Published in Windlesora 27 (2011)
© WLHG
1629
The youngest person executed in England was John Dean, described as an infant between eight and nine. He was found guilty of setting fire to two houses in Windsor at Abingdon Assizes. The judge, Mr Justice Whitelock found that he had ‘malice, revenge, craft and cunning’, he had judgment to be hanged and was hanged accordingly on 23 February 1629.
Annals of Windsor, RR Tighe and J E Davis, Vol II p. 95.
28 November 1899
Charles Scott was executed for the murder of Eliza O’Shea, wife of a soldier now serving in India. They had lived together in Windsor but were given to quarrelling. On 2 September Scott stabbed her with a knife and then cut her throat from ear to ear. He gave himself up to the police saying ‘I have killed my old woman‘.
Windsor & Eton Express 2 December 1899, p.5
5 November 1907
William George Thomas Charles Austin, a brewer’s labourer aged 31, was executed at Reading for the murder of Unity Alice Butler, 13. They both lived at 5 Cranbourne Terrace, Oxford Road, Windsor. Austin lodged with his cousin, Unity Alice’s mother. The girl attended St Stephen’s school. On 17 July 1907 Austin raped and strangled the girl, while her parents were out, and hid her body under his bed.
WEE 9 November 1907 p.5
4 February 1913
The last man executed at Reading gaol was Eric James Sedgwick. He was an ex-soldier employed as a porter at Eton College. Here he met his sweetheart Annie Wentworth Davis, a domestic servant, working at Cotton Hall House, Eton College. She tried to finish her relationship with Sedgwick, but he would not take no for an answer. He pleaded with her to take him back, but when she rebuffed him, he struck out in anger and plunged a knife into her heart. Before his execution he wrote a letter saying: ‘I caused the death of the person most dear to me, with her died all my hopes in this world, and I have not a desire to live.‘
WEE 8 February 1913 p.5
Some other crimes reported in the Windsor and Eton Express:
26 September 1829
Elizabeth Bedborough was charged with molesting Windsor resident Tom George and his son in Peascod Street. She had been seen being pushed in and out of the barrack windows and was known to be a nuisance around the town. In November 1829 she was fined 5s for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a Mr Barrett. When she claimed she could not pay the fine, she was told she would be sent to gaol. At this she produced the money saying that going to gaol would impede on her trade.
5 January 1833
Charlotte Loveland was sentenced to 6 months in the Reading House of Correction, for concealing the birth of her child at the house of her master. On 3 November 1832 the family of Mr Tull, baker of Peascod Street, was considerabley alarmed when they found the after-birth of a child in a drain in the yard. This led to the discovery of a body of an infant, secreted under a mattress on which Charlotte Loveland slept. She had been suspected to be in the family way, had taken 2 days off the previous week and had returned less stout. She denied that the child had been born alive. The Coroner could not establish if it was born dead or alive, therefore the verdict was: found dead, and Charlotte was spared the death sentence.
July 1842
Edward Jones, only 10 years old was charged with embezzlement. He was sent to prison for one month and to be whipped twice, for taking money from his employer. He stood at the bar crying throughout his trial.
Before compulsory and free schooling, the very poor did not send their children to any of the charity schools in Windsor, instead they had to work from an early age.
July 1847
Four boys all 11 years old were remanded in custody to be sentenced at the quarter sessions for picking pockets at the Windsor fair. Two of these boys were sent to gaol and to be whipped, two were transported to New South Wales.
4 July 1855
Two 14 year old girls, Susan Jacob and Ann King were charged with stealing apples from a garden in Model Cottages. Both were said to be sleeping rough and living on the produce of petty depravity. However, the magistrate discharged them and told them to return to their parents.
23 December 1845
George, David and Harriet Howick, between 9 and 11 years old were reported to be repeat offenders and had been before the bench more than six times. In December 1848 they were convicted of stealing three dozen clothes pegs and a hat. They were sent to prison for two weeks and the boys to be well flogged during their incarceration.
3 December 1854
Two children who were charged with stealing turnips were described as ‘filthy, their underclothes had not been changed for months and were pinned together, they were covered with a loathsome disease, which made their sight sickening and disgusting’. They were released into the care of their father who was told to look after them better.
27 April 1895
William Twaddle, a tailor, was charged with having deserted his wife and child, whereby they became chargeable to the Windsor Union common fund. The prisoner was told to pay £3 1s, the cost of relieving Rhoda Twaddle and her child, which he was willing to pay given time, and he was willing to give his wife a home.
8 August 1914
Windsor Petty Sessions. Ernest Davis aged 90, of Lydia Cottage, Goswell Road, was summonsed for being drunk on licensed premises, the Why Not in Oxford Road, and assaulting George Goodchild. He was fined 5s or seven days imprisonment for being drunk and 10s or seven days for the assault.
5 September 1914
Albert Lovegrove was charged with a serious offence. Warrant-officer Baughan explained the nature of defendant’s conduct in the Long Walk near the junction of Osborne Road on Wednesday 26 August at 12.20; the accused said he did not understand it and pleaded not guilty. He was fined 10s with costs.
22 August 1914
Windsor Petty sessions
Silas Groves licensee and Mrs Tindall, barmaid of the Dukes’ Head, assaulted Sophia Lydia Snook outside the pub. She had been making trouble, called Mr Groves a dirty rotter and challenged Mrs Tindall to a fight. Case dismissed on the payment of the cost of 9s 6d.
12 September 1914
Hans Georg von Chorus was arrested in Burnham for being in possession of a motor cycle without permission under the Alien’s Registration Order 1914. He claimed to be an American but photos of the Kaiser and letters from Berlin were found on him and he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The Youngest
The youngest boy who appeared before the magistrate was only four; he was charged with damaging a plantation in Clarence Crescent. He, or rather his parents, were ordered to pay 2s 6d.
Windsor Local History Group 