Murderous Monday - Men Who Kill - John Gould, last man to publicly hang at Reading Gaol.

John Gould went down in history, in more ways than one, as the last man to be publicly executed at Reading Gaol.

“Good people all I pray attend, 
On earth my life will shortly end,
For dreadful murder my life is took away,  
I my dear child did basely slay,
I gave her the sad and dreadful wound,
And left her bleeding on the ground,
John Gould is my name,
I bought myself to grief and shame,
To grief and shame it does appear,
In Windsor Town in Berkshire,
My early grave will be made soon,
No tears will fall on my earthly tomb;
No flowers or grass on my grave will rise,
No stone will mark where m body lies.”

(Verse written at the time of Gould’s execution in 1862)

On 30th December 1861 at his home in Clarence Clump, Clewer near Windsor, Berkshire, John Gould a hod carrier, aged 39, murdered his seven-year-old daughter, Hannah.

John Gould was born in Windsor Berkshire in 1823.  In Newington in 1851 John Gould married Caroline Miller.  Their only child, a daughter Hannah Gould was born in Clewer, Windsor in 1854.  The family can be found living at Clarence Clump, Clewer Berkshire.

Little Hannah had spent the 30th December playing with her best friend, 9-year-0ld Harriet Clarke and Harriet’s younger brother.

Around one in the afternoon, John returned home after drinking at The Prince of Wales beer shop to find that Hannah had not cleaned the house to his satisfaction, nor did she have the fire ready for him to warm himself by. John started shouting at Hannah: “You naughty child, why didn’t you clean up the place!”

“Oh, father I couldn’t do it,” Hannah cried, but her tears only served to anger John further.  Taking his cut throat razor, John slit Hannah’s throat.

He then summoned his neighbour Mrs Clarke, Harriet’s mother, to his home.  Pointing at his daughter he exclaimed, “I have done it! I have done it!”  Horrified, Mrs Clarke ran into the street shouting for help to all that would listen.  John, still in a terrible rage grabbed Hannah’s limp body and threw her into the street shouting, “you little s**t, I will die for you!” 

According to witnesses, John threw Hannah with such force that her head hit a wall with a “sickening squelching noise”. 

Samuel Wilkins, aged 12, who lived next door managed to drag Hannah, hardly breathing and struggling for life, away from the house before shouting for help.  Another neighbour Mr Coker, helped Samuel carry Hannah to the nearest infirmary, where Hannah’s mother worked as a nurse.
Unfortunately, nothing could be done and Hannah died on the way.

Mr Coker and Samuel returned with PC Radbourne to find John waiting in the doorway of his home still with the blood-soaked razor. 

John Gould was tried on 26th February 1862, evidence was submitted as a formality as John had repeatedly confessed his guilt.  The jury retired for a short time before finding him guilty of murder.

On 12th March 1862, 4000 men, women and children gathered to watch William Calcraft send John Gould to his maker.  Once the bolt was withdrawn, John struggled for a minute or two and then was gone.

Such was the outcry over the manner of John Gould’s execution that it was to become the final public execution performed at Reading Gaol.

Orginally posted on Spooky Isles.



Murderous Monday - Priscilla Biggadyke - Hung for a crime she didn't commit

At 9:00am on Monday 28th December 1868, Priscilla met her maker at the end of Thomas Askern's rope at Lincoln Castle for the alleged poisoning of her husband Richard Biggadyke.

Priscilla Biggadyke was born Priscilla Whiley in 1833 in Gedney Lincolnshire to George Whiley, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Susanna Crook.  In 1853 Priscilla married Richard Biggadyke, an agricultural labourer in Boston, Lincolnshire.

On the 1861 Census, Priscilla is living with her children Frederick and Alice, while Richard is living at his father William's house.

To supplement Richard's wages, the couple took in lodgers.  It wasn't long before Richard began to suspect Priscilla of having an affair with their lodger Thomas Proctor, a 30 year old rat catcher from Lincolnshire.

On the evening of Wednesday 30th September 1868, Richard returned to the home he shared with his wife Priscilla, their three children, Frederick, Alice and Rachel, as well as the two lodgers George Ironmonger and Thomas Proctor.  Previously that evening Priscilla, George and Thomas had sat down to a meal of tea and cake, some of which had been saved for Richard's return.  Soon after Richard finished his meal he became unwell.  A doctor was summoned, but he was unable to offer Richard any relief, 12 hours later Richard was dead.  The speed of Richard's passing concerned the doctor and he arranged for a post mortem to take place and for the stomach contains to be analysed.  It was soon determined that arsenic was present and Richard had died from poisoning. 

Priscilla protested that she had seen Thomas Protect place something in her husband's drink as well as the piece of leftover cake. 

Her statement of that fact is as follows -

'On the last day of September, on a Wednesday, I was standing against the tea-table and saw Thomas Proctor put a white powder of some sort into a tea-cup, and then poured some milk, which stood on the table, into it. My husband was at that time in the dairy washing himself. My husband came into the room directly after and sat himself down to the table, and I then poured his tea out and he drank it, and more besides that. And half-an-hour afterwards he was taken ill. He went out of doors and was sick, and came in and sat about a few minutes, and went out and was sick again, and then went to bed, and he asked me to send for the doctor, which I did. The doctor was an hour before he came. I went to the doctor’s about a quarter of an hour after he left and he gave me some medicine and ordered me how to give it to him - two tablespoons every half hour – and I was to put a mustard plaster on the stomach, and he came no more until eleven o’clock at night. I came downstairs to go out of doors and asked Thomas Proctor to go upstairs and sit with my husband. When I went upstairs into the room, as I was going up, I saw Proctor putting some white powder into the medicine bottle with a spoon, and he then went downstairs and left me in the room with my husband. As soon as he had left the room I poured some medicine into the cup and gave my husband, and I tasted it myself. In an hour afterwards I was sick and so I was for two day’s after. What I have just stated about the medicine took place about two o’clock in the morning, and after the doctor had gone. I wish you to send a copy of what I have said to the Coroner, and I wish to be present at the inquest to state the case before them, as it is the truth.

- Priscilla Biggadike X her mark.'
 

Priscilla and Thomas were duly arrested and taken before Lincoln Assizes, where the judge Justice Byles instructed the jury to dismiss Thomas Proctor on the grounds of lack of evidence.  It only took a few minutes for the jury to find Priscilla guilty of the wilful murder of her husband, she was then sentenced to death.

On the morning of the execution, Monday 28th December 1868, Priscilla had to be assisted to the scaffold.  However while the noose was placed around her neck and the hood over her head, Priscilla stood firm, then exclaimed, “All my troubles are over; shame, you’re not going to hang me. Surely my troubles are over.”  The bolt was then drawn, Priscilla dropped and struggled for a full three minutes before becoming still. 

Priscilla was then buried in the grounds of Lincoln Castle, a small grey stone baring the simple inscription P. B.  Dec 28 1868 marks her grave.

Priscilla's story may have ended there, if it had not been for the conscience of Thomas Proctor, who upon his deathbed 14 years later confessed to the murder of Richard Biggadyke.

Priscilla received a posthumus pardon, yet still remains with the convicts in Lucy Tower, Lincoln Castle.

Murderous Monday - Women Who Kill - Mary Eleanor Wheeler Pearcey, Jealous Lover?

 

"London's Newest Tragedy."

 

"Two Murders by Mary Wheeler In A Fit Of Jealousy."

On 23rd December 1890, Mary Eleanor Wheeler Pearcey met her maker at the end of James Berry's rope at Newgate Prison, London.  She had been convicted of the murder of her lover Frank Hogg's wife Phoebe and baby daughter Phoebe Hanslope Hogg.

Mary Eleanor was born Mary Eleanor Wheeler on 26th March 1866 in Inhtam Kent to James Wheeler, a delivery foreman and Charlotte Ann Kennedy.

Note: there are many references online to Mary Eleanor Wheeler being the daughter of Thomas Wheeler, the famed murderer of Edward Anstee. This is not true and has been proven definitively from direct testimony given by Charlotte Ann in the consequent murder trial of her daughter, Mary Eleanor.

On the 1881 Census, 15 year old Mary is shown living with her parents at 16 Maroon Street, London.  However, Mary's father James was to die on 17th August 1882, his death greatly affected Mary and three months later she tried to commit suicide by hanging herself in the garden, from the nail the washing line was attached to.

Around the age of 18 whilst working at a seal skin factory, Mary met and befriended John Charles Pearcey a carpenter, soon after they were living together as man and wife, with Mary calling herself Mrs Pearcey.

"When I made her acquaintance I knew her as Eleanor Wheeler, after an acquaintance of three or four months she lived with me.  I lived at different places, and eventually at Bayham Street, Camden Town.  I lived with her about three years, when I ceased to live with her she remained at Bayham Street when she lived with me she took the name of Pearcey, and afterwards passed in that name" - John Charles Pearcey at Mary's trial.

They seemed happy, that was until the arrival of Frank Hogg.  Frank Samuel Hogg was born In Pancras London in 1860 to James a grocer and tea dealer and Maria Hogg nee Hanslope.  When friendship blossomed between Frank and Mary he was working at his then widowed mother's grocery shop at 87 King Street, Camden Town.  It wasn't long before their 'friendship' started to sour Mary's relationship with John.

"Towards the latter part of the time she made the acquaintance of Mr. Hogg, and I saw her from time to time in company with Hogg, frequently in the shop in King Street, in consequence of that I ceased to live with her."

"After I ceased to live with the prisoner, I saw her from time to time, and spoke to her.  I simply passed the time of day, I never visited her.  I was told she she had removed from Bayham Street to Priory Street." - John Charles Pearcey at Mary's trial.
 

At some point Mary gave Frank a latch key to her door at 2 Priory Street so that he could come and go as he pleased.  However there was soon to be a thorn in the side of Mary's happiness.  In 1888 Frank married Phoebe Styles who was pregnant by him, their daughter Phoebe Hanslope Hogg, affectionately known as Tiggy, being born in 1889.  At first Frank had wanted to avoid the marriage, considering both leaving the country and suicide to do so.  Through letters Mary had managed to change his mind and convince he to accept his responsibilities. 

2nd October 1888

My dear F,  Do not think of going away, for my heart will break if you do; don’t go , dear. I won’t talk too much, only to see you for five minutes when you can get away; but if you go quite away, how do you think I can live? I would see you married fifty times over, yes. I could bear that far better than parting with you for ever, and that is what it would be if you went out of England. My dear loving F, you was so down-hearted to-day that your words give me much pain for I have only one true friend I can trust to, and that is yourself. Don’t take that from me. What good would your friendship be then with you so far away? No, no, you must not go away. My heart throbs with pain only thinking about it. What would it be if you went? I should die. And if you love me as you say you do, you will stay. Write or come soon, dear. Have I asked too much?  From your loving, M. E.

P.S.  I hope you got home safe, and things are all right, and you are well.  M.E.

18th November 1888

Dearest Frank,  I cannot sleep, so am going to write you a long letter. When you read this I hope your head will be much better, dear. I can’t bear to see you like you were this evening. Try not to give way. Try to be brave, dear, for things will come right in the end. I know things look dark now, but it is always the darkest hour before the dawn. You said this evening, “I don’t know what I ask.” But I do know. Why should you want to take your life because you want to have everything your own way? So you think you will take that which no man has a right? Never take that which you cannot give you will not if you love me as you say you do. Oh, Frank, I should not like to think I was the cause of all your troubles, and yet you make me think so. What can I do? I love you with all my heart, and I will love her because she will belong to you. Yes, I will come and see you both if you wish it. So, dear, try and be strong, as strong as me, for a man should be stronger than a woman. Shall I see you on Wednesday about two o’clock? Try and get away, too, on Friday, as I want to know if you are off on Sunday till seven o’clock. Write me a little note in answer to this. I shall be down on Monday or Tuesday in the morning, about 5 a.m. So believe me your most loving, M.E.

Mrs. Phoebe Hogg

Mary befriended Phoebe, inviting her and Frank to spend Christmas and Boxing day with her at 2 Priory Street in 1889.  Phoebe became ill in the February 1890 and it was Mary that nursed her during that time.  It was around this time that Frank had his own concerns about his wife's fidelity and an argument ensued that stopped Mary from visiting Frank.  However Mary continued her friendship, both with Frank's sister Clara Hogg and his wife Phoebe.

It was on the 23rd October 1890 that Mary paid Clara a visit for the last time, it was after this visit that Mary invited Phoebe to have tea with her at her home the next day at 4:00pm

The New York Times reported -

"About 3 o'clock P.M. of Oct 24, the luckless woman left her home, taking her child with her in a perambulator, and was never thereafter seen alive by nay of her relatives.  Next day her sister-in-law, still in ignorance of her death, called upon Mary Wheeler to inquire [sic] if she had seen 'Phee' and received an answer in the affirmative."

Mary was still with Clara, explaining how she had, 'scratched her hands and smeared her dresser with blood killing mice', when news was received that the body of a murdered woman had been found in Hampstead.

The corpse was found to have a fractured skull as well as extensive bruising around the head and forearms, the neck had also been cut so violently that the head was almost severed from the body.

Clara asked Mary to accompany her to the mortuary in order to see whether the remains where that of the missing Phoebe.  It was Mary's bizarre behaviour when confronted with the corpse of her victim that raised suspicions of the police and resulted in a search of her home at 2 Priory Street.  The discovery of blood stains on the walls and kitchen door as well as on the clothes worn by Mary resulted in her arrest.

Later that evening whilst on his rounds, a police constable discovered a heavily bloodstained perambulator in Hamilton Terrace, a mile from where Phoebe's body had been discovered, yet little Phoebe was still missing.  The next morning little Phoebe's unmarked body was discovered, it was believed that she had died from suffocation either during her mother's murder or soon after.

The New York Times continued -

"according to the theory set up by the surgical witnesses respecting the manner in which the crime was committed, Phoebe Hogg, upon entering the kitchen, was struck down from behind by a heavy blow, inflicted by a poker upon the back of her head, and fell upon the floor in "terrible convulsions".  While struggling for her life, she received three more blows, which probably stunned her, whereupon the murderess to "make sure," all but severed her victim's head from the body with three several [sic] cuts of a knife.  It is assumed that she then strangled the child, packed the two corpses into Phoebe Hogg's own perambulator, and wheeled them off to the places where they were subsequently found lying dead."

Two separate witnesses recalled having seen Mary pushing a 'heavily laiden' perambulator between the hours of 6 and 7 the previous evening.  The search earlier conducted by the police at 2 Priory Street turned up a metal button missing from the jacket of Phoebe Hogg.  Also a cardigan indentified as belonging to Mary was found wrapped around murdered Phoebe's head.

Mary was sent to trail at The Old Bailey on 1st December 1890.  The trail lasted for three days in which many witnesses were called and Mary's letters to Frank read out.  Mary gave no evidence at the trail, yet maintained he innocence with a plea of, 'not guilty'.  Unfortunately for Mary the Jury did not share her feelings and after only 52 minutes found her guilty of the murders of Mrs Hogg and her baby.  Before her sentence was read out Mary was asked if she had anything to add, Mary simply stated, 'I say that I am innocent of this charge.'

The execution happened on the morning of Tuesday 23rd December 1890, carried out by James Berry.  When asked by the Sheriff of London, Sir James Whitehead, if she had any final remarks Mary uttered, 'my sentence is a just one, but much of the evidence against me false.'

Picture of Mary Eleanor Wheeler-Pearcey's
wax work once housed in the chamber of horrors.