Age: 26
Sex: male
Crime: murder
Date Of Execution: 12 May 1903
Crime Location: Fulwood Barracks, Preston
Execution Place: Manchester
Method: hanging
Executioner: William Billington
Source: http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/
William George Hudson was convicted of the murder of Harry Short and sentenced to death.
He shot Harry Short in the head while he was asleep in bed at Fulwood Barracks near Preston on Tuesday 17 February 1903.
William Hudson had been out most of the night and returned to the camp the worse for drink and making threats to do for Harry Short. Harry Short had previously reported William Hudson for insubordination, disobedience of orders and striking a non-commissioned officer but at the court-martial he was acquitted. This caused a grudge for which William Hudson had been heard to repeatedly say he would do for Harry Short.
A gunner said that in the canteen after the court-marshal on 5 February 1903 he had heard William Hudson say that he would 'do' for Harry Short.
see National Archives - ASSI 52/80, HO 144/706/107446
see Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Saturday 25 April 1903
see Western Daily Press - Monday 11 May 1903
see Dundee Evening Telegraph - Tuesday 12 May 1903
see Lincolnshire Echo - Saturday 07 March 1903
see Derby Daily Telegraph - Friday 27 February 1903
see Homicide 1903
