Ernest Brown

Overview

Ernest Brown was executed by hanging at Armley prison in Leeds on February 6, 1934.

He was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Frederick Ellison Morton in September 1933. Ernest Brown killed Frederick Ellison Morton with a shotgun.

After a dispute involving Morton and Brown’s relationship with Morton’s wife, Dorothy Morton, Brown fired a shotgun outside the house at Saxton Grange. An explosion and fire then occurred in the garage. During the fire, cars were destroyed and Morton’s body was later found inside one of the cars. Morton had been shot in the chest.

Timeline

• 5 September 1933 — Ernest Brown argued with Dorothy Morton and struck her to the ground; later outside the house Brown discharged a shotgun, telling Mrs Morton and Ann Houseman that he was shooting at rats.
• 3.30 a.m. (following the events of 5 September 1933) — An explosion occurred, followed by a fire, in the garage at Saxton Grange.
• 9 a.m. (the next morning after the fire) — The garage could be inspected; police later found two cars in the garage and Morton’s body inside one of them.
• February 6, 1934 — Ernest Brown was hanged at Armley prison in Leeds by Tom Pierrepoint.

Background

Ernest Brown worked for Frederick Ellison Morton, a wealthy cattle farmer, at Saxton Grange, a remote Yorkshire farmhouse, as a groom.

Frederick Ellison Morton lived with his wife, Dorothy Morton, and his child at Saxton Grange.

Dorothy Morton was attracted to Brown and became his mistress. Brown and Morton’s relationship deteriorated and Brown left his job after a disagreement with Mr Morton over his duties. He left Saxton Grange, but returned within days and asked to be reinstated. Morton agreed and re-employed Brown, but Brown remained resentful about his status.

The offence

On 5 September 1933, Ernest Brown had an argument with Dorothy Morton and struck her to the ground.

After striking Dorothy Morton, Brown went outside and discharged a shotgun. He told Dorothy Morton and her companion, Ann Houseman, that he was shooting at rats.

Dorothy Morton and Ann Houseman became scared. When they discovered that the telephone was dead, they locked themselves in their bedroom.

At about 3.30 in the morning there was a loud explosion and the garage was set on fire. Because of the intensity of the fire, it was not possible to inspect the garage until 9 a.m. the next morning.

During investigation, police found the garage contained two cars. In one of the cars they found Frederick Ellison Morton’s body.

Investigation

Forensic evidence showed that the telephone lines had been severed by a knife that Brown had taken from the kitchen.

Forensic evidence also indicated that the explosion had been caused by the petrol that had been spread around the garage.

Trial

Ernest Brown was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Frederick Ellison Morton in September 1933.

His trial took place in Leeds.

The evidence included the discovery of the garage contents after the fire and the forensic findings about the severed telephone lines and the petrol around the garage.

Sentencing and execution

Ernest Brown, aged 35, was found guilty and hanged at Armley prison in Leeds on 6 February 1934.

He was hanged by Tom Pierrepoint.

Other details

• Ann Houseman was the companion of Dorothy Morton during the events at Saxton Grange.
• The phone became dead after the events involving the shotgun, prompting Dorothy Morton and Ann Houseman to lock themselves in a bedroom.
• On the scaffold, the chaplain told Brown: “You should use these last few moments to confess your sins and make your peace with God.”
• As the hangman was about to despatch him, Brown was thought to have murmured: “Otterburn.”