William Dukes

Murder of Mr. GORDON; Bury

William Dukes for the murder of George Gordon.

Also reference to him here.

George Gordon and his father ran a successful furniture business which had warehouses in Burnley and Bury. Dukes was the manager of the Bury branch and part of his duties was to prepare the monthly accounts for George Gordon to assess. During August. Dukes got into trouble over his failure to produce the accounts and warned that if he slipped up again he would be dismissed. He was also cautioned for drinking at work. On the morning of 25th September. Gordon came to the shop to see the books. Dukes. who had been drinking all morning. avoided him but when Gordon returned again that afternoon, he had to face his boss and knew he would be in trouble. Later that afternoon, Gordon's body was found in a wardrobe at the warehouse. Police accused Dukes of beating Gordon to death with a hammer after he had been threatened with the sack. He denied the charges but later claimed it was an accident. Sentenced to death at Manchester Assizes by Mr Justice Charles on 4th December, and hanged by James Berry on the 24th December 1889 in Manchester..