Lee George O'Donnell

NAME

Lee George O'Donnell

Status

Lee George O'Donnell was executed by hanging at Manchester on the 29th March 1917.

Background

Lee George O'Donnell was a Sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was twenty two years old. He was convicted at Hampshire Assizes on 9 February of the murder of a Lieutenant William Watterton at Aldershot.

On New Year's Day 1917, O'Donnell announced his engagement to the daughter of Lieutenant William Watterton, who was a quartermaster officer at a nearby hospital. Miss Watterton served in the Women's Auxiliary Service. Later that day, Miss Watterton obtained a night pass so that she could celebrate her engagement with a girlfriend.

After a night's drinking, the girls returned to Lieutenant Watterton's bungalow, expecting to find him home. He was not there and they decided to wait for him.

The offence

At 11.30pm, O'Donnell called round and said that the Lieutenant had left earlier that night for an urgent appointment. The statement implied that O'Donnell could have been at the bungalow earlier; his sudden return so late made the two women suspicious.

Shortly before midnight, O'Donnell left and headed for the hospital where he asked to be shown into the quartermaster's office, where patients' valuables were kept. He claimed to have been sent by the Lieutenant.

Unable to produce the pass key, O'Donnell was refused entry and he returned to his billet.

The next day, Lieutenant William Watterton's body was found in a trench on a nearby training ground. He had been battered to death, with over twenty four cuts to his head, and his pockets had been rifled.

Investigation and arrest

O'Donnell was arrested at once when it was learned that he had tried to gain entry to the offices.

While held on remand, O'Donnell offered a friend £250 if the friend would provide him with an alibi.

Trial

O'Donnell was tried before Mr Justice Darling. He denied the murder.

The prosecution said he had committed the crime in order to obtain the key to the quartermaster's office and thereby steal the valuables within.

O'Donnell claimed that the real killer was a man blackmailing Watterton over an alleged affair with a young Spanish girl.

Sentencing and execution

O'Donnell was hanged at Manchester in a prison uniform on the 29th March 1917. The execution was carried out by John Ellis and Robert Baxter. O'Donnell was hanged at Manchester “on the 29th March 1917 at Winchester,” as stated in the case summary.

Other details

O'Donnell was arrested at once after learning that he had tried to gain entry to the offices.