On March 30, 1874, Primus Edwards (black) would kill 25-year-old Berry Adams (black) at the plantation of Captain John A. Cobb in Sumter County, Georgia. He would claim that the murder happened because Berry was ogling Primus's woman. There is little information about the murder that I could find. One source said that Berry died because Primus was defending himself.
On November 13th Primus would be the first man hung in Sumter. He was quiet and claimed to be a child of God. Between 250 to 300 people came to witness the execution. Before his execution, a large portion of the people who came to witness his execution was able to come and visit him at his cell to say goodbye.
He would have a 6-minute speech before the hanging. He stated that he was being wrongfully hung and that the colored witnesses were the cause of this. His photo was then taken on the scaffold. At about 11:20 a.m. Primus would be hanged in the jail yard and pronounced dead 17 minutes later.
SOURCES:
Legal Executions in Georgia page 18
Sumter County History
The Sun and ColumbusWeekly Enquirer April 7, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph, Journal, and Messanger November 17, 1874
Showing posts with label 1874. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1874. Show all posts
Friday, March 29, 2024
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
UNIDENTIFIED: Jo Daviess County, Illinois Jane Doe
On October 25, 1874, the body of an elderly woman was found beneath the bridge that spans the Big Menominee about four miles south of Dunleith, Illinois. She must have been walking on the bridge at night and was struck and killed by the train that left Dunlieth at 7p.m. Her body had been mangled by the train. It's believed that "Her clothing denoted a person in the humble walks of life".
She was believed to have been in her mid 60's. Her hair was grey. In her pockets was a string of prayer beads, and around her neck was a scapular.
SOURCES:
Friday, September 10, 2021
Murder of Harriet Louisa Lane
In London, England 1871 35-year-old Henry Wainwright and 20-year-old Harriet Lan met. Henry was working as a brushmaker with a shop and Harriet was a milliner's apprentice. Henry who was already married had Harriet in a house in Mile End. He would then support two families.
Seen as a family man and devoted father to his original family no one knew of Harriet. While together Harriet would go by Mrs. Percy King and the two would have two children together. Even though Henry owned a shop taking care of two families was difficult to take care of both. He would move Harriet and their children to cheaper accommodation in Sidney Square, but it was fruitless. He would go bankrupt.
Harriet was not happy with the life she and Henry had. She tired of sharing the man she loved and being the other woman in his life. It was said that she was starting to drink and would berate him when she drunk. She would often ask him to leave his wife and live with her. Henry wanting Harriet out of his life.
In September 1874 Henry would tell Harriet what she wanted to hear. He told her that he was finally leaving his wife to be with her. They would make plans that on September 11th they would meet so he could leave his wife. He told her that if anyone asked if she who she was meeting that she would respond with a "Mr. Frieake" so that word wouldn't go back to his wife.
On September 11 Harriet would have friends look after the children. She would leave Sidney Square with her nightclothes wrapped in a parcel to White Chaple. This would be the last time anyone saw Harriet. Her friends would become increasingly worried. Henry would tell them that she went to Brighton and a letter came saying she was going to live in Paris with a man named Edward Frieake.
Without their mother, Henry would put the children in the care of a neighbor. The neighbor had helped Harriet look after the children. It seemed soon that no one looked for the young mother believing she went to have a better life.
What actually happened was that Harriet and Henry would be at his workshop. He would shoot his young lover to death. The gunshots were heard, but no one inquired them. So Henry was able to bury Harriet in a shallow grave at the workshop.
Even after Harriet's death, Henry was still in heavy debt. A year later and in desperation he moved to Essex and had to sell his workshop. Knowing that if he left Harriet's body there his evil deed would be found.
Exactly a year after Harriet's death Henry contacts his little brother Thomas for help. Thomas had not known that Henry had killed Harriet until he asked him for help. The two would dig up Harriet's bodies and dismember her. They would then place her into parcels. Thomas would leave after they dismembered her.
Henry would ask Alfred Stokes, a former employee, to help watch the parcels while he went to get a cab. The parcels were heavy, stinking, and mysterious. Alfred was a bit curious and suspicious of what he was transporting. Thinking it was an easy task he helped. Henry would ask him to watch them when he went to get when Henry got out of view the curious Alfred took a peak. Inside he was horrified because inside was a human head.
Alfred kept his cool when Henry got back. He would help him load the cab and saw him off. He would then give the cab a chase, and passing a policeman he told him to stop the cab. After being ignored by two policemen he finally found one that believed him near London Bridge.
The policeman halted the cab and Henry tried to bribe him. The police officer unimpressed looked inside the cab. He would find Harriet's body inside. Henry would be arrested right there.
At trial, Henry would claim that his dead lover's remains were given to him by an unidentified man at a pub. The jury did not believe his story and found him guilty. He would be sentenced to death. At 8 a.m. on December 21, 1875, Henry would be brought out to the Newgate Goal and executed.
 |
| Henry Wainwright |
SOURCES:
Friday, August 28, 2020
Murder of Alice Hole
On the night of August 28, 1874, Alice Hole was sitting on her front porch of their Bristol, England home drinking and waiting for her husband William Hole. She would do this when he was home late. Sarah Cocum a life in domestic servant asked Alice to come inside to go to bed, but she refused. Sarah left Alice on the doorstep to go visit her brother.
Unfortunately, William was also blind drunk when he got home. This lead to yet another fight when he arrived home that night.
When she saw him coming up the road she went inside. Soon after he came inside the house she left and stood in the road near pavement across from their door. He soon came out. They insulted each other and called each other "blackguards". He then hit her so hard she fell to the ground. He locked the door behind him leaving her outside. She crawled to a neighbors doorsteps and sat there for a couple of minutes before going back to her own.
She told her neighbor "I shan't go in tonight." The neighbor reminded her that if the police come by she'd have to go inside.
A few minutes he asked her to come back in and her response was. "When I like." He came out another time just after 11 p.m. to ask her to come in and she also refused. He came out a third time a few minutes later. Alice was in the midst of standing up when he knocked her down. The neighbor who was out their went inside their house and locked the door scared.
Other neighbors witnessed what had happened. William fought with Alice and slit her throat. He then threw the knife against the wall and left it on the pavement when he was done. She was in the sitting position. Someone went to get the police.
William stood on the doorstep and told them that she was not to come in the house. They begged him and he stated, "I've killed her, and I shall be hung for her." A few of the neighbors went and carried Alice into her home anyway. They tried to help stop the bleeding but were unsuccessful.
One person took the knife with them to keep it from William. William followed and asked for the knife, but they refused to give it to him. Sarah returned to the Hole's home from her brothers right after the murder had occurred.
William didn't resist the arrest when they came to get him. He wanted a glass of Brandy before leaving, but the police refused.
An autopsy showed three bruises under the left collarbone, on the right shoulder and the left thigh. Her fingers on her left hand were cut to the bone. Her throat was sliced twice. One was two inches from the chin and the second was lower, deeper and hit her windpipe.
William was prosecuted and executed on April 26, 1875.
The two had been married for around 30 years and were around their 50's. They had one child together and unfortunately, he had died. They seemed to be a loving couple except when they were drinking. In which their fights would become extreme especially in the last 6 or so months. People suspected something would eventually happen.
William was suffering from chronic headaches after a head injury. Despite how he had decided to murder his wife he wasn't crazy. He was a successful businessman and employed several people. He and Alice were well liked in the area.
SOURCES:
Executed Today
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser
Unfortunately, William was also blind drunk when he got home. This lead to yet another fight when he arrived home that night.
When she saw him coming up the road she went inside. Soon after he came inside the house she left and stood in the road near pavement across from their door. He soon came out. They insulted each other and called each other "blackguards". He then hit her so hard she fell to the ground. He locked the door behind him leaving her outside. She crawled to a neighbors doorsteps and sat there for a couple of minutes before going back to her own.
She told her neighbor "I shan't go in tonight." The neighbor reminded her that if the police come by she'd have to go inside.
A few minutes he asked her to come back in and her response was. "When I like." He came out another time just after 11 p.m. to ask her to come in and she also refused. He came out a third time a few minutes later. Alice was in the midst of standing up when he knocked her down. The neighbor who was out their went inside their house and locked the door scared.
Other neighbors witnessed what had happened. William fought with Alice and slit her throat. He then threw the knife against the wall and left it on the pavement when he was done. She was in the sitting position. Someone went to get the police.
William stood on the doorstep and told them that she was not to come in the house. They begged him and he stated, "I've killed her, and I shall be hung for her." A few of the neighbors went and carried Alice into her home anyway. They tried to help stop the bleeding but were unsuccessful.
One person took the knife with them to keep it from William. William followed and asked for the knife, but they refused to give it to him. Sarah returned to the Hole's home from her brothers right after the murder had occurred.
William didn't resist the arrest when they came to get him. He wanted a glass of Brandy before leaving, but the police refused.
An autopsy showed three bruises under the left collarbone, on the right shoulder and the left thigh. Her fingers on her left hand were cut to the bone. Her throat was sliced twice. One was two inches from the chin and the second was lower, deeper and hit her windpipe.
William was prosecuted and executed on April 26, 1875.
The two had been married for around 30 years and were around their 50's. They had one child together and unfortunately, he had died. They seemed to be a loving couple except when they were drinking. In which their fights would become extreme especially in the last 6 or so months. People suspected something would eventually happen.
William was suffering from chronic headaches after a head injury. Despite how he had decided to murder his wife he wasn't crazy. He was a successful businessman and employed several people. He and Alice were well liked in the area.
SOURCES:
Executed Today
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser
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