It is remarkable to consider how so many people were capable of murder in the 19th century, or, at least, how many people ended up being prosecuted for various homicides.
Mother and fathers murdered their children; children murdered their parents; lovers murdered their sweethearts; and servants murdered their employers.
The Hull Daily News, in its edition of Saturday the 3rd of February, 1855, carried details of one such case of the latter:-
HORRIBLE MURDER IN CHATHAM
Ordnance-terrace, Chatham, was on Sunday thrown into a state of terror by the report that a murder had been committed at the house No. 10, occupied by Mrs. Bacon, widow lady, of advanced age, and her maid servant.
It appears that a man named Pearson, who is in the daily custom of calling at the houses in the neighbourhood with vegetables, whilst so engaged in the house next to that in which the horrible tragedy had occurred, heard a rattling at the door, as of some one endeavouring to force his way out, and, on going to the spot, the servant girl made her appearance in such a state of agitation as to lead him to apprehend she was in a fit, and he ran for assistance to a chemist’s close by, who directed him to Dr. Gamine, at Fort Pitt, surgeon of the 94th Regiment.
On his arrival, she was found to have her throat cut, and by his directions she was removed on a stretcher to Fort Pitt, the serious injuries she had received admitting of no delay.
HER STATEMENT TO THE POLICE
In the course of the day, a message was sent to Superintendent Everist that she wished to make a statement, and Major Boys, a county magistrate, attended for the purpose of taking her deposition.
What the nature of the disclosure made, if any was, has not transpired, but the state of the premises can lead but to one inference.
HER MISTRESS HAD BEEN MURDERED
On Constable Howes entering the house, the girl said that her mistress had been murdered in the cellar by two dustmen.
On going into the cellar he found a pail full of water, with a flannel in it stained with blood, and which appeared to have been used in washing the deceased’s face.
Close by this he found a hatchet and a knife, both stained with blood; he observed blood on the floor, and the fagot wood was also sprinkled with blood.
THE BODY IN THE ROOM
On going upstairs he found the deceased lady lying on her back inside the door on the second floor, and traces of blood from the cellar to where the deceased lay, showing that the body had been dragged from the cellar to the spot where it was found.
The skull had been beaten in, there were two large gashes on the temple, and the face was greatly disfigured from the blows which had been inflicted.
KEYS AND POSSESSIONS FOUND
It would seem from the appearance of the house that the girl had breakfasted, but that mistress had not, she wanting a gown to complete her dress.
On searching the girl’s room a bunch of four keys belonging to the deceased were found, but the drawers had not been opened, and the cash remained untouched.
In the girls bosom were found a ring and a brooch, wrapped in paper, belonging to her mistress; a pawnbroker’s duplicate was also found in the room, and in her box a letter, recently received from her sweetheart in the Crimea.
The knife with which the girl’s throat had been cut was found on the kitchen dresser, and there was a pool of blood just within the front door where she had stood.
THE GIRL’S ANTECEDENTS
She had been in the service of Mrs. Bacon for about seven weeks, having previously lived in service at Strood, where her friends also reside.
An inquest will be held at the York Hotel.
Mrs. Bacon was the widow of Mr. Bacon, formerly in her Majesty’s dockyard, and was 78 years of age.
The servant girl is about 19.