James Simms

A former American seaman who was sentenced to death by Mr Justice Hawkins at the Central Criminal Court on 5th March, for the murder of a prostitute. On the afternoon of Sunday 9th February, Simms, now a pitman, was drinking with twenty three year old  Lucy Graham in the White Hart at Shadwell, in London's east end. Witnesses saw them quarrel over money, and Miss Graham was then overheard asking a William James to join them. James refused and went back to the bar, but as he looked over his shoulder, he saw Simms draw out a razor and run it across Graham's throat. Simms later claimed that he had killed her after she had stolen his wages on a previous meeting. Simms was forty three when he was hanged by William Marwood on the 24th March 1879 at Newgate.