Thomas Fury, a visiting ship's cook, murdered one of
Sunderland's most notorious prostitutes 31 year old Maria Fitzsimmons, by
stabbing her ten times. As his victim was a prostitute it was easy for Fury to
evade capture. Thirteen years later Thomas Fury, known now as Thomas Cort was
arrested and charged with unrelated crimes of robbery and attempted murder. He
was sentenced to 15 years in Pentonville , where conditions were very harsh,
Fury Cort determined to play the ultimate gamble - own up to the murder of
Maria Fitzsimmons, 13 years earlier.
At the last moment he pleaded 'not
guilty', in hopes of gaining sympathy from the jury. He was sentenced to hang
for his night out in Sunderland. His last days were spent writing and reading
as his executioner drank ale in the local ale house. On the 16th May 1882
following breakfast of tea, toast and jam, Thomas Fury was hanged. He was
refused any last words on the scaffold.
