A printed list charting over a century of executions in Stafford provided a chilling highlight at a recent Cuttlestones auction, where it and other execution-related ephemera in the lot sold for £170 to a local bidder from Uttoxeter.
Spanning from 1793 through to 1907, the document offered a fascinating – if macabre – insight into the town’s criminal history and changing attitudes to justice.
The first entry dated from 1793, recording the executions of Betley and Ellis of Biddulph for the murder of Mr Ward of Yarlet. At the other end of the spectrum, the list closed in 1907 with two executions – J.A. Shufflebottom and J. Jones – for crimes that were not detailed.
Crimes and punishments
The register served as a stark reminder of how broad the definition of a capital crime once was. Alongside the many murder convictions, it recorded hangings for rape, forgery, highway robbery, house breaking, and even horse and sheep stealing. For modern eyes, the sheer range of offences carrying the ultimate penalty was a sobering thought.
Gruesome tales
The document did more than list names – it also preserved snippets of grim folklore. In 1812 William Booth, convicted of forgery, slipped and fell as he was hung. In 1816, the scaffold itself collapsed during the execution of murderer Ann Statham – one of the few women listed – making hers the last hanging to take place on top of The Lodge. Two years later, burglars Joseph Dace and Samuel Hames sang a hymn on the drop before meeting their fate. And in 1866 the rope slipped during William Collier’s execution for murder, marking the last time a hanging took place outside Stafford Gaol.
The most infamous entry
Perhaps the most notorious figure in the list was Dr William Palmer of Rugeley – better known as “The Prince of Poisoners”. Convicted in 1856 for the strychnine murder of his friend John Cook, Palmer was suspected of having killed several others, including members of his own family, for financial gain. His trial caused a sensation, with Charles Dickens branding him “the greatest villain that ever stood in the Old Bailey”. Palmer’s execution at Stafford was one of the most infamous of the Victorian age.
A macabre look back
Believed to be a tourism piece dating back to the mid-20th century, the list was part of a lot that included other ephemera related to executions; providing an interesting glimpse into our judicial past. It unsurprisingly created quite a storm on local social media groups ahead of the auction; ultimately being secured by a bidder from Uttoxeter for £170, ensuring that this interesting piece of Staffordshire history has remained close to home.
Cuttlestones is now inviting consignments for future specialist sales. To find out what your antiques or collectables could be worth, send images via WhatsApp to 07949 603872, email valuations@cuttlestones.co.uk, or call 01785 714905 to arrange a free, no-obligation valuation.
