Thomas George Tattersall (12 July 1874 – 15 August 1905)[4] was an English plasterer who was convicted of murdering his wife.
Thomas Tattersall | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas George Tattersall[1] 12 July 1874[2][3] Wakefield, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 15 August 1905 (aged 31) Leeds, Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation | Plasterer |
| Spouse | Rebecca Tattersall |
| Children | Laura |
| Conviction(s) | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Hanging |
Tattersall, from Wakefield, was a notorious drunk. He would often threaten his wife, Rebecca, and the police had once put their house under surveillance because of this. On 3 July 1905, Tattersall cut Rebecca's throat with a razor and fractured her skull with an axe. He was discovered by the couple's daughter, Laura, who subsequently told their neighbours about what had happened.[5]
The following day, Tattersall was arrested at a railway station. He pleaded insanity, but to no avail, and was sentenced to death by Mr Justice Jelf. He was hanged at Armley Prison in Leeds, on 15 August 1905.[5]
His executioner, John Billington, died two months later due to a fall he had sustained while preparing for Tattersall's hanging.[6]
References
edit- ^ 1901 England Census
- ^ West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985
- ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
- ^ "English & Welsh executions 1900 - 1931". capitalpunishmentuk.org. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ a b "'My Daddy's Killing My Mammy!'". truecrimelibrary.com. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ Fielding, Steve. The Executioner's Bible: The Story of Every British Hangman of the Twentieth Century. (John Blake, 2008), pp. 55-56.