Age: unknown
Sex: male
Crime: murder
Date Of Execution: 21 Jul 1896
Execution Place: unknown
Method: hanging
Executioner: unknown
Source: http://greggmanning.scstamps.co.uk/Murder1/docm.htm
1896
July 21st: Philip MATTHEWS (32)
Winchester
A coachman employed by Teignmouth Council and convicted of the murder of his daughter. Matthews had married his second wife in 1892 and she cared for his daughter from his first marriage as if she were her own. In the autumn of 1895 he met Charlotte Mahoney and concealed from her the details of his family circumstances, leading her to believe he was a wealthy single man. He was so infatuated with her that he proposed marriage and when she accepted he had invitations printed. He was then faced with the difficulty of telling his wife, and when he did, she threw him out and refused to accept any further responsibility for his child. Matthews looked after the child but kept it secret from his intended bride and eventually it became a serious problem for him. On 7 April, a child's body was found strangled in a wood at Teignmouth. Enquiries soon led officers to Matthews who was arrested and charged with murder.
