31 year old fitter John Fenning from Newcastle
had just lost the love of his life because after just six months
of marriage she packed up and went home to mother. On the 26th
November 1886 a few months later John was ordered by a court to
pay his wife five shillings a week, as he was shown out of the
court room he was heard threatening her life. As the day wore on
John began to drink in the pubs around where his wife and
mother-in-law lived and he was twice stopped from breaking into
their home. Around 10pm he was seen leaving the area and heading
towards Low Bridge. In the Pink Lane public house he started
talking to prostitute Annie Richardson, where they agreed to go
back to her lodgings in Blyth Nook Cowgate.
When the couple arrived however her landlord
William Baker refused to let them enter. That's when John brought
out a black handled cut throat razor and described in detail to
the landlord, what he was going to do to his wife and then he
stormed off. At midnight John was seen on Dene Street talking to
another prostitute Elizabeth Tait, the couple tried to enter 15
Low Bridge but entry was again refused. That's when a neighbour
heard Elizabeth say I have not got it. John replied If you have
not got it who could have got it? As prostitutes often stole the
drunken men's wallets that's what the neighbour thought they were
shouting about. Just then was the shouts of police and murder,
Elizabeth Tait with her forehead and throat deeply cut lay on the
ground bleeding to death.
Several people said a man in a black pot hat
and dark clothes had been running up Low Bridge towards Pilgrim
Street. A policeman who had seen a man running had asked for his
name and address, he had said his name was John Henry Fenning and
he lived at 16 Prince's Street. When the policeman later found out
about the crime, police were sent to John's address to arrest him.
Most of his clothing and his hands were covered in blood, John
said nothing as he was arrested at 2am. Witnesses in court said
they had heard shouting and a man in black, but no one could find
the weapon and if he was guilty why had John given the policeman
his correct name and address. There didn't seem to be any real
evidence against John. To try and build a case against John the
prosecution brought 2 men in to testify against him, the two had
shared a cell with John.
Samuel Brindle had been in Newcastle Gaol on
remand for stealing three shillings, he had met John in police
custody and asked what he was accused of doing. Samuel said John
had replied he had nearly cut a woman's head off in Newcastle.
Samuel alleges the following conversation took place:
Samuel They have soon cached you then.
John A policeman stopped me two or three minuets after I'd done it but he let me go again
Samuel How was that?
John I gave a false address. I gave 12 Pilgrim Street and it was 12 Princes Street.
Samuel Is she a married woman as you've killed?
John No, she's a prostitute. I'd have killed the
wife and all if they'd have given me time, for she's nothing but an adulterous prostitute.
Samuel Did they find a knife on you then?
John No, it wasn't a knife I did it with, it was a very sharp chisel I'd sharpened for the purpose.
When it was found that Samuel was an
ex-policeman and had been in prison for false pretences his
statement was called into question. A second man on remand told a
totally different story, put together there was no proof and no
evidence against John Fenning. The defence then stressed that John
had never been in trouble before and the prosecutions evidence was
circumstantial, it took the jury just 35 minutes to agree. John
Fenning was acquitted.
