Back in 1844 one man’s crimes led to the deaths of more than 20 people – but he wasn’t a serial killer. He horrifically butchered his family to death – but it was his execution that led to the death of 17 more people.
Here’s the story of William Saville….
Happy marriage
Saville came from Blidworth, and had worked as a farm labourer as a young man. However, he later became a framework knitter.
In his twenties he met and wooed a woman named Ann Ward. She was older than William and already had one child. They became lovers, and when Ann found that she was pregnant again, her family persuaded William to do the right thing and marry her.
It is believed that Ann’s sister had actually paid William to turn up for the wedding!
The marriage seemed happy enough to begin with. The couple certainly produced two further children.
Gone sour
But things turned sour, and after nine years of marriage, Wiilliam decided to leave. In January 1844, He abandoned his family and went to live in another part of the town. He soon found another woman and talked of emigrating to America with her, so they could marry. He did not tell his new lady friend that he had a wife and children, of course.
Meanwhile Ann and the children had no income at all and were forced to go into a workhouse.
Ann tracked down her errant husband, and somehow managed to persuade him to come back and take responsibility for her and their family. William Saville grudgingly agreed
but it wasn’t long before he regretted doing so. He wanted to go back to his new partner, but his family responsibilities were proving a real obstacle to his chance of a new life.
Slaughtered
On the last day of May, a Friday, he took his wife and three children for a walk in Colwick Woods. This might appear to be a kind act by a caring father, but it wasn’t a picnic that he had in mind. The only thing he’d packed for the outing was his cut-throat razor.
At about 12.30pm he killed each member of his family in turn by slitting their throats. He then went home and made himself a meal. He obviously found multiple murder a hungry occupation. Freeman, an ex-soldier, informed the authorities, and Saville’s fate was sealed.
His trial was held on 27th July and was a very short one. With the evidence from Freeman, plus his obvious motive, he was found guilty and sentenced to death.
His hanging took place on the steps of Shire Hall on Friday 9th August 1844. A public hanging was always a great attraction and tens of thousands came to watch.
People would bring their families, as it was part of their education to see a man die for his crimes. However, it has to be admitted that drunkenness and wild behaviour raucous laughter, swearing and shouting – were very common. Whether it was even a deterrent is arguable, because although theft could be a capital offence, a public hanging was the best day of the year for the pickpockets in the crowd.
A hanging in those days was not a long drop that quickly broke a man’s neck. It was a short drop, which could leave the man choking to death for up to ten minutes or more. The street outside Shire Hall – High Pavement was quite narrow and it was packed with noisy
spectators who had turned up to watch the morning’s entertainment. As the trapdoor opened, the people at the back of the crowd pressed forward to get a look. There was no room for those at the front to move forward, and they pushed backwards.
The resulting crush was horrific, and dozens fell and were trampled
After the authorities had restored order, it was found that there were twelve dead, incuding eight children and five more died of their injuries in the days that followed.
Thus the punishment of William Saville on that terrible day in August 1844 cost far more lives than the crime he had committed. He had killed four members of his family. At his execution, an incredible seventeen further lives were lost.
