Genealogy Chat

Phoenix I suppose we have to accept it was a man's world back then :( But at least your friend's ancestor's lodger's sentance was 'questioned' by the Times. Chris

It's always, the woman's fault, isn't it? Best friend's ancestor ran a lodging house in Marylebone. In Nov 1851, a woman was lodging there, under her maiden name. Her estranged husband had traced her there, claiming she had some of his possessions. Ancestor let him in to wait for the woman. Once she had come in and gone to her room, ancestor pointed out the room to the husband. Husband went upstairs, screams were heard. Nobody appears to have gone to the woman's rescue. She was stabbed repeatedly with a chisel and died. The husband, who had hardly covered his tracks, was brought to court and convicted of .... manslaughter. The only clues we have that this may not have been the conclusion of the general public is an editorial in the Times, questioning the sentence and the fact that the ancestor moved from the area very soon afterwards.

Jacquie Thank God we won our rights! But I would like a time machine to go back and put Mr Makinson right on a few points :)))) Chris

Blimey, Chris, it's hard to beleive isn't it! I wonder what would have been said if the man had talked too much and the wife had hit him (tempting, I would have thought)...wife blamed either way I suspect. No wonder we fought for our rights..... Jacquie

Found this while Googling...... From the Evening News January 6 1905 A woman giving evidence against her husband at Salford yesterday, on a charge of assult, was admonished by the Stipendiary. Mr Makinson said: 'This is the way with you women. You chatter, chatter, chatter until you irritate. You get the man mad, then you get struck and come here. Try to keep your mouth shut and you will get on better' How times (I hope) have changed! Chris

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