BECKENHAM, UK, 15 Apr 2012. 'Harriet' by Elizabeth Jenkins to be published on 19 April 2012. Originally written in 1934 and now out of print it deals with the Penge Murder Case of 1877. Photograph shows the grave of the victim, Harriet Staunton, at St George's, Beckenham.
The Penge Murder Case in 1877 was a cause celebre of Victorian Britain. Harriet Butterfield, the victim, was a well-off young woman with learning difficulties. In 1873 she met Louis Staunton who appears to have been a fortune-hunter and who married her in 1875 against the wishes of her mother. By April 1877 both Harriet and the baby to which she had given birth were both dead from starvation, seemingly ignored by her husband, his relatives and mistress who lived with them. Her husband, his lover, brother and sister-in-law were found guilty at the Old Bailey of murder by starvation in September 1877 and sentenced to death. There has ever since been doubt as to whether they were guilty of actual murder or just criminal neglect. A public campaign against the verdict at the time eventually led to Alice Rhodes, the husband's lover being pardoned and the remaining sentences commuted to penal servitude. This decision was important in the setting up of the court of appeal. Louis was finally released from prison in 1897 and married Alice who had waited for him. He died in 1934. This photograph shows Harriet Staunton's grave in the churchyard of St George's church, Beckenham. That part of the inscription which is legible reads: IN MEMORY / OF / HARRIET STAUNTON / WHO DIED APRIL 18 1877 / OLD: 33 YEARS / . . .
Size: 2848px × 4288px
Location: St. George's Church, Beckenham, Kent, England, UK
Photo credit: © UrbanImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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