For more than 14 years Thomas Fairclough Barrow had lived in Red Lion Street, Wapping, east London, with Emily Coates. By October 1902 he was 49, she 32, and their relationship had soured, their fierce arguments escalating to violence. Emily served Barrow with a warrant for assault, and when he turned up on her doorstep on October 17th she slammed the door in his face.
The next day she was walking down Glamis Road, Shadwell, when Barrow ran up from behind and stabbed her five times with a penknife, killing her instantly.
At his trial at the Old Bailey his defence was that he was temporarily insane at the time in question, having previously suffered sunstroke in the navy and having attempted suicide.
The jury didnt buy this. They found him guilty of Emilys murder, he was sentenced to death, and on DECEMBER 9th, 1902, he was hanged at Pentonville Prison.