Age: 34
Sex: male
Crime: murder
Date Of Execution: 18 Mar 1902
Crime Location: Lion Hotel, Westbury
Execution Place: Shrewsbury
Method: hanging
Executioner: Henry Pierrepoint
Source: http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/
Richard Wigley cut the throat of his girlfriend Eliza Mary Bowen 28, at The Lion Inn, Westbury, Shropshire on Saturday, 30 November 1901.
Notable as Henry Pierrepoint’s first hanging as chief executioner. Wigley, a 34-year-old slaughterman, and his wife had separated and he had started to pay court to 28-year-old barmaid, Eliza Bowen. Eliza Bowen tried to end the affair. On 30th November 1901 Richard Wigley walked into The Lion Inn public house where Mary worked and cut her throat with a butcher’s knife.
When he was arrested by the police he said 'I have killed that little woman. It's all for love. I loved her and nobody else shall have her'.
He was found guilty at Shrewsbury Assizes and hanged at Shrewsbury Prison on 18 March 1902 by Henry Pierrepoint and John Ellis.