67. Humpty Harry

Episode Transcript
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Lady Justice is a true crime podcast, therefore deals with incidents of violence,
disturbing imagery and explicit content. Listenerdiscretion is advised. Lady Justice True Crime
offers their deepest condolences to victims familiesand offers thanks to those who work in
emergency services. Hello, my lovelies, and welcome to Lady Justice True Crime

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and the episode Humpty Harry. Myname is Chantelle and thank you ever so
much for joining me. Now,without further Addy, let's take a look
at the time frame and location ofthis case. We Attorney back time all
the way to eighteen eighty one,when Queen Victoria was the head of the

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monarchy, Gladstone was serving as theLiberal Prime Minister, and England was engaged
in the First Boa War. Itwould be in this year that the former
Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli would die, the Natural History Museum would open,
and the Right Act would be readin Basingstoke after angry disputes between the Salvation

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Army and those in the alcohol industry. We are heading to the pretty village
of Sarhamptony in Norfolk. It sitsnestled into the countryside around fifteen miles north
of Thetford and twenty seven miles westof Norwich, and is said to be
the most isolated village in the county. It isn't famed for much, though

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it is where former Prime Minister JohnMajor was evacuated during World War Two.
As always, sources are listed inthe show notes. Humpty Harry, as

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the locals around West Norfolk would knowhim, was a character that was both
feared and mocked in equal measure.In one description, he was said to
be short, partially deformed, andgamely repulsive looking, and altogether a very
inferior specimen of a man. Hehad moreover a feminine voice, and is

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said to not only be instantly ignorant, but incapable of learning. In the
same breath, he was also describedas having an insatiable passion for butchering young
girls. Born Henry Stubbings in Tottington, a now deserted village occupied by the

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Army, he would be baptized atSaint Andrew's Church on May twenty seventh,
eighteen thirty eight. He would growup alongside his seven siblings and parents,
Richard and Sarah, though received noformal education, it being long before such
would be made compulsory. As achild, he would be involved in an

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accident that would affect the rest ofhis life, and which bore his nickname
Humpty. He would be on theroad when he would be hit at speed
by a horse and cart, thecollision leaving his mobility permanently affected, with
a hump in his back and faiyousscars across the right side of his body,

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including above his shoulder blade and atophis hip. As an adult,
he stood at four foot eight.His appearance was said to be grim and
forbidding. From the neck down.The left side of his body was covered
in moles. His arms were notablylong, and his hands especially big.

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He had a long face with alarge protruding lower draw. His boarding brown
hair was cut close to the scalp, with it being very scant above the
forehead. His gray eyes set deepin the face for a beady stare,
and his stubbly mustache struck a contrastagainst his fair skin. Throughout his criminal

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life, his name would be incorrectlyrecorded as Henry Stubbings. The first known
attack committed by the thick set HenryStubbings happened on Wednesday, October fourteenth eighteen
sixty eight, at about eleven thirtyam, thirty eight year old Elizabeth Hotchin

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would pass him on the road.She's spent the morning in Tottington and was
returning home at Gate Cottage, Brecles, where she lived with her husband William,
a distance of around four miles.As she overtook him, he bade
her a good morning, to whichshe politely returned innocently. He then asked

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if she was traveling to Hockombe.Elizabeth told him no, she was bound
for Brecles and resumed her pace.As she assumed the small talk had passed.
Suddenly, Henry grabbed her by theneck, putting her close to him
so they were face to face,going in to kiss her. She naturally

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was startled and dismissed his advances,telling him firmly to get off her.
While struggling to get free, heheld her close, pushing himself into her
as she repeatedly said no, thatshe was married and to get off.
With every rejection, and he tightenedhis grip until eventually she screamed. This

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enraged Stubbings, and he rapidly flickeda knife that he had concealed in his
pocket without hesitation He instantly went tostab her neck, which she narrowly escaped
from by freeing one of her armsand grabbing him by the forearm. The
pair would struggle, with Henry usingmore force to try and enact his deed.

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Elizabeth held on tight and screamed overand over for someone to help.
Later in court it would be saidhow lonely that part of the road was.
Stubbings was a strong man, eventuallyloosening his victim's grip on his arm,
and he began to stab at her, with Elizabeth trying to fend off

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his frenzied arm. Her desperate crieshad luckily been heard by shepherd working in
a local field. He rushed toher assistance, and of Henry spotting him,
he ran away. At the SwaffanQuarter Sessions held later that month,
the shepherd, mister Crow, toldMagistrate mister Barton Esquire that when he came

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onto the road, he found Elizabethalone and distressed, covered in blood.
She had defensive wounds to her chinand to her hand, and her dress
and shawl were stabbed through in anumber of places. Henry Stubbings pleaded guilty,
though had no option otherwise. Reallyin court it was explained that he

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had been apprehended by police Constable MastersMasters, when he caught up to him,
asked if he had a knife onhim, it being quite common to
carry a pocket knife at the time, Yet Henry replied, I left my
knife at mister Palmer's at Tottington.It being a rather unconvincing lie. The

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constable would continue to question him,and when making the arrest, would say
that Stubbings told him I'm very sorryfor what I've done. After being transported
to the station by Inspector Watson,he finally omitted to having a knife.
He would be given a nine monthssentence for the attack. At the same

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time, he would also be foundguilty of a separate charge of obtaining a
pair of beats under false pretenses inWharton, to which he would be sentenced
to prefurther three months, including hardlabor, to be served at Norwich Prison.
After serving his time, he movedback to the area, becoming an

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inmate at the Wayland Union Workhouse inRockland. It was there that he would
meet Emily Eastall. She had firstmoved to the air after finding work as
a domestic servant near Attleborough, whichdidn't work out, leaving her at the
mercy of the workhouse. Born theillegitimate daughter of Maria Eastall, she grew

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up in poverty. Her mother hadone more child out of wedlock. However,
would marry Burnham Wiles when Emily wasjust three years old. Despite the
security of being in a traditional familyunit, the family would fall on bad
times. They would together be admittedinto a workhouse in Cambridgeshire before moving to

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King's Lynn in Norfolk. It wasthere that the family seemed to find some
stability, though times were still tough. Burnham and Maria would go on to
have their own children, and Emilyloved to visit and would often stay some
periods of time with her family.On Friday, June sixteenth, eighteen seventy

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one, she would visit with herfamily, accompanied by Henry, at their
home at twelve Austin Streets. Burnhamhad recently lost an arm and he'd found
it hard to complete his work asa farm laborer, though was slowly building
his trade as a gardener. Itwas a pleasant visit for the family,

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and the Wiles looked on fondly ofHenry, him declaring his intention to marry
Emily during his stay, he wouldoffer a way to help the family financially,
saying that he'd come across some workthat Emily's little sister Maria could do.
Maria had just turned ten years oldon April nineteenth and was said to

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be a very bright girl who enjoyedreading whenever she got the chance. Henry
said that he had found work forher picking hemlock a few miles away,
which would pay up to eightpence aday. The small amount of money,
which stands as around two pounds aday, would come at a little risk.

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Anyone who knows a little about florawould know that a hemlock is a
poisonous plant and can cause severe reactionseven through skin contact. But this is
a different world and Burnham agree tolet Maria go into the fields to work,
with her start date being the followingMonday. At six thirty on Monday,

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the twenty sixth of June, Burnhamheard his house guest, Henry go
to his youngest daughter's bedroom door,knock on it and make arrangements to meet
her a little over an hour laterat the railway bridge along Hardwick Road.
Before leaving the house at seven thirty, Maria was seen leaving the family home.

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After about twenty minutes, she arrivedat the bridge to find the familiar
face of her sister's boyfriend waiting.He ushered her toward Swopham Road and said
they would be walking for only abouttwo miles. After quietly walking for some
time, the pair would arrive ata lonely turnip field between East Winch and

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West Bilnee. The field now sitson the modern A forty seven roads,
not about two miles but around eightmiles from Maria's home. With a smile,
Henry lifted Maria up and over thehedge before squeezing himself through. It
had been a few hours since thecouple had left King's Lynn, and in

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a concerned tone, Henry asked thegirl if she was tired. Maria said
that she was, and Henry pickedout a spot on a raised bank at
the edge of the field, sayingthey could rest a while side by side.
Henry reached over to Maria, placinghis arm across her shoulders. Moments

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later, his weight shifted and theyoung girl could feel the strength of his
grip as he pulled her body.When she looked up, she could see
his face angled towards hers, landinga kiss on her lips. Her body
automatically responded as she pulled back fromhim. Henry then stopped blankly and looked

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at her and said, oh,Mariam, vexed for you. He lifted
her chin a little, lowered hishand, and then raised it again,
revealing a clasp knife he had concealedwith one smooth action. He drove the
blade across her neck. Maria raisedher hand to stop him, the knife

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nicking the top of her middle finger. Blood began to pour from the neck
wind and she placed her hands onthe cut, saturating them both. Henry
looked at her, puzzled and thenasked in a new a mocking tone,
what's the matter? Terrified, thelittle girl tried to escape her attack,

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her calling up the bank to asmall gap in the hedge towards the road
behind her. She left a trailof red as she continued to lose blood.
Just as she was reaching the openingin the hedge, she saw the
change in night as Henry's shadow engulfedher figure. He then began to shove
her into the hedge. Scrambling withall her might, Maria exited the other

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side on the verge of the road. She lifted herself up and tried to
situate herself. Feeling weak, shedared not to turn around, worried that
Henry would be there, so sheforced herself to run in the direction of
east Winch. If she had turnedaround, she would have indeed seen Henry,

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yet he was darting in his distinctmanner in the opposite direction. Maria
would be close to losing consciousness whenshe would encounter a man named Edwin Yarnold
on the road. He naturally wasalarmed by the sight of the girl and
carried her to safety in the CrownInn. The surgeon for the area,

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mister Aston, went with haste tosee the girl, doing the best he
could before arranging her to be transportedto the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital.
He told those in the room thatit was a very grave wound and he
was not sure she would survive thefisher's attack. The landlord of the pub,
mister Smith, had called for PCYoung and the pair, along with

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another good citizen, Frederick Dawes,would go on the search for the attacker.
Using a pony and trap, theywould retrace the road where Maria was
found, moving quickly, yet asthey passed through west Bilney, there was
no sign of the knifeman. Theykept on the road until they were approaching

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Narborough to the southeast, where inthe distance they could see a hunched figure
upon the top of an opposite hill. Henry had spotted them also and would
backtrack, making his way through awooded area, eluding his pursuers. After
some catamouse, Henry would be discoveredby Smith and Young hiding in a barley

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field near the turnpike, almost directlybetween the two villagers. He would be
picked up and searched, with PCYoung finding a clasp knife on him.
As the constable took it away fromhim, he would say that as the
knife with which I did it,I did it because I had no work

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to do and meant to do something. He would be transported to Grimston to
be held in custody, where heremained until being brought before magistrates Reverend Freeman
in kings In. The proceedings weredelayed because no one was sure if Maria
was going to survive the attack.Barnum Wiles would take to the stand and

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explain the relationship between Henry and hisfamily, stating that in the weeks before
the attack, he had twice heard. Henry states that he was to marry
his stepdaughter Emily in the fortnight beforethe crime. Henry had stayed at mister
Wiles home in King's Lynn, andhe would say of it. During all

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the time the prisoner was with me, I noticed nothing in any way strange
in his manner. There appeared tome to be nothing wrong in his mind.
There was no quarrel between the prisonerand anyone in my house. Evidence
was also heard from Samuel Morton Wilson, a surgeon with the hospital, who
spoke to seeing Maria at five pmon the day of the attack. He

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described her wounds, saying the puncturedwound was an inch and three quarters in
depth in a downward direction, parallelwith the windpipe. The instrument with which
it was inflicted had run along thewindpipe. I could see the main artery
beating at the bottom of the wound. From the nature of the wound,

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I consider it providential the child didnot lose its life, as it was
in a very dangerous region. Itwas a distressing sight when the small frame
of Maria appeared in the court,having been transported by carriage from the hospital
that morning. She took the standjust meters from her attacker and bravely told

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of how Henry had kissed her whilstthey were on the field and how terrified
she was when he drew the bladeacross her neck. Edward Robin Yarnold gave
witness testimony to finding Maria, Iturned around and I observed a blood streaming
from her throat. He would alsogo on to say that he stayed with
her at the Crown until the prisonerhad been taken into custody by the police.

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PC Edward Young of Norfolk and Stabularywould also give evidence. He told
of when he first arrived at theCrown, he had taken a description of
the attacker from Maria. He saidthat when he came upon the prisoner hidden
in a field, he said tohim, I charge you with cutting a
little girl's throat, to which Henryreplied, I did it with this,

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and no witnesses called in his defense. Henry would be committed to Norwichercise.
His trial would take place on Wednesday, the ninth of August before Mister Justice
Byles. Henry would be unrepresented legallyin the hearing, and it would show
when the clerk asked for his pleato the charge of wounding with the intent

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to murder, he would say guilty. It was put to him again,
this time when ending him that thecharge was that of attempted murder, and
Henry quickly changed his plea to thatof not guilty. Mister Cooper would present
the case for the prosecution and explainedhow Henry had lured the girl from her

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home under false pretenses. It wassaid that on their journey from Lynn to
the field, Henry seemed like hewas in a bad mood, not being
very talkative. Cooper then told ofhow Henry would go on to talk of
the attack which had left Maria incritical condition before the judge took time to

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carefully sum up the case and alludedto the fact there was an absence of
motive, saying it would be upto the jury to determine if the defendant
was of sound mind at the timeof the crime. After a short time
deliberating, the jury found him saneand therefore guilty, with mister Justice Biles

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sentencing Henry to ten years imprisonment.After serving eight years, he would be
given the opportunity to re enter societyand he would be given a ticket of
leave. This parole period would bevery short. However, just days after
his release in August eighteen seventy nine, he would be re arrested for another

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attack on a woman. On thisoccasion, he attacked thirty four year old
Maria Olderton, who was traveling alongthe Griston to Wotton Road. It was
between eight and nine am on Augusttwenty six, and he had been leaning
on a gate when she passed himin the lane. On spotting her and

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seeing that the pair were isolated fromothers, he slowly started to follow her.
Maria had noticed that Henry had startedto walk behind her and could feel
his presence as he would lessen thegap between the two. He opened a
line of conversation, saying it's anice day, to which missus Alderton agreed

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it was smiling as she spoke.Henry then abruptly asked her if she would
like to engage in a sexual activitytogether. The shocking nature of the question
alarmed her and she admently refused.She began to rush off, but heard
Henry call out for her, andwhen she turned, she saw that he

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was brandishing a large stone. Hethen began to menacingly threaten her, telling
her she would engage in sexual actswith him or he would beat her dead.
Terrified, Maria fell to her kneesand begged him not to assult her.
Silently, he stared at her,then, without a word, slinked

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away. Maria didn't know what todo. Panicked, she sped off towards
Wotton, and as soon as shesaw a police officer detailed her ordeal.
Later that day, he would bearrested by Inspector Mumford and seen before magistrates
at Watson Percy Sessions, where thebench would sentence him to two calendar months

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hard labor at Norwich Prison for commonassault. With this, his parole was
revoked and Henry would be returned toDartmoor to serve the remainder of his original
ten year sentence for the attack onMaria Wiles in eighteen seventy one. His
time in the Devon prison did seemto have some effect on him, at

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least on the surface. Still witha ticket of leave, Stubbings would be
released from Dartmoor on August seventeenth,eighteen eighty one, and spent much of
his first day of freedom traveling backthe three hundred and thirty miles to Norfolk.
Before he'd even arrived, Robert Hinchman, the Chief Principle of Norwich City

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Police, had received a photograph ofhim, a detailed description and a copy
of his criminal history. Henry wouldbypass Norwich, though, and first reported
his presence in the county at thepolice station in Watson on the eighteenth.
His arrival shocked Inspector White, whoknew him well, and the two would

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spend some time conversing. Henry wouldadmit to the inspector that he had had
quite enough of Dartmoor and stated thathe didn't wish to return. White asked
him where he was going to bestaying and if he had made any plans,
with Henry stating that he was goingto stay with his elder sister,
Jane Bunn, who lived in thenearby village of Scolton. Yet he had

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not decided on any workers yet,hoping to find a way to make money
when he got settled. He hadleft prison with some money in his pockets,
a total of eleven shillings and threep Inspector White would warn Henry not
to get himself into trouble and wishedhim well as he made his way out
of the village. However, Henrydid not go where he had planned.

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Instead of traveling the five miles eastof Sculton, he would instead go two
miles west to Saham Tony. Hetook accommodations at the bell Inn, where
mister Howling, the landlord, hadknown him for many years, calling him
Harry Dick. He would have aquiet stay and there was no for us

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to be made of him in thearea. A little before eleven thirty am
on Friday the twenty first, heentered the bar area and ordered himself two
half pints of mild beer, whichhe consumed on the premises. Henry spoke
with Hannah Howling, settling his billfor the previous night's stay and securing his

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room for another night. At elevenforty a m. He told her he
was going to go for a walkwith her watching him exit through the front
door and his distinct figure turning lefttowards the parish church and out of sight.
The next person who would see himwas a widow named Jane Baldwin,

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who lived in one of the elmshousesjust past the church. It had stuck
out in her mind because at firstshe thought he was a friend of hers
and mister Robert Blanchflower, who wasalso humpbacked. She had watched him walked
towards hers along the lane and wenttowards the garden gates, only to realize

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it was Humpty Harry and not herfriend. It would be a few minutes
later that, around three quarters ofa mile in the opposite direction, ten
year old Hannah Brett would leave home. Hannah would be born on October thirtieth,
eighteen seventy, to Isaac and Jane. It was a busy household together.

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The couple had welcomed twelve children intotheir family, with nine still living
at home in eighteen eighty one.The Bretts were a well liked local family.
Isaac was said to be a respectableand hard working and Jane an industrious
woman. They had raised their childrenwell, each of which had benefited from

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schooling at Shamptony, which was whereHannah was going that day. It had
been raining for most of the morning, and Hannah's younger brother and sister,
Isaac and Jesse, were attending schoolthat day. To help her mother out
and to prevent her younger siblings fromhaving to walk in the cold, wet

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conditions, she offered to walk abasket of lunch to them, as well
as an umbrella for her younger brother. It wasn't even the first time that
day that Hannah had helped her motherout, who had four children five and
under at the time. Early inthe morning, she would walk to Watton
to pick up a package that hadbeen sent by family in Swaffham. That's

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just how Hannah was. Though shewas said to be a beautiful girl who
looked a few years older than heryears tour for her age. She was
happy, go lucky, friendly anda warm personality. Now at eleven fifty
five am, an employee at MissusPerkins Farm called Robert True would leave work

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and walk in the direction of Sahamptony. The farm where Hannah's father also worked,
was three hundred yards further down throughRexton wrote from the Brett residence,
and he would walk past their neatsemi detached home as he traveled. He
didn't see Hannah, though, Hannahbeing a few minutes ahead of him.

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Drew had been walking for about tenminutes when he'd come around a bend in
the lane, and that's when henoticed something a little before him. Around
sixty yards distant, he could makeout the shape of a little humpty man
stood by the verge of the roadon the left hand side. The man

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was facing to the side, hiswhole body standing parallel to the field fence,
with his head looking downwards towards thefloor. Drew was unsure if the
man in the road had seen himor not, as he never saw him
turn towards him. Yet suddenly,as if startled, the man in the
distance ran off. With the mannow gone, Drew could see something of

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considerable size in the spot where hehad been stood. As he got closer,
about thirty yards away, he couldsee it was a little girl,
and on coming upon her he recognizedher as Hannah Brett. She was laid
in a little hollow close to theroad and facing towards Robert Drew. At

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first, the man was unsure ifshe was even alive. She had a
horrendous injury to her neck. Thebottom of her dress had been pulled up
to her abdomen, Her body wasstill, her skin was pale, and
blood pulled around her upper body.Hannah was alive, though, and Robert

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rushed over, asking in a panic, who had committed such a terrible attack
on her. She replied in afaint, pained voice. It was the
man who just left me. Robertstood up, getting close to the edge
of the roadway to look beyond thebend towards Saham, but the man he

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had seen not just even minutes beforehad disappeared. Returning his attention to Hannah,
drew to some clothing and tried topack it into the deep cut in
her neck, hoping his efforts wouldprolong her life long enough to get help.
He then reassured Hannah he would beback soon, before running off to

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the nearest cottage around four hundred yardsbackwards. When there, he was greeted
by Mary Anne Markwell, who quicklyrealized something was gravely wrong. She listened
to Robert's jumbled explanation, and withouthesitation, she followed him back to the
spot where Hannah laid unmoved. Notten minutes had passed since Roberts had first

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found her by the side of theroad. However, she was barely alive.
Missus Markwell would pick up the itemsthat Hannah had dropped during the attack
as Robert carefully lifted Hannah, takingher body weight across both his arms and
walking her back to the cottage.It would be very early on in their

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journey that Hannah Brett would take herlast breath. She would be placed with
care inside the Markwell home whilst thepolice were fetched and Jane and Isaac Brett
would be informed of their daughter's death. The news would be quickly relaid to
Inspector White in Watton, and onhearing the description of the supposed attacker,

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he knew exactly who he should belooking for. White rushed towards Sahamptony,
entering the village from the south road. There were three main roads that led
into the village, and knowing thatHenry wasn't along the road that he had
come from, White rushed towards thechurch where the three roads converge and asked

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travelers who came along the other twosif they had seen him. One man
named William Mace was approached by Whiteas he had been traveling south from Ashill
along Watton Road. He confirmed thatHumpty Dick, as he knew him,
wasn't along that road. He askedwhy and was utterly shocked, immediately offering

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to help in the search. Hewas told to go insist the blacksmith and
parish constable Richard Tollman, who wascreating an impromptu search party. White would
then go along another road where theschoolhouse was situated and found a woman traveling.
He explained that he was looking fora small, humpbacked male, yet

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she said no such person had passedher. With that White knew that Henry
must be hiding somewhere in the village. The wet made the search a miserable
experience, yet as the word wasspread amongst the local residents, more would
come to offer to help. RichardTollman led a group of men through a

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thin stretch of land to the rearof the rectory grounds. It was about
two hundred yards, as the crowflies, from the spot where Henry had
left Hannah, and it was athin ditch sheltered from view by overgrowing shrubbery
and aged trees. Less than anhour had passed since the alarm was raised

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when a triumphant cry would ring out. Tomman had pulled the wanted man from
the scruff of his neck. Henrystruggled to get to his feet as he
was tugged up from underneath the trainingbranches of a struggling fir. Tree.
As he was Tomman remarked, youbeggar, how come you to do something

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like that? Without clarification of whathe meant. Henry replied, I don't
know. Something came over me andtempted me to do it. I can't
help it. Toman simply said inreturn, I suppose you can't help these
things. No, it seems likeit today, said Henry. The group

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of men and made sure that Henrywas secured. Whilst word of the capture
was given to inspect A White.PC felt Well, who had joined the
group, demanded to see the knifeused in the attack, as one had
never been found at the scene.Henry would turn if. However, he
didn't have it on him, andhe thought he had dropped it as he

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was finding a place to hide.Asked where, he said he couldn't be
sure. There was light rain.As Inspector White came close to the group,
taking Stubbings into his custody and placinghim on the back of a cart,
his eyes were dart back and forthbetween the group of men who were
now searching under the mass of dyingshrubbery and muddy puddles. One called out,

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what color is it? Without abeat Henry shouted brown. After a
few moments, PC felt Well,from under a shrub close to Henry's hiding
spot, shouted to say that he'dfound it. In his hand was a
new sixpence pocket knife with a brownhandle. Due to the weather, the

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blood had washed away it being droppedin a puddle. Henry would be taken
back to Watson Police Station, wherehe would be placed in a cell,
accompanied by PC felt Well. Duringthe afternoon, Henry would make a number
of voluntary statements such as I don'tthink this is much. I sha'n't get

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above three or six months for this, but I didn't see the cut.
The following day, without being spokento at all, he said out loud,
I own I done it. Ashan'n't disown it. The following Monday,
October twenty fourth, Henry would bebrought before magistrates at Wayland Hall.

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He would be transported from the policestation under escort of several officers due to
worries regarding his safety. When hefirst appeared, the low murmur of the
packed public gallery erupted into yells andgroans of an infuriated crowd. After the
chairman of the Bench, Lord Walsinghamcalled the room to order. Honorable John

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de Gray opened the case for theCrown. A number of witnesses would be
called, including Mary Anne mark Well, who assisted Robert True after the discovery
of Hannah. She told how shesaw the young girl in the hollow by
the road, her clothing and disarray, and covered in blood. She told
of the scene in general, butalso stated that there were three large pools

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of blood on the floor, eachseparated by a short distance, and that
close by she found Hannah's belongings.Evidence regarding how Henry had come into possession
of the knife used in the murderwould be given by Mary Anne Ransom,
who ran a general store with herhusband George in the village of Thompson.

(37:58):
She said, amongst other things,I sell pocket knives. I know the
prisoner. I remember his coming intomy shop on Thursday the twentieth, at
around twelve o'clock at noon. Isold him a pennyworth of biscuits, a
pennyworth of sweets, and a knife. He paid me a shedding for the
biscuits and sweets, and I gavehim the change out before he asked for

(38:22):
the knife. She examined a selectionof knives from her shop, with six
of the nine available stamped with thewords Needham Sheffield, saying that they were
all of the same type that shehad sold to Henry the murder weapon if
that had that same stamp. SomeOne else who would speak to seeing Henry

(38:44):
with a knife was Hannah Howling,the landlady of the bell Inn, who
said that on Thursday evening he hadassisted her in cutting up some wood pipe
lights using the plade. Other evidencewould be provided by mister Alexander, a
surgeon from nearby Wotton, who hadbeen called to examine the body of Hannah

(39:05):
Brett. He stated that he foundher to be a healthy child who had
suffered from two devastating wounds to herneck. One had been made in a
slashing action. The cut was deepestjust below the left ear, gradually getting
shallower by the windpipe. The woundhad been inflicted with such force that it

(39:28):
had severed the jug of the vein. The other injury had been caused by
a stabbing action, again made withgreat force. One minor injury was recorded,
a small nick on her chin thathad been caused by the knife.
No medical evidence showed Henry had completedany sexual violence towards her despite her clothing

(39:51):
arrangement. When round as Henry wouldbe formally committed to trial, he seemed
not to take much notice of it. Others, however, had become very
emotional over the whole ordeal. Thepublic's reaction to Henry was overwhelming, and
it was known that the people ofWest Norfolk wanted to physically take justice into

(40:14):
their own hands. Mister Pigott,the Chief Constable of the county, had
expected that there would be a lynchingmob outside the court, and he was
right. On opening the door,there was a loud and angry group,
and he would personally supervise fifteen policeofficers creating a sort of safe corridor for

(40:37):
Henry to be placed on his transportation. The people did not hold back,
with them spitting, hissing, andscreaming death threats at the diabolical character,
who in return looked them in theirface, smiling at each person as he
walked the public. Sympathy for Henry'svictim, Hannah, ran deep within the

(41:00):
community and many wished to support thefamily in any way that they could.
On Wednesday, November second, thefuneral of Hannah Brett would be held at
the Saint George's Church in Southhamptony.Reverend Coker Adams would conduct a deeply moving
service which brought many in the crowdedchurch to tears. A somber moment was

(41:25):
recorded when Hannah's classmates would file pasther grave, each dropping a bunch of
flowers upon her coffin. Henry's trialwould be held in February eighteen eighty two
before Mister Justice Grove in Norwich,where he pleaded not guilty, again unrepresented.

(41:46):
The judge asked a mister Maid towatch the case for Henry, whilst
mister Bulworth qc. And the HonorableJohn de Gray headed the case for the
prosecution. It was a simple case, especially given that Henry had confessed he'd
been identified by witnesses, including thevictim Hannah in her dying breath, and

(42:10):
his class knife would forensically test positivefor blood. That evidence was presented by
the chemical analyst for the County,mister Francis Sutton, who had subject to
the knife to microscopic and chemical tests. He told the court that he found
traces of blood upon the blade,in the joint of the knife where it

(42:32):
closed, and in the metal liningof the handle, with a blade sat
when retracted, though he said hecould not positively say it was human or
animal blood due to the lack offorensic knowledge at the time, it was
still damning. No defense was putforward to the court, though mister maid

(42:52):
would speak to the jury on behalfof the defendant, stating that there was
no doubt that Henry was guilty ofkilling Hannah Brett, but suggested that surely
he was not of sour mind,especially given Henry's statements given to the police
after the crime, things such asHenry believing he would get a maximum of

(43:15):
six months imprisonment for the attack despiteknowing it was fatal, though there was
no direct evidence to the defendant's mentalhealth. That point would be touched on
by mister Justice Grove when summing up. He told the jury that if they
wished to acquit Henry of murder,they must be satisfied that he did not

(43:36):
know the nature of the act atthe time he had committed it. The
jury would only take a short timefrom the court returning a guilty of murder
verdict against Henry. When sentencing,the judge observed that Henry was no stranger
to the criminal justice system before donningthe black cap and passing the death sentence

(43:58):
in the usual form. Henry's fatewas now sealed and he would be placed
in a condemned cell, with theHigh Sheriff of the county setting his execution
for Monday March sixth, two daysbefore the executioner Marwood, would arrive at
the prison ready to begin preparations.On February twenty sixth, Henry was to

(44:22):
be respited by the Queen after aletter of plea was sent to the Home
Secretary, which was signed by aroundeighty respected gentlemen, twenty six of whom
were also medical professionals. Many wereworried that he lacked the sanity or moral
responsibility, and as a consequence,the Superintendent of broad Moor Criminal Lunatic Asylum,

(44:46):
doctor Orange, and the surgeon ofMillbank, doctor Clark, was sent
to meet Henry in Norwich. Theyagreed that he was not of sound mind,
said to suffer from homicide or mania, and by the Queen's messenger,
the official document of pardon was sentdirectly to the Governor, Mister Dent at

(45:07):
Norwich Castle. Henry seems to havelived in Broadmoor for the duration of his
life, with his death being recordedin September nineteen eleven. So that's it
for this episode. What did youthink? I think before we depart,
there's just enough time to see ifwe can balance out those scales somewhat with

(45:30):
a small act of kindness. Thistime, I suggest you compliment stranger.
Nice and simple yet very effective.With that, go be good people,
Go be kind, go to besafe, and most importantly, go be happy.

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