William Kitchen

221

D Wong on 27th June 2019

Hampshire Chronicle Hampshire, England 6 Mar 1820: HAMPSHIRE LEST ASSIZES William Kitchen, for stealing a mare and colt, the property of Thomas Bone, at Boarhunt. The prosecutor missed his mare and colt on the 6th December, and on the 8th found him in Anvil Wood, near Romsey, by the side of the prisoner's cart. William Kitchen was listed as 20 years old on arrival. Native Place: Hampshire. William was 5'6¾"(looks like) tall, dark sallow complexion, black hair, hazel eyes. 7/3/1827: COF 30/4/1828: COF renewed. 1/4/1834: Permission to Marry Ann Campbell/Ann Swansey alias Swan - William was 34 and free - Ann (Earl of Liverpool) was 39 and on bond. 1834: Married Ann Campbell at St. John's, Parramatta. 29/2/1836 Sydney Herald: CORONER'S INQUESTS. An inquest was holden at the "Governor Macquarie" in George-street, on Wednesday and Thursday last, on view of the body of Ann Kitchen, who came by her death on the previous day, in the following manner: The deceased was the wife of a drayman named William Kitchen, who was greatly addicted to drinking, and had an improper acquaintance with a woman who lives in George-street, where he frequently visited, and where he was on the day the deceased met her death. His visits to this woman were frequently complained of by the deceased, who on the day of her death, followed her husband to the house, and words ensued between them relative to the woman in question which ended in the husband saying to deceased "I'll be hanged for you," which threat he followed up by striking her repeated straight-forward blows on the head and face with his clenched fist, which repeatedly knocked her down, beside, which, he several times lifted her from and dashed her on the ground. When he got her near to his house, which is in Harrington-street having knocked her down for the last time he lifted her into the front apartment, laid her on the floor, repeatedly kicked her, and to completed his brutality threw a bucket of water over her. His treatment of her was witnessed by several persons, who were prevented from interfering by the violent threats used towards them by the prisoner, who was at last taken into custody. When the constables entered the house the woman was quite dead, and upon Police Sergeant Callaghan asking who had occasioned her death, the prisoner stated it was he ; that he had not intended her death but merely to punish her for getting drunk and that when there was danger to be apprehended from her situation, he had immediately gone in search of medical assistance. The inquest sat from four to ten o'clock on the Wednesday, and from four to eight o'clock on Thursday, when the Jury found a verdict of Wilful Murder against William Kitchen, who was committed, on the Coroner's warrant to the gaol. 7/5/1836 Sydney Gazette: By our Supreme Court report it will be seen that William Kitchen who was tried yesterday for the murder of his wife, and pronounced guilty, is to suffer death on Monday morning next. 9/5/1836: William Kitchen was hanged. 10/5/1836 Sydney Gazette: EXECUTION.-William Kitchen convicted on Friday of the wilful murder of his wife Ann Kitchen, underwent the extreme penalty of the law yesterday morning. He was attended by the Rev. Mr. Cowper and met his fate with becoming fortitude. When the body had hung the usual time, it was cut down and sent to the general hospital, for the purpose of being dissected, and anatomised pursuant to the sentence. Owing to the heavy rain which fell about the time of execution, the number of people congregated were but few, comparatively with what are usually assembled to witness such exhibitions.