William Griffiths

William Griffiths was convicted of the murder of his mother, 80-year-old Catherine Hughes and sentenced to death. He cut her throat at Stafford Street, Eccleshall on 25 May 1923. William Griffiths had been an auctioneer's joiner and bill poster. For many years he had lived alone with his mother at Stafford Street, Eccleshall. William Griffiths had had for many years been addicted to drink and had been convicted six times for being drunk and disorderly, however, the last time was in 1915. Apart from his drinking habits, he was however given a good character by the firm of auctioneers for whom he had worked for 30 years. They described him as a good worker, obliging and courteous when sober, but when in drink, an absolute fool. On Friday morning, 25 May 1923, William Griffiths visited the Eagle Inn about 11am and stayed there until 2pm. He evidently had had a good deal of beer, with one witness putting it at as many as twenty half pints, but the publican, it was noted as usual, said he had only served him with four or five. However, the publican eventually turned him out as he was becoming a nuisance to the other customers. William Griffiths then went with a man to the auction yard, where he worked at putting up hurdles until 6pm, the time the pubs re-opened. It was noted that William Griffiths was very quarrelsome during the afternoon. He returned to the Eagle Inn about 6pm and, according to the publican, had one or two half pints, adding that he had been quite sober. William Griffiths also visited the Blue Bell public house between 6.30pm and 7pm, and had a half pint there. He then went to the Wakes ground and turned up again at the Eagle Inn just at closing time, 10pm. However, it appeared that the landlord refused to admit him, and as a matter of fact, his mother had gone there about 9pm to make a complaint about her son's conduct. After that William Griffiths appeared to have returned home. A next door neighbour, through a thin partition, heard William Griffiths and Catherine Hughes quarrelling, with Catherine Hughes complaining that he had spent his money on drink and didn't bring it home to her. Shortly afterwards Catherine Hughes was heard screaming several times and then moaning, and a few minutes later William Griffiths knocked at the neighbours door and said: xxxqxxx I've killed her. xxxqxxx He then walked away and gave himself up to a policeman in the street, saying: xxxqxxx I've done the old woman in. xxxqxxx He was also said to have said: xxxqxxx I have killed the old woman. I have cut her head off with a razor. xxxqxxx He was then taken to the police station. He was bleeding from a wound about 2 inches long on the left temple and he said: xxxqxxx She has struck me on the head with an enamel jug and has been telling the landlord of the Eagle I've been kicking her. xxxqxxx The police then went round to their house and on the table in the kitchen they found, among other things, an enamel jug, but there were no bloodstains on it. Upstairs in the bedroom Catherine Hughes was found lying on the floor with her throat cut from ear to ear. Apparently there had been a struggle and she had attempted to defend herself with her hands. The ball of her right thumb was cut off and her fingers were cut in various places, as if she had grasped the razor. The razor was found close to the body and the open case was in another room where William Griffiths had slept. At the trial, no evidence was called for the defence, however, counsel attempted to secure a verdict of manslaughter on the ground of the provocation he had received by being struck with the jug and also that he was so drunk at the time that he had been incapable of forming any intention to kill. It was noted that the medical offer's report stated that William Griffiths showed no signs of insanity whatever. At the trial at the Stafford Assizes, the jury found William Griffiths guilty, with no recommendation to mercy, and the judge remarked that the jury had negated both of the defences and concurred with the proprietary of their decision. William Griffiths was executed at Shrewsbury on 27 July 1923. 1923 July 24th: William GRIFFITHS (57) Shrewsbury A joiner of Eccleshall, Staffordshire. convicted of the murder of his twice married 80 year old mother, Catherine Hughes. Griffiths stopped a policeman in the street and told him I have done the old girl in!' The ofTicer went off to investigate and found her dead from a cut throat. Sentenced to death at Stafford Assizes by Mr Justice Roche on 4 July. and hanged by John Ellis and Seth Mills.