Frederick Ballington

Frederick Ballington was convicted of the murder of his 43-year-old wife Ellen Ann Ballington and sentenced to death. He stabbed her to death in a railway carriage at the London Road Station, Manchester on 25 May 1908. They lived separately and Frederick Ballington had been of drunken habits. When he was in the railway carriage with her he put his arms around her and said: xxxqxxx We will have a kiss. xxxqxxx and at the same time stabbed her in the throat. The murder was seen by a number of other witnesses. Frederick Ballington, Ellen Ballington and their son had carried on a butcher’s shop at Glossop, although the business belonged entirely to Ellen Ballington. For the previous five years, Frederick Ballington's drinking habits had caused frequent quarrels, and on 3 May 1908, Ellen Ballington ordered him out of the house and he went into lodgings in Manchester. He returned home on 19 May 1908, but Ellen Ballington refused to have him and he went back to Manchester. On 21 May 1908 he met his son in Manchester, and asked that his wife should send him some money to enable him to find work in Blackpool. On 25 May 1908, at about 2pm, Frederick Ballington met Ellen Ballington in Manchester, where she had come as usual to buy meat, and he asked her for 3/- train fare to Blackpool, however, she refused, although she arranged to meet him later at 5pm at the railway station. They were seen entering the station together at about 5.15pm quarrelling, after which Ellen Ballington got into a carriage, whilst Frederick Ballington stood at the door. He then asked her for some money and she gave him something, but Frederick Ballington told her that 1/6 was no good to him, and asked for more to get some work. However, she called him lazy, and said that she had to keep the children and that he had to work. Frederick Ballington then said: xxxqxxx We'll have a kiss. xxxqxxx and then put his arms round her neck, however, she resented that. Frederick Ballington then said: xxxqxxx Now it’s goodbye forever. xxxqxxx As he was leaving the carriage she called him a 'scamp', and he turned round, drew out his pocket knife, and cut her cheek and stabbed her in the neck, severing the internal jugular. He then slightly wounded his own throat, however, it was described as a mere scratch. As Ellen Ballington lay on the platform Frederick Ballington kissed her twice and said: xxxqxxx Goodbye. It's all through eighteenpence for Blackpool. xxxqxxx He also said: xxxqxxx What I have intended to do for some time. I should have done it sooner. The best end to it. xxxqxxx Witnesses to the murder all agreed that he had been quite sober at the time. He was also said to have said at the station: xxxqxxx This is all through her not giving me 1/6 so that I could go to Blackpool and get work and she having all that money on her. xxxqxxx Ellen Ballington died before reaching hospital. The court heard that at the time she had been about 3 weeks pregnant. The court also heard that Frederick Ballington had previously left Ellen Ballington three times before. Frederick Ballington was convicted at the Manchester Assises on Tuesday 7 July 1908 with no recommendation to mercy and executed at Manchester on 28 July 1908.