Christopher Slaughterford
Christopher Slaughterford (* in London ; † 9. July 1709 in Guildford ) is the first person in modern was England , because of murder solely on the basis of circumstantial evidence was tried and executed.
Slaughterford was executed for the murder of his fiancee Jane Young. He was the last person seen with Young on October 5, 1703 . He showed evidence of his innocence by cooperating with all police investigations and was acquitted at a trial in Kingston . He had a strong alibi , yet some of his neighbors who did not have such a solid alibi continued to testify to his guilt in a second trial.
In addition, there are legends about his person, so he is said to have haunted the (true) murderer of his fiancée, one of his employees, as a ghost . As a ghost he is said to appear in chains, with the severed noose around his neck, a stick in one hand and a burning sword in the other, repeatedly saying "Retribution, Retribution!" screams. Legend has it that the guilty clerk killed himself after seeing the ghost of Slaughterford.
Web links
literature
- The Criminal Recorder: Or, Biographical Sketches of Notorious Public , New York Public Library, published 1804
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Slaughterford, Christopher |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | The first Englishman executed only on the basis of evidence as a murderer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17th century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 9, 1709 |
| Place of death | Guildford |