John Conway

John Conway was a marine fireman convicted of the murder of nine year old Nicholas Martin. On 16th May, the boy's mutilated body was found floating inside a sailor's kitbag in Liverpool docks. The bag also contained a knife and a saw which police proved to be the murder weapons. The bag was traced to Conway, and witnesses came forward to say they had seen him and the boy together shortly before the body was found. Conway later confessed to the crime which he blamed on drink. He was hanged by James Berry on the 20th August 1891 in Liverpool.  He was sixty two years old when he died. Because of his age and frail body it was not a good hanging as the head was almost torn off in the drop.