Thomas Foster

Thomas Foster was convicted of the murder of his wife 33-year-old Minnie Foster and sentenced to death.

He cut her throat in a back room at 15 Stainsbury Street, Bethnal Green, London on 11 June 1919.

Thomas Foster had been a chairmaker and had been married to Minnie Foster for 15 years and they had five children. However, he was known to have drunk frequently and to have constantly assaulted Minnie Foster and in 1917 she applied for a separation, but a Court Missionary persuaded her to go back on account of the children.

On 31 May 1919 Thomas Foster threw plates at Minnie Foster and knocked her down, and she summoned him for that. However, on 7 June 1919 he knocked her down again and made her nose bleed.

Her summons was heard on 9 June 1919, but the Magistrate persuaded her to go back to Thomas Foster, as before.

She was seen the following day, walking with Thomas Foster, and apparently on good terms.

The following morning, a neighbour heard a row next door and Thomas Foster say, 'Min! Min! You've been a wicked woman, you have worked me up to this and made me have a slur on my name. Now I have killed you'.

The neighbour then went in to 15 Stainsbury Street and found Minnie Foster in her nightgown on the bed with her throat cut. She died within a few minutes.

Thomas Foster's blood-stained razor was found on the mantlepiece.

Minnie Foster had incised cuts on her arm, wrist and shin as though she had attempted to defend herself.

It was heard that in his defence, Thomas Foster had made vague insinuations about Minnie Foster having led an immoral life, but that as a matter of fact she had been a decent, hard-working woman and a good mother to her children.

It was also later heard that Thomas Foster told a prison doctor that he didn't then believe his accusations against Minnie Foster, and that he had only believed them when he had been in drink.

At his trial his defence had been one of insanity, however, it was heard that there had been no evidence to support that. It appeared that he had had three uncles who had hung themselves, but the doctor found no signs of insanity, only the effects of hard drinking.

It was further noted that Thomas Foster had been sober when he had killed Minnie Foster.

Thomas Foster received no recommendation to mercy and his appeal was dismissed and he was executed at Pentonville on 31 July 1919.

Stainsbury Street has since been redeveloped.