story of william hughes

On 17 February 1903 William Hughes, 42, was hanged at Ruthin Gaol and his body buried in the grounds.

Background

"Hughes was a native of Denbigh, who had enlisted in the army [Cheshire Regiment] when 18, and had served in foreign parts, including some years in India. Upon his return in 1890 he worked as a collier in Wrexham neighbourhood, and married the deceased woman [Jane Hannah Williams] who was his first cousin, in 1892. There were three or four children by the marriage."

(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February 1903.)

In 1901, after the death of one of their children, Hughes separated from his wife. Mrs Hughes applied to the Wrexham Board of Guardians for money to maintain their sons. Prosecuted for "family desertion" Hughes was sentenced on 7 August 1902 to three months imprisonment at Shrewsbury gaol. To provide for her family Mrs Hughes became housekeeper to Tom Maddocks, a collier at Rhossdu Colliery, and a widowed father of three

The Crime
Hughes was released on 6 November 1902. He "obtained a double-barrel gun, together with two cartridges" and early on 10 November went to Maddocks house:

"There he called for his wife, and upon her appearance he discharged both barrels into her body. The gun had been fired at such close range that the clothing of the woman caught fire, and her body was charred."

(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February 1903.)
Hughes gave himself up and was tried at the Denbigh Assizes, Ruthin, in January 1903. It was said that his family had a history of mental illness and "a plea of insanity was set up" by the defence. Although Dr Cox, "chief expert of diseases of the mind" at the North Wales Hospital Denbigh, declared Hughes insane, the jury took only ten minutes to find him guilty of murder:
"...the condemned man appeared apparently totally devoid of any feelings whatever of the terrible charge overhanging him, and when sentenced to death he coolly and collectedly thanked Sir Justice Bruce, the judge, and said nothing why the sentence should not be passed over him."

(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February 1903.)

Following the trial many petitions were organised and sent to the Home Secretary, but the sentence was upheld:

"I am directed to inform you that having carefully considered all the circumstances of the case of William Hughes, now lying under sentence of death in Ruthin prison and having caused special medical inquiry to be made as to prisoner's mental condition the Secretary of State has been unable to find sufficient grounds to justify him in advising His Majesty to interfere with the due course of the law."
(Communication between the Home Secretary and the High Sheriff of Denbighshire (Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February, 1903.)

County Of Denbigh Rules...
For the Treatment of Prisoners condemned to Death...

In all cases when Sentence of Death has been passed, and Convicts are left for Execution, the Keeper, or Matron, shall immediately on their return to the Gaol from Trial, cause them to be thoroughly searched, and shall remove from them any Articles which may be considered either dangerous or inexpedient for them, to retain in their possession.

The Cell or Room to which the Convict is reconducted after being Sentenced to Death, shall invariably on all such occasions be previously examined by the Keeper of the Gaol, who is to satisfy himself of its fitness and safety, and insert the result of his examination in his Journal.

In all cases when Sentence of Death has been passed, and the Condemned Prisoner is left for Execution, such Prisoner shall be placed under the constant charge and superintendence of an Officer of the Prison, both by day and night.

The foregoing Rules and Regulations have been perused in open Court of General Quarter Sessions, held at Denbigh, in and for the County of Denbigh, on Tuesday the 19th Day of October, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Seven, and approved.

 

By the Court,
JOSEPH PEERS
Clerk of the Peace.

 

"H.M.Prison, Ruthin [13 February 1903]
My dear Mother, - I sincerely hope that you are getting better. Although in great trouble, I am compelled to tell you that I have had no reprieve. I received definite news this morning to this effect. Well, dear mother, the chief and most important thing I have to depend upon is the Lord and his mercy. I will do all in my power to be at peace with my great Judge. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you in a better world than the present one... I am extremely sorry that I have caused you so much pain and unnecessary trouble. I hope you will pardon me, mother for all I have done. The Lord have mercy upon me, and may He also be a source of strength and joy to you in your old age. With my best and sincerest love to all, - I remain, your son, WILLIAM HUGHES".


"H.M. Prison, Ruthin Feb. 14th, 1903.
Dear Brother, - Just a short word to inform you that I shall not be reprieved. This information was conveyed to me yesterday morning. All that now remains for me is to endeavour to prepare myself for the terrible ordeal that awaits me. I sincerely hope that God will be merciful to me. I wish to thank you for all coming here to see me and for your kindness. If we do not meet again in this world, I sincerely hope that we shall do so on the other side. It is not my desire to write a long letter to you, and I therefore conclude with the most loving remembrances to you all. God bless you all. Yours truly, your brother, William...

 

Os gwelir fi, bechadur
Rhyw ddydd ar ben fy nhaith
Rhyfeddol fydd y canu
A newydd fydd yr iaith

Yn seinio "Buddugoliaeth"
Am iachawdwiaeth lawn,
Heb ofni colli'r frwydr
Y boreu na phrynawn."

(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February, 1903.)
The Condemned Cell
"The prisoner occupies as his condemned cell, two cells which had been knocked into one, and in which were a bed, table, and a stool. The cell was about fifteen yards or so from the scaffold so that he had only but a short distance to walk. In the wall of the prison a hole had been knocked through, which led on to the second storey of the gallows, so that the condemned man would walk direct onto the trap door and have no steps to ascend."

(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February, 1903.)

The Executioners
"Great curiosity was evinced both in Denbigh and in Ruthin to see the hangman Billington...From appearances no one would think for a moment the two quiet looking, pale faced persons attired in dark cloth suits, with bowler hats, were the men who would be chief actors in the launching of a human being into eternity... They bore absolutely no luggage - that had previously been forwarded to the prison to await them... Upon arrival at the jail Billington had hardly put his hand to the bell when the ever attentive warder inside opened the door and admitted them... Once inside the two men remained there, attending to every detail associated with the execution of the wretched man Hughes... Billington announced everything to be in perfect order before he retired early. Billington and his brother slept close to the condemned cell in which their prisoner was sleeping his last earthly sleep..."

(Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February, 1903.)

The Execution
The execution of William Hughes, on 17 February, 1903, was witnessed by six people including the High Sheriff. It was reported the last thing Hughes did before he left his cell was look at a photograph of his family.
"At 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning last, William Hughes, of Denbigh, was executed on the gallows within Ruthin Gaol for the murder of his wife at Rhosrobin, near Wrexham."

 (Denbighshire Free Press, 21 February, 1903.)