Victorian Murder Case / The Death of Harriet Staunton - Part 2

Within 24 hours of moving into a house in Penge, Harriet Staunton was dead. A chance encounter in a post office meant that what could have been recorded as death by natural causes, was listed as a homicide. Harriet Staunton’s husband, his mistress, his brother, and his brother’s wife were accused of starving Harriet to death to prevent the truth from coming out. The prosecution had spent days presenting damning evidence against the defendants, and due to the laws at the time that prohibited the accused from testifying in their own defence, they could only hope that their counsel would save them from the hangman’s noose… (Part 2 of 2).

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Victorian Murder Case / The Death of Harriet Staunton - Part 1

A telegram arrived unexpectedly. Mrs Butterfield hoped it was a sign that her daughter was finally ready to speak to her again. She hadn’t seen Harriet in over a year, although she had tried unsuccessfully several times since then. The short message in the telegram dashed all hope of reuniting with her daughter. It bluntly read: “Harriet Staunton died yesterday at 34 Forbes Road… Will be buried today, Sunday”… (Part 1 of 2).

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