John Alfred Gell

John Alfred GELL (32)
Manchester
Gell lodged with Mrs Mary Miller (46) at Moston, Manchester, and for a time they had been on intimate terms. During the winter he was unemployed, and as a kindness his landlady and sometime lover allowed him to stay without paying until he found work. As spring neared, it seemed that Gell was making no efforts to seek employment, and eventually Mrs Miller tired of this and told him to find either a job or other lodgings. On 1 March he left the house first thing in the morning but returned at noon and attacked Mrs Miller with an axe. Her daughter, Isabella, called for assistance as Gell turned his attack on her. A nearby police officer was attracted to the house by the commotion and gave chase as Gell fled, arresting him a few minutes later. Mary Miller died, but Gell admitted he had intended to kill Isabella Miller as well, and then himself. He was convicted at Manchester on 27 April and hanged by Berry. As the drop fell, he called out 'Isabella Miller, I hope you have had your revenge!'

Also reference to him here.