Arthur Parker Hawkins

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Trial at the Old Bailey

Trial for Murder - 1907

23rd of February 1907, My great grandfather John's younger brother Arthur P.Hawkins, murdered his older sister Mary Ann P.Alpe. Arthur was remanded in custody on the 26th of February, and put in a plea of "Not Guilty".

Feb 26th 1907, The Times Newspaper.

CHARGE OF MURDER IN WALWORTH.

At Lambeth, Arthur Parker Hawkins, 36, described as a labourer, of Great Suffolk-street, Borough, was charged before Mr.Hopkins with the murder of his married sister, Mary Ann Alpe, at South-street, Walworth. It is alleged that, after a quarrel over money matters, the prisoner on Saturday night stopped his sister in South-street, and stabbed her. The prisoner was arrested some hours later. It is stated that for some 12 years he had served in the Royal Field Artillery and had seen service in the south African war. Detective-sergeant Barrett proved the arrest. Mr.Hopkins. -Do you want to ask any questions at present, Hawkins? The prisoner.-No, Sir. I know nothing about this stabbing affair. I plead not guilty to it. Mr.Hopkins directed a remand.

The Coroners Inquest

An inquest was held a few weeks before the trial and is outlined in the South London Press article transcribed below.

2nd March 1907,South London Press.

THE INQUEST.

THE MAN'S STATEMENT.

VERDICT AGAINST AN "UN-KNOWN"

On Tuesday Mr.G.P Wyatt, coroner, held an inquest at the Newington Coroner's Court on the body of Mary Anne Alpe, aged 48 years. The wife of John Alpe, an iron moulder, living at 85.South-street, Walworth, who was fatally stabbed outside her own home.

Arthur Parker Hawkins, a labourer, of Great Suffolk-street, Borough, brother of deceased, who stands remanded from the Lambeth court on the capital charge, was present in court in charge of two warders from Brixton Prison.

Detective-inspector Knell watched the case on behalf of the police.

The husband said that about 8 o'clock on Saturday night he was at home, deceased having gone out with a daughter a quarter of an hour earlier. She returned with the accused (her brother), and upon entering the passage she said to witness, "He's come for a shilling." Accused said, "That is no good. I want 4s or 5s." Witness said he had none to give him, and told the accused to clear out. He (the accused) then went away. A few minutes later deceased went to join her daughter, who was waiting for her in the public-house close by. Witness had hardly reached the kitchen when he was informed by a woman that deceased had been stabbed. He ran out and called the police, who went for an ambulance, and deceased was taken away, previous to which a medical man was called.

The Coroner: Did you ask how it happened?

Witness: Yes, a number of different stories were told in the confusion. The accused had been a source of great annoyance to them.

The Coroner: Why should he come?

Witness: I cannot say. I have many times lent him shillings.

Coroner: What was he?

Witness: A general labourer.

The Coroner: That means nothing. Was he in work?

Witness: No.

The Coroner: Had there been any previous bothers because you would not lend him money?

Witness: Yes. Last Christmas he abused me shocking when I got my money out of a slate club.

By the Coroner: Witness was under no obligation to the accused whatever. The rest of the family were on good terms with the deceased. The accused was a driver in the Artillery during the Boer War. Witness got accused a job on his return.

The Accused: He's making out that I did not work at all, and that I went round demanding money. I have only been out of work five weeks, and used to work for the same firm as the last witness, Badcock and Wilox, also for the Stepney Borough Council.

Louisa Alpe, a daughter, stated that on Saturday evening she went out with the deceased to the Princess of Wales, in South-street, where they had some refreshment. The accused called them, and said to the deceased, "I want some money." She replied, "I haven't got a farthing on me." The Accused then said, "Is Jack (the husband) in?" He added, "I will go and see him." Deceased said, "I will come with you." and they went away together, and witness shortly afterwards left the house with her young man. Witness did not again see deceased.

Lillian Frances Wright, of 104 South-street, said that she knew deceased as a neighbour 12 months. On Saturday night about 7.45 she went with an aunt to the Princess of Wales, where they had a glass of ale each. She saw someone look in at the door and the deceased and her daughter, who had been standing at the bar, went out. Witness heard nothing said whatever. She could not say who it was looked in at the door. A short time afterwards deceased came back and said, "That was my brother. He is always demanding money when he comes down." They left the house together, and wished deceased "Goodnight." Witness and her aunt crossed the road. Almost immediately afterwards they saw a man go up to the deceased. Witness heard the latter say, "All I have is a farthing." The man started punching her. Deceased cried "Oh! Oh!" and witness's aunt then ran to the deceased and witness went to inform the husband that someone was knocking deceased about. Witness then went home, as she felt so queer. Her aunt came in a few minutes after, and said, "Fancy the poor woman being knocked about like that."

By the Coroner: Witness did not see the man except from the opposite side of the road. It was dark at the time.

Emily Robinson, of 183 Trafalgar-street, Walworth, aunt of last witness stated that she saw a man knocking deceased about. She ran across the road and said, "You are a vagabond," whereupon he took to his heels and ran down Thornton-street. Witness caught hold of deceased and prevented her from falling. She fastened deceased's cape, which had become undone, and deceased said, "The police will never catch him now." She walked three or four paces and sank to the ground. A police-constable then came up, and a mob collected. The man who assaulted deceased wore dark clothes and wore a cap as far as she could see.

Police-constable Pierce, 397 I., stated that at a quarter past 8 o'clock on Saturday night he was on duty in South-street, when deceased came up to him and said, "My brother has stabbed me in the neck." and fell down. Witness looked, but could see no man about. He sent for a medical man, who said she was suffering from a punctured would in the neck and ordered her removal to the infirmary. Upon arriving there life was pronounced to be extinct. There was some blood issuing from the wound, which witness stopped prior to doctor's arrival. Her clothing was covered in blood.

The Coroner: As a matter of fact, was she not on the ground when you first saw her?

Witness: No. She walked up to me.

By a Juror: Witness heard no scuffling. Two women were with deceased when she made the statement. He did not know who the women were.

The witness Robinson, recalled, said that deceased let go her arm and sank to the ground before the police-constable arrived.

Detective-sergeant Barrett said that he arrested the accused at 87, Great Suffolk-street, Borough, at midnight on Saturday. The accused said, "I was there. I shall what is right at the proper time." Witness searched the accused, and in his left jacket pocket found a pocket-knife. Witness subsequently conveyed him to the Rodney-road police station, where he was charged.

Dr. F.E.Welshman, acting divisional surgeon, of 126 Camberwell-road, stated that on Saturday night he was just leaving Rodney-road police-station, when he heard that a woman had been stabbed in South-street. He accompanied a police-constable to the spot, and saw deceased lying in the road, being supported by a man. Witness examined her and found her to be in a dying state, and then ordered her removal to the infirmary. Witness accompanied the ambulance there, but deceased died on the way. He had since made a post-mortem examination, and found eight distinct punctured wounds on the left arm, shoulder, neck, breast, finger, and chest. The latter had punctured the aorta, and the pericardium was full of blood. The cause of death was syncope from internal haemorrhage, consequent upon the injuries. The bloodstained corsets, which were pierced, were here produced. The wounds, said the doctor, were such as could have been inflicted by the penknife (also produced). He did not think they were self- inflicted.

The accused declined to make any statement.

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.

The Trial at the Old Bailey

The trial is outlined below in a report in the The Times Newspaper. 25th March 1907. Or a fuller account of testimony given can be found at the Old Bailey Online.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT, March 23.

(Before the Lord Chief Justice of England.)

ARTHUR PARKER HAWKINS, 36 labourer, was indicted for the willful murder of Mary Ann Alpe. The prisoner pleaded "Not Guilty."

Mr. Bodkin and Mr.J.F.Tindal Atkinson prosecuted; Mr.S.Ingleby Oddie, at the request of the Lord Chief Justice, appeared for the prisoner.

Mary Ann Alpe, was 48 years of age, was the sister of the prisoner. She was the wife of John Alpe, a working man, and she and her husband resided with their daughter Louise in South-street, Walworth. The prisoner, who was living with a woman named Berry in Southwark, was not in regular employment. He applied several times to his brother-in-law, John Alpe, for assistance and received small sums of money from him to help him. It was stated that on February 23 the prisoner's condition was one of extreme poverty. He and Berry had no money either to pay their rent with or to buy food, and their landlady had given them notice to leave. On that same evening the prisoner went out saying he was going to see Mary to see if he could get 3s.for the rent and for some food. Shortly before 8 o'clock Mrs.Alpe and her daughter went to a public-house. The prisoner, it was stated, put his head in at the door and said to Mrs.Alpe. "Mary, I want you." She did not answer him. Her daughter went to the prisoner, who said he wanted some money. Louisa Alpe told her mother. The prisoner put his head in at the door again and said, "Mary, I want you particularly," and added that he wanted some money. Mrs.Alpe said that she had none and that her husband had not given her any. The prisoner exclaimed, "That is the same tale every time I see you," and he said he would go and see her husband. Mrs.Alpe went with him to her house and told her husband that the prisoner had come for 1s. The prisoner remarked, "A 1s. is no good; I want 4s. or 5s." Mr.Alpe said, "You have come to the wrong place for I want money myself," and he told the prisoner "to clear out." The prisoner went away. Mrs.Alpe returned to the publichouse. It was alleged that the prisoner again put his head into the doorway and said, "You have soon found your pals" - a remark which the prosecution contended indicated that he resented the refusal of the Alpes to give him money. A witness named Pike left the publichouse and went home. He saw a man waiting about outside. Shortly afterwards Mrs.Alpe came out of the Publichouse. Mrs.Robinson, an acquaintance of hers, who had been in the publichouse and who was on the opposite side of the road, heard a scuffle and saw a man holding Mrs. Alpe and apparently striking her in the breast. Mrs.Robinson called out to the man, "You are vagabond." The man thereupon ran away - Mrs.Robinson went to Mrs.Alpe and found that she was in a fainting condition, and that she was bleeding. She collapsed and fell to the ground. A medical man was sent for, but she died. A post mortem examination was made and it was found that she had eight separate knife wounds in the arm, shoulder, neck, breast, finger, and chest, the last-named being the fatal injury, the blade of the knife having penetrated the aorta. The other seven wounds were slight. mrs.Robinson was positive that the man who struck Mrs.Alpe was the prisoner. While the man was striking her she was heard to say, "I have only got a farthing." The witness Pike identified the prisoner from among a number of other men as the man who put his head in at the door of the publichouse and whom he afterwards saw waiting outside. The woman Berry, with whom the prisoner was living, in her evidence before the magistrate, said that when the prisoner returned home that evening he stated that he had asked Mary for 1s. for food and 3s. for rent, but she refused to give it him and that he added, "I have paid her. I don't know whether she is dead or not." Berry now stated that she was very much upset at the time and she did not recollect his saying that, but what he did say was "I have no luck. I could not borrow any money off either of them. Never mind, Mill, the Lord pays all debts and I think He will pay her." When the prisoner was arrested he had a pocket knife upon him, but there were no blood stains upon it nor were there any marks of blood upon his clothing. He sad "I was there. I shall say what is right at the proper time."

The defence was an alibi.

The prisoner was called as a witness and said that after going to Mr.Alpe's house on the evening in question and being told by Mr.Alpe to "clear out," he did not go again to the public-house but went tot he residence of his brother. That was about 20 minutes past8. His brother invited him and Berry to go there to supper, and they went. They returned home at midnight and he was arrested by a detective and told he would be charged with the murder of his sister. He said he knew nothing about it. He had been for 13 years in the Army and had served through the South African war and had two medals and six clasps.

John Hawkins, brother of the prisoner, corroborated the prisoner's statement as to his having called at his house on the evening in question and subsequently had supper there with Berry. He was not sure of the time when the prisoner first came as his clock was stopped, but he believed it was about a quarter to 9. The prisoner and Berry came to supper about an hour afterwards.

Mr.Oddie, in his address to the jury for the defence, pointed out that the case for the prosecution rested almost entirely on the evidence of one witness Mrs.Robinson, who was some distance away from Mrs.Alpe's assailant and did not have a good opportunity of seeing him. The witness's eyesight was, moreover, defective, and she had to wear spectacles. He urged that it was a case of mistaken identity. Although four persons saw the assault Mrs.Robinson was the only one who identified the prisoner, the other three being unable to identify the man.

The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, in the course of his summing-up, expressed his thanks to Mr.Oddie for his conduct of the defence. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and after about 20 minutes' absence, they returned into Court finding the prisoner Guilty of wilful murder, but they said the crime was committed absolutely without premeditation, and they desired very strongly to recommend him to mercy.

The prisoner, being asked in the usual way whether he had anything to say, replied that he was innocent of the crime. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said he would take care that the recommendation was forwarded to the Home Secretary, and so far as he lawfully might he would say to the Home Secretary what he could in his favour, but the prisoner must not count upon it, for in his (the Lord Chief Justice's) judgement the jury could not rightfully have returned any other verdict. He passed sentence of death upon the prisoner.

So what happened next?

Arthur was sentenced to death. Another newspaper report, again in the Times, dated April 3rd, tells us that Arthur P. Hawkins was granted a reprieve.

EXECUTION. Edwin James Moore, 33,an ex-private of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was executed at Warwick Gaol Yesterday Morning, for the murder of his mother at Leamington.

REPRIEVE. Major Knox, governor of Wandsworth Prison, yesterday received a communication from the Home Secretary, stating that, after taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration, he had advised his Majesty to grant a reprieve to Albert Parker Hawkins, the ex-soldier, who was sentenced to death at the last session of the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his sister, Mary Ann Alpe, at Walworth. The jury recommended Hawkins to mercy, on the ground that the murder was unpremeditated. The sentence will be commuted to one of penal servitude for life.

Interestingly... The man mentioned above Arthur in the paper (Edwin James Moore), was roughly the same age, also ex-army, and also convicted of murdering a relative. Why would one man be hanged and the other shown mercy?

After looking for Edwin Moore on the net I found a very brief account of his crime. Apparently Edwin had come home one night after being out drinking and got into an argument with his mother. He threw a lamp at her. It missed, but set fire to other items in the room and Edwin's mother's blouse caught alight to. Edwin is said to have tried to put out the fire. His mother died of her injuries.

Arthur got his reprieve on the grounds that his crime was not premeditated. Was Edwin Moore's crime Premeditated? On the face of it, it doesn't appear to be. Unlike Arthur, Edwin's crime doesn't seem to be a "wilful" act of murder either.

I've only seen the briefest outline of Edwin's story so can't really come to any proper conclusions about him. I only mention his case to show how my curiosity was first sparked. I needed to know more about how & why reprieves were granted!

Reprieves

Around 49% of all those sentenced to death for murder from 1900 to 1957 (when the law was changed), were shown mercy and granted a reprieve. This figure really surprised me. It is not so surprising though when you realise that the mandatory punishment for murder was death & that no other sentence was allowed by law. Murder at the turn of the century was not divided into different categories, as it is today. Murder, manslaughter, premeditated and non-premeditated murder all carried the same mandatory sentence. Hence the need for a review of each case, and the "high" number of reprieves.

The Home Secretary was responsible for this process. A Jury could recommend Mercy, but it was the Judges recommendation that carried the most weight and was rarely ignored. Arthur was lucky in that he knew fairly quickly after the trial (10 days) had finished that he was not going to hang. Some had to wait to within a few days of execution to know their fate. Anything up to three weeks.

Did life mean life?

Arthur's sentence was changed to life imprisonment. Surely when a walk to the gallows is substituted for life then my first thought was that it must of really meant "life". Or perhaps, at the very least, longer then what we think of as being a life term today. But this is not the case. None served over 20 years. Few over 15. And most served around 10 years.

In 1911, the census shows him to be at Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight. Arthur was released in 1922, and went on to marry in 1926 and have at least one more child, born 1927. Arthur died in 1933, aged 63.

Mugshots

From the blackkalendar website. Arthur Parker Hawkins. Age: 36 (51 after sentence). Date Of Sentence: 18 Mar 1907 (for 14 years, 10 months, 17 days). End Of Full Sentence: 4 Feb 1922.

Habitual Criminals Register 1881-1925

Arthur Parker Hawkins, b.1870, London. Labourer. Height 5'3". Complexion fair or fresh (fr). Hair Brown/grey. Eyes brown.

Appearance marks - scars on face and hands; birthmark right cheek. Tattoos - sailor's head, coat of arms right, several dots, heart and written LOVE left forearm; flag back left hand.

Offence murder. Trial 18/3/07. Sentence death commuted to prison for life. Discharged from Maidstone prison 10/3/22.

Notes for anyone reading the trial at the Old Bailey site

• South Street is now named Dawes Street.
• Thornton Street (the street the attacker ran off in direction of), is now named Wooler Street.
• 73 South Street - Witness location and home, is still standing.
• Public house & the Alpe family home, in South Street, no longer exist. Replaced by flats.

March 25th 1907, Eastern Daily Press.

WALWORTH STABBING TRAGEDY.

Death Sentence at the Old Bailey.

At the new Central Criminal Court on Saturday, before the Lord Chief Justice, Arthur Parker Hawkins, 36, a labourer, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of his sister Mary Ann Alpe, a married woman, aged 48 years, lately living with her husband at South Street, Walworth.

Mr. A.H. Bodkin appeared for the Treasury to prosecute, and Mr. Ingleby Oddie defended.

Mr. Bodkin, in opening the case for the prosecution, said there was little dispute that a murder was committed. The case for the prosecution was that it was committed by the prisoner, and he should by evidence seek to show that. The prisoner and murdered woman were brother and sister. The latter was a married woman, living at South Stree, Walworth, and the prisoner had up to the time of the tragedy been living at Suffolk Street, Walworth, with a woman named Berry. On February 23rd the prisoner and the woman were in great poverty - an important fact to bear in mind, considering the events leading up to the tragedy, as they were, unless payment for rent were made, about to be turned out of their lodgings. Shortly after tea on the evening of Saturday, February 23rd, the prisoner said to the woman, "I am afraid this is the last tea I shall have in this house," Soon after he got up and said he would go and see Mary (the deceased) and get 3s. from her for the rent and 1s for food. He went out, and found his sister in the Prince of Wales public house. He asked for the some money, and she said "Jack (meaning her husband) has not given me any." To this he answered, "Yes the same tale every time." The brother and sister then went out and found Mr. Alpe. Mrs. Alpe said to her husband, "Jack wants a 1s." To this the prisoner said, "Oh, a shilling is no good. I want 4s. or 5s." The husband said, "I can't give it to you; what money I have got I want myself." He then ordered the prisoner off. He went away and Mrs. Alpe returned to the public-house. The prisoner followed her, and called her out. A few minutes later the woman was heard shouting for assistance. Friends followed to her aid, and a man saw the prisoner striking her. Someone called him a vagabond, and thereupon the prisoner ran away. He went home, and said to the woman Berry, "I paid Mary. I cannot say whether she is dead or not." Meanwhile Mrs. Alpe was found lying in the roadway covered in blood, some seven or eight stab wounds on the face, neck, and breast. There was also a wound on the fingers, as if she had put her hands up to ward off the blows. She was assisted to her feet with a view to taking her to a hospital, but she suddenly collapsed and died. Death was due to a wound in the breast, which penetrated the aorta.

Evidence was given bearing out counsel's statement.

Mrs. Louisa Robinson, who was in the Prince of Wales public-house when the murdered woman was called out, deposed to hearing a shout for assistance, and on going out saw a man making movements as if punching the deceased. She shouted, "You vagabond." The man then ran away.

Replying to Mr. Ingleby Oddie, the witness said she heard the deceased say, "I've only got a farthing." She was positive that the prisoner was the man who was striking the deceased woman. Another thing that forced itself on her memory was that when the deceased woman was called out of the house by the man the deceased said, "There is uncle." Witness added that she got within a yard of the man, and it was the same man that looked in the public-house.

Dr. F. E. Welchman said he was called to the deceased as she lay in the road. She died a few minutes after arrival. A subsequent examination showed that she had eight wounds. Seven were of a comparatively unimportant character. The eight had passed into the heart and caused death. ~The wounds could have been caused by a penknife, and in his opinion they could not have been self-inflicted. The wound which caused death was the only one from which there was much hemorrhage, and what there was was internal. The blades of the knife had the appearance of having been recently sharpened.

The doctor added that the last wound which caused death was one which would require a fairly forcible blow.

Frederick Pike, a carman, deposed to the prisoner passing and repassing the public-house several times before the tragedy.

The woman Emily Berry was called, and created quite a scene in Court by sobbing during the whole time she gave her evidence. Replying to Mr. Bodkin, who questioned her as to the statement she was alleged to have made, that the prisoner said, "I have paid Mary, but I don't know whether she is dead." the witness said she was so worried at the time that she did not know what she was saying when before the magistrate.

Mr. Bodkin - Was that your statement? - I really don't remember saying anything of the sort.

Did you tell Louisa Alpe that you intended trying to get the prisoner off? - No. I did not.

Mr. Ingleby Oddie - What was it the prisoner said to you? - He came home and said, "I have had no luck. I cannot borrow any money from either of them, but never mind. 'Lil', the Lord pays all debts, and He'll pay hers."

Detective-Inspector Frank Knell deposed to seeing the prisoner at Rodney Road Police-station about midnight on the day of the tragedy, and after his arrest. When he charged him with the murder of his sister he merely said, "All right."

The Judge - When you arrested the prisoner did you find any blood on him? - No.

For the defence, the prisoner gave evidence on his own behalf. He said up to a few years ago he was a driver in the Field Artillery for 13 years. He served two years and four months in the South African Campaign, and had the Queen's and King's medals. He had also served in India.

Mr. Oddie - What happened on the night of the tragedy?

Prisoner - Well, I was hard up, and I said to my wife "I'll go round to see my sister, and see if I can get a shilling or two from her." I went round and asked her. She said she hadn't got any. I said "I wonder if Jack (meaning my brother-in-law) has any." My sister said "I don't know." We both went to the house to see him. He said "What money I have got I want," pulled my sister inside, and told me to clear off. I said "You needn't jump down anybody's throat like that," and with that walked away. I thought at first of going back again, but did not. I went right home. I told the wife wife I could get nothing, and I said, "Never mind 'Lil,'the Lord pays debts without money, and He'll pay hers," or words to that effect. Then I went to my brother Jack's in Queen's Buildings close by, and at my brother Jack's invitation went home, fetched my wife, and both my wife and myself went back to my brother Jack's. There we stopped until twelve o'clock. I then went home, and as soon as I got in, the house was entered, and I was arrested."

Mr. Ingleby Oddie - You deny that you were the man? - Yes. Even last night at Brixton Prison I was fetched out of bed at the orders of the Deputy-Governor, and put up for identification. The person failed to identify me.

Answering Mr. Oddie further, prisoner said he had always lived on good terms with his sister.

Replying to the Judge, the prisoner said when he was arrested he never asked any questions as to the murder of his sister.

The Judge - Is it not strange? - Well, I was told not to say anything.

But was it not a great shock to you? - It was; I was very much upset.

Had your sister any enemies? - Not that I know of.

Can you make out how it happened? - Not at all.

John Hawkins, brother of the prisoner, said his brother was at his house with his wife and child on the evening of the tragedy. They supered there, and prisoner seemed to be all right.

Mr. Ingleby Oddie said the case against the prisoner depended almost entirely on the evidence of one woman. There was no proof that the prisoner was the man who committed the tragedy, and he asked the jury to acquit him.

The Lord Chief Justice, in summing up, said the case presented many peculiar features, but he asked the jury to bear in mind in considering their verdict whether the conduct of the prisoner was consistent with that of an innocent man when the police-officers entered his house and arrested him on the charge of murdering his sister.

The jury, after an absence of twenty-five minutes, returned in court, and the Foreman announced that they had found the prisoner guilty of "wilful murder." The Foreman added; We recommend the prisoner strongly to mercy, as the crime did not seem to be premeditated.

The Lord Chief Justice, having assumed the black cap, said to the prisoner as he stood in the centre of a group of warders, that he would convey the recommendation of the jury to the Home Secretary, but he warned him that he was not to build up any hopes of a reprieve as a result of the recommendation.

The prisoner, when called upon to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon him, said, "All I can say is that I am innocent of the crime."

His Lordship then passed sentence of death. The prisoner was subsequently removed to Wandsworth Gao!, where he will remain in the condemned cell awaiting his fate. This makes the second death sentence this week, prisoner is at present in the condemned cell at Pentonville.

March 25th 1907 - The Daily Telegraph

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT

Before the Lord Chief Justice.
WALWORTH MURDER
Death Sentence

Arthur Parker Hawkins, 36, a labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of Mary Anne Alpe on the evening of Feb. 23 last. Mr. A. H. Bodkin and Mr. Tindal Atkinson prosecuted (instructed by Mr. F. G Frayling, of the Treasury); Mr. Oddie defended.

Mr. Bodkin said there could be no doubt the dead woman was murdered on the night in question, but the jury would have to be satisfied that it was the prisoner who committed the crime. Mrs. Alpe was forty-eight years of age, and had lived with her husband and daughter at 85, South-street, Walworth. The Alpes were in fairly good circumstances. Prisoner was a brother of Mrs. Alpe. He lived with a woman named Amelia Berry in Great Suffolk-street, about twenty minutes walk from South-street. For some time past he had been in needy circumstances, and had been assisted on many occasions by his brother-in-law. On Feb. 23 his position was one of extreme poverty. About seven o'clock in the evening of that day he returned home and had tea with Berry, to woman he remarked that it might be the last meal they would have in that house. Prisoner went out at a quarter past seven, saying he would go see Mary (the deceased woman), and ask her for some money. About a quarter to eight Mrs. Alpe and her daughter went to the Princess of Wales public-house in South-street, and while they were there the prisoner looked in at the door, and called his sister outside. He told her he wanted some money, and when she said she had not got any, he remarked, "It's the same tale every time I see you." They then went and saw Mr. Alpe, to whom prisoner repeated his request for money. Mr. Alpe said he had come to the wrong place, and ordered him to clear out. he went away. A minute or two later Mrs. Alpe returned to the public-house, and the prisoner again put his head in the doorway and said, "You have soon found your pals."

Shortly after this a man named Pike left the pubic-house, and saw the prisoner waiting about outside. A very few minutes later Mrs. Alpe and two other women also went out of the house and separated. The other women had got across the road when they heard a scuffle and saw a man holding Mrs. Alpe and apparently striking her. One of the women a Mrs. Robinson, called out, and the man ran away. Mrs. Robinson was positive that the prison was the man striking her. "I have only got a farthing." Mrs. Alpe has been stabbed in several places, and she died within a few minutes. The prisoner returned to his house at ___ o'clock, and said to Berry, "I asked Mary for some money and she told me to go back and ask my woman to get it for me. I have paid Mary. I can't say whether she is dead or not." Berry thereupon ran out of the house, followed by the prisoner. They went to the prisoners brother's house., and did not return until midnight, when the prisoner was arrested. He said "I was there. I shall say what is right at the proper time." He had a clasp knife in his procession but no traces of blood were found. Counsel submitted that the whole circumstances he had narrated left no doubt that it was the prisoner who inflected the wounds on the woman.

Mrs. Robinson, stated, in evidence, that she got within a yard or so of the man who struck Mrs. Alpe, and she was certain he was the prisoner.

In cross-examination, witness admitted that she had not picked Hawkins out from among other men. She identified him at the coroner's court, when he was in charge of two warders.

Detective-inspector Knell explained that the police were ____ for the prisoner to be put up for identification by Mrs. Robinson, but the coroner had the woman called before there was an opportunity of doing so.

When the woman Berry was examined she stated that was she said at the p___-court as to a statement made by the prisoner to her was not true.

By direction of the Judge Mr. Bodkin cross-examined the witness who admitted that in her ____ statement to the police and in her evidence before the magistrate she said the prisoner sa to her "I have paid her. I don't know whether she is dead or not." Witness remembered speaking to Miss Alpe on Thursday last. She did not tell her that when she gave evidence she should make a mistake and try and get Hawkins off.

Witness's statement was read in which she described the prisoner as a violent and passionate man, who had frequently knocked her about.

In reply to Mr. Oddie, witness said that what the prisoner said to her when he returned was "I have had no luck. I could not borrow any money of either of them. The Lord pays all debts, and I think he will pay her."

At the close of the case for the prosecution, the prisoner gave evidence on his own behalf. he said that he was in the Field Artillery for thirteen years and served ____ in South African campaign. He held the Kings and Queen's medals, with eight bars. He stated that on the night in question he did not see his sister after he left her at her own house. He denied that he looked in the public-house a second time, and ____ at the time the deceased woman was attacked he was at his brothers Jack's house. He arrived there about 8.20 and his brother's wife told him to "Go and fetch the missus." He then went to his own _____and the woman Berry returned with him _______________ house where they spent the evening. He ____he knew nothing about the matter of the murder. He mentioned that on Friday he was put up at Brixton Prison for identification ___ two women who were brought in failed to pick him out.

John Hawkins, the prisoner's brother, gave corroborative evidence.

Mr. Oddie pointed out in the course of his address to tho___ that Mrs. Robinson a shortsighted ___ lady, was the only witness who identified the prisoner, although four or five people witnessed the assault.

Mr. Bodkin ________ ___________ ________ __________ _____ ______ ___________ judgment in calling Mrs. Robinson, when it was pointed out by the police that it was not desirable that she should be called until she had an opportunity of identifying the accused man in the usual way.

The Jury, after twenty minutes deliberations, found the prisoner quilty. The Foreman added: We find he did it absolutely without premeditations, and we strongly recommend him to mercy.

The usual question was put to the prisoner, who replied: "I don't know that there is anything I can say. Only one thing I know, I am quite innocent of this crime."

The Lord Chief Justice: Arthur Parker Hawkins, I will take care that the recommendation of the jury is forwarded to the Home secretary, and, so far as I lawfully may. I will say to the Home Secretary what I can in your favour, but you must not count upon that for this reason: In my judgment the jury could not possibly or rightly have returned any other verdict, and I cannot lose sight of the fact that the defence set up by you that some other person had been the cause of your sister's death was not one which could for a single moment be entertained. Therefore I asked you not to count on any leniency or mercy, although, as I have said, I will take care that the matter is represented to the proper authorities.

Sentence of death was passed.

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Thorne Family Genealogy

Arthur Parker Hawkins