Mary Ballard confirmed that she had known Albert for about five years in all, and had ended their engagement, because of his love of pugilism and drink. She was followed to the witness stand by John Ballard’s eldest daughter, Alice Elizabeth Cooper, who was married to John and lived at 49 Kenton Street.
Alice had seen Albert a number of times, in the days before he had taken her mother’s life. On 28 February, she had seen him between 11.30am and noon, and he was already much the worse for drink. The next day, Wednesday 1 March, she saw him again, and he told her that he had just been to Hounslow, to buy himself out of the Army. That night, Albert had slept at her house. She had a lodger, William Farthing, and he was a close friend of Albert. The two had both come back to Kenton Street very drunk, and Alice had suggested that he stay there that night.
On Friday 3 March, Alice saw Albert for the last time. He was in the public house, across the road from where she lived, and was drinking with William Farthing and her sister, Elizabeth. Once again Albert was much the worse for drink. He seemed to be rambling, and told Alice that he intended to do murder. She advised him to go home to his lodgings, but he went on to say that he intended to murder her mother and father. Unfortunately, Alice thought that this was nothing more than the ramblings of a drunken man.
Elizabeth Ballard agreed with her sister’s testimony. She had been in the Wheatsheaf, with Albert and William Farthing, on the evening of 3 March. At one stage, Albert went outside to be sick, and she went with him. After he had vomited, Albert said he wanted to buy a revolver and kill her mother, her father, her sister and her. She too thought he was rambling because of the drink.
William Hay was a cab driver, and on 4 March, he had been on a rank in Kenton Street. Albert had approached him, soon after he had killed Catherine, and asked to be taken to the Mechanic’s Larder pub, on Gray’s Inn Road. As they went along Judd Street and Regent Street, Hay looked down into the well of the cab and saw that his fare was hiding on the floor, as if he did not wish to be seen.
On arrival at the Mechanic’s Larder, Albert invited Hay to join him for a drink, and paid him half a crown for his fare, much more than was actually owed. Seeing that he had a most generous customer, Hay agreed to the drink and they each had a Scotch. Hay testified that he saw no signs of blood, anywhere on Albert’s person.
Martha Palmer was Albert’s landlady in Dyott Street. She testified that he had lived at her address for two years. She had last seen him at around 7.00am on 4 March, when he came home in a most excited mood. He could not sit, or stand still, but paced around the room. He asked for a cup of tea, but would not wait whilst the kettle boiled. Finally, he asked her to make him some toast, but only ate one corner of it.
Perhaps the most damaging evidence came from Inspector Walter Dew, the man who would catch Crippen in five years time. On 4 March, he had gone to Albert’s lodgings and searched them. He found, amongst other things, a small cash box. In that box there were two letters, both written by the prisoner.
In the first of those letters, Albert had written:
Carefully read this. I hereby leave £5 to Mrs. Palmer, the rest of my property to my dear mother. Determined to swing. My watch and chain, to William Farthing, my pal. My medal to Mrs. Palmer, if I succeed in murdering Mrs. Ballard. God bless those who have done good to me.
The second letter read:
I have been utterly deceived, by those who I have tried to do good to, as sure as God is my judge. Utter strangers have told me all about this wicked bitch. When the time comes for God to call me away I am prepared to die. 4th of March, 1905, A. Bridgman.
Albert’s defence was a combination of drink and insanity. He claimed, first of all, that he had drunk so much, that he could remember nothing of what he had done. Allied to this was the fact that whilst he had been in South Africa, in 1902, a large, heavy piece of iron had fallen onto his head in one of the blockhouses. Ever since then he had suffered from terrible headaches, and blackouts. None of this, however, impressed the jury who took just a few minutes to deliberate before returning their guilty verdict.
Sentenced to death, Albert Bridgeman was hanged at Pentonville on Wednesday 26 April 1905, by John Billington and Henry Pierrepoint.
Chapter 29
Charles Henry Rogers and Jessie Elizabeth Lucas
1907
John Smith was a bully. For four years he had lived with Jessie Lucas, at 41 Northdown Street, and for the last three of those years, he had beaten her on a regular basis. About the only person Jessie had to turn to, was her brother, Charles Rogers.
Some time in late May 1907, Charles paid a visit to Jessie’s home, and spoke to her landlady, Amelia Barber. Charles asked: ‘How does that man treat my sister?’ Amelia, who had never actually witnessed any of the beatings, and didn’t really wish to get involved, replied: ‘Very well, as far as I know.’ Charles was not to be mollified and continued: ‘He has been knocking her about, and a fortnight ago she came to me with a black eye that he had given her. I have cautioned him, that if he ever raises his hand to my sister again, he is a dead man. I will kill him and leave him stone dead.’ Jessie Lucas, who was present during this conversation, then put her arms around her brother’s neck and remarked: ‘He deserves it, Charlie.’
The warning Charles Rogers had given to John Smith, was not heeded. Smith continued to beat his common-law wife, and she continued to sport bruises and marks upon her face and body. Things finally came to a head on Sunday 16 June 1907.
At 1.35pm on that date, John Smith was drinking with some friends, in the Albion public house, at 33 Caledonian Road, Islington. What precisely took place that afternoon, would depend on which particular witnesses were believed. What is undoubtedly true is that, at around 2.40pm, Charles Rogers and his sister walked into the bar and, after a few words had been exchanged, Charles struck Smith on the point of his jaw. As Smith fell backwards, onto the shoulder of the gentleman sitting next to him, Charles struck him for a second time. Then, as Smith lay on the floor, apparently unconscious, a satisfied Smith walked out of the Albion, taking his long-suffering sister with him.
Unfortunately, John Smith was not merely unconscious. When his friends failed to wake him, the doctor was called and he pronounced life to be extinct. Both Charles and Jessie were arrested, and charged with manslaughter.
The two defendants appeared at the Old Bailey on 22 July 1907, before Mr Justice Darling. Asked how they wished to plead, Charles replied that he was guilty as charged. Jessie entered a plea of not guilty, meaning that the evidence would have to be heard. The case for the Crown was then led by Mr Arthur Gill, who was assisted by Mr Graham-Campbell. Jessie was defended by Mr Arnold Ward.
Amelia Barber, in addition to detailing the conversation she had had with Charles, when he had threatened John Smith’s life, also referred to a conversation she had overheard, at least in part, at 6.40am on 16 June, the day Smith had been killed. There was some sort of argument, during which Smith insisted that Jessie should go back upstairs to their rooms. Jessie had refused and Smith had made some remark about her face, which Amelia did not catch. She did, however, hear Jessie’s reply quite clearly. She had said: ‘I am not ashamed of my face. I am going to follow you, and the first copper I meet, I will have you charged.’ They both then left the house.
Something of the behaviour of John Smith was detailed by the next witness. George Shears also lived at 41 Northdown Street, and at around 10.00pm on Saturday 15 June, he had been talking to Jessie, when John Smith came up behind her. Without saying a word, Smith struck Jessie, with his clenched fist, in her mouth and on her cheek. George saw no other reason for this, apart from the fact that he was talking to her. and Smith didn’t like it.
The time came for witnesses from the Albion to be heard. The first of these was Arthur Williams, a friend of Smith’s, who had been drinking with him, in the pub, from 1.35pm on June 16th.
At 2.00pm, Charles and Jessie had walked in, and strode up to where Smith was sitting. Jessie had said
that she had brought her brother to give him a good hiding, and Arthur noticed that her face and lip were badly discoloured. Charles immediately shouted: ‘What did you come to my house for last night, you fucking bastard? I have a good mind to put your lights out.’ To this, Smith had apparently simply replied: ‘I wish for no trouble.’ He then stood, walked to the end of the bar, purchased a packet of cigarettes and lit one.
Charles marched over to where Smith now stood, and threatened him again. Jessie had also gone forward and she commented: ‘When we return you may have your jaw broken and a few ribs broken, and then you can go to the hospital and rot you old bastard.’ With that, Charles and Jessie left the bar.
At 2.40pm, they were back. Charles again marched up to where Smith was sitting and said: ‘You are still here Mr fucking Smith, I have a good mind to out you.’ Charles then raised his right hand and struck Smith on the point of his jaw. This was followed, as Smith fell backwards, with a left-handed punch to the side of the head. As Smith fell to the floor, Charles strode towards the main door and said: ‘You have got it you old bleeder.’ He and Jessie then left together. Minutes later, Arthur was running off to fetch the doctor.
The testimony given by Arthur Williams did not agree with that of other witnesses to the events of that afternoon. Edward Litton was also in the bar. He did not hear Jessie Lucas say anything at all.
Arthur Bell was another customer, and he agreed that Charles had said something about Smith going to see his landlady, Mrs Leonard, but no threats were made, no foul language was used, and Jessie did not speak at all.
Medical evidence was given by Dr Richard Lawrence Caunter. He had been called out to the Albion, by Arthur Williams, and arrived there at about 3.00pm. By this time, John Smith had been laid out along a bench. Dr Caunter examined him, and confirmed that he was dead. There were some small marks on his lip and on the angle of his jaw, on the left-hand side. Dr Caunter believed that the blows Smith had received, were the direct cause of death.
Inspector Andrew King, along with Sergeant Selby, had gone to Jessie’s lodgings at 41 Northdown Street, to arrest her, at 7.30pm. Told that she was being taken in for questioning, Jessie made a dash to pick up a cut-throat razor, saying that she wished to end it all now. She was restrained by the inspector, and taken to King’s Cross police station. Told that she would be arrested for causing the death of John Smith an incredulous Jessie cried: ‘You do not mean to say he is dead? He had been knocking me about all night, and I went with my brother to fight him. He only got one blow. He cannot be dead.’
The final person into the witness box was Jessie Lucas herself. She told the court that she had one child, a dear son, but should have had two more. She had been pregnant on two other occasions, but had lost both babies due to Smith’s brutal treatment of her.
Jessie told the court of the blows she had received on 15 June, when she was talking to George Shears. She then went on to say what had happened earlier in the day of 16 June.
She and Smith had gone out for a drink together, and on the way home, as they passed the butcher who Jessie dealt with each week, she gave him a polite hello. Smith immediately gave her two more blows. She had run off to tell two policemen, who happened to be in the vicinity, but they simply told her to go home, and report him at the station if he hit her again.
At around noon that same day, she had decided to go out, and get herself a glass of beer. On the way, she met her brother, quite by accident and, seeing the marks and bruises on her face, he had asked if Smith had been beating her again. Anxious to avoid trouble, she had lied and said that she had a bad toothache. Charles didn’t believe her, and advised her to have Smith arrested and charged. He then invited Jessie to go for a drink with him.
As they enjoyed a glass of ale in a local public house, Smith looked in at the window. Believing that Jessie was with another man, he stormed in, at which point Charles turned and said: ‘You have caught her with the wrong one. You know me.’ Smith had then called Jessie a foul name, and walked out of the pub.
After finishing their drinks, Charles and Jessie had walked off together until, by chance, they found themselves close to the Albion and decided to have another glass. Smith was already in there. She had said nothing to him. She had certainly not said that she had brought her brother to give him a good hiding.
The jury deliberated for a short time before returning with their verdict. They had come to believe that John Smith was indeed a man who beat his wife regularly, and that she had suffered at his hands for years. They therefore returned a guilty verdict, but added that they believed she had acted under the greatest provocation, and that they wished to give the strongest possible recommendation to mercy.
Mr Justice Darling, it seemed, agreed completely with that verdict. Taking into account Charles guilty plea, Jessie’s suffering, and the jury’s recommendation, he sentenced both of the prisoners to a token three days in prison. As they had both already served more than that time in custody, this meant that they could be released immediately.
Chapter 30
Walter Edward Fensham
1908
James Christy Fensham had been married twice. His first marriage had taken place in 1862 and his wife had borne him no fewer than twelve children and, by all accounts, had been a most placid and kind woman. The same, however, could not be said for his second wife, Harriett Mary Clarke, who he married in the last quarter of 1903. The new Mrs Clarke had something of a temper, and often misused her husband, usually by showing him no respect, drinking rather heavily, and even physically attacking him. This did not please James’s children, especially one of his sons, Walter Edward.
In 1903, at the time of his father’s new marriage, Walter lived with the newlyweds at their lodgings, at 15 St James Road. Very soon afterwards, though, after seeing how his father was being treated, Walter moved to fresh lodgings at Rowton House in King’s Cross Road, but often visited the family home. One such visit was made on Saturday 28 December 1907.
It was 8.00pm when Walter reached St James Road. At the time, Harriett was in the kitchen and, seeing her guest arrive, offered to cook him a pork chop, which she then proceeded to do. James was also in the kitchen, and chatted to his son, whilst the meal was being prepared. Once the chop was served, though, James left the room to do some shopping. It was then some time between 8.15pm and 8.30pm.
After finishing his shopping, James returned to the house and went into the front parlour to talk to his landlord, the gentleman who actually owned the house and also lived there. James was thinking of relocating and the two men discussed the forthcoming move. During that conversation, James heard his son shout, from the kitchen; Good night father. James went out into the hallway to see Walter out and then, once Walter had walked out into the cold night air, James went back into the kitchen, in answer to a call from his daughter, Florence Louise, who also lodged at the house.
Though he had heard no shouting, no struggle and no noise of any kind, it was clear that something terrible had happened in that kitchen. Harriett Mary Fensham lay on the floor, a knife embedded in her throat. Florence managed to say that Walter had done it, before she dashed from the room to get help. James crouched down and cradled his wife in his arms. He then removed the knife, and threw it down onto a nearby table top.
Florence had run to yet another lodger at the house, Gertrude Sutherland. She went down to the kitchen, with Florrie, and saw the terrible scene for herself. James was still cradling his wife in his arms, and trying to revive her. It was Gertrude who had the presence of mind to call for the police and a doctor.
It was around 9.15pm, when Dr Robert James Harbinson arrived at 15 St James Road. Harriett was still alive. She was unconscious, and her pulse was very weak indeed. Dr Harbinson managed to stitch the gaping wound in her throat before sending Harriett to hospital.
It was Dr Rubens Wade, who attended to Harriett at the Great Northern Hospital. By the time she was admitted it was close to 10.15pm. Dr Wade noted that the wound,
on the left side of the neck, had started to bleed again so removed the stitches Dr Harbinson had made and attended to an injury to the jugular vein. Harriett did not recover consciousness, though, and at 6.15am on 29 December, she died.
Meanwhile, on the night of the attack, the police were busy looking for Walter Edward Fensham. They began by visiting his lodgings, but he had not returned there after leaving his father’s house. In fact, Walter had gone to 3 Granville Place, the residence of one of his brothers, William Joseph Fensham.
When Walter arrived at his brother’s house, he was very excitable, and William noticed that there was blood on one of his hands. ‘What have you done?’ enquired William. Walter replied: ‘I must have struck her with my knife. I have done it. I have done the old woman in. Let’s come upstairs and have a bit of supper.’ William, seeing the state that Walter was in, refused to let him into the house. At this, Walter suggested: ‘Well, if I cannot come upstairs and have some supper, will you come out and have a drink?’ William then went out with Walter but, on the corner of the street, said that he believed that Walter had already had too much to drink, and was too excitable for more.
Walter then said he was going to go to the police and give himself up, but William noticed that he was walking instead towards his lodgings at Rowton House. Walter suggested he should go to bed, and they would talk again in the morning, when he was feeling better. From there, William immediately went to his father’s house to check out the truth of what Walter had said. Finding that Harriett had indeed been attacked, and was now fighting for her life, William then went to the police himself and told them that Walter had now returned to his lodgings. He was arrested there, in the early hours of the morning.
Walter Fensham’s trial for murder opened on 4 February 1908 and was to last until 6 February. During the three days of the proceedings, Walter was defended by Mr Danford Thomas. The case for the prosecution was led by Sir Charles Mathews, who was assisted by Mr RF Graham-Campbell.
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