DEACON, Edward

Edward Deacon, a shoemaker, had been married for nine years but had been separated from his wife at various times in the last five years, due mainly to his drunkenness. Shortly before Christmas 1875 they made another attempt at a reconciliation, but no sooner had they got back together than she threatened to leave if he didn't curb his drinking. On 23rd February, he borrowed an axe from a neighbour, at his wife's request, and began to chop some logs for the fire. Whilst engaged in the chore, his wife began to curse him, and in a rage he struck her with the axe. He pleaded that he had acted in self-defence after she had attacked him with a kettle, but the testimony of his step-daughter was enough to convince the court of his guilt and he was hanged by William Marwood in Bristol on the 24th April 1876.