The Murder of Frederick Williams: It didn’t take long for the marriage between Frederick and Mary Williams to fall apart. They had only been wed for three month when Mary entered their house and told Frederick that they were finished: “I have met another and we are to be together” she shouted. 22 year-old Frederick was a farm labourer and by all accounts a hard working young man who doted on his wife. Mary one the other hand was a different sort, she loved the attention of men, had a reputation of sleeping around and on more than one occasion was seen beating poor Frederick who never even tried to defend himself. When she left her husband was devastated and completely inconsolable. Two days later his battered body was found in a pool of blood on the floor of his scullery and everyone pointed the finger at Mary. She was questioned by the local constable and immediately implicated her new lover, 19 year-old John Patrick. He was arrested and returned the favour so they both stood trial together. On 10th October they were tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. It appeared that Patrick hit Frederick on the back of the head to floor the unarmed man, allowing Mary to stab and beat him to death. She wanted him out of the way so she could be free to marry yet another man, as she had already finished with Patrick. Both Mary Williams and John Patrick were executed side by side on this day 22nd October 1802 in front of a large crowd. Patrick died after a short struggle but Mary took over 15 minutes to succumb to slow strangulation.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 15:31:54 +0000
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