Hyram Thompson
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- 1870
- Age at first offence
- 52
- Characteristics
- parricide, domestic violence, drunken rage
- Victim profile
- Ellen Thompson (his wife)
- Method of murder
- Cutting her throat with a razor
- Date(s) of murder
- April 25, 1922
- Years active
- 1922
- Date of arrest
- Same day
- Status
-
Executed
Executed by hanging in Manchester on May 30, 1922
Name
Hyram Thompson
Background
Hyram Thompson was a Preston labourer. He had a violent temper. Ellen Thompson had applied for a separation order against him on many occasions over the years, but each time he successfully managed to persuade her to change her mind.
Thompson’s anger extended to his three children. The children discovered early in life that it was wise to stay out of their father’s way, especially when he had been drinking. His son told the court that his father was “a most drunken, lazy, wicked man” and that the family lived in fear of him.
The offence
On 25 April, Thompson came home from work and sat down at the dining table. He was already in a foul mood after a hard day at work.
When Ellen Thompson asked him to prepare his own tea as she was looking after a neighbour’s child, he flew into a rage. Ellen walked over to the table and struck her husband across the face. He rose from his chair, punched her to the floor, then as she lay stunned on the carpet, he brutally kicked her to death.
His anger still remained unsatisfied. He went to the bathroom, gathered up his cutthroat razor, then returned to his wife and slit her throat. The children found their dead mother when they returned home. Beside her, the young child she had been minding was screaming in its cradle.
Investigation, arrest, and apprehension
Thompson was apprehended in a nearby bed and breakfast.
Trial
Eighteen days after he had committed the offence, he stood in the dock accused of wilful murder. The whole proceedings took less than an hour. The jury did not even have to retire before delivering a verdict of guilty.
Sentencing
Thompson was sentenced to death by Mr Justice Branson.
Outcome
Less than six weeks after committing the murder, Thompson was hanged. He was hanged by John Ellis and William Willis in Manchester on 30 May 1922. Thompson was aged 52.
Aftermath
Hyran Thompson - May 30, 1922 “You know you’re in trouble when your own son calls you a lazy drunk and the jury doesn’t feel the need to retire to consider the verdict.”
Other details
- Ellen Thompson was the victim.
- The location of the killing was their home at Bamber Bridge.
- The offences included punching and kicking, and slitting Ellen Thompson’s throat with a cutthroat razor.
- A neighbour’s child was being looked after by Ellen Thompson at the time of the incident.
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