Samuel Crowther

As if to prove that murder has no age limits seventy one year old Samuel Crowther, an aged shoemaker was convicted of the murder of John Willis, a gardener, at Dudderhill, near Droitwich. Early on the morning of 1st August, Willis spotted Crowther stealing fruit from some tress on his property. He challenged the elderly thief who responded by pulling out a knife and stabbing Willis three times, leaving him for dead. Willis was able to crawl into his house and tell his wife that Crowther had stabbed him before he collapsed and died. Crowther was arrested later that morning. He was convicted at Worcester Assizes in November. The frail old man had no visitors while awaiting execution as his only living relative, a daughter, had testified against him in court. Crowther was lame and walked to the drop with the aid of a stick. He was hanged by James Berry on the 11th December 1888 in Worcester.