Blog 46 1892 Frant Sussex - Death of a hop picker

A turbulent relationship takes a turn for the worse when hop picking

This case begins with Lucy Ann, the daughter of William Edward Lankstead, a bricklayer's labourer from Brighton, Sussex (their name evolved into Langstead over time in some records), and Mary, née Bailey, a laundress from Hanging Heaton, Yorkshire. Her father was Edward Bailey, a journeyman weaver in the shoddy industry who had gone bankrupt in 1848.

Their first child, Henry William, was born in 1857, followed by Edward George in 1859 and their daughter, Mary Jane, in 1861. They did not marry until 1862, but were considered husband and wife before formal marriage. Afterwards, they had five more daughters: Lucy Ann was born in 1864 and Eliza in 1866. Emily was born in June 1868, but at the same time, they buried daughter Eliza tragically died at the age of two. Daughter Louisa was born in 1871, and finally, Alice arrived in 1876.

In 1871, their eldest son, Henry, at age 14, became an inmate at the Philanthropic Society Farm School in Surrey. On September 17th, 1874, at age 17, he joined the Royal Navy, first serving on the HMS St Vincent (Gosport shore establishment, a junior training establishment). Then HMS Excellent (the shore establishment sited on Whale Island near Portsmouth, Hampshire) and eventually ended up on the Duke of Wellington on April 7th, 1876.

Eventually, Lucy Ann's father took up shoemaking as a trade; however, by 1881, he was living in the Elm Grove Workhouse on Race Hill. At that time, Lucy Ann, now 17, was residing in the Female Penitents Home in Brighton, working as a laundrymaid. Her mother and younger sisters are absent from census records, creating uncertainty about their whereabouts during this period. Still, they were no doubt living in another workhouse somewhere.

By 1884, at age 20, Lucy was living with a man called Frederick French.

Lucy Ann's mother died in 1887 at age 52, and her father died in 1890 at age 68.

As you can see, Lucy Ann came from a low-income family that did not adhere to the conventional religious standards of marriage at that time and lacked stability in her life. With a turbulent upbringing, it is not surprising that she began cohabiting with Frederick French. One can only wonder if she sought stability and love, and whether she found it with Frederick French.

Frederick French was the son of Charles French, a gardener from Barcombe, Sussex, and Charlotte, née Meeds, the daughter of a labourer from Falmer, Sussex. Frederick's parents married in 1860, and their first child, George, was born in 1861, followed by Frederick in 1863. Their family expanded with the births of Esther in 1864, Naomi in 1866, Luther in 1868, Eliza in 1870, and Louisa in 1875.

In 1871, at age 8, Frederick was living with his paternal grandmother Naomi and uncle George, who died the following year at age 39.

By 1881, he was lodging at 12 West Hill Street with a butcher named James Read and his family while working as a butcher's assistant.

By 1884, Frederick and Lucy Ann were living together, Lucy was pregnant, and they had arranged to marry, but on the wedding day, she went into labour, so the marriage was postponed. Sadly, she lost the baby, and Lucy did not become pregnant again and they never married.

It is reported that Frederick contracted typhoid fever in 1890, losing his butchers' position. He subsequently changed his occupation to that of a cabman and groom.

In September 1892, Frederick's parents, brother George, and George's wife were hop picking at little Shoesmith Farm in Bells Yew Green, Frant.

Frederick and Lucy went with them, but their lives took a tragic turn on Sunday September 18th, 1892.

On Tuesday, September 20th, an inquest was held at Frant, Sussex, overseen by Mr G. E. Hillman, Esq., the Coroner for East Sussex, regarding the body of a 28-year-old woman, that was Lucy Ann.

She was killed in a hopper hut at little Shoesmith's Farm, where she had been living with Frederick, who was subsequently arrested for her murder.

Mr E. Dunkley was chosen as the jury's foreman, and Supt. Diplock, of Uckfield, Sussex, watched the case on behalf of the police.

Charles French was the first witness:

He stated he lived at 29 Baxter Street in Brighton and was a gardener by occupation, but he had been working as a labourer for the last four years. He was the father of Frederick French, who was now in custody for killing Lucy Ann Lankstead.

"My son Frederick will be 30 years of age on January 7th and was a licensed cab driver in Brighton. I looked round the corner at the body of the deceased on Sunday evening, but could not bear the sight. I identified the remains as those of Lucy Lankstead, and she had been living with my son for eight years. They were going to get married, but she was laid up on that morning, and therefore the ceremony did not take place. They were renting 186, Elm Grove, Brighton. I always understood that she was 30, but I heard she was only 28 this morning. Her younger sister lived with them at Elm-grove, but another sister had lived with them at Spring-gardens, but I do not know the number.

Three weeks ago, Lucy and Frederick came here with me and another son, George and his wife, who had walked from Brighton and joined us at Eridge Station. We all came to Frant for the Hopping and went to Messrs. Arnold's, Little Shoesmith Farm, Bartley Mill. Frederick and Lucy Ann lodged on the farm in one of the outbuildings. A man named Collins and his wife lodged in the next dwelling.''

During the past few years, his son and Lucy had lived on pretty fair terms, except that she was aggravating, and he supposed that this was why it occurred.

Lucy was not given to drink at all. Still, his son, however, had an attack of delirium tremens two months ago, at Brighton. He had not been a drinking man during the harvest or while he was up here.

While he was suffering, Dr Mondlett of Gladatene Terrace, Brighton, attended him, followed by Dr Cray of the same place.

"On Sunday, Frederick and I walked into Tunbridge Wells with my other son, George, to meet some friends. We returned to the farm to have dinner with the two friends we met at about half past two. We were all quite sober at this time. Lucy had already had her dinner when we got back and was lying on the grass outside their lodging, where we left her and Frederick lying when others and I went for a walk in the afternoon. I asked my son and Lucy Ann to go, but Lucy Ann said, "I don't want you to go." I left them there and do not know what occurred afterwards. When we left Frederick and Lucy Ann, they appeared on apparently friendly terms, and I heard no quarrel on Sunday."

In reply to a question by a juror: "Frederick wanted to go with them, but Lucy Ann did not want him to go and did not want to go herself."

Examination continued:

"During their Hopping, Lucy aggravated Frederick and had a few words. Still, as the "set" could attest, they did not exactly quarrel.

I went with my friends for a walk, and shortly after five, my son George's wife came running to meet him near the brickyard at Shoesmith's farm, and made some statement to me. I went immediately to the buildings and saw my son George and some women with children, while my son Frederick was sitting on a fence above. I saw Lucy Ann lying dead against a wall close to the fireplace. Her face was towards the door, but he could hardly bear the sight and left at once. I went up the meadow and saw my son Frederick, who was sitting on a gate, accompanied by a man named Sullivan, Frederick spoke to me first, but he was confused, said, "Well, father, can Lucy speak to me?" and I replied, "No, my boy, she will never speak to you any more in this world." He then dropped his head to his chin and did not speak further as I walked away."

In response to a question by a juror:

"When Frederick was taken away on Sunday night by the police, I merely bade him good night."

"When Frederick returned to the farm on Sunday, he took Lucy Ann, I believe, half a pint of stout from the Brecknock Arms."

"Lucy Ann never had any children by my son, but she had a child by someone else, but I do not know whether it was a boy or a girl, and it did not live".

Replying to a question by Mr Arnold:

"Frederick had a bill-hook for harvesting, and we were not advised that it was dangerous to trust him with such a weapon".

Replying to questioning from the Coroner:

"A medical man had never cautioned him. Some fifteen months ago, Frederick had an illness and was never the same chap afterwards. He then took to drink and had delirium tremens. He left the farm at a quarter to ten on Sunday morning, and before we got back, we had three pots of porter between five of us. That would only be a little over a pint each, and Lucy Ann had very little of that.

The Coroner: "I don't ask these questions with any suggestions against yourself, but it is important to the prisoner. Was he perfectly sober?"

Charles French: ''He was perfectly sober''

He continued:

"We had a pot of ale in Tunbridge Wells with the people we went to meet from Brighton.

My son and I had to watch and sit up with Frederick when he had delirium tremens. He did not threaten to commit suicide or make any threats, but wandered about.

The doctor told us to watch and not leave him, but we did not know why. Lucy nursed him very well.

Dr Moudlett said that unless he got better, he would have to be sent to an asylum.

I did not hear any medical man say he would not be trusted with sharp tools, but my son George took the razors away.

While we were harvesting, Frederick had a peculiar manner. He thought that people were laying a trap for him, which was a delusion.

He never threatened anyone, including Lucy Ann."

Next was Hannah Selina Collins' deposition:

She lived in Messrs. Arnold's cookhouse all year round with her husband, George Collins. She did not know the deceased except for the past three weeks, when she had been living next door to her, with the man now in custody.

She explained, "During the three weeks, Lucy was continually nagging at Frederick as soon as we were awake. Lucy generally began the quarrelling, abused Frederick, and irritated him. I had heard Frederick three or four days, perhaps a week before last Sunday, say that he would give her a sound thrashing if she did not hold her tongue.

When Frederick, his father, and friends came home, Lucy said that Frederick was always going out and she was left at home. At a quarter past five, I was in my hut and heard quarrelling, Lucy being outside the hut, and Frederick was inside. He asked her to put on her clothes to go nutting with him. She said that she should not and would not go with him any more, at the same time using an offensive word. Lucy then got up, and I heard a little scuffle in the hut as if he gave her a clout on the head. I then listened to the noise of a blow against the wall and a little scream. The noise was not against the wall impacting my place, but was the same as a bang against the hut's opposite wall, a dull thud. I heard someone, whom I recognised as Lucy, call "Oh!" twice and then listened to a little cry. They quarrelled so often that I did not take much notice, but everyone was at their doors.

After the cry, I went out and saw Frederick shutting the door of their hut. He told people outside the huts, "See what she's brought me to, and see what I shall come to."

The people took it that Frederick had killed the woman, and when they opened the door, they saw that she was dead. He wanted to close the hut door, but the people took him away.

I was close to Frederick, but did not see any blood on him. He was stressed and had his hat on. He looked rather wild. He was not violent but quiet as a lamb."

Supt. Diplock: "The prisoner was not the worse for drink, but was perfectly sober. ''

In reply to a question by a juror:

''Lucy spoke to Frederick from outside the hut, and Frederick went inside, followed by Lucy. The quarrelling then commenced.'' She was under the impression that there was no one else in the hut except Frederick and Lucy.

Henry Sullivan of St Luke's, London, was next to take the stand:

He was present at the Hopping. He did not know the deceased but had spoken to her at the hop gardens on Sunday morning. He did not know the prisoner but had seen him in the Hop Garden more than once.

"At five o'clock on Sunday evening last, I was in the Hoppers' house, where I slept, and I heard cries of 'murder' two or three times. The voice was that of a woman, so I rushed to the area.

The cries did not come from inside the hut but from a woman named Yardley who was outside. She told me there was something not right inside the hut occupied by the deceased and the prisoner.

I found the door to the hut closest to the cook's house, where the cries were coming from, barricaded, and as I couldn't get in, I threatened to break the door down. I waited at the place for five minutes.

The prisoner opened the door to the hut, and I stepped inside. I grabbed the prisoners by the arms and asked, "What have you been doing?" He replied ", She aggravated me" I had seen the deceased and was sure she was dead. She was lying on some straw. I handed the prisoner to some other men. I asked the prisoner what he did it with and he replied, "a metal bar." I asked him where it was, and he replied, "I won't tell you"

I examined the woman afterwards. She was lying on her left side with her head against the wall. She had a wound on the side of her head, a lot of blood on the floor, and stains on the wall. When I took hold of her, I turned her on her side; she did not say anything, but was breathing very heavily, and then she drew her last breath and died. She was fully clothed, but no hat, bonnet or shawl. I saw no signs of a struggle; no furniture was in the room. I believe the deceased had been knocked down, as she was not lying in a naturally easy way with her head against the wall.

When the constable arrived, he searched the room, and an iron bar covered with dirt was found. It was hidden behind the door and marked with blood and traces of hair.

The bar would generally be laid across two bricks to keep a kettle on.

I had no further conversation with the prisoner. When I took hold of him, he did not resist and did not attempt to escape."

The Coroner asked the jury whether they would prefer to inspect the location, but they all stated they knew the place quite well.

Samuel Brownlow then deposed :

He was a resident of Wardsworth but was hop-picking for Messrs. Arnold, of Shoesmith Farm. He only knew the deceased and the prisoner as working on the farm.

"Shortly after five on Sunday evening, I was standing in a meadow about 25 yards away from where the deceased and the prisoner lodged. The prisoner's brother's wife screamed out, "Help! Come at once." I rushed up to the hut and, to my horror, saw the woman lying on her left side, as the door was open when I got there.

The woman who gave the alarm was in the field when she screamed. I saw the prisoner standing at the door of the hut, and he was sure that there was not another soul in there except the woman with the blood running from her head. I rushed into the hut, took hold of her wrist, and she gave two deep sighs and expired. She was so covered with blood all over her face that her features could not be recognised. I turned round and asked the prisoner if he had stabbed her, and he replied, "No."

He had a cloth with which he wanted to wipe her face, and he came towards her. On looking up, I saw Sullivan beside him, and he took the cloth from French.

The door was not, as far as he knew, ¢looed after he got inside.

I did not notice Sullivan in the hut when I got in. Being flurried, I did not look about, and Sullivan might have been there on my arrival, as it was a rather dark place. Sullivan turned to me and told him to take charge of French, and I took hold of him and asked him to walk across the meadow with me. He wanted to return to see the deceased, but I told him I could not allow him to do so. I took him across the meadow and asked him to sit quietly beside me, which he did and did not resist. I refused to allow him to go away and kept him till the police constable came and took charge of him.

Replying to a question from a juror:

"The prisoner kept asking me if the woman was dead, and I replied that I was sorry to say she was.''

''I do not remember him saying anything to Sullivan. The prisoner said that he wanted to wipe the blood off her face, but I said that I would not allow it, and I asked Sullivan to take the cloth for him, which he did".

In reply to the jury, Sullivan said he did not take the cloth away.

PC George Lewis, East Sussex Constabulary, was temporarily stationed at Bells Yew Green, Frant, for the Hopping.

"On Sunday night, a few minutes before six in the evening, I received information that a man had kicked his wife about at Shoesmith Farm. I proceeded straight to the hut occupied by the prisoner and the deceased. I saw the woman lying partly on her left side, with her head against the wall, and her head and face smeared with blood. I felt her pulse, which had ceased to beat. I saw blood on the wall, and also on the straw and the floor. There was some appearance of a struggle.

I was shown the prisoner by the witness Sullivan as the man who had committed the crime. He was 50 yards from the hut, with a crowd around him. I told him that I should take him into custody for causing the death of his wife that evening in a hopper house. I cautioned him when he said, "She told me to do it".

I then took him to his hut, where the body was lying, and on searching with the witness Sullivan, Sullivan found a piece of iron, which was produced in Court. The prisoner then asked, "Is she dead?" and I replied, "Yes," to which he made no reply.

He smelt of drink and appeared very dazed. Later, the doctor came with P.C. Shelley. I then took the prisoner to Mark Cross police station and left the other constable at the hut. On the way to Mack Cross, the prisoner said he had been to Tunbridge Wells with his father and brother."

In response to a Juror: "The prisoner appeared sober but smelt of drink, seemed dazed and did not seem to realise his position"

Dr Reginald Fiolliott Dennis, L.R.C.P. and M.R.C.S., in practice in Frant, said he was called to the Shoesmith Farm on Sunday evening between six and half past, where he found the deceased, who was quite dead in the Hopper hut. Before he arrived, Mr Arnold had told him that death had ensued.

The woman was lying on her back, completely dressed, and with her face and hands completely covered in blood. The wall of the hut was also splashed with blood. On examination, he found her quite dead, but the body was still warm, and he should say that death had taken place half or three-quarters of an hour before. He found that at the back of the head, there was an extensive fracture, and that the bones above each ear appeared very loose.

He had that morning made a post-mortem examination of the body:

"The fingers of both hands were bruised, as if held up to the head to protect it. There was a cut through the centre of the upper lip, and one tooth was partly broken. There was a bruise over the bridge of the nose and on the right eyebrow. There were a great many bruises on the head and two scalp wounds over the right ear, which was divided into two halves. The other was just on the back of the head, and this was a jagged, bruised wound. The skull was cracked on each side over each ear. On examining the brain, I found its surface covered with small blood clots, corresponding with the external wounds. The whole brain's surface was congested, but there was no injury to the brain itself. There was a considerable amount of extravasation of blood about the brain. The body was fairly well nourished, and the organs were healthy. The cause of death was due to haemorrhage and concussion of the brain, consequent on being struck with some heavy, blunt instrument. A blow from the piece of iron produced could have caused the damage, and I should think that the deceased's head must have been struck with the flat side, owing to the amount of blood. The injuries could not have been caused by a fall, because they were all over the head. I believe that the deceased must have been stunned, because she had some food in her mouth, which she had not had time to swallow".

A blow that would be sufficient to stun her and knock her down. He looked at it and saw that the blow must have been severe. He could not say whether the blows were struck while the woman was standing or lying.

"The wound on the lip might have been occasioned by a kick, probably after the deceased was on the ground. The scalp was in such a state that it would be difficult to enumerate the blows, except the principal ones. There were four principal wounds, one behind each ear, one across the ear, and one at the back of the head. Either of the wounds behind the ears would have been sufficient to cause death."

In reply to a juror: "The bruises on the nose might have been there a few days before, as they were more discoloured than the others"

Annie Lankstead. Sister of the deceased:

She lived at 185 Elm Grove, Brighton, with the deceased and the prisoner. She explained that the deceased was named Lucy and was about 28 years old. She always understood that she was married to Frederick French. Both of them had told her they were married, but that was four or five years ago, and they did not say where the ceremony took place.

A female friend of the deceased, interposing, said that the couple was to have been married the very morning the deceased had a baby. They were to marry at a registry office in Church-street, Brighton, but it did not occur.

Annie continued:

"While I lived with the couple at Elm Grove, they had quarrelled, and shortly before leaving for the Hopper job, Frederick struck my sister on the head.''

She said, as a rule, Frederick was a sober man, but he would have drinking bouts, especially since his illness.

''I last saw my sister alive the morning before she came hopping.''

In reply to jury questioning:

''Since his illness, the prisoner has experienced strange things. He said there were people after him, and he needed a witness to fortune-telling.

When he had not been drinking, he had the same delusions. I was staying with him when he had delirium tremens, and they had to have his father and brother sit with him. My sister and Frederick used to quarrel about minor things. Amongst other things about a Bible his grandmother gave him, which she marked, and Frederick said someone else had marked.

My sister was a good wife to the prisoner."

Annie Smith, a warried woman of 13, Albion Hill, Brighton:

She had known the deceased since her childhood. She did not think that Lucy and Frederick were married. She knew that notice of marriage was given by the parties at a registrar's office six years ago. Still, they were unmarried, and she did not think they would be subsequently. They were to have been married on the morning of a child's birth. French was the father of it, but the marriage was cancelled because of Lucy's confinement. As far as she knew, it never happened.

Lucy and Frederick lodged with her at 12, Mount Pleasant; if the marriage had ever occurred, she should have known it.

In reply to questioning by the jury:

Since the illness, the prisoner had been very strange in his mind.

Lucy was a good girl, but what you could call an irritable woman. She often gave in to the accused.

She had not seen them for around six months when Frederick said he would bring Lucy to the Hop grounds, which appeared to do her much good.

The Coroner briefly summed up the evidence, pointing out that the jury had nothing to do with his state of mind at the time of the offence. What they had to consider was whether he committed the crime that ended this young woman's life.

The Court was cleared for a few minutes. When they reappeared, they gave the Coroner a guilty verdict, and the Coroner signed the warrant for the Court.

On Wednesday, December 21st, Frederick French was brought up at Mark Cross Police Court, before the Hon. John. Ashburnham (in the chair), Mr H. G. Dixon, Esq., and Mr F. H. Kay, Esq.

The evidence was precisely the same as given at the inquest, except that Mrs Collins stated that the iron used in the crime was from the hut and was used to keep the door open.

Frederick had been much depressed since he was arrested. He was dressed in a dark suit, looking forlorn, and in answer to the usual caution said:

"I have had a lot to put up with lately, but she kept grumbling at me. I could not sleep in the house. Missus had all the carpets up. Kept knocking all night, all up the stairs. I had a job in Worthing. Three or four men. One man from whom I had the trap horse. The woman I was lodging with was knocking all night. I saw a great white bundle at the bottom of the stairs, which they said was for the sanatorium. I think someone gave me a beer that made me feel bad. We left Brewer Street and went to Elm Street, but that house was just as bad. A man running around all night said he was on night duty."

The prisoner signed the statement and was committed to trial at the next Assizes.

On December 22nd, he stood trial before Justice Henry Hawkins, 1st Baron Brampton

It was believed that an insanity plea would be raised.

Mr Wilkinson and Mr Day prosecuted for the Treasury. Mr Raven and Mr Hodges, instructed by Mr Blagden, defended.

All the witnesses were called again for the prosecution, and then it was the turn of the defence:

Mr Raven addressed the jury and pointed to the prisoner's utterances as indicating the state of his mind. He emphasised the absence of premeditation and asked them to say that the man did the act but that he was not sane at the time.

Mr Raven then called Charles French, the father of the prisoner.

He explained that about two years ago, Frederick had an attack of typhoid fever. Since then, he had been very curious in his mind, and his talk was unintelligent. On one occasion, he talked about having run over a man coming home from Worthing, which was a delusion. Last year, he had an attack of delirium tremens, when he used to speak about trap doors beside his bed, and he always thought people were coming for him.

Cross-examined: Frederick was attended by Dr Good in his attack of typhoid fever.

He was not given to drinking, and he had never seen him intoxicated.

The Judge: What brought on the delirium tremens?

Charles: I suppose it was some drink the gentleman who took him to Worthing gave him.

George French, Frederick's brother, said he saw his brother while he was ill with typhoid fever. He was very strange and rambling in his talk. He also saw him in delirium tremens, when he was very bad. He used to throw the windows open.

Frederick shouted, "That's a lie. I never opened the windows at all."

George continued, saying that last January he took the prisoner to the doctor in Brighton because he was so strange in a bizarre manner.

Martha French, George's wife, said that on September 18th, Frederick asked Lucy to go nutting. She said, No! I'll see you dead first. When I return to Brighton, I'll have you put away in an asylum."

Martha remembered seeing Frederick in his last illness. He told her once that she was the Queen of England, and took hold of her arm and led her round the table. He threw up the window and called for the police.

The Judge: What! Because you were the Queen? (laughter).

Martha: No, sir.

Continuing, she said that on one occasion, Frederick got a soda-water syphon and wanted them to take bread and wine with him and have the Lord's supper.

Frederick "I never had any wine. I had some hop-ale", to which laughter erupted in the Court.

Charles Denyer, Brighton cab owner, said he had known the prisoner for about two years. Frederick was driving for him during the summer of this year. On one occasion, while Frederick was driving with him to Worthing, Frederick said that they had run over a man on the road. Charles told him not to be so silly and thought he meant it as a joke, but he repeated it, and Charles then thought he was a bit strange.

Cross-examined: Frederick was regular in his work while with me, but at times, he seemed very strange in his mind. He used to say such funny things.

The Judge: ''Tell us one of his sayings.''

Frederick: "Why, I said I should be the next one hung at Lewes, Mr Hawkins."

Charles Denyer: "I know he said once that there was blood all over the carpet where he lived."

Cross-examination continued: "He had no reason to complain about Frederick"

In reply to the Judge: "I trusted Frederick to drive about Brighton."

Ellen Denyer, wife of the last witness, said she had known Frederick since her husband had employed him. She remembered hearing Frederick talking to Lucy one day in July, when he asked her, "What's that parcel you have taken downstairs; it's covered with blood?" Lucy replied, "Don't talk nonsense, Fred." He replied, "Well, what's that blood on the penknife?'

Dr William Henry Mondelet, of Brighton:

On July 23rd, he was called to see the prisoner, who was sitting on his bed holding a Bible in his hand and talking incoherently. He mentioned that there was a trap door at the side of the bed, which, he said, opened, and a hand came out and came over the bed, and that there were people in the street who wanted to get at him. The witness examined him generally.

Frederick: "Generally, yes, he hit me in the chest", and he laughed.

Dr Mondelet proceeded to talk. He said he ordered the prisoner to be watched day and night. He called nearly every day for a week, and he seemed to have improved.

Mr Raven: ''Have you formed an opinion about the state of the prisoner's mind when he was under your treatment?''

Witness: ''I have.''

Mr. Raven: ''What was that?''

Dr: "That he was a man of unsound mind."

The Judge: "Have you ever had the treatment of insane people?"

Dr: "On one occasion, I had an Indian judge"

(Crowd laughter).

Dr Mondelet Continued. He said that he did not altogether attribute the condition of the prisoner's mind to delirium tremens, but the effects of drink, his unpleasant surroundings, the unhappy connections with the woman with whom he was living, and the apparent jealousy he entertained towards her.

The Judge: "What do you mean by the unpleasant surroundings?"

Dr "The state of poverty I saw, my Lord."

The Judge: "How do you know about his unhappy connections with the deceased?"

Dr: "From what his relative told me."

The Judge: ''Which relative?''

Dr: "I believe it was the landlady of the house."

The Judge: "But is she related then?"

Dr: "No. My Lord."

The Judge: "Did you ever know a sane man?"

Dr: "No, my lord, there is very little"

(Crowd laughter).

Dr Macrae, Brighton, said he attended the prisoner about July last. He was suffering from the effects of drinking.

The Judge: ''Delirium tremens?''

Dr: ''Yes.''

Mr Raven intimated that this was his case.

The Court then adjourned for luncheon.

Upon resuming, Mr Wilkinson called Dr Edgar Shepherd, the 20-year medical superintendent of Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum, who said he examined Frederick under instructions from the Treasury.

From his facial appearance and head development, he should not be classified as an imbecile or an idiot.

Frederick commenced in a flighty and somewhat boisterous manner and talked incoherently. Still, he soon toned down into comparative quietness when Dr Shepherd elicited a fairly consecutive account of his antecedents. Dr Shepherd could not detect that he had any delusions or hallucinations. He questioned Frederick on the subject of the murder, and he said he knew nothing about it. Still, it did not matter; he did not care about being hanged as soon as possible. Dr Shepherd concluded that the prisoner was playing at insanity.

Cross-examined: The visit lasted about three-quarters of an hour. Dr Shepherd had never questioned Frederick about his previous condition. He heard that Frederick had had influenza and had been drinking heavily since then. He was told he slept well. Dr Shepherd said that the prisoner was a man of feeble intelligence.

Mr Raven: ''When a man constantly says that he can see blood about, would that be a delusion?''

Dr Shepherd: ''That condition is prevalent in delirium tremens.''

The Judge: ''I suppose the prisoner will likely be easily excited, particularly when intoxicated.''

Dr Shepherd: 'Yes.''

Mr Richard Turner, medical officer of Lewes Prison, said his prisoner had a low intellect and did not know of any manifestation of insanity.

Mr Raven then addressed the jury for the defence. He urged that everything concerning the circumstances of the crime was dead against premeditated murder. He pointed to the prisoner's conduct during the trial and his statement before the magistrates as consistent with an unsound mind.

After the Judge had summarised the case at great length, the jury, after an absence of about ten minutes, returned the verdict of - GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. His Lordship, however, postponed the sentence until the following day.

The prisoner, during the morning trial, kept up a running fire of interruptions that were more or less incoherent throughout the opening speech and evidence; but there was a remarkable difference in his conduct after luncheon. He sat down and listened with great interest to all that passed, not once opening his lips.

The following day, Frederick stood for the final time before Justice Hawkins.

The Judge said the prisoner had been tried before him for murder, but the jury took a most merciful view of the case. They could have found him guilty of murder. Still, they returned a verdict of manslaughter, but about as cruel and wicked a manslaughter as he had known in his long experience. The verdict of the jury had saved this man's life, for if the jury had found him guilty of murder, he would have had no alternative but to be sentenced to death. He would not speak of the defence of insanity set up, nor would he refer to the opinion he had formed of the case. He had observed during the earlier part of yesterday that the prisoner was very attentive to the evidence and seemed to appreciate every word that was said. The notion that he was insane was a matter upon which he had grave doubts; he didn't need to discuss the evidence as to murder or make any comment upon it. The jury had found him guilty of manslaughter, which might well have been murder. He saw but a shade of difference between his guilt of manslaughter and that of murder, and he thought it was his bounden duty, under the circumstances, to condemn the prisoner to penal servitude for the term of his natural life.

He was eventually sent to Portland prison in Dorset to serve out his sentence.

Life after

On 22 November 1910, Frederick was released on special license to the Salvation Army.

In April 1911, he was back living with his parents at 73 Hanover Terrace Brighton Sussex working as a butcher.

His father Charles died age 79 in April 1916 and his mother Charlotte in October 1921 aged 83

Frederick died in April 1927 aged 64 in Eastbourne Sussex

SOURCES

1. Bring your backstory to lifeTM (no date) Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. Available at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

2. Archive, T.B.N. History’s colourful stories in black and white, Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

3. Sussex Express (1892) ‘The Frant Murder ’, 24 December, p. 10.

4. Hastings and St. Leonards News (1892) 'Sussex Winter Assizes' 30 December, p. 6.

5. Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal (1892) 'Murder of a woman at Hop Gardens Frant' 27 September p. 3.

6. Sussex Express (1892) 'The Frant Case sentence' 24 December P. 5.

7. West Sussex County Times (1892) 'sentences at the Sussex Assizes' 31 December p. 5.