Victorian Crime. The Man in Black

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.

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