Read Fatal Families - Unleashing the evil within (Infamous Murderers) for Free Online Page B
Authors: Rodney Castleden
eyes on Miss Reay.
Miss Reay was the attractive daughter of a humble stay-maker in Covent Garden and was serving an apprenticeship in George’s Court, St John’s Lane, Clerkenwell, when she was noticed by Lord Sandwich, who took a fancy to her. He took her under his protection, giving her a place in his household at Huntingdon.
When Hackman saw her, he fell in love with her. By this time, Miss Reay had lived for nineteen years with Lord Sandwich. Hackman meanwhile had lost patience with the army career his parents had bought him; he was not getting promoted. He then thought of entering the church. He took holy orders and obtained the living of Wiverton in Norfolk, but he was not to enjoy this living for very long – he would soon be dead.
Miss Reay loved music. Her protector, Lord Sandwich, indulged her with concerts at his country seat, and she also attended concerts in London. Hackman was still in attendance in the country, and he contrived to be not too far away in London either. Miss Reay, in short, had a stalker. Hackman had lodgings in Duke’s Court in St Martin’s Lane, which he used as his London pied-à-terre.
On 7 April, 1779, James Hackman spent the morning in his London lodgings reading Dr Blair’s Sermons. He had lunch with his sister and then, in the afternoon, he wrote a letter to his sister’s husband, Mr Booth, who was a barrister, to tell him that he intended to commit suicide. Why he did this is not clear. What did Hackman expect Booth to do with this information? Hackman was by now in a very disturbed state indeed. The infatuation with the unattainable Miss Reay had taken him over completely. In the evening he walked to the Admiralty, where he spotted Miss Reay entering a coach with Signora Galli. The coach took her to Covent Garden Theatre, where she watched a performance of Love in a Village . Hackman went into the theatre too, but was unable to contain his violent emotions. He returned to his lodgings. There he loaded two pistols, which shows a good deal of premeditation, and went back to the theatre. He waited on the pavement outside until the play was finished.
When the play was over, the audience drifted out of the theatre onto the street. Miss Reay appeared and was about to step up into her coach when Hackman stepped forward and fired one of his pistols at her, killing her instantly. The other pistol he turned on himself, but for some reason it would not fire. He then tried to beat himself to death with the butt-end of the pistol, which must rank among one the most futile attempts at suicide of all time.
There was a brief struggle while Hackman was restrained, and he was taken away to have his injuries attended to. He was then taken before Sir John Fielding, who committed him to Bridewell Prison. Hackman was then transferred to Newgate Prison.
The outcome of his trial was a foregone conclusion. The jury found him guilty of wilful murder, and Hackman listened to the judge passing sentence on him with calm resignation.
During the procession to the gallows at Tyburn on 19 April, 1779, James Hackman appeared to be in the grip of strong emotions, but he said very little. He climbed onto the cart, took his leave of the officials who had accompanied him, and spent a little time in prayer. After his body had hung on Tyburn tree for the customary hour, it was taken down and handed over to the surgeons for dissection.
Bartholomew Quailn
‘the wife-beater’
Bartholomew Quailn was a poor labourer who lived in the Fens. He and his wife visited a pub in Hadgrane in Cambridgeshire. He was seen carrying his infant child under one arm and a bag under the other, following his wife out of the pub. Not long after this, the two of them were seen quarrelling in the road. She was lying in the road, complaining bitterly because he would not give her the bag he was holding. They shouted abuse at each other for a time until Quailn was so incensed by her abuse that he kicked her very hard as
Miss Reay was the attractive daughter of a humble stay-maker in Covent Garden and was serving an apprenticeship in George’s Court, St John’s Lane, Clerkenwell, when she was noticed by Lord Sandwich, who took a fancy to her. He took her under his protection, giving her a place in his household at Huntingdon.
When Hackman saw her, he fell in love with her. By this time, Miss Reay had lived for nineteen years with Lord Sandwich. Hackman meanwhile had lost patience with the army career his parents had bought him; he was not getting promoted. He then thought of entering the church. He took holy orders and obtained the living of Wiverton in Norfolk, but he was not to enjoy this living for very long – he would soon be dead.
Miss Reay loved music. Her protector, Lord Sandwich, indulged her with concerts at his country seat, and she also attended concerts in London. Hackman was still in attendance in the country, and he contrived to be not too far away in London either. Miss Reay, in short, had a stalker. Hackman had lodgings in Duke’s Court in St Martin’s Lane, which he used as his London pied-à-terre.
On 7 April, 1779, James Hackman spent the morning in his London lodgings reading Dr Blair’s Sermons. He had lunch with his sister and then, in the afternoon, he wrote a letter to his sister’s husband, Mr Booth, who was a barrister, to tell him that he intended to commit suicide. Why he did this is not clear. What did Hackman expect Booth to do with this information? Hackman was by now in a very disturbed state indeed. The infatuation with the unattainable Miss Reay had taken him over completely. In the evening he walked to the Admiralty, where he spotted Miss Reay entering a coach with Signora Galli. The coach took her to Covent Garden Theatre, where she watched a performance of Love in a Village . Hackman went into the theatre too, but was unable to contain his violent emotions. He returned to his lodgings. There he loaded two pistols, which shows a good deal of premeditation, and went back to the theatre. He waited on the pavement outside until the play was finished.
When the play was over, the audience drifted out of the theatre onto the street. Miss Reay appeared and was about to step up into her coach when Hackman stepped forward and fired one of his pistols at her, killing her instantly. The other pistol he turned on himself, but for some reason it would not fire. He then tried to beat himself to death with the butt-end of the pistol, which must rank among one the most futile attempts at suicide of all time.
There was a brief struggle while Hackman was restrained, and he was taken away to have his injuries attended to. He was then taken before Sir John Fielding, who committed him to Bridewell Prison. Hackman was then transferred to Newgate Prison.
The outcome of his trial was a foregone conclusion. The jury found him guilty of wilful murder, and Hackman listened to the judge passing sentence on him with calm resignation.
During the procession to the gallows at Tyburn on 19 April, 1779, James Hackman appeared to be in the grip of strong emotions, but he said very little. He climbed onto the cart, took his leave of the officials who had accompanied him, and spent a little time in prayer. After his body had hung on Tyburn tree for the customary hour, it was taken down and handed over to the surgeons for dissection.
Bartholomew Quailn
‘the wife-beater’
Bartholomew Quailn was a poor labourer who lived in the Fens. He and his wife visited a pub in Hadgrane in Cambridgeshire. He was seen carrying his infant child under one arm and a bag under the other, following his wife out of the pub. Not long after this, the two of them were seen quarrelling in the road. She was lying in the road, complaining bitterly because he would not give her the bag he was holding. They shouted abuse at each other for a time until Quailn was so incensed by her abuse that he kicked her very hard as
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