James Henry Gibbs

Gibbs, James Henry

James Henry Gibbs was sentenced to death by Mr Justice Lush at Monmouth Assizes for the murder of his wife at St Mellons. On 3 June, Mrs Gibbs's fearfully decomposed body, partially eaten by insects, was discovered in a ditch in the grounds of a farm in Llanrumney Hall, near Cardiff'. Investigations led the police to her husband, a butler at the hall, and he was later charged with her murder. The state of the body made it difficult for doctors to be certain of the cause of death but Gibbs probably killed her by cutting her throat. as there was evidence of neck injuries on the rotting corpse. He protested his innocence and maintained fortitude in the death cell until the hangman, Marwood, called for him to leave. Gibbs then broke down and began to wail pitifully as he was assisted to the scaffold by two warders where he had to be held erect until the drop fell. This sad happening took place on the 24 August 1874 at Usk.