Jean Pierre Vaquier

Jean Vaquier was convicted of the murder of 38-year-old Alfred George Poynter Jones and sentenced to death. He poisoned him with strychnine at the Blue Anchor Hotel, Byfleet, Surrey on 29 March 1924. Alfred Jones had been the husband of Jean Vaquier's mistress. Jean Vaquier had been a French hotel wireless operator and spoke hardly any English. Alfred Jones had been since August 1923 the lessee of the Blue Anchor Hotel at Byfleet. He had married his wife in 1906 and they had had two children, a son aged 18 and a daughter aged 15. His wife had helped him to run the hotel, however, she had been on the verge of bankruptcy and a Receiving Order was made against her on 10 January 1924. She had been at that time abroad, and on 9 January 1924 she arrived at the Hotel Victoria in Biarritz where Jean Vaquier was operating the wireless, and she made his acquaintance and they soon after became intimate. Shortly after they removed together to a hotel at Bayonne, where they lived together as man and wife for some days, and then afterwards went to Paris. On 8 February 1924, Alfred Jones's wife returned to Byfleet and Jean Vaquier followed a few days later and took a room at the Hotel Russell in London. On 13 February 1924, Alfred Jones's wife met Jean Vaquier in London, and having missed her train, slept the night with Jean Vaquier in his room at the Hotel Russell. The next day Jean Vaquier turned up at the Blue Anchor and took up his abode there. It was said that he appeared to have been quite impecunious, and Alfred Jones's wife on one occasion gave him a cheque for £14 with which to pay his bill at the Hotel Russell. However, he never seemed to have paid anything for his keep at the Blue Anchor, and the hotel clerk at the Hotel Russell said that his bill there of £1-12-9, was still unpaid. On 3 March 1924, Alfred Jones again met Jean Vaquier in London and they occupied a double-bedded room at the Hotel Russell. Jean Vaquier then returned to the Blue Anchor, but according to Alfred Jones's wife, that was the last connection that took place between them and that they never had connection whilst Jean Vaquier was staying at the Blue Anchor. Jean Vaquier alleged that shortly before Alfred Jones's death he lent Alfred Jones, at his request, a sum of £106 and also deposited with him a sum of £22 for safe custody. However, the police report stated that in view of Jean Vaquier's impecunious condition, that no credit could be attached to his statement, which rested entirely upon his word. On 1 March 1924, Jean Vaquier purchased from a chemist in Southampton Row, a quantity of chemicals which he said he wanted to use in connection with experiments. Among other things, he purchased .12 of a gram of strychnine, which was equal to 2 grains. He also purchased 20 grams of perchloride of mercury. For both of those poisons he signed the poisons book in the false name of 'J Vanker'. It was noted that neither of the poisons was of any use in wireless experiments. The chemist said that he delivered both poisons wrapped up in paper and not in bottles. On the morning of Saturday, 29 March 1924, Jean Vaquier, according to custom, got up early at the Blue Anchor. He had retired to bed early and appeared to have taken no part in the heavy drinking that was going on between Alfred Jones, his wife and certain customers at the inn. It was noted that on the morning after these debauches, Alfred Jones had been in the habit of taking a dose of bromo salts from a bottle which stood on the mantelpiece in the bar parlour. The bottle had been there that morning and it was noted that Jean Vaquier had gone down, before Alfred Jones and his wife got up, and had insisted in sitting there, even though he was advised more than once, to remove to the coffee room where there was a fire, and whilst the bar parlour was being dusted. There was also evidence from the servant that on the morning before he had been hanging about the bar parlour, where the bottle of bromo salts was, in the same way. Alfred Jones came down about 10am, got a glass of water, and poured a teaspoon of the bromo salts into the water, it being noted that it didn't seem to effervesce as much as usual, but he stirred it with a teaspoon and drank it off. However, he then exclaimed: xxxqxxx God, it's bitter. xxxqxxx And spat. Alfred Jones's wife then at once emptied some of the contents of the bottle on to her hand and tasted one of the crystals, which she found to be extremely bitter. She then said: xxxqxxx Daddy they have been tampered with. xxxqxxx She then at once gave him a dose of salt and water, which made him sick. Alfred Jones then went to the lavatory and then had a cup of tea with soda in it, which again made him sick, but about five minutes after swallowing the salts he collapsed and had to be carried upstairs, Jean Vaquier assisting. Alfred Jones's wife then at once summoned a doctor, but half-an-hour after his arrival, Alfred Jones died with all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning, convulsions, tetanic stricture of the body etc. Alfred Jones's wife, after tasting the crystals in the bottle, at once placed the bottle in a drawer in the kitchen dresser, and as she did so, she remarked to the cook: xxxqxxx Don't touch this bottle. I am going to have it analysed. Mr Jones is sick. Don't let anyone touch it. xxxqxxx According to the cook, Jean Vaquier had at that time been outside the kitchen by the door, however, it was noted that the remark of Alfred Jones's wife, although given by the cook at the inquest, was excluded at the trial . A little later Jean Vaquier came into the kitchen and said: xxxqxxx Medicine, doctor, quick. xxxqxxx Whilst at the same time pointing to a bottle of Kruschen salts that had been on the shelf of the dresser, in order to indicate what he wanted. The cook pointed to the drawer where Alfred Jones's had put the bottle of bromo salts and Jean Vaquier went to that drawer and then went out of the kitchen, and she said that she thought that he took the bottle with him. It was noted that there was a lavatory outside the kitchen, and that he could of course have rinsed the bottle out there. It was noted that he certainly didn't take the bottle to the doctor, for a little later, Alfred Jones's wife, at the doctor's request, came down to the kitchen and tried to find the bottle. However, it wasn't where she had put it, at the back of the drawer, and at last she said: xxxqxxx Here it is. I have found it. It was not where I put it. xxxqxxx However, that remark, although given at the inquest, was also excluded from the trial . The theory of the prosecution was that Jean Vaquier removed the bottle from the drawer on the pretext that the doctor wanted it, and having rinsed it out with water, replaced it in the drawer. It was noted that the bottle had in fact been washed out, but the analyst found that drops of liquid that remained in it contained traces of strychnine. Traces of strychnine were also found in the tumbler and on the teaspoon that Alfred Jones had used. The analyst found 17/30ths of a grain of strychnine in the organs of Alfred Jones's body, and allowing for what he may have got rid of when he vomited, on a rough computation, the pathologist said that he might have swallowed from one to two grains, or possibly a little more than two grains. At the trial the defence attempted to found an argument upon the pathologist’s statement that he might have swallowed more than two grains, namely that , inasmuch as the amount proved to have been bought by Jean Vaquier was somewhat less than two grains, it could not have been that packet of strychnine that was used to poison Alfred Jones. However, the argument was described, in any event, as a very poor one, as of course, the estimate was only approximate, and it was impossible to say how much poison was got rid of by vomiting, in such a case, and owing to the subsequent find of a large quantity of strychnine in the Blue Anchor after the trial, that argument really disappeared altogether. Jean Vaquier was arrested on 19 April 1924, two or three days after the police had received information from the chemist as to his purchase of the .12 gram of strychnine on 1 March. Both before and after his arrest, Jean Vaquier made many voluminous statements to the police, and was at pains to exonerate Alfred Jones's wife, although he hinted darkly at other inmates or frequenters of the Blue Anchor as having been guilty of the murder. At the trial, his defence was that on the second occasion on which he met Alfred Jones's wife's solicitor, who, according to Jean Vaquier was one of her lovers, or at any rate, one of her admirers, he asked him to procure him some strychnine with which to poison a dog. Jean Vaquier said that he told him he could obtain as much strychnine as he liked, and, as the solicitor had told him that he had no time to obtain it himself, he accepted a £1 note from him and purchased from the chemist 25 grams of strychnine, which he obtained in a bottle and delivered to the solicitor in a bottle. It was noted that 25 grams would have been equal to about 375 grains, or enough to kill about 750 people. The police report noted that it was an incredible story, and the chemist swore that he had not anything like 25 grams of strychnine in his shop at that time, and didn't in fact sell any more strychnine to Jean Vaquier than the .12 of a gram already mentioned. The solicitor was called at the trial, and absolutely denied Jean Vaquier's story. He also denied that he had been Alfred Jones's wife's lover or that he had asked Jean Vaquier to get him strychnine or that Jean Vaquier had bought him any, or that he had told Jean Vaquier to give a false name to the chemist, or that he gave him a £1 note for that purpose. The solicitor added that he had had nothing to do with the murder of Alfred Jones. When the judge summed up, he gave what was described as a very lucid account of the case, and was particularly careful in advising the jury to disregard, to a great extent, the evidence of Alfred Jones's wife. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with no recommendation to mercy and Jean Vaquier was sentenced to death. The Watkins Incident Following his conviction, as Jean Vaquier was preparing his appeal, he was attended on 9 July 1924, with his legal advisers by Major Watkin, who was acting as his interpreter. After the interview, Jean Vaquier privately told the Major that one evening: xxxqxxx Before these people left the Blue Anchor xxxqxxx And therefore, presumably after the murder, but before 3 April 1924 when Jean Vaquier himself left the Blue Anchor and went to stay at the Railway Hotel in Woking, he had seen a woman, either Alfred Jones's wife or another woman, go to a place in a passage or alleyway at the back of the Blue Anchor Hotel, and that he afterwards went to see what was going on and found on the wall behind a brick: xxxqxxx The bottle which he had bought and given to the solicitor. xxxqxxx The Major then at once reported that to the director and he instructed the police to search the place indicated. When they did, they found behind a brick on the top of a wall, two bottles. One was a screw top round bottle such as was used for holding Vaseline, and the other a small flat bottle such as was used for aspirin tablets. The round bottle was found to contain white crystals which were found by an analyst to be 23 grains of strychnine. The small flat bottle contained some colourless liquid and a few undissolved crystals. The whole contents amounted to about 6 grains of strychnine. The chemist in London denied any knowledge of the bottles or that he had sold any such quantity of strychnine to Jean Vaquier, stating that he was positive that the .12 of a gram of strychnine, which was rather less than 2 grains, had been wrapped in paper with a poison label on it, and that the 20 grains of perchloride of mercury, which he delivered to Jean Vaquier at the same time, was also wrapped in paper with a poison label on it. He also showed from his books, quite conclusively it was thought, that he had not had anything like that quantity of strychnine, 25 grains, in his shop at the time Jean Vaquier made his purchase. The two women referred to, Alfred Jones's wife, and the other woman, also both denied any knowledge of the bottles, or that they were hidden in or about the Blue Anchor. It was pointed out that it was worth noting that the analyst said that the Vaseline bottle could have, with a little tapping or pressure, held 25 or 26 grams of strychnine crystals. It was noted that of course there was nothing like that quantity found in the bottle, but that 23 grains was still a comparatively very large quantity in itself. The only point of any substance as a result by the defence at the appeal was that further evidence should be called in respect of that matter. However, the request to call further evidence was refused by the court upon the ground, ostensibly, that the Court would not allow further evidence to be called which was within the knowledge of Jean Vaquier at the date of the trial and had been then withheld by him. However, it was noted in the police report, that from their knowledge of the Court of Criminal appeal and the lines upon which they worked, that they were quite sure that the judges had satisfied themselves that the discovery of the large quantity of strychnine hidden in the precincts of the Blue Anchor, and the fact that Jean Vaquier knew it had been there, would not have had any effect on the verdict of the jury that he had administered the strychnine to Alfred Jones. The police report stated that they thought that the judges disbelieved altogether his story that he had seen the women visit the spot, and the report noted as far as could be seen from the papers, that it would have been very difficult for Jean Vaquier to have seen the women doing such a thing without himself being noticed by the women. The police report added that they thought that after the discovery of the 23 grains of strychnine, that the prosecution’s theory that was then that Jean Vaquier had possessed himself somehow of the very considerable quantity of strychnine and that his purchase of the smaller quantity from the chemist in London for use in his connection with his experiments, had been a mere blind. However, it was noted that fresh light was thrown on the matter in a letter that Jean Vaquier wrote to his sister after his appeal was dismissed, and which the police stopped on the ground that he abused his French advocate and accused him of having sold him. In his letter, in describing the proceedings at the appeal, Jean Vaquier said: xxxqxxx They did not mention the result of the inquiry which I provoked in divulging the fact which were told me on the subject of the small bottles hidden at the Blue Anchor when I was in prison. xxxqxxx it was stated that the expression: xxxqxxx des faits que l'on m'avait dit (the fact which were told me) xxxqxxx Was a curious one and didn't seem to tally with the version given by the Major of what Jean Vaquier told him in prison. The police report stated that it appeared then that what Jean Vaquier was then making out was that someone came and told him the story of the bottles hidden at the Blue Anchot, noting that there was no doubt that there were bottles of strychnine so hidden, and considered that it might well be possible that they had been put there by one or more of the active pressmen that had been frequenting the Blue Anchor for some time after the murder. However, it was stated that it was impossible to get to the truth of that. The police report added that they didn't think that it was advisable to ask Jean Vaquier to make his own statement on the matter in a petition, but thought that he might do so of his own accord. The police report stated that they had no doubt whatever as to Jean Vaquier's guilt, and added that there were of course no grounds for interference. The police report however noted that they felt that it was unfortunate that the Court of Appeal didn't allow the matter to go fully before them, adding that if, on the other hand, they had preferred not to so, that they might have publicly expressed their opinion that the discovery of the larger quantity of strychnine would have in no way effected the verdict of the jury. It was noted that in dismissing the appeal, the Lord Chief Justice concluded his statement with: xxxqxxx There is nothing in any of these grounds put forward. There is indeed nothing in the case at all except that it happens to be a capital case. xxxqxxx Jean Vaquier was executed at Wandsworth on 12 August 1924. The case was noted in part by the police for the activity of the press in their activity in interviewing people that were involved in the case, including those who were required to give evidence, with it being noted that their activity was likely to have had very considerable influence on those people and prejudiced Jean Vaquier and been grossly unfair to him. Sixteen press cuttings were taken from a general review, and in many of the articles it was shown that the pressed had been very persistent in their methods and had clearly followed the movements of the police very closely, keeping them under continual observation. Other cuttings regarding the symptoms of Alfred Jones prior to taking the Bromo Seltzer were stated could only have come from some person that would have been called as a witness at the trial, and that the information was being made known to the world before it had ever been heard in court. It was also heard that the press also seemed to know before the press that strychnine had been found in the dregs of the salts left in the bottle. It was also noted that whilst every effort had been made to screen Alfred Jones's wife and her friends visit to the Director after the discovery of the new bottles in the alley, that the press seemed to know of it on the same day, with an evening paper dated 29 April reporting it shortly after it happened, even though the women were given blankets to wear as they left a car and entered the building for the meeting. In addition to the news stories, it was further noted that immediately following the murder that the press swarmed Woking, and Byfleet, being very active at both the Blue Anchor in Byfleet and the Railway Hotel in Woking, so much so that they caused Jean Vaquier considerable discontent, and caused him to consider absconding, but due to him being French he found it very difficult and that as soon as he was removed to the Railway Hotel in Woking the press became very active there also. It was further noted that whilst Jean Vaquier was at the Blue Anchor and the Railway Hotel, that he told the press a great deal, although the police could not prove it. It was also noted that Woking Police station was also under fire with detectives complaining that whenever they arrived or left, no matter the hour, they always met a pressman. It was also noted that the press cameras were also very busy, with numerous photos of Alfred Jones's wife appearing in the columns, including photos of her with her widows weeds at Brroklands, whilst attending the inquest, at the hotel playing with her dog and with her little daughter. The police report questioned how the press were getting so much information and whether it was fair to allow the press to remain at either of the hotels, with the police considering it against the interest of justice, it being noted that they did eventually order the pressmen out of the hotels, which was justified by having been the discharge of their duty in the interest of the public. A police report concluded that it was felt that if such a state of things was allowed to continue in connection with a murder investigation, that it would result in some grave miscarriage of justice. Jean-Pierre Vaquier was only 45 years old when he was sentenced to death. His trial took place at Guildford Assizes on the 5 July where he was convicted of the murder of Alfred Jones. It had all begun while Vaquier was in France and had met up with the wife of Alfred Jones. They had enjoyed an affair but instead of it being just a holiday romance a few weeks after Mrs Jones had returned from holiday to the Blue Anchor Hotel which she ran with her husband Vaquier once again turned up only this time as a guest. Obviously Alfred Jones was unaware of the fact that his wife and Vaquier were already lovers. Vaquier informed Mr Jones that he was in the country on business and intended to use the hotel as a base. He stayed for six weeks without paying, everytime Mr Jones asked for money he would tell him he was waiting on a cheque from a business deal. Every morning Mr Jones would start the day by drinking a glass of health salts. He did this as usual on the 29 March but it did not taste right and he complained about the bitter taste, he was to die in agony a few hours later. Due to the suddeness of the death the police had the body analysed and it was found to contain strychnine. Vaquier and Mrs Jones were both questioned and a photograph of the Frenchman appeared in the evening newspaper. This photograph was recognised by a chemist from a nearby town who contacted the police to tell them that he remembered the man in the photo as a customer who had purchased poison. Vaquier protested his innocence throughout the trial but was convicted on overwhelming evidence. He was sentenced to death and hanged. Also a link here http://www.newcriminologist.com/article.asp?nid=351 Age:- 45 Date of Execution:- Tuesday, 12th August, 1924 Location of Execution:- Wandsworth Hangman:- Thomas Pierrepoint Assistants:- William Willis, Thomas Phillips Tried At:- Guildford Trial Dates:- 2nd - 5th July, 1924 Trial Judge:- Mister Justice Avory Crime:- Murder Victims:- Name:- Alfred George Poynter Jones Age:- 38 Location of Murder:- Blue Anchor Hotel, Byfleet, Surrey Date of Murder:- Saturday, 29th March, 1924 Method of Murder:- Poisoned (By Strychine) Relationship to Killer:- None