Murder In Wakefield

In my true crime tales I like to make trips outside of London to cover cases that took place in other parts of the country in the 19th century.

To that end, I have covered cases such as the murder of Sweet Fanny Adams .

The following story appeared in The Hull Daily News on Saturday the 26th of February, 1853:-

HORRIBLE MURDER IN WAKEFILED

On Friday night, a murder was committed at Wakefield.

The victim is a girl named Catherine Sheirdan, a dissolute Person, living in the house of Ann Clough, and the murderer is named Henri Dobson, a cabinet-maker, about 24 years of age.

For a considerable time past Dobson has cohabited with the deceased, whom he has lately treated very ill, and to such an extent that on the 10th inst. he was bound over to keep the Peace.

Exasperated by this, he had been heard several times to threaten the deceased, and on Thursday night he was observed watching for her.

They kept Sheirdan in their company, and thus – for by some of Sheirden’s companions to be anxiously watching for a time only as it has proved – prevented the fatal deed.

HE GOT INTO HER ROOM

On Friday night, however, soon after eleven o’clock, he managed to obtain admission into the deceased’s room, o’clock, room, during the temporary absence of Clough, the occupier of the house, and managed to effect his purpose.

On Clough’s return, she found the unfortunate girl lying on the floor of the room quite dead weltering in blood.

She immediately gave an alarm, and Dr. Wood, of Westgate, was sent for, for the purpose of examining the body, all hope of his rendering any assistance entirely out of the question.

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

The Deceased was found lying across the floor of the room, on her right aide, a wound two or three inches deep had been inflicted on the left side of the neck severing the jugular vein entirely, and death had been instantaneous. g

A razor covered with blood was found on the floor, and in one of deceased’s hands the street-door key.

On her right arm was the mark of a violent blow.

The tragedy must have taken place within a very short time, as Clough asserts that she was not absent from her house more than twenty minutes in all.

DOBSON APPREHENDED

Within an hour Dobson was apprehended in Jacob’s-Well-lane, a quarter of a mile from the scene of the murder, by policeman Stringer.

His left hand was covered with blood, and a slight cut of about half an inch diameter was discovered on his thumb.

On the right side of his coat were marks of blood; and these circumstances corroborate the supposition that the prisoner had his arm round the deceased’s neck when he inflicted the wound on her, and it is believed the same stroke cut his own hand.

DOBSON’S COMMENTS ON THE WAY

The Prisoner, while on the way to the station-house, asked repeatedly if the girl dead, and on being told that she was, replied, “And I have done it – what more do you want?”

He further added, “You are a pretty set of devils, you police; I have been within 20 yards of the place all the time.”

He also stated that he had kicked the deceased violently.

The prisoner was much excited, and appeared to have been drinking.

ABOUT THE MURDERED GIRL

The deceased was about 20 years of age, and a native of Doncaster.

She was principally known under the soubriquet of “Kitty.”

The deceased had been drinking with the prisoner often since she had him bound over, but she had not lived with him for some short time.

ABOUT DOBSON

Dobson is the son of Thomas Dobson, landlord of the Coach and Horses beer-house, Union-street.

He was by trade a cabinet-maker, having served his apprenticeship to Mr. Beckett, of Wakefield.

He is a man of vicious propensities, and had been married to a girl of the town, who died about six months since.

THE INQUEST HELD

An inquest on the body of the girl was held on Saturday evening, at which a verdict of “Wilful murder” against Henry Dobson was immediately returned.

THE PRISONER IN HIS CELL

The prisoner’s demeanour is hardened and careless.

Two officers have been with him ever since his arrest, and on Saturday night it appears he kept up a continued conversation in reference to the deed.

After awaking from one of his sleeps he said, in reference to the bench or form upon which be was laid, “This is a very hard bed? If ‘Kitty,’ (meaning the deceased), has not a softer, she will be badly off.”

And in a few minutes he said, in an affectionate tone, “Ah, bless her; I hope she is now in heaven and happy.”

At another time he said, with much bravado, “Well, I know my fate, and I suppose I have not above another fortnight to live.”

THOUSANDS VIEW THE BODY

The body of the murdered girl was on Sunday and Monday visited by thousands of people, and the woman of the house must have reaped a rich harvest from the curiosity of her visitors, as each person who saw the body was expected to contribute something.

The funeral took place on Tuesday.

THE JUDICIAL EXAMINATION

The judicial examination took place on Monday, before Edward Tew, Esq., and J. C. D. Charlesworth, Esq., at the Wakefield house of correction.

The prisoner (Henry Dobson), on being asked if he would like to have some professional gentleman to watch the case on his behalf, replied in the affirmative, and Mr. Barrett, of Wakefield, was sent for.

All the witnesses whose evidence had been received at the inquest were examined.

SENT TO YORK ASSIZES

The prisoner, on being asked what he had to say in his defence, replied, “I shall not say anything here; what I have to say I will say at York.”

He was then fully committed to take his trial at the ensuing York assizes.