Samuel Thomas Walton

Samuel Thomas Walton was convicted of the murder of his wife Isabella Walton 49, his 11-month-old daughter Esther Jane Walton and Mother-in-Law Isabella Young 53. He was sentenced to death.

After he cut his throat.

They had been married for nine years but had lived separately for most of that. However, they later tried to start over but eventually Samuel Walton threw his wife and child out of the house and they went to her mother's house.

Whilst there she decided to get a separation order and was granted custody of Esther Walton and a maintenance order of 10/- a week.

Before the first payment was due Samuel Walton sold all his possessions and moved out and bought a revolver and some cartridges.

He then went to his mother-in-law's house and told her that he had come to pay the first 10/- but would need a receipt. As Isabella Young went off to get some writing paper he shot her dead. He then shot his wife and child. Isabella Walton had been shot three times but managed to escape the house, however, she soon died.

His crime was noted as having been similar to that of George Place, the only difference being that George Place had shot his family after his wife took out a bastardy summons against him.

Samuel Walton was executed on 16 December 1902 at Durham Prison along with Thomas Nicholson.