For this true crime tale, we’re heading south of the River Thames to the district of Southwark where, according to The Croydon Times, in its edition of Wednesday the 23rd of June 1869, a brutal murder had taken place:-

MURDER OF HENRY JOHNSON

An inquest was held last week in the Borough, respecting the death of Henry Johnson, aged 37 years.

MARTHA CLAYTON’S EVIDENCE

Martha Clayton, wife of a porter, living at 1, Henry-street, said that the deceased lodged at her house.

Last Friday fortnight the deceased was in his room, and a man came to see him, and he remained an hour and a half before anything occurred to the neighbours.

Then there was a sound of the breaking of crockery.

The deceased then exclaimed, “Oh, pray, for God’s sake do not kill me!”

SHE SAW THE AFTERMATH

Witness entered the room, and alas saw the deceased standing on the bed with blood flowing from the side of his face.

The man had a poker, and he struck the deceased on the legs and face with it several times.

She cried out.

The deceased then crawled off the bed and down the stairs.

HE OFTEN CALLED

Her husband wrenched the poker out of the hands of the strange man and held him until the police came.

He had often called upon the deceased about money matters, and he had often threatened to “do for him.”

Robert Clayton confirmed this evidence.

THE CONSTABLE’S TESTIMONY

Police Constable Robin, 36 M, said that he saw the deceased at the street door.

A statement which he made caused the witness to go upstairs and arrest James Dalton, a shoemaker.

The poker produced was given to the witness by the landlady.

The man said, “I am the man; I wish that I had given it to him more. He owes me money, and he will not pay me.”

Last Wednesday the prisoner said, “I do not care if I am hung for him.”

THE SURGEON’S EVIDENCE

Mr. R. C. Lucas, house surgeon at Guy’s Hospital, deposed that be saw the deceased when he was brought to the hospital, and he found a large deep lacerated wound on the right cheek. It was three inches long, and it went down to the cheek bone.

There were also several other wounds on the body. They were all the result of separate blows, caused, no doubt, by a blunt instrument (such as the poker produced).

He died on Wednesday.

THE VERDICT

The jury returned a verdict of “Wilful murder” against James Dalton.”

HIS OLD BAILEY TRIAL

On Thursday the 15th of July, 1869, James Dalton appeared at the Old Bailey, initially on a charge of having murdered Henry Johnson.

The Weekly Dispatch reported on the proceedings in its edition of Sunday the 18th of July 1869:-

James Dalton, 33, pleaded “Guilty” to the manslaughter of Henry Johnson, at Kent-street, in the Borough.

Mr. Daly was instructed to prosecute, and Mr. Cooper appeared for the prisoner, who was originally charged with the offence of wilful murder.

MURDER THROWN OUT

The grand jury, however, threw out the bill for murder, and the prisoner, by the advice of his learned counsel, pleaded “Guilty” to the lesser offence.

BRUTAL VIOLENCE

The learned Judge said there was no doubt that, although the prisoner was probably not aware of the diseased condition of the deceased, he had by his brutal violence accelerated his death.

THE SENTENCE

Under these circumstances he should treat the case as one of violent assault, and he should sentence the prisoner to eighteen months’ hard labour.