Kate Webster

Kate Webster killed Julia Martha Thomas to whom she had been employed as a maid at 2 Vine Cottages, Park Road, Richmond. After killing her she dismembered her body.

Kate Webster began working for Julia Thomas in January 1879 but was fired after she spent too much of her time in the pubs on 2nd March 1879 which was a Sunday. After firing Kate Webster, Julia Thomas went off to church and when she returned she went up stairs and as she was taking off her hat Kate Webster killed her with an axe.

After she dismembered the body and and started to cook the parts on the stove. During that she went out to the the local pub Hayhoe's. When she got back she put all the cooked parts into bags and then cleaned the kitchen. The next day she put Julia Thomas's bones into the fire and then went to the pawnbrokers where she sold Julia Thomas's gold bridgework. After that she went to Hayhoe's pub and tried to sell jars of best dripping made from Julia Thomas's body fat.

Later Kate Webster got a man to help her take a crate to Richmond Bridge which she dropped over the side and into the river. It was soon discovered by fishermen who opened it up to find Julia Thomas's remains.

Meanwhile Kate Webster had started to sell Julia Thomas's furniture and when a neighbour became suspicious and called the police Kate Webster fled out of the back door and left for Ireland. However she was soon tracked down and returned to the UK wher she was put on trial at the Old Bailey and convicted of murder.