Age: 21
Sex: male
Crime: murder
Date Of Execution: 28 Nov 1881
Crime Location: Sir Walter Scott Inn, Preston
Execution Place: Strangeways
Method: hanging
Executioner: unknown
Source: http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/1837.html
John Simpson murdered his sweatheart Ann Ratcliffe 16. He took her into the Sir Walter Scott Inn in Preston and cut her throat with a razor on 3 August 1881.
John Simpson worked in Preston in the office of a firm of solicitors and at the time of the murder was occupied in the District Registrar for marriages.
Ann Ratcliffe was the daughter of a publican in Preston. Her mother was dead.
John Simpson became a frequent visitor to the pub and engaged himself to Ann Ratcliffe but the father forbid the marriage and banned John Simpson from coming to the inn. However, they continued to meet clandestinely as many times as three times a day.
