Murder of Albert Lucia

 On December 24, 1883, 30-year-old Christian Reibling (white) was drinking with another man alcohol diluted with water. That Christmas morning they continued drinking a bottle of gin. At a livery stable in Lyndon, Illinois Christian would argue with 19-year-old Albert Lucia (white). It would result in Christian shooting and killing Albert.

Christian would be arrested. He would state that he could remember drinking the bottle of gin, but nothing after. He regretted what he had done and acknowledged he should not have been drinking with his pistol. If he was sober he would not have killed Albert as he had no reason to.

Christian would go to trial and would be found guilty and set to hang. He was to be the first hanging in Whiteside County.  Christian was accepting of his fate and felt remorseful for the killing. He believed that he would be accepted in heaven even for his crime because he was not in the right mind and had no actual malice towards Albert. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions Illinois, Indiana, Iowa Kentucky and Missouri pg 9

Genealogy Trails

Freeport Daily Bulletin May 16, 1884

Chicago Tribune May 16, 1844

Murder of Luke Crawford

 On December 15, 1873, in Calhoun County, Georgia, Bill Roseman (black) killed Luke Crawford (black) by shooting him with a musket. Bill would claim that Luke owed him money. 

Bill would be tried and found guilty. He was hung on January 29, 1875. 

I could not find much information on this case. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Georgia page 18

Murder of Joseph Wilson at the Lintz Green Station

 On the night of October 7, 1911, it was a normal work night for 60-year-old Joseph Wilson. He was the station master at the Lintz Green Station un County Durnham, England. He would see off the last train around 11 p.m. that night. After it had left Joseph walked to his home 50 yards from the station. 

Someone would ambush the stationmaster on his doorstep. Sand would be thrown into his eyes and there was an attempt to gag him with a linen cloth. During a struggle, he would be shot in the chest. This would not automatically kill him, but he was unable to say who did. Four Miners who were on the last train weren't very far when they heard the gunshot.

By the time they arrived to Joseph's aid, his killer had disappeared unseen. His daughter was in the house and came out when she heard the sound. The miners and his daughter brought Joseph into his home and tried to help him. He seemed to have tried to talk but was unable to do so before he died. 

Police believed that the motive for the murder was a robbery. Though the day's takings weren't with him and he had brought them home earlier that day. 

The prime suspect in this case was 25-year-old Samuel Atkison. Samuel was a relief porter for railroad. Someone stated that they saw him at the station that night. Samuel said that he had went home after work and went for a walk around 7. He would be arrested and arraigned at the local Magistrats Court. At the trial there was no evidence against Samuel and this allowed him to be released. This case was never solved. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

True Crime Library

Unsolved Murder UK

The Times October 9, 1911

The Guardian October 13, 1911

Murder of Ida Crummell

In  1896 New Castle, Delaware 19-year-old Edward Wright (colored) and 23-year-old Ida Crummell (colored) were sweethearts. It was said that the two were practically married and even got furniture together, but the relationship would sour by July. It's not stated why Ida wanted to separate from Edward, but Edward was furious. He confronted Ida when she was with Mrs. Boyer and told her along the lines if he can't go with her that he would kill her. Ida did not want anything to do with him. After this altercation, he went and bought a revolver to kill her with.

On July 30th  Ida and Mrs. Boyer would go to the Wilmington and Northern Railroad Station on Water and French St. They had gone to see the colored excursion from Reading. While waiting for the train the two would walk to the P W & B station. This was when Edward would try to speak to Ida, but she would turn away and ignore him. The two would return to W&N.

Edward would leave and see Mr. Boyer and talk to him. He told him that he had a present for Ida and if he saw her tell her. He also told him that if he caught her with another man he would fix her. 

After the excursion train arrived Ida, Mary Thomas, and Joe Welch would walk along the railroad to Market St. Mrs. Boyer was not with them because she went to look for her husband. Mrs. Boyer would pass by Edward who walking the same way Ida and her group was. 

Edward would approach the group and call out to her. While Ida turned to her name being called Edward would shoot. The first bullet would hit her behind the ear and then the second would hit her in the forehead. She would fall down face first and as she lay there he would shoot her for the third time hitting her at the base of the brain. Edward would then walk away. 

Captain Champers was in the vicinity and had her carried to Front and Market Streets. She would then be taken to Delaware Hospital where she would pass away as she passed through the doors. 

Officers were quick to respond and found Edward near Water and Shipley Streets. He would be arrested for the murder. He had no remorse for the murder. After he was locked up he stated that he had killed her and planned on doing so since Saturday. He was extremely jealous and did not care to live without her. He was satisfied when he heard that she had died. 

In September Edward would go to trial. He would plead guilty due to insanity. Witnesses would come forward saying in 1895 he became ill and afterward complained of pain in the head. On October 2nd he would be found guilty of first-degree murder and would be set to hang.

On January 1, 1897, Edward would hang at 10:30 a.m. He was welcoming to the execution as he wanted to be with Ida. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Page 10

The News Journal July 31, 1896

Delaware Gazette and State Journal January 7, 1897

Murder of Maggie Pitt

 In 1894 Horace Cooper and Maggie Pitt were living together. He would ask her to marry him. She did not want to and would reject him. By November of 1894, Maggie would move out and would be living with a Perry Gibson in Cokesbury, Maryland. Horace would get angry at her thinking if she didn't choose him no one would have her.  He would threaten to kill her several times.

On the night of November 17, 1894 Horrace would sneak into Perry's home in  He would climb through a second-story window and would sneak into Maggie's room. She would wake up to Horrace and Perry would catch Horace with a gun pointed at Maggie. Perry would force Horace out of the home.

The next morning Horace would return wanting to finish what he wasn't able to do the night before. He would shoot Maggie three times. She was shot in the chest, abdomen, and thigh. Maggie would only live a few days.

After the shooting Horace would parade up and downtown threatening to kill anyone who dared arrest him. He would flee town and he would be caught in Columbia Pennsylvania by Harvey H. Mackey of Elkton. Horace would be tried for Maggie's murder. He would be found guilty and would be set to hang. On June 21, 1895, Horace would hang at the Elkton jail yard. 

SOURCES: 

Penalty USA

The Baltimore Sun November 20, 1894

The Baltimore Sun November 21, 1894

The Cecil Whig November 24, 1894

The Baltimore Sun December 10, 1894

The Midland Journal December 14, 1894

The Cecil Whig December 15, 1894

The Cecil Whig May 4, 1895

The Baltimore Sun June 22, 1895

Murder of Eleanor Louise Bockmann

Back of the Bockmann's home where Eleanore died

In 1922 18-year-old Herbert Cyril Curnow who went as Cyril had made friends with the sons of the Lawrance Bockmann through football. He would then met the Bockmann family by practicing at their home in Sandilands, South Australia, Australia. He would soon become infatuated with 17-year-old Eleanor Bockmann. He became friendly with her and accompanying her to Sunday School, Church, and local dances. The two began to date.

Their relationship was not a good one. Within two months they began to argue and Cyril was becoming increasingly jealous. He did not like it that Eleanor was friendly was other young me. One night he saw her walking down the street with a drunk young man. His arm was around her and this infuriated Cyril. In response she stated, "If you don't like it, you can lump it!"

On September 2, Cyril would stay with the Bockmann family while football finals were happening and on September 3 they would go to church . After church another argument erupted between the young couple. This was when Eleanor broke up with Cyril. He would continue to obsess over her. He would be staying at the Bockmann home

After breaking up with him Cyril began threatening Eleanor. He would tell her if he had a knife or gun he would use it on her and then kill himself. This made Eleanor tense and scared as she believed his words. 

On September 8, the family ate lunch together. Cyril would wait for Mr. Bockmann and Lawrance to go back to work. He would go and get the family's gun and bring it to the boy's room with him and clean and load it. It was noticed by Eleanor, her sister Gladys and cousin Alvera he had the gun. He left in the veranda in the kitchen.

Eleanor feared Cyril when she saw him with the gun. Eleanor would tell Gladys "Let's go up to the bedroom, he might shoot us." The sisters went upstairs to hide in their room and Alvera stayed downstairs in the dining room. Cyril would leave the home to get a drink and Alvera called out to the sisters that he was gone.

Eleanor would then go to the veranda and take the gun. She would hide it. When Cyril came back in and confronted Gladys about its whereabouts and she didn't know. She would tell Eleanor to get the gun, and she did and gave it back to Cyril. Eleanor would go back to her room to hide. Cyril would leave the home again and Gladys told Eleanor it was safe to come out. This time he went to the Stables. 

The three girls would then settle down in the dining room and mend stockings. Cyril would return back to the home and go back to the boy's room for a few minutes. He would come to the living room with his coat and hat on. The gun was in his hand.

He pointed the gun at Alvera first, she would stand up and scream "Auntie". He then pointed the gun at Gladys, and then the gun at Eleanor. "Please don't shoot me Cyril," was what Eleanor cried before he pulled the trigger. He shot her through her left side of her neck. He fled the house and she would hold her head down for a brief second and then held her neck and ran outside the back door. 

She would collapse next to the water tank. Gladys ran outside to get her father and brother. She screamed and told them that Eleanor had been shot. They got to the house in the cart. Their father would hold Eleanor in his arms as she died. 

He was found guilty at trial and was set to hang just after Christmas. His sentence would be commuted to life in prison. He would then be released from prison in 1935. 

SOURCES:

The Haunts of Adelaide 

The Register September 12, 1922

The Argus November 30, 1922

The Sydney Morning Herald November 30, 1922

Barrier Miner December 23, 1922

Kalgoorlie Miner December 23, 1922

The Mail March 16, 1935

UNIDENTIFIED: September 5, 1922 Kearney, Missouri John Doe

On September 5, 1922, a man had robbed a post office in Kearney Missouri. He had been shot by the city marshall Frank Milbourn. his identity is unknown and he had broken into several buildings in town. 

He was a white male and was around 20-years-old. His hat had an Iowa town mark and a picture of a woman and child photographed in Clinton, Illinois. 

SOURCES:

Unidentified Wikipedia

Find a Grave

Missouri Digital Heritage: Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1970

UNIDENTIFIED: July 7, 1914 St. Maries, Idaho John Doe

 On July 7, 1914, a man was shot in the leg in St. Maries, Idaho, and die. There's little information in this case and it's not stated if he was intentionally shot or if the person who shot him was known. It's just known that his identity was never discovered. 

He was a white male around 40-years-old. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

Murder of Mrs. Owens

 In 1894 William Owens and his wife Mrs. Owens would fight. William would leave the neighborhood and come back on May 30th. He would then search for his wife and found her around 3p.m. working in a field with around 30 other African Americans in Nobel Lake, Arkansas. 

 William asked his wife to move back in with him again. She would refuse him and this angered him. He would point the gun at her and shot her once in the chest and once in the back. She would fall and he would pick up the hoe she was using and hit her twice in the head before breaking it. She was still alive and in agony and he would pick up a second hoe and would beat her head in with it. He would then escape.

He would then try to kill Grandville Simms, someone he had a grudge against. Grandville would take off his shoes and outrun William. William would then exhausted fall on a log. This allowed him to be caught. 

William would be convicted and found guilty. He would be executed in 1895. He was likely executed on May 30th as an article from May 29th stated his execution the next day.

Note:

I could not find Mrs. Owens' first name none of the articles I could find stated her first name. 

SOURCES:

Death Penalty USA Pine Bluff Daily Graphic May 29, 1894

Pine Bluff Daily Graphic May 31, 1894

The Osceola Times June 4, 1894

The Southern Standard June 8, 1894

Pine Bluff Daily Graphic May 29, 1894

UNIDENTIFIED: April 23, 1910 Naco, Mexico John Doe

 On April 23, 1910, a man was found in Naco, Mexico. He had been beaten and shot to death that day.  The man was in his mid to late 40s. There is little information in this case.  

SOURCES:

Unidentified Wiki

Find a Grave

Murder of Nathaniel Abrams

 On the night of January 2, 1956, 25-year-old Nathaniel Abrams was enjoying a night out at the Young Man's Social Club at 25 South Burns Place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He had been there with another man. At 10:40 police received a call of a man being shot in the alley in front of the club.

Nathaniel was found lying face down in a pool of blood. He had been shot five or six times.

Witnesses stated that they could recognize his associate if they saw him again. The associate never returned to the club, and it is still unknown who this was and if they had anything to do with the murder. 

Nathaniel was based at Ft. Carson at the time. He had just returned from Christmas leave. He had spent it with his wife and children in Chicago. 

SOURCES:

Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Find a Grave

Argus-Leader Jan. 3, 1956

The Ogden Standard-Examiner Jan 3, 1956

Murder of Katie Epps and Louise Hodges

31-year-old George Epps and his wife 32-year-old Katie Epps were separated but had got back together by Thanksgiving of 1921. They were living together in 1105 1st in Washington D.C. He was believing that a friend of Katie's 24/27-year-old Louise Hodges was the reason for Katie's mistreatment towards him. He was also believing she was leading her astray to infidelity. 

On the day of  December 28, 1921, George withdrew some money and called into work claiming to be ill. He would then take the money and go to a second-hand store on D street and purchased a revolver. He would then shoot the two girls. Katie would be shot in the right breast and the center of her forehead. Louise was shot in the abdomen.

When police arrived he stated "Here I am. I have been waiting for you." He handed his gun over to the officers and surrendered himself. The girls were sent to hospital but were soon declared dead shortly after arriving.

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Deleware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Page 22

Evening Star  December 28, 1921

Murder of Emma Bell

Sylvester Bell was from Canada but would settle with his first wife in Fairfax, Vermont. They would have several children together, but he would treat his wife cruelly. One day he locked her in a room in an attempt to kill her. Their son would break into the room and fight his father and pushed him on the bed which collapsed underneath him causing him unable to move and saving his wife from his wrath. He would be acquitted of the attempted murder. They would divorce.

 He would soon move on to his next wife and would marry Emma Locke in 1887. Just like his first wife he would treat Emma in the same awful way. This would cause Emma to return to her home and stay away from him.

On December 26, 1889, 29-year-old Emma would return to their home to gather her things with constable Hull. Sylvester would tell him "I want Emma to live with me." He would then "help" Emma get her things all while trying to act pleasant and asking her to come back to live in their home. 

Emma would walk past Sylvester and go upstairs. He would refuse to bring down her sewing machine. So constable Hull and Emma would bring it down. She would then go to a trunk and he would help her bring that down. He would then ask her to open the chest because he had something of his inside. This was when she noticed her rings missing from it. She asked him where they were and he claimed he didn't take them out. He would bring a paper out of his pocket with the rings inside and gave them to her anyway. She would put the rings on her fingers. 

Emma would go back upstairs to gather more things and he would follow her up. Constable Hull would stay downstairs but rushed upstairs when he heard a gunshot. Sylvester was standing there composed with a sixshooter and Emma was standing there with blood on her face. 

Hull would arrest Bell and take him downstairs. The doctor would be called and when he arrived Emma was lying face down on the floor still alive. She had been shot in the head. In her arms, she was tightly holding some of her son's toys. She would be unconscious, but alive for the next 28 minutes before dying. While the doctor was working on Emma Sylvester told him he shot her. He would ask if she would live. 

The doctor would find that the bullet had gone all the way through her brain. 

Sylvester would claim that he saw that Emma had found his gun and had it under her arm. He claimed he told her that she better behave. She was bent over when he went to grab for the gun and it went off when he grabbed it. He claimed he didn't mean to kill her. 

This was not believed as he had a history of domestic assault. He had also attempted to kill his first wife. So his story of an accidental shooting was not ringing right. He had also mentioned that she wanted to live alone and wanted $500 from him and he wouldn't do it because it would cause him to go to the poorhouse, but would rather be there than for her to be dead. At the trial he would claim there was no motive for the murder, The jury did not believe him and found him guilty. 

On Jan. 1, 1892, Sylvester would be set to hang. At 1:15 a crowd began to form in the neighborhood of the state prison, but only a few would see the execution. At 1:44 he would be taken from his cell and where he was having an earnest conversation with Chaplin Wassel.

At the gallows, Chaplin would give him a prayer. He stood up there pale and trembling for his fate. He would be allowed to speak for 34 minutes talking about his life and how he was innocent. He would stand bravely over the trap and say, " Gentlemen I am dying as a man; goodbye.". In 14 minutes he would be pronounced dead. 

In several articles Sylvester's name was Stephen. 

SOURCES:

Executed Today

St. Albans Daily Messenger September 13, 1890

Argos and Patriot September 17, 1890

St. Albans Daily Messenger September 18, 1890

Vermont Pheonix Jan. 1, 1892

The Burlington Free Press Jan. 2, 1892

Murder of Albert Lucia

On December 25, 1883, 32-year-old Christian Reibling was drinking early for the holiday in Lyndon, Illinois. Already drunk he went to the general store of C.W. Parkhurst looking to buy more alcohol. He got mad when he was told that the store did not sell liquor anymore. This angered him and at the same time, 19-year-old Albert Lucia came into the store.

For some reason, his anger was focused on Albert. He would then threaten Albert with his pocket pistol and tell him to leave the store. Albert being the meek and harmless type of youth left the store and went to a livery stable owned by Constable G.R. Cady. It was probably to seek some protection.

Christian not knowing that the boy went to the livery stable went there also. He would then see Albert laying on a pile of blankets and would get angry again. He would threaten him and told him to leave. 

Albert would state he did not have to get out unless Mr. Cady said so. Mr. Cady would stay silent and not request the boy to leave. Christian would then get his gun out and point it at Albert as he stood between him and the door. Telling him he had to leave. 

An effort was done in trying to take the gun away, but a shot was fired and hit Albert in the leg. It would shatter the bone. Albert would not die automatically, but his wound would cause infection and Albert would die on Jan. 5, 1884. 

He would admit that he did not remember the murder. That he had been drinking diluted alcohol the day before and a bottle of gin with a friend the day of. He stated that if he was in his right mind he would have not hurt the boy. At trial, he claimed that a smallpox sore he had in his head had helped cause him to murder the boy also. He said he regretted his actions that day. He would be found guilty and set to hang on May 16, 1884, in Morrison, Illinois.

Christian's last night was spent will no incident. He went to bed a little later. He was awake by the time the jailer came to his cell at 7 a.m. and stated that he slept very well that night. He was a little nervous and his stomach was upset. He didn't want the eggs and ham that was for breakfast, because he had no appetite. He did want coffee though of which he drank profusely. He would pray continuously that morning mostly in German. 

He would then see Reverend T.E.V. Sweet and Reverend Edward Breen. Prayers were offered to him and he would pray and talk as he walked around. The Sherrif's daughter at one point offered an orange to him to which he ate, and he smoked two cigars. 

At his request, the Sherrif and three members of the church choir would sing to him some religious songs. During the midst of this, he began to cry and he went back to his cell to conceal that he was crying while listening to them sing. 

He said the crying wasn't because of regret, but because of the religious ecstasy, he had drifted away from. He felt that he had been forgiven for his sins. He was accepting of his fate but admitted that it was hard to face the gallows. 

Around 150 people from the surrounding area came to see Christian hang. People were dressed in their Sunday best. Few who came were admitted into the enclosure, none of which were women. Though many women also came to watch the execution. 

His last words were; "Well," he said smiling sadly and bowing to the crowd." I am sorry for what was done and don't have unkind feelings toward anybody, and hope they have none against me. I believe I will be saved, for Christ died for our sakes. I believe it just as firmly as I live. I hope I shall go to a better place and I believe I will be saved by Him." He would hesitatingly look at the sheriff and smiled. "And I want to thank the Sheriff Mr. Beach for his kindness. He had always treated me as a gentleman." He then looked at the deputy sheriff. "Mr. Cole has also been kind to me so has Mrs. Beach. Well, that's all I have to say, gentlemen."

Mr. Sweet would recite a prayer for Christian, when he finished the prayer he was hung at 2:06. He went straight down and struggled for an instant. He would be dead by 2:15 his neck was broken. The on-seers who were permitted to watch were civil, but those outsides tried to make their way in or were climbing trees so they could watch. None of the people there were relatives of his.

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri pg 9

Quad-City Times May 16, 1884

Chicago Time May 16, 1884

Chicago Tribune May 17, 1884

UNIDENTIFIED: November 19, 1949 New Lenox Township, Illinois John Doe

  On November 19, 1949, the body of a man was found in Pilcher Park in New Lenox Township, Illinois. It's likely he died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

John Doe is a white male and was pre-40-years-old. He was 5'6". His hair color is unknown as he was bald. He has a scar on the right side of his face from his lip to ear across the cheek. He was wearing a khaki aviator wool-lined jacket with a brown fur collar, grey fedora, light yellow shirt with pencil stripes, tweed trousers with a light brown and black check pattern, black leather belt, tan oxfords with cream-colored paint, Handkerchief with the letter R on it and eyeglasses.

SOURCES:

NamUs

Crime Watchers

END OF WATCH : Patrolman Pitt McClellan Doxsie

On October 26, 1897, 34-year-old Patrolman Pitt McClellan Doxsie was patrolling on horseback in the downtown area of Independence, Iowa. He would stumble upon a burglary in progress. He would get into a gunfight with the two thieves. He would be shot and killed, his body would be discovered in an alley.

His case will remain unsolved. 

SOURCES:

Iowa Cold Cases

Officer Down Memorial Page

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Murder of Adam Richard Payne

 On October 9, 1955, the body of 34-year-old Adam Payne was found lying on the roadway of KY 428 (Guston Rd), 7/10th of a mile west of Guston in Meade County, Kentucky. He was initially reported as being struck by a vehicle. The responding trooper found that this did not lead to his death as the victim died from gunshot wounds and was struck after death. He had been shot and killed in another location and then his body had been dumped.

SOURCES:

Kentucky State Police

Murder of Mary McGlew

By 1878 20-year-old Mary McGlew worked as a waitress at the Spencer House (a hotel) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her employer was Henry Guetig, and his nephew is 19-year-old Louis Guetig. Louis was known to have a huge crush on Mary making advances on her and getting rejected every time.

On September 19,1878 Louis was drunk and tired of being rejected. At the Spencer House around 9 p.m. Mary, Addie McLaughlin, and Katie Collins were standing near the doorway of the stewards lodging house which faced the court but was at the rear of the main building. Louis approached the girls angrily focusing on Mary. 

"Are you ready to make that promise?" He screamed at her, "I've waited so long!" He pulled a revolver out on the girls. They screamed, but his focus was on Mary. Wanting to save her life she responded with "Yes, I'll promise you anything!" He didn't believe and her and told her that she was only saying that because he was going to shoot her. He empties out the gun with 4 out of 5 bullets hitting Mary and killing her. She was stuck under her left eye, in the cheek, in her abdomen, and right eye. The fifth bullet hit Katie in the thigh.

There were Police Officers in the area and came to the scene. They would arrest Louis and because Mary was still holding onto life they moved her to a room. Unfortunately, when they got to the room she passed.

Louis would state that he was ready to hang for the murder. When Mr. McLaughlin and Henry Guetig came to the jail though Louis feared for his safety.  

On November 18, 1878, the murder trial began. He would be convicted and sentenced to hang on January 29, 1878, but he was able to appeal it. He has then tried again and the same fate was set, except now he was set to hang on September 19th a year exactly from when he killed Mary. 

It was said that Louis was accepting of his fate. This did not mean he wasn't uneasy about his fate though. He had a manuscript to read for his last words. He would say he had no complaints of his deserving fate and asked that his friends and foes to forgive him. At noon he would be hanged and he would be pronounced dead after 16 minutes.  

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri page 54

Executed Today

The Indianapolis News September 20, 1878

The Republic September 20, 1878

The Indiana Sentenial September 25, 1878

The South Bend Tribune September 21, 1878

The Republic November 19, 1878

The Indianapolis News December 31, 1878

The Indiana State Sentenial September 24, 1879

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:

Wikipedia

Murderpedia

The Ministry of History

British Executions

Herts Memories 

The Unsolved Murder of Oda Apple

Around 9 pm on the night of  August 8, 1953, 45-year-old Oda Apple and his 3-year-old son left their home in Cincinnati, Ohio were walking to an errand at the drug store. On the return, Oda and his son were walking hand in hand and were only a few doors down from their home when Oda was shot in the back of the head.

His son would watch Oda stumble and fall on the sidewalk. His son would run home screaming that the firecrackers got his dad. Oda's wife would find her husband lying in the grass dead. It was said that it was a relatively calm night and no one seemed to be outside to witness the death. There was one neighbor who heard the gunshot and thought it was a car backfiring. They believed that they heard footsteps fleeing that was not of a child. His son also claimed that he saw no one.

There was no evidence that Oda had any enemies and they couldn't find anyone with a sufficient motive. One article stated that Oda may have felt that something dreadful was going to happen soon, but was not specific on why he felt that way. Police at the time also believed that it's possible that Oda may have been killed accidentally by a stray bullet and his death may not have been intended by the killer.

SOURCES:
Ohio Attorney General
The Cincinnati Enquirer August 10, 1953
The Cincinnati Enquirer May 21, 1956