Thomas Fordred hanged for her murder
Thomas Fordred was born in 1825 in Margate Kent to John Fordred, a Shepherd and Ann Nee Sutton.
He joined the military in the 16th Company, 12th Battalion Royal Artillery. He fought in the Crimean War from 1854 to 1855 and was awarded a medal for his efforts.
When he left, he became an agricultural labourer and he met Mary Ann Paramour through his sister Sarah, who had married into that family.
She was a young widow who had married a Mariner, James Robason Jenkins, in 1853. He died in 1856, age 29, of consumption, a few months before she gave birth to their Daughter Jane Susannah.
In mid-1858, Thomas, age 33, and Mary, age 23, married in Thanet Kent.
His father died at age 72 in February 1859, and in August 1959, Mary gave birth to a daughter named Fanny Elizabeth. Then, on 1st January 1861, Mary gave birth to a son they named Henry Charles Thomas.
By 1861, they had settled in the Garlinge village, a Margate suburb. Thomas worked as an agricultural Labourer on the Garlinge farm, which the London hospitals owned.
Tragedy struck on 16th September 1863 when Mary died, aged 29. She had been diagnosed with Cancer of the uterus ten weeks prior and eventually suffered from Asthenia (exhaustion). She was buried on 19th September at St. John The Baptist, Margate, Kent.
Jane Susannah was sent to an orphanage. Fanny Elizabeth was taken in by his sister Sarah, and his son Henry eventually went to live with his cousin George Steed, which is explained later in the blog. George was the son of Richard Steed, who had been murdered by Alfred Eldridge in 1863 (Blog 35)
Thomas continued as a labourer but lived as a vagabond, falling on the wrong path.
On 31st January 1867, he was charged with stealing a rabbit and sentenced to 3 months in Prison. On 26th September 1868, he was again charged with stealing and sentenced to 6 months in Wandsworth Prison.
In 1876, he worked as a labourer for Mr Potter, a farmer who owned Salmestone Farm in Margate. Three years earlier, he had met Mary Ann Bridger, and they had started an intimate relationship.
Mary Ann was born in 1843 in Thanet, Kent. She was the third of six children to John Bridger, an Ostler, and Ann Nee Knowles.
At age 27, she lived at home with her parents at Milton Road in Margate, working as a Charwoman but spending much of her time in the Company of Thomas.
On the evening of 8th January, she left her father’s house around five o’clock. She met Thomas shortly afterwards and was seen at different public houses. At about eight o’clock, they left together. Both being drunk on liquor at the time, they went in the direction of Salmestone Farm.
As they were going along the road, they appeared to be quarrelling. Thomas was heard calling Mary all sorts of names and said if he found she had been intimate with any other man, he would beat her brains out and the man, too.
At about 10 o’clock, a witness said she heard a noise of struggling and swearing on the road.
Around the same time, Thomas was spotted carrying a bundle of clothes, almost torn to rags, to the washhouse of a farm labourer. He threw them in and walked away.
George Emptage, a Waggoner employed on the farm, was in the stables and between ten and eleven o’clock, Thomas appeared and said, “Waggoner, will you come with me and help me to get Poll up?”. she is lying down on the beak dead drunk.” He went with Thomas and found Mary lying on the bank by the side of the road. Her mouth was open, and her eyes were partly open. He helped to place her on Thomas’s shoulder. He carried her to the barn and laid her down on the straw. George could not tell whether she was dead or alive. Thomas went away but returned in about five minutes and said he should go and tell the policeman. There was blood on his coat and jacket, and Thomas said that was caused by carrying the body.
Thomas Richard Fuller, a labourer, was at the Six Bells public house in Margate between ten and Eleven o’clock. Thomas appeared, and Fuller asked him where he was going; he said he would make a report. He then said, “My Poll has done it this time”. Fuller then asked him ''done what?'' Thomas replied, “She has been killing herself by falling about when drunk. I went to the Waggoner for help, and he gave me a chuck with the body. I carried it to the barn, and when I got there, I found that she was cold and dead. I kissed her lips and then left her, and I am going to give information to the police.”
PC Stockbridge, a Margate police constable was standing outside the police station (now part of Margate museum)
At about twenty minutes past eleven o’clock, Thomas approached him and said, “You know my old Poll” Stockbridge replied that he did. Thomas then said he had been working for Mr Potter at Salmestone Farm, and about five o’clock that afternoon, he had met Mary in Margate. They went to the Wellington public house, where they had a pint of beer and two-half-quarters of rum. After this, they went to the Liverpool Arms, where they had two more hail-quarters of rum. They then purchased some groceries and proceeded towards the farm; Thomas said he was half drunk and Mary three parts drunk. When they got to the railway arch, he stated Mary had fallen, and when he tried to pick her up, he fell on her. Thomas then said he tried a second time to get her up but could not do so, and he then tried to drag her along, and in doing so, he pulled her clothes off. Thomas said he did not like to leave her there as it was a freezing night. She would be frozen to Death before morning, and he went and obtained the assistance of neighbours and carried her to the bar, laid her down and covered her with straw. He then felt her face and found that she was cold, and he thought she was dead. He put his ear to her mouth and could not hear her breathing. He was sure that she was dead, and he told the waggoner that he should go and give information to the police. Thomas then said that he knew it was useless for him to go away; he should soon have been caught again, as he had blood on his clothes. Thomas said that there was blood on his clothes as he carried the body.
PC Stockbridge then told Thomas that he would be detained until he had informed his Superintendent of what had happened. Thomas replied, “All right, I shall not run away.”
Thomas also said during the conversation that he was very sorry that Mary should have come to such an end. He said he knew she was a bad one, but she had been such a good old girl. Thomas appeared perfectly sober when he went to the police station and made his statements.
Superintendent Compton stated that upon receiving the information from Stockbridge about what Thomas had said, he went to the Police station and saw Thomas. He repeated the same statement to Crompton, who had written down what was said, and Thomas signed it.
Superintendent Crompton then stated he went to the barn and found Mary lying dead on some straw, which appeared to have been formed into a bed for her. He lifted her head and found there were two large wounds on the back, and his fingers went into them when lifting the head. There were also marks of violence on the chest, and those injuries appeared to him to have been caused by the body having been stamped upon. Noticing these, he went back to the prisoner and his boots were found to have marks of blood upon the soles, and he was arrested for her murder.
He was taken before the Clique Port Magistrates in Margate on Monday, 10th January.
The Magistrates upon the Bench were Mr G. E. Hannam, Esq., (chairman), Mr H. B. Sheridan, Esq., M.P., K. W. Wilkie, Esq., Mr W. H. Thornton, Esq., Captain Swinford, and Captain Hatfield.
Thomas, who was said to have a very callous expression of countenance, was charged with the wilful murder of Mary Ann Bridger in the parish of St. Johns, Margate. He was not professionally represented.
Superintendent Compton of the Margate Borough police stated,
“On Saturday night, about twenty minutes past eleven, from what police-constable Stockbridge told me, I came to the station. I found the prisoner there. At one o’clock in the morning of Sunday, the prisoner made this statement to me voluntarily;
“I came into town at ten minutes past five. I met Mary Ann Bridger and gave her two half-crowns to pay Mr Payn. I took her to Mr. Austen’s in the New Inn yard, and we had a quart of beer. She went to Mr. Pamphlett’s pork butcher, bought three pounds of pork, and brought it to me at Mr Jezzard’s. There, I had two 1/2 quarters of rum and one glass. I went from there to Mr Jarrett’s, at the Liverpool Arms. Mary Ann Bridger, her father and her mother were there. We had, say, two 1/2 quarters of rum. I went to Mr. Payn’s and got my groceries for the week. From there, I went towards Salmestone Farm. When I came to the bridge, she fell. I pulled her up, and she fell again. I called the Waggoner to help me put her on my hack. I covered her with some straw. Mr Emptage is the Waggoner. I told him I should go to the police and give information that she was dead.”
Compton continued:
“I went to the barn shortly afterwards accompanied by Dr. Crawshaw. I found the body of Mary Ann Bridger, whom I know well; she was dead and covered with straw. When I took away the straw, she was naked, except for her stockings. Her age is 27 years. I went back to the police station at five o’clock in the morning and charged the prisoner with murdering Mary Ann Bridger. He said: “I am not guilty.” I took off his Gaberdine (produced), covered with blood. His jacket was also covered with blood. I took his boots off, and the doctor will give evidence to their state. I searched the prisoner and found on him a razor, knife, and 9d. in money”.
Thomas said the Superintendent’s statement was correct, and he had no questions to ask.
George Emptage, the Waggoner, gave evidence, as relayed above.
In reply to the Bench, Mr William Knight Treves, the Surgeon of Margate, said he had seen the body of the deceased and believed that Death resulted from violence but could not tell the exact cause without a post-mortem examination.
On the application of Superintendent Stokes, the Bench remanded Thomas till Saturday, 15th January.
Mr W. H. Payn, Esq., Coroner for Dover and its liberties, opened an inquest upon the body of Mary at three o’clock the same day at Salmestone Grange and then adjourned to it until Thursday 13th January to wait for the post mortem to be completed.
At the resumed inquest on Thursday:
Mr Treves stated that he had made a post-mortem examination and deposed as follows:
“At the request of the coroner and Jury, I again examined the body of the said Mary Ann Bridger and found numerous bruises on the face and bruises over the collar bone, below the left breast, and on the lower part of the abdomen. I also found bruises and scratches on the right hip and thigh, the scratches corresponding in their appearance to those on the upper part of the chest. I found the muscles under the bruise on the collar bone torn and pulpified. There were also bruises on the front of the legs and the back. On opening the skull, I found the blood vessels belonging to the membranes of the brain gorged with blood. The brain was otherwise healthy. I examined the windpipe and throat and found those parts uninjured. I opened the chest and found the lungs and heart healthy. On examining the abdominal cavity, I found the membrane covering the bowels, the peritoneum was bruised in two places, and blood poured out. In one of these places, this membrane was tom. The other organs were healthy. I think these combined injuries are sufficient to cause Death by shock, and I also consider that all the injuries (except some of the bruises on the face) are such as might be produced by kicking. The cold weather may have been an accelerating cause”.
The Forman said the doctor had not referenced any of the wounds on the head. In contrast, the previous information led them to infer that they were the principal wounds. Did the doctor suppose that Death arose from any of those wounds?
Dr Treves: “Death was occasioned chiefly from the injuries to the abdominal cavity, and the torn peritoneum, showed a great amount of violence, and that is an injury which very often proves rapidly fatal. That is the chief cause of death”.
The Foreman: “Are you of the opinion the wounds were sufficient to cause death quite independent of the exposure to the cold?”
Dr.Treres: “Yes, I think they would”.
A Juror: “Are the other injuries sufficient to cause death?”
Dr. Treves:” I think not, by themselves, but, of course, being accompanied by others, they would help”.
Another Juror.:” Is it morally certain that Death resulted from the injuries received?”
Dr Treves: “It is”.
The Juror.: “If the weather had been milder, might the outcome have been different?”
Dr. Treves.:'' It is not probable''
The Juror: “You think, then, it is morally certain the deceased would have succumbed under these Injuries?”
Dr. Treves.: ''I do''
In reply to another question, Dr Treves said the injuries to the head caused significant congestion, but the skull was not fractured.”
Another Juror: “If you were one of the Jury, should you vote that this man was guilty? Would that be your judgment of the matter?
D. Treves:” My opinion is that the injuries caused Death stated and that they were caused by kicking”.
Mary Sheaff. The wife of a labouring man named Henry Sheaff of Chapel Bottom swore that on Saturday night between eight and nine, she was walking back from Margate with her little girl to the area called Salmestone. She was within 100 yards of the spot where the incident occurred. Her daughter ran off, and when she got home, she told her husband but didn’t recognise the voice and wasn’t from the area. They just believed it to be a drunk man talking to himself.
That was all the evidence, so the coroner went over all the depositions and then informed the Jury that if they believed that the man had premeditated the act and had planned to kill the woman, then the verdict should be wilful murder. Still, if they thought a sudden quarrel resulted in a struggle between the two, then the verdict should be manslaughter.
The Foreman enquired whether the marks on the coat and shoes were blood.
Superintendent Compton replied that he was sure the marks on the Gaberdine were of blood but was unsure of the marks on the boots.
A Juror then spoke, “The bloody clothes seem to connect the accused with it more than anything. It strikes me, and I don’t know whether I’m correct to say now that the prisoner had done it while under the influence of drink.
The Foreman said it would be best for the Jury to consult in private, so everyone else left the room.
The deliberation lasted about a quarter of an hour. The Jury returned the following verdict: “That the deceased died from injuries inflicted upon her by Thomas Fordred, and that Thomas Fordred is guilty of the manslaughter of Mary Ann Bridger. and the warrant was signed by the Coroner.
At the Town Hall on Saturday, 15th January, the Magisterial enquiry continued.
Thomas Fordred was brought up again on the charge of murder.
The evidence given by Superintendent Compton on Monday, which contained a statement made by the accused providing information to the police on the Death of the woman, to the effect that she received the injuries which caused her Death by repeated falls on the stony roadway, had been read out again to the court.
George Emptage, the Waggoner employed on the farm at Salmestone Grange, gave his evidence again and stated he believed she was dead when taken to the barn.
Police constable Stockbridge also gave his evidence again.
Anne Emptage, the Waggoner’s wife, deposed that she heard someone open a door between ten and eleven on that Monday night while sitting in her room. Still, she thought it was her husband, so she did not go out. After three minutes, she lit a candle and went to see who it was. She found some clothes similar to those that Mary Bridger had worn. They were in her washhouse, and also a pudding and some pork and then later in the night, the prisoner and her husband returned together to the farm, with what she found was the body of Mary Bridger.
Thomas Richard Fuller also gave his evidence again and stated he had noticed that Fordred had some blood on his left ear.
Williams Cramp, a Coalman, gave evidence that he was in the Liverpool arms public house at about eight o’clock on the Saturday evening. Thomas and Mary were drinking there. Fordred had threatened her and said if he saw her with any other man, he would knock his brains out and her. He also said that while there, he heard Thomas Fordred call the woman his “Daisy” and “old dear” and used other endearing names.
Police constable Bradley said that when he saw the prisoner and the other woman immediately after they left the previous witnesses, they were both drunk. He walked with them for a distance towards Salmestone Grange.
William Brenchley Nash, a labourer, said that soon after the previous witness left, he saw Thomas take hold of the woman’s clothes and pull her off the path.
Mary Sheaff gave evidence, as she did at the inquest, and said he appeared to be in a great rage at the time.
Instructing constable Stewart from Kent County Constabulary deposed to receiving certain things from Anne Emptage, among them being a broken dish in which the pudding was in the previous day, wrapped in a handkerchief, which was now saturated with blood.
Mr. Treves, the surgeon, thoroughly described the injuries Mary had received. He pointed out that severe violence was needed, and a blunt instrument must have caused the injuries.
After all other witnesses had given evidence, the Bench retired for deliberation. They returned to court after an absence of about ten minutes.
Thomas Fordred was then formally charged.
He made a statement substantially the same as the one he made to the police, adding that his motive for taking her from the left side of the road to the other was that Thomas thought that if he placed her on high ground, he might get her in his hack and carry her to the barn.
He was then committed to trial at Maidstone under the charge of murder.
On Saturday, 11th March 1876, Lord Chief Justice John Duke Coleridge opened the commission of this Assize.
His Lordship arrived in Maidstone by train on the South Eastern Railway at 6.58 p.m. and was met at the station by the High Sheriff of Kent (Mr E. Lloyd, Esq.), the Under Sheriff (Mr F. Scudamore), and the Sheriff’s Chaplain (the Rev. F. A. Foster, Rector of Little Murden, Herts). At once, he proceeded to the Sessions House.
On Sunday morning, his Lordship attended divine service at All Saints Church. Also in attendance were the Recorder of Maidstone (Mr R. H. H. Marsham, Esq.), the Mayor, and the Borough Corporation
The Sheriff’s Chaplain preached the sermon from John viii. 12.
The Assize commenced at the Sessions House at half past ten on Monday morning. The Right Hon. Lord John Duke Coleridge. Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas presiding in the Crown Court.
The Grand Jury consisted of the following gentleman:
Mr J. Whatman (Foreman). Mr W. C. Moreland, Mr C. R. C. Petley, Mr C. Whitehead, Mr R. B. Berens, Mr F. M. Lewin, Mr W. Waring, Mr K. Leigh, Mr H. Sycklemore, Mr J. Stone-Wigg, Mr J. Kirkpatrick, Mr F. Luck, Mr G. Marsham. Mr H. B. Walker, Mr W. Walter. Mr W. T. Prentis, Mr K. W. Wilkie. Mr A. C. Ramsden, Mr C. F. Rysden, and Mr W. Balaton, Esqrs.
Thomas Fordred was in court on Tuesday, 14th March.
Everyone gave their evidence, as they had done at the magistrate’s enquiry and inquest.
Dr Trever, the surgeon who had examined the body of Mary and did a post-mortem, spoke about the injuries received and gave evidence that the Death of Mary Ann Bridger was caused by the rupture of one of the internal organs and that this rupture was caused by extreme violence, such as kicks to the abdomen. He expressed an opinion that these injuries could not have been caused by a fall or accidentally.
At the close of the case for the prosecution, Mr Deane, standing for the defence of Thomas Fordred, addressed the Jury and argued that the facts were consistent with the suggestion that Mary had received the injuries while falling in a state of helpless intoxication. He also submitted to them that, considering the condition of the parties at the time and the evidence given, they would be justified in finding the prisoner guilty of manslaughter only.
Lord Coleridge, having summarised, sent the Jury to retire and deliberate. After being absent for around half an hour, they returned to court and returned the verdict of guilty of murder.
Lord Coleridge then put on the black cap and, after making some remarks about the brutal character of the offence, passed a sentence of Death. Thomas, who exhibited no emotions, was removed from the court.
The case took the whole day and concluded around seven o’clock.
The execution was fixed for 4th April.
Thomas wrote to his sister with the hope that his aged mother would not grieve for him because he believed God would have mercy on his poor soul. He then says:
“This is a bad job, but it is to be. I am very sorry about my poor mate to think she left this world on such short notice, but I hope God took her poor soul as soon as it left the body. When I am down at night, I pray for my poor mate in the hope God will let us into heaven.”
He still denied that he kicked the deceased, as stated by the medical man, on the head or breast, but he believes he was the of Death but that he did not cause it wilfully. They were both intoxicated at the time.
After referring to their affection for each other and expressing his preference for the term of penal servitude, he added: “My Dear friends, will you do for me and look to my dear daughter? No Father, No Mother! Tell my brothers that is all I wish. If you will do that, then I shall die a happy man.
Look at me this last year, friends, no home, nowhere to go, but I believe I shall find my friend in heaven.”
Later, he went on: “I will die like a man for my poor mate. I am not guilty; I am the best judge, but never mind, I must pray to take my poor soul and not forget it. My poor mate, Friends, farewell, and the Lord be with you, Joe, my friend.”
There was a strong feeling in Margate that the murder was not premeditated, and memorials were in the course of signatures, praying that the Home Secretary commute the sentence of Death.
In due course, the memorial reached Mr Cross and, having consulted Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, declined to interfere with the sentence. Mr F. Scudamore Esq., the Under Sheriff of Kent, received the following communication on Monday, 3rd April:
''Frederick Scudamore, Esq. Undersheriff of Kent, Maidstone.”
“Whitehall, 2nd April, 1876
“Sir,—Concerning the case of Thomas Fordred, a convict in Maidstone Prison under sentence of Death for murder, I am directed by Mr Secretary Cross to express to you his regrets that, after communication with the learned Judge before whom the prisoner was tried and full consideration of all the statements submitted to him on the prisoner’s behalf, he has failed to discover any sufficient ground to justify him, consistently with his public duty, in advising her Majesty to interfere with the due of law in this case. I am, Sir, your obedient servant.”
The execution was carried out on the morning of Tuesday 4th April at nine o’clock within the walls of Maidstone gaol.
Since the prisoner’s condemnation, he has persistently denied that he wilfully murdered Mary. In several letters he wrote to his friends, he repeated this assertion. Still, he believed he had caused her Death by falling about with her whilst they were both intoxicated.
The Rev. A H. Harrison, the prison chaplain, had been untiring in his exertions to bring the culprit to a true sense of his awful position, and his labours had not been fruitless, judging from the religious tone of his letters,
Thomas was described as cheerful since his condemnation. he ate and slept exceedingly well. On Friday, 31st March, Thomas wrote another long letter, as follows —
“My dearest sister, sister, brother, and friends. I hope you and your beloved son got home quite safely. My dearest sister, believe me, I have felt quite happy since I saw you. I have always loved you, and I pray that my brother will be kind to you. Only think how fond God is of us all. I guess to hate one another is something dreadful. My dear brothers are coming here to see me in a few days. I am here to die in a few days. If you promise you will all be good to my dear beloved sister, I believe I shall die a happy man. Now, my brothers and sisters, we have done wrong to one another, so let us forget and forgive. I hope God will forgive us all.
Now, my dear Fanny (his daughter), I hope you will look to your aunt; be good and kind to her and she will be a good and kind mother to you. Look up to God, and you will do well. I hope God will ever bless you and all that I leave behind. This is the first thing to keep from drinking—the curse of the world. Oh, my dear friends, little did I think that my poor mate and I were to come to this sad end. You all know that my poor mate left the world on such short notice—no time to ask God to have mercy on her poor soul. Ah, my friends, it is something dreadful when we think of it.
Now, my friends. I believe I was the cause of poor souls’ Death by falling about, but not wilfully. God forbid it. It was the last of my thoughts. I am truly sorry for that unhappy soul, and I hope God has taken her to himself and she will be happy forever. Ah, my friends, I hope every man was as fond of his wife as I was that poor woman, and this would be a happy world. I hope to ‘make my peace with God and hope that He will take my soul to a better world. Now, my friends, my time is so short in this unhappy world. There is nothing here that a poor man wants to live for. Now. my dear friends, do not grieve for me, for I shall be better off. I hope you will not drive it off but at once prepare yourself for a better world. My dear sister, I hope God will forever bless you. Tell my mother I hope to meet her in heaven. Mother, grieve not for me. I shall be better off. You ought all to be happy to think that God loves me. Now. I hope that when anyone looks at the spot, it will be a warning for all to keep from drinking. It is the curse of the world. Now, my dear friends. I hope you will forgive me because it was not done wilfully, and pray for both our poor souls. May we hope that God will take us both into a better world. I am to die for one I was truly fond of. Oh! My poor mate.
My dear brothers. Be kind to my sister, and let me die happy. Brother Joe, may God always be with you. In the name of God, I hope you will pity us both, and may God forever bless all I leave behind.”
On more than one occasion, since his condemnation, speaking of the sad affair, he had stoutly denied murdering the woman. He said that although he did not particularly wish to die, perhaps it was better since it was an opportunity given to him to repent his sinful life and obtain God’s pardon, which might have been denied if he had taken off suddenly due to illness.
On Sunday, 2nd April, Thomas attended Divine service at the Prison Chapel, paying extra attention to the chaplain’s administration.
Since his trial, he had been visited by his sister, his daughter, and two brothers. The final interview took place on Saturday, 1st April. His daughter Fanny, described as a fine prepossessing girl of 17, attended and was ignorant of the fate awaiting her father until she arrived at the Prison. She was said to be significantly affected by the awful news.
On Monday night, he went to bed at nine o’clock and was soon sound asleep. Arousing at two, he remained awake for half an hour, then fell asleep again and comfortably slept until five o’clock.
He then got up and ate a hearty breakfast, joined by the chaplain at seven o’clock, who remained with him till the end.
Just before leaving the condemned cell, in answer to a solemn appeal from the chaplain, Thomas Fordred made the following statement:
“The poor woman, I believe, met her Death through my means, but I never had the slightest intention of killing her. I know that denial will be of no use to me now and that if I lie now, I shall destroy all hope of future happiness, but I solemnly declare with my last breath that I never once either kicked or struck her. I admit that I was cross with her because she did not come along. I lifted her roughly and fell with her several times; that is how she came to her Death. If I had wanted to kill her, I could have knocked her almost to pieces in the time we were together, and in the face of an immediate death, I say that what I have just stated is true.”
Upon arriving at the Prison on Tuesday morning, the representatives of the Press were escorted to the Inquiry Room, where Mr Marwood, the executioner, was waiting.
Marwood was busily preparing his pinioning straps, casting significant glances at the clock now and again as though anxiously awaiting when he would be called upon to perform such horrible duties.
At precisely nine o’clock, the Under Sheriff, Mr Scudamore, arrived. Marwood was summoned to the condemned cell, where Thomas was pinioned quickly. The procession was formed in the following order: the under Sheriff and the Governor; the chaplain; Fordred; Marwood; Drs. Joy and Hoare, the rear, were brought up by prison officials.
As the train neared the room where the reporters were waiting, the gaol bell tolled its deadly sound. The measured tread, together with the earnest praying of the chaplain, was said to have given the proceedings a most solemn aspect.
Reaching the inquiry room, the Press representatives and more officials joined the procession, which wound through the pouring rain, passing other cells and a passage until it reached the shed, where the scaffold was erected.
Thomas was said to have walked very firmly, taking long strides. Although he exhibited no bravado, he fixed his eyes on the ground. At Marwood’s motion, he stepped under the rope suspended for his neck. His face bore the most agonising appearance as he raised his eyes to the small group before him. The cap was speedily drawn over his face. At four minutes past, the executioner adjusted the rope, and almost immediately afterwards, Marwood drew the bolt. Thomas fell a distance of five feet and four inches with a terrific thud into the pit below, his feet being scarcely a quarter of an inch from the ground. For the first four seconds after falling, there was no movement. Still, at intervals after this, slight movements were detected, and three minutes after the drawing of the bolt, his life had entirely left his body.
The black flag was then hoisted over the Prison, and proclamations were posted on the gate to denote that Thomas Fordred, for the murder of Mary Ann Bridger, had suffered the penalty of the law.
Soon after the execution, the grave was dug within two or three feet of the spot where he was put to Death.
The inquest of the body of the deceased took place in the gaol at noon before Mr J. N. Ludlow Esq., the County Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr Mason was chosen Foreman.
The Jury proceeded to view the body, which was lying in a plain coffin in an adjoining cell, partly filled with sawdust and shavings. The face was somewhat swollen, but otherwise, it was not altered in appearance to such an extent as might be expected and the eyes, entirely closed, appeared slightly projecting. At a glance, it would not have been supposed that he had met his Death by hanging. Still, a closer examination showed the indentation around the neck where the rope had tightened. A severe bruise and an abrasion of the skin were visible under the left jaw.
Upon the jurors returning to the enquiry, the following formal evidence was taken :
Mr H. K. Wilson, Governor of the Gaol, said the deceased was a labourer, 48 years of age. (he was 51, according to records) He was tried at the last assizes for the murder of Mary Ann Bridger and sentenced to be hanged. The sentence was carried out this morning by an order of the High Sheriff; in his presence, after being suspended for one hour, the deceased was taken down dead.
Mr W. H. Joy, a Prison Surgeon, said he witnessed the execution and examined the deceased after he was taken down. He was then quite dead.
The Jury returned a verdict that Thomas Fordred met his Death by being hanged by the neck, Per the law.
The papers reported that Thomas was present at the siege of Sebastopol in his early life while serving in the Artillery. At that place, after orders had been given to cease firing. Thomas, in a fit of bravado and contrary to orders, fired a gun into the beleaguered citadel, which had the effect of blowing up a large powder magazine. For this act, he was taken before the commanding officer. Still, a lenient view was taken of the affair, and he was shortly afterwards promoted to the rank of bombardier.
Unfortunately, being greatly addicted to drink, he very soon misconducted himself and was reduced back to his former position.
Returning from the Crimea, he fell into dissolute habits and eventually deserted his regiment. Subsequently, he was apprehended, branded with the letter “D,” and drummed out of his regiment.
He went to reside near Margate with his new wife and again gave way to intemperance. It was also reported in the papers that he treated his wife with the most incredible cruelty. On one occasion, he was said to have tied a rope around his wife’s legs and hung her down a well, head first. Through being placed in such a dangerous position, the woman received a shock to her system from which she never recovered.
After his wife’s Death, Thomas led a most immoral life, roaming about the country and very frequently boasting that he had been in nearly every gaol in the kingdom.
During one of his drinking bouts, he sold his son, who was then about four or five years old, for a half-gallon of beer to a woodman (his cousin George Steed). George agreed to the bargain, took the lad to his own home, and treated him with great kindness, raising him as his son.
Fordred’s relatives were known as people of respectability at Margate. Still, during the last few years before his Death, Thomas seems to have led an almost vagrant life, sleeping in barns, outhouses, and other places where he could conceal himself. It appears that he had been sleeping in the barn where, with the assistance of the Waggoner, he conveyed the body of Mary Ann Bridger. He co-habited with her at different times for about three years and resolved to sleep in a barn near Salmestone, and it was whilst on the road to that place that the poor woman met her Death.
LIFE AFTER
Henry Charles Thomas was adopted by George Steed and remained with this family in Sturry. Sadly, his life did not end well and he fell into a life of crime..
On 16th October 1882, at age 21, he was convicted of Larceny and spent 9 months in Maidstone prison with hard labour.
On 5th April 1886, while working as a Hawker, he was convicted of Larceny as a Bailee and sentenced to four calendar months in Prison.
On 3rd May 1891, at age 30, he was charged with damaging a boat in Folkstone harbour with a scaffold pole. He was fined 5s 10d and ordered to pay 5s for the damage or 14 days of hard labour.
At some point, he began his own business, working as a cabbie with horse and carriage and had a stable.
On 23rd April 1893, at age 32, he married Emily Sophia Hammond, the Daughter of Julia Steed, George Steed’s sister, and they moved to Dover Kent
They had four children, Isabella, in 1895 in Dover.
They then moved to Folkstone Kent and Emily gave birth to Rueben in 1896 and Eva in 1897.
They then moved to Elham, and Ophelia was born in 1904
On 6th April 1908, at age 47, he was committed to St Augustines Mental Hospital in Chartham Kent and died on 6th October 1908. His cause of Death was General paralysis of the insane.
It is known to be caused by late-stage syphilis, chronic meningoencephalitis and cerebral atrophy that are associated with this late stage of the disease when left untreated.
He was interred at Cheriton Road Cemetery Folkstone.
Fanny Elizabeth was eventually taken in by Thomas’s sister Sarah, who was married to James Paramour, a relative of her mother, Mary Ann.
From what I can find, she never married and may have dropped her name, Fanny, going by Elizabeth and hiding her birthplace, possibly to try and hide her family’s past. I have found an Elizabeth Fordred, working as a servant in 1901 at Wickhambreux, Kent and a death certificate for a spinster, Elizabeth Fordred, who died in 1934, Ramsgate Kent, but this is not a certainty.
Jane Susannah Jenkins, Daughter of his late wife, was sent to the orphanage house and in 1871, she was in Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol Gloucestershire
Like Fanny, she may have dropped or changed her birth name and birthplace, so I have been unable to confidently trace details on her whereabouts after the 1871 census at the orphanage.
SOURCES
Bring your backstory to lifeTM (no date) Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & History Records. Available at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk/
Archive, T.B.N. (no date) History’s colourful stories in black and white, Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
General Register Office (no date) General Register Office - Online Ordering Service - Login. Available at: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Kentish Gazette (1876) ‘Suspected brutal murder in Margate’ 11th January pg 5
Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury (1876) ‘Suspected brutal murder in Margate’ 15th January pg3
East Kent Times and Mail (1876) ‘The Margate Tragedy’ 20th January pg 4
East Kent Gazette (1876) ‘The murder at Margate’ 18th March pg 4
Margate Kent Times (1876) ‘Spring Assizes’ 18th March pg 5
Dover Express -(1876) 'The Condemned murderer at Maidstone' 24th March pg4
Kent Times (1876) ‘THE EXECUTION OF FORDRED’ 8th April pg 5
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