Charles thomas wooldridge biography of rory

At his subsequent trial he was defended by H. Wood of High Wycombe , but the jury took just two minutes to find him guilty, despite Wood's attempts to get the charge reduced to manslaughter because of Nell's unfaithfulness. Wood set up a petition for a reprieve and, assisted by a Miss Eleanor Grave, succeeded in gaining a great number of signatures.

Charles thomas wooldridge biography of rory

However, the trial judge, Judge Hawkins , stated that Wooldridge's taking the cut-throat razor with him to Windsor was evidence of premeditation and so refused to consider a reprieve. In Reading Gaol Wooldridge told the prison chaplain that he was filled with grief and remorse at having killed his beloved wife, and resisted attempts at a reprieve including a recommendation for clemency from the jury that convicted him by petitioning the Home Secretary Sir Matthew White Ridley for the sentence to be allowed to be carried out.

On the morning of the execution Wooldridge attended a service in the prison chapel, showed repentance for his terrible crime and was resigned to his fate. He was aged only 30 when executed. They had arranged to meet later that day outside Regent's Park barracks and, when Ellen failed to turn up, Wooldridge became highly agitated. He told the sentry that he was going to Windsor and that 'I'm going to do some damage.

His wife's neighbours, alarmed by screams, found Wooldridge standing over his wife's body in the street. Davies, an elderly tailor, died almost immediately. The weapon used, an open razor, was found in the street where Charles had thrown it. He had borrowed it from a colleague for a kit inspection 11 days earlier. On searching the house the police found 3 letters, one of which Nellie had written to her father, a commercial traveller living in Bath.

At the preliminary enquiry, held in Windsor, the jury listened attentively all day to the evidence presented by various witnesses but was out only minutes before finding Charles guilty of wilful murder. He was arraigned for trial which took place at the Berkshire Assizes in June, presided over by Mr. She also confirmed that Robert Harvey had visited Alma Terrace on several occasions but he had never stopped overnight.

After hearing evidence from other witnesses, including Mr Wyborn, the jury brought in an identical verdict to that of the earlier hearing but also entered a strong plea for the exercise of clemency. The Judge felt that the members of the jury had achieved the correct verdict given the premeditated nature of the crime. He also informed them that it was not within his remit to grant mercy.

He then donned the black cap and pronounced sentence of death. The Ballad of Reading Gaol [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Waterside Press. ISBN The Oscholars July ISSN Archived from the original on 15 June Retrieved 22 May External links [ edit ]. Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use dmy dates from April