James Parris

James Parris was a twenty seven year old labourer from Offham, he was convicted of the murder of William Crouch, a boy of just six years old, whom he beat to death with an iron bar in a barn at Ryarsh on 11 June. He had committed the crime in a rage after the child's mother had failed to keep an appointment with him. After carrying out the murder he walked to the local police station and confessed. He was convicted and sentenced to hang.  The sentence was carried out on the 1st August 1876 in Maidstone by William Marwood.