ANNE PADFIELD 1837 –
MIDSOMER MURDERS (well almost)
PART THREE
Welcome to part three of Anne’s story.
When we left Anne she was sentenced to DEATH with a plea of mercy ringing through the courts.
This was a report in Lloyds Weekly Newspaper, Sunday 2nd, December, 1860.
There were only four reports in the papers on Sunday, all recommending the death sentence not to be carried out, with a long jail term instead.
This was also repeated in the papers on Monday 3rd December.
WESTERN DAILY PRESS
Tuesday 4th December 1860
THE GLOBE
Anne would have spent her time awaiting the decision in Newgate Gaol next door to the Old Bailey.
This is the corridor that the condemned would walk down to the public gallows.
On one side is The Old Bailey on the other is Newgate Jail.
This is the interior Circa 1890.
I don’t think a lot would have changed from when Anne was an inmate.
But Anne did not stay in a cell, the reason will become apparent in a press article on Thursday 6th December 1860.
Also on Tuesday 4th December 1860 the first of many letters to editors appears in The Morning Advertiser from their old friend “EAGLE EYE”.
I’d love to find out who ‘Eagle Eye’ was.
Another time, perhaps.
Then, on Thursday 6th December 1860.
THE IRISH TIMES
THE LIVERPOOL DAILY POST
And now the reason Anne did not stay in a prison cell.
Newgate Gaol was an all-male prison.
THE GLOBE
Imagine that, being told that you were being executed on Christmas Eve.
THE EXPRESS, LONDON follows on from that, with this under a copy of the above article.
With news of Anne Padfield now reaching Ireland, the DUBLIN EVENING MAIL on Friday 7th December asks this question?
Echoing what the general feeling was among the general public and many press editors at the time.
Then in later editions of one newspaper came these few lines.
THE STAMFORD MERCURY
The Stamford Mercury either has a crystal ball or inside information.
Now we have the weekend editions of newspapers.
In total there were 132 articles on Saturday 8th December 1860.
The majority reporting the daily stories that appeared in the press.
I have selected just a couple, one of which explains further why Anne was not in a prison cell in Newgate prison.
THE NORTH LONDON NEWS
THE BUCKS ADVERTISER AND AYLESBURY NEWS
Then in the NOTTINGHAM JOURNAL comes this one line.
Did you miss it?
If it wasn’t for the search engine in the British Newspaper Archive, so would I.
Another crystal ball?
Then on Sunday 9th December in LLOYD’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER an article questioning the ‘Bastardy Law’.
The REYNOLDS NEWSPAPER highlights the Crime of Infanticide.
After the moral article came this.
Then in the 3rd Edition of LLOYD’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER.
What these papers did not know, that late on Saturday night the following was received at Newgate Gaol.
The recommendation that the capital sentence be commuted to life imprisonment.
This is to be continued.
Till next time then….………..
LYNN'S WAFFLES 