Edward Hill 1871-1911
The Illustrated Police News 5th August 1911
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If ever there was a top ten for scum-bags, Edward Hill would be amongst them, born at Portsmouth in the County of Hampshire in the year of 1871, the first-born to James and his wife of two years Sarah Holloway. James and Sarah had thirteen children in all, only seven of which survived to adulthood. A year after Edward was born, his father James who was employed by the Railway had moved the family to Southwark in the County of Surrey, (which is now in London,) where is post as a railway porter was to be.
Edward had a string of Convictions starting in 1891, his mother supported him throughout his life of drunkenness and fighting, stealing from family and friends, mugging people on the streets to arson. Sarah would still be there to the bitter end, and see her son hung for the murder of his wife. Hill's first conviction took place on the 7th of August 1891 at Southwark Police Court, he received 6 Months for stealing clothes. Next was on the 12th April 1892, at the South London Sessions, |
he got 12 months inside Wandsworth Prison, for stealing a pair of boots and other articles, value £3, the goods of Ernest Hill, (his brother,) he was found Guilty of Larceny after a previous conviction of a felony.
On the 16th May 1893, he was again at the South London Sessions, this time 5 months back inside Wandsworth Prison, for stealing a watch, the goods of his father's James Hill, he pleaded Guilty of Larceny after previous conviction of felony.
So far all his crimes had taken place on the South side of the River Thames, but for his next crime, Hill went across the water, on the 5th February 1894, at the North London Sessions, he got 14 Months at Wormwood Scrubs and 1 Year Police Supervision for stealing a purse and the sum of £1 0s. 10d., and 1 key the goods and moneys of Albert De Vere, from the person of Ella De Vere. Receiving said property, well knowing the same to be stolen, he pleaded Guilty of Larceny from the Person and Receiving after previous conviction of felony.
Back on the South-side, the 11th November 1896, at the South London Sessions, he received 4 Months and 9 Months consecutive for stealing a watch and wounding.
3rd October 1898, at Southwark Police Court, 3 Months for loitering.
13th September 1899, the South London Sessions, 12 Months Hard-labour back at Wandsworth Prison, for Wilfully damaging 3 plate glass windows, value £40, the property of Sidney Andrews and assaulting Charles Welby, a Metropolitan Police Constable in the execution of his duty, he pleaded Guilty of Malicious Damage to amount exceeding £5.
13th February 1901, South London Sessions 3 Years Penal Servitude inside H.M. Prison Chelmsford in the County of Essex, for stealing money.
In the early hours of Thursday the 4th June 1903, Hill had slung a lamp under his bed setting it on fire, at 11 Tower Street, Southwark the house where he and his mother and sisters lodged, he told a sister, he had watch the house burn from the end of the street, he told the police that a couple of the residents, had treated him badly at a funeral the day before, and he wanted to pay them back. Tried at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) on the 22nd June 1903 he pleaded Guilty to feloniously setting fire to the dwelling house of Mary Ann Wallis, she and eighteen other persons being therein. Justice Darling, sentenced Hill to 10 Years Penal Servitude at H.M. Prison Dartmoor in the County of Devon.
He also had over the years eleven other convictions for drunkenness, assault on police, and failing to report.
Hill was released between April and July 1911, and went straight back to his mother's, at 33 Elliotts Row, near the Elephant and Castle in Southwark.
On the 16th of July 1911, Edward married a hard-drinking widow named Mary Jane Harris aged 45, the daughter of Matthew Williams a Blacksmith, at St. Jude Church in Southwark. On the 20th of July they took a room for 4s. a week, at 22 Caledonia Street, in Islington North London.,
During an argument over money, the morning of the 25th of July, 9 days after the wedding, in their room at 22 Caledonia Street, Edward had strangle his new bride with some white linen tied tightly round her neck, he then started a fire by putting a lamp under the bed. When arrested later the same day, he became violent putting the blame on his brother, declaring his innocence.
Tried at the Old Bailey before Mr. Justice Avory on the 11th and 12th of September, Hill was found Guilty of wilful-murder and sentenced to death.
Hill was executed along side of Francisco Godhino, on the 17th October 1911, at Pentonville Prison, in North London, by John Ellis and assisted by William Conduit.
On the 16th May 1893, he was again at the South London Sessions, this time 5 months back inside Wandsworth Prison, for stealing a watch, the goods of his father's James Hill, he pleaded Guilty of Larceny after previous conviction of felony.
So far all his crimes had taken place on the South side of the River Thames, but for his next crime, Hill went across the water, on the 5th February 1894, at the North London Sessions, he got 14 Months at Wormwood Scrubs and 1 Year Police Supervision for stealing a purse and the sum of £1 0s. 10d., and 1 key the goods and moneys of Albert De Vere, from the person of Ella De Vere. Receiving said property, well knowing the same to be stolen, he pleaded Guilty of Larceny from the Person and Receiving after previous conviction of felony.
Back on the South-side, the 11th November 1896, at the South London Sessions, he received 4 Months and 9 Months consecutive for stealing a watch and wounding.
3rd October 1898, at Southwark Police Court, 3 Months for loitering.
13th September 1899, the South London Sessions, 12 Months Hard-labour back at Wandsworth Prison, for Wilfully damaging 3 plate glass windows, value £40, the property of Sidney Andrews and assaulting Charles Welby, a Metropolitan Police Constable in the execution of his duty, he pleaded Guilty of Malicious Damage to amount exceeding £5.
13th February 1901, South London Sessions 3 Years Penal Servitude inside H.M. Prison Chelmsford in the County of Essex, for stealing money.
In the early hours of Thursday the 4th June 1903, Hill had slung a lamp under his bed setting it on fire, at 11 Tower Street, Southwark the house where he and his mother and sisters lodged, he told a sister, he had watch the house burn from the end of the street, he told the police that a couple of the residents, had treated him badly at a funeral the day before, and he wanted to pay them back. Tried at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) on the 22nd June 1903 he pleaded Guilty to feloniously setting fire to the dwelling house of Mary Ann Wallis, she and eighteen other persons being therein. Justice Darling, sentenced Hill to 10 Years Penal Servitude at H.M. Prison Dartmoor in the County of Devon.
He also had over the years eleven other convictions for drunkenness, assault on police, and failing to report.
Hill was released between April and July 1911, and went straight back to his mother's, at 33 Elliotts Row, near the Elephant and Castle in Southwark.
On the 16th of July 1911, Edward married a hard-drinking widow named Mary Jane Harris aged 45, the daughter of Matthew Williams a Blacksmith, at St. Jude Church in Southwark. On the 20th of July they took a room for 4s. a week, at 22 Caledonia Street, in Islington North London.,
During an argument over money, the morning of the 25th of July, 9 days after the wedding, in their room at 22 Caledonia Street, Edward had strangle his new bride with some white linen tied tightly round her neck, he then started a fire by putting a lamp under the bed. When arrested later the same day, he became violent putting the blame on his brother, declaring his innocence.
Tried at the Old Bailey before Mr. Justice Avory on the 11th and 12th of September, Hill was found Guilty of wilful-murder and sentenced to death.
Hill was executed along side of Francisco Godhino, on the 17th October 1911, at Pentonville Prison, in North London, by John Ellis and assisted by William Conduit.