bloomfield Rush. Image taken from https://headstuff.org/culture/history/james-bloomfield-rush-a-will-to-murder/

1844 was a year of misfortune for the Rush family, both John Rush (James's stepfather) and Mary Rush his wife died. John aged 69, apparently died from the accidental discharge of a gun leaving his £7,000 estate to his wife Mary. Ironically, Mary who was 68 at the time, also died in mysterious circumstances and left the money to her children. It was also thought that Rush, added a codicil (a condition) that the money would only be inherited when all the children were 18. Some argue that Rush stole the money in order to save himself from bankruptcy although this has never been conclusively proven. Furthermore, James' wife Susannah had also died at the age of 46, leaving behind her husband and nine children.

Because the children were very young, Rush hired a governess called Emily Sandford who was 23 at the time. Rush began having an affair with Sandford, under the pretext of offering her marriage. Sandford was then pregnant with Rush's child; she gave birth in the early months of 1848 although the child subsequently died. 

Elizabeth Sandford at Rush's trial: https://headstuff.org/culture/history/james-bloomfield-rush-a-will-to-murder/

Isaac Jemy (Preston) who had his name changed by inheriting the Stanfield estate, was owed £5,000 by his tenant Rush for the purchase of Potash Farm. Because this deadline was fast approaching, James Rush who was disguised shot both Isaac Jemy, his son Isaac Junior on the doorstep of the Stanfield estate. He also shot, Junior's pregnant wife and the maid Eliza Chestney, although they later survived. It was thought that Jemy was involved in some legal disputes about the ownership of the estate, and Rush hoped that one of the rival claimants would have been blamed. And that with his disguise he would not have been recognized. However, a servant at the hall did recognize Rush and the police called round the following morning to arrest him. 

Bloomfield-Rush at his trial: Image taken from: https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/22799379.auction-will-bring-back-life-one-norfolks-notorious-victorian-murders/

In a shocking turn of events, at Rush's trial his girlfriend Eliza Stanford became a star witness for the prosecution. It was the ultimate betrayal, the person who he had intended to use as an alibi had outmaneuvered him. When Rush questioned her himself, (as he represented himself in court), he was far more focused on her betrayal than on her evidence. He was even quoted as saying this: 

“My friends and home to me were dear, the trees and flowers that blossomed near, the sweet-loved spot where youth began. Is dear to every Englishman.”

“If Jermy had but kindness shown, and not have trod misfortune down, I ne'er had fired the fatal ball, that caused his son and him to fall.”

“Oh, Emily Sandford, was it due, That I should meet my death through you? If you had wished me well indeed, how could you thus against me plead?”

Furthermore, one of the victims Eliza Chestney was even brought in to testify that Rush was the killer. Even the motive for the murders was indisputable, James Rush would have indeed been better off if the Jemy's were dead as he could claim the farm and have the rent to his other properties sizably reduced. With all this evidence, Rush was finally sentenced to death at Norfolk castle, which was carried out on the 23rd of April 1849. Rush could be heard saying to the executioner: "For God's sake, give me rope enough. Don't be in a hurry, take your time" and "Put the knot a little higher up, don't hurry". After this Rush fell to his death, with the uproarious applause of the crowd. 

Waxwork at Madame Tussauds: Image taken from: https://rvhavinfun.com/index.php/2018/05/25/special-edition-madame-tussaud-05-24-18/

Resources 

https://jermy.org/jbrush.html

http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=1478

https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/22799379.auction-will-bring-back-life-one-norfolks-notorious-victorian-murders/

https://headstuff.org/culture/history/james-bloomfield-rush-a-will-to-murder/

Mary Ann Geering - Sussex

Map of Sussex: Image taken from: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/cgi-bin/mapserv?map=/usr/local/share/map-files/bound_map_page.map&layer=os_medium_1904&mode=map&map_imagetype=png&mapext=3346496.54950+2707563.18065+3383496.54950+2737563.18065&map_size=370+300 

Mary Ann Geering also known as the "Guestling Murderess"  murdered members of her own family with deadly poision. 

Mary Plumb was born in 1800, she was born the eldest of five children of George Plumb an agricultural labourer who lived in Westfield, Sussex. When she was old enough, she was sent into service. However, her first taste of employment was soured by accusations that she handled money improperly. Dismissed from her job, she soon found work in another place. It was at this place, where she met Richard Geering and a romance sprung up between the two. However, Mary soon fell pregnant with Richard's child out of wedlock. And, with the bastardry laws still in effect, she was soon forced to marry Richard Geering. According to the Morning Chornicle, which was published on the 22nd August 1849 she was literally carried into the Church to be wed.

 During there marriage, Richard and Mary had eight children. However, all was not well between them, it was often said that they had frequent fights due to Richard's dependance of alcohol and his habit of opium taking. This frequently led the Geerings to have very little money to live on, and often Mary was forced to pawn her husband and children's clothing. 

Arsenic Poision. Image taken from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/18/poison-arsenic-gun-control-crime

According to the Censor of the Times which was published on the 19th August 1849, Richard and his sons were part of the Guestling Benefit Society. One of the benefits of joining this society was that if a member died, all members would pay a shilling towards the cost of the funeral. There was over 100 members a part of this society which meant that Mary Ann Geering would be given a considerable amount of money, if one of more members of her family passed away. Furthermore, another stipulation of the society was that if a member had fallen ill they were to be given 10 shillings (£30.21) a week for the first 12 weeks. And 6 shillings (£18.13) for the next 40 weeks. It is believed that this inducement led Geering to commit the crimes that would send her to the gallows. 

This situation came to a head in September 1848. Richard Geering, who was 56 at the time.  Was taken ill with violent bouts of sickness and raging thirst, he died five days after he had fallen ill. When Richard died, the Doctor who had seen him had pronounced that although the death was sudden it did not give him any cause for alarm.  However, four months after Richard's death, George Geering, 21 was taken ill with the same symptoms as his father, and, although nursed by his mother and brother James, he passed away. Six weeks after George's death James, aged 26 was taken ill with the same symptoms as his brother and father, he died on the 6th March 1849. 

Victorian Graveyard. Image taken from: https://www.deviantart.com/estruda/art/Old-Victorian-Cemetery-329266356

Finally, on Easter Sunday that year, Benjamin Geering who was then 18 years old was taken ill. However, in Benjamin's case he was attended by two to three doctors, who elected to remove him from his mother's care. The fact that Benjamin recovered being away from his mother, caused suspecion to heavily fall on Mary Ann Geering. Furthermore, the Doctor's also concluded that the reason for Benjamin's sudden derioration was due to being poisoned by aresnic. The coroner under Police supervision, exhumed the bodies of Richard, James and George and found traces arensic in all the remains. At the inquest it revealed that Mary Ann Geering, had purchased arsenic from a chemist in Hastings. She was then arrested for the murder of her husband, her two sons and the attempted murder of Benjamin. 

Mary Ann Geering was convicted of the murders of Richard, George and James Geering and the attempted murder of Benjamin at the Lewes Assizes. She admitted her crimes to the court and was sentenced to death. According to the Morning Chronicle, Mary Ann had one interview with her family, it was said that she acted strange with them, however, she did send them affectionate letters. On the 21st August 1849 the day of her execution, Mary Ann Geering appeared on the scaffold dressed in black. When the noose was placed around her head, she clasped her hands as if in prayer but as was pulled down they went immediately to her sides. She convulsed for a few moments after which she was pronounced dead, at the age of 49. It is claimed that she kept saying "Oh Lord Jesus have mercy on me". 

His Majesty's Prison Lewes: Image taken from: https://institutionalhistory.com/homepage/prisons/major-prisons/hmp-lewes/

The case of the "Guestling Murderess" shocked not only Sussex but the country, that not only a women had murdered but that she had killed members of her own family for monetary gain. Mary Ann Geering's case is a clear example of a woman driven to desperate measures in order to save herself from abject poverty and a loveless marriage. It could also be said that greed further motivated her crimes, by not just killing Richard, she had also subverted the social norms that a mother should love and protect her children, not murder them. 

 Mary Ball - Coventry

Map of Nuneaton. Image taken from https://www.francisfrith.com/nuneaton/map-of-nuneaton-1899_rne794930

Mary Ball of Coventry, is another victim of the societal norms of the Victorian era. Due to the attitudes towards domestic abuse, and the view that a wife was the property of her husband. The law made little provision to women who found themselves in desperate situations. 

Mary was born in Nuneaton to Isaac and Alice Wright in 1818. Very little is known about her early life, but she married Thomas Ball in 1837 at the age of 20. However, just like today this marriage had all the hallmarks of a domestic abuse case. The marriage was described as tempestuous, and their fights borne out of poverty and desperation boiled out into the streets. To add to this dangerous mix, Thomas had found out that Mary was having an affair with 19-year-old William Bacon and, 5 out of her 6 children that she had with Thomas died leaving only a daughter, Mary Ann Ball who survived.

On the 18th May 1849, Thomas who was a labourer on the Thames Valley Railway had returned from fishing. He sat down to his supper which Mary had prepared for him and started suffering from excruciating pains in his stomach. The attending doctor, however, ruled that Thomas died of inflammation of the bowls.

Although, there was no suspicion on Mary there were sufficient rumours which persisted in the way that Thomas died. When she was questioned by constables, the inconsistencies in her story about what the arsenic in her posession was intended for, that she did finally admit that some arsenic accidently fell in his supper. A post-mortem showed that there was arsenic in Thomas' body. 

Mary Ball's death mask. Image taken from: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tragic-story-mary-ball-last-20621674

Mary was tried in the summer Assizes before Mr Justice Coleridge on the 28th of July 1849 it took 10 hours to be heard. However, in spite of a convincing speech from her defence, she was convicted by a sympathetic jury after two hours who recommended leniency. However, Mr Justice Coleridge saw no legal reason for her to be given a lenient sentence, as at this time having a violent husband was not an excuse. It was said that during the trial that she remained indifferent to the situation she found herself in. The judge sentenced her to death.

Awaiting to be punished, she was visited by the prison Chaplain, the Rev Chapman who tried to make her confess to her crime. He lit a candle to her arm causing burns and blisters. The governor of the prison heard about the torture and fired the Chaplain. Mary who had always protested her innocence did finally confess to the crime to the Governor, she said:

“I told him (reverend) I knew nothing about it myself, but that is false. I put the arsenic on the mantle shelf and told him there was some salts on the shelf - he might take them, they would do him good; but I knew at the time it was not salts, but I thought if he taken it himself, I should not get into any scrape about it, for the people would think he took it in mistake.”

The governor asked her why she had done it and Ball stated: “Why, my husband was in the habit of going with other women, and used me so ill; no-one knows what I have suffered, but had I have known as much as I do now I would not have done it, for I would rather have left him and went to the Workhouse; but I hope God will forgive me.”

Mary Ball was hung on Thursday 9th of August, it was estimated that 15-20'000 people attended the execution. She was hung  by a Nuneaton native James Japhcote, she appeared to die easily. Mary's remains were later buried in the prison grounds. This would be the last public execution in Coventry.

Plaque in Coventry. Image taken from: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tragic-story-mary-ball-last-20621674

Resources

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tragic-story-mary-ball-last-20621674
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-crime-files-20000-people-12991353
http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/mary_ball.html

  Rebecca Smith - Wiltshire  

 

Map of Wiltshire, featuring Bratton. Image taken from: https://www.francisfrith.com/bratton,wiltshire

Dear readers, this is one of the most harrowing cases that I have yet researched. Rebecca Smith was the last woman to be hung in the United Kingdom, for murdering her own children. This case would have serious implications on how the UK's legal system worked to protect both mothers and their children.

The case of Rebecca Smith begins in the village of Bratton in Wiltshire, both her parents were regarded as staunch pillars of the community, as they both attended the Baptist Church. However, according to an article published in the Patriot on the 30th August 1849, a man named Shem Evans presumably the minister of the said Baptist Church. Wrote to the Patriot in order to clear the taint left by Rebecca Smith. He said that her mother lived and died, a good and devout Christian, and that she showed a great deal of affection to her own children. 

However, he disparages Rebecca's character by arguing that she was not much of a church goer, who only attended one quarter of the allotted time. Although that does not sound like a heinous crime to you or me, you have to remember that in Victorian period it was frowned upon if individuals did not attend a place of worship. Evans also claims that Rebecca's character was lacking from the start, he says that her Sunday school teacher had said that she "was thoughtless, inattentive girl, absolutely willing to be ignorant.". However much of Evans' account is true, it is clear that the association with Rebecca Smith's crimes had damaged the reputation of the village, and, of certain members of the congregation. 

The next time we hear of Rebecca, it is that she married Phillip Smith on the 5th May 1831. However, this marriage was deeply unhappy. Phillip was a renowned alcoholic and although he worked he barely brought a shilling home. Her parents were emphatically opposed to the marriage, and wanted Rebecca to leave her husband and return home to Bratton. However, during this time Rebecca's father had passed away and had left his daughter £100 (around £6,041,70), however, this money disappeared quickly leaving Rebecca and her children in acute poverty. With Phillip not working it was up to Rebecca to fend for the family. she managed to find work in the fields, which gave her 4 shillings (around £12.08). Furthermore, this work was only seasonal, so she had to find something to live on in the meantime. It was said of Rebecca that she was “undernourished and in poor health, living in abject poverty and almost illiterate”. It was this combined pressure of Phillip's dependence of alcohol and having so many mouths to feed that Rebecca was forced to commit her crimes. 

A Victorian man enjoying a drink: Image taken from: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/193043359/wine-drinking-victorian-man-printable

At the age of 44, Rebecca had been married eighteen years and had eleven children. The first child a daughter survived, the second child had died of a bowl complaint two weeks after he had been born. Seven of her children, she murdered by using a concoction she called "blue".  It was this last child, Richard Smith who was born on the 16th May 1849, that finally neighbours began to be suspicious of Rebecca, who claimed that Richard was "wasting away" even though he looked perfectly normal. Rebecca had even asked her neighbour Caroline Mackay to purchase some arsenic, after she had done so Richard had passed away. This coincidence was too much for Smith's neighbours and the Police were called in to investigate, they discovered Richard's remains which had arsenic in them and arrested Rebecca for the murder. 

It is believed that Rebecca pleaded guilty to the charge and that she did not just confess to Richard's murder but seven other children that she had murdered. She further claimed that no one helped her thereby eradicating suspicion on other members of her family. Rebecca was tried on Tuesday 7th August in front of Mr Justice Cresswell. The jury found Rebecca guilty, but recommended that the verdict by reduced from the death penalty to a more lenient sentence. This was a normal recommendation according to the time, that women who faced these charges were often given a reprieve. However, it was not until the passing of the Infanticide Act of 1922 that permitted juries to find a person guilty of infanticide and not murder. In 1938, this was further expanded on, it found that if a woman murdered her child in the first year of birth, then it was commuted from the death sentence. This is the first time that post-natal depression was regarded as mental illness by the authorities, rather than vilifying the women involved. However, the Judge found Rebecca guilty of murder and she was sentenced to death by hanging on the 5th September 1849. 

Before her execution, Rebecca was visited by her husband, daughter and her siblings. It was said that her husband showed very little emotion to his wife. However, her siblings were deeply upset. When the day of the execution came, Rebecca was led to scaffold at the new Devizes prison. According to the Glasgow Chronicle, Rebecca conducted herself well, neither succumbing to hysteria or begging for mercy. Looking at her, people remarked that it was unthinkable she could have committed such a crime. With the noose finally around her neck, Rebecca clasped her hands in silent prayer. After a slight struggle she was dead. 

This case was seen as one of the most infamous of the Victorian era. It would take decades for Infanticide to be seen as a crime in itself rather than under the more lethal sentence of murder.  Whether Rebecca was driven by Post-Natal Depression or rather the circumstances of her unhappy marriage and the desperation to save her children from starvation, we will never know. 

 

 The Leveson Street Murders - Bristol 

Image from: https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/old-maps-of-liverpool/plan-of-liverpool-south-sheet-1890/#5/69.272/-42.385. Approximately where Leveson St or now Grenville St would be.

In this first post we wander into the dark streets of Liverpool, more specifically on Number 20 Leveson Street. The date is the 28th of March 1849, a murder has been committed that has sent shockwaves throughout Liverpool. An expectant mother, her two children and her maid have been brutally attacked. Their names were Mrs Ann Hinrichson originally from Hull, the wife of Captain Hinrichson, who was the commander of a ship called the Duncan. (He was on his way from Calcutta when the incident occurred). Their two sons, Henry George aged 5 and John Alfred aged 3, and their maid Mary Parr who was thought to be around 23-24.

At the time, Mrs Hinrichson had wanted to procure a lodger to gain extra income, she had advertised by putting a card in her window. A man had enquired about leasing the property, who she deemed suitable. He gave his name as John Gleeson Wilson, a carpenter from the Dock Estate who earned 2 pounds and 10 shillings which is around £151.04 in today’s money. He is described as this in the Liverpool journal.

The man was of a rather striking appearance, 5ft 7ins tall and rather broad of build, and muscular, his hair brown, short at the back but hanging long and lank over the right side of his face. He was of fair complexion, his face presented several curious characteristics, his ears nearly on a line with his eyes, which were small and had a queer cast, set deeply in the head, cheek bones high, nose rather pointed, cheeks hollow, lips full and pouting, face tapering into a small chin, the tip of which was red, characteristics which cut the face into a mass of sharp angles.

However, unbeknownst to the Hinrichson’s Wilson had no intention of ever paying, as he had very little money in which to give his landlady, indeed he actually borrowed money from her.

On the day of the incident Mrs Hinrichson had gone out shopping, Wilson was left with the maid and the two children. Apparently being provoked by one of the children, Gleeson attempted to strike the child. However, he was thwarted by Mary Parr who tried to protect them. Suddenly, Gleeson attacked the maid knocking her unconscious, he beat Henry to death and then slit the throat of John. When Ann Hinrichson returned from her shopping, Wilson who was rummaging around the house beat her repeatedly.

After Wilson left the house, the alarm was raised by a delivery boy who had heard moaning coming from inside the house. By the time the police and the attending physician attended the scene, the two children Henry and John had succumbed to their injuries. Whereas Anne and Mary Parr were just clinging to life. Wilson was finally arrested after trying to pawn a gold watch belonging to Mrs Hinrichson. Mary Parr who had managed to retain consciousness was asked to identify the attacker. Mary Parr died from her injuries soon afterwards.

The killer of the Hinrichson’s and Mary Parr – Irishman Maurice Gleeson. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/echo-murder-files-killings-shocked-8689552

John Gleeson Wilson whose real name was Maurice Gleeson had arrived in Liverpool from Limerick, Ireland. His family were well known to the authorities, his sister Honorah had been deported for 10 years. Gleeson himself had escaped from Ireland from a robbery that he had committed although it was never clearly proven. He had taken lodgings originally at 34 Sparling Street. It was owned by a widowed lady who was the daughter of a Mr Stewart, he proposed marriage to Miss Stewart which she accepted. However, he quickly became abusive towards her often beating her. On one particular occasion he threatened to kill her, she eventually found refuge with her father who bared Gleeson from ever seeing his daughter again.

Image from; https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/history-guide-executions-capital-punishment-hanging/

However, Glesson’s actions cost the lives of two innocent children their mother and their maid. He was finally charged at the Liverpool assizes on the 22nd of August 1849. He had shown no remorse for his actions and the jury took only 5 minutes to find him guilty. He was hanged at noon on the 15th of September 1849 outside of Kirkdale prison, it is estimated that 100,000 people attended the execution. According to the Liverpool journel, Gleeson was supported by two priests and was muttering the words “innocent, innocent”, “pity” and “Holy Mother”. In a moment of irony, the head executioner William Calcroft who was unwell that day, so the execution had to be performed by 70-year-old George Howard, who had to be assisted by the warden of the prison to put the noose around Gleeson’s neck. The execution was a botched job, the noose was too short leaving Gleeson to be slowly strangled his eyes popping out of his sockets and his face turning purple. Many near the gallows fainted at the spectacle, he did not stop struggling for 15 minutes.

The Hinrichson memorial. Image taken from: http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/levesonstmurder.html

As a result of this horrendous crime, Leveson Street managed to get its name changed to Grenville Street. The Hinrichson family were buried at St James’ cemetery in Liverpool which remains one of the most haunted sites in England.

Note: Thank you for reading this post. If you want to know more about the Leveson Street case, the Old Mersey Times which I got a lot of information from, they have compiled all newspaper clippings from the Liverpool journal which have much more detail than I have managed to condense here. I highly recommend you have a read.

Resources: 

http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/levesonstmurder.html

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/echo-murder-files-killings-shocked-8689552