The low life of Herefordshire was out drinking its fill on September 30th, 1885. It couldnt in fact get much lower. Among the party were two women tramps, Mary Ann Farrell, 40, and Ann Dickson, 33, plus John Hill, 33, known as Sailor Jack, John Williams, 26, known as Irish Jack, and a handful of motley casual labourers.
Things took a turn for the worse when Hill and Williams volunteered to escort the two women back to the barn where they were sleeping rough. On the way they set about raping Mary and Ann, and during the sexual struggle Williams hit Ann over the head with a heavy walking stick a blow that killed her.
Williams tried to blame Hill for the murder, but both were convicted, and both were hanged on Monday, November 23rd, 1885, at Hereford Prison.