Thomas Radcliffe

Edward Bly was a warder at Portland prison in Dorset. On 20 April he was in charge of seventeen convicts in a work party when he was threatened by twenty six year old  Thomas Radcliffe, a petty criminal from Wigan serving a seven year sentence, and another convict, after he ordered them to do some task. Later, while Bly wasn't looking, Radcliffe crept up behind him and struck him with a shovel. Radcliffe was then overpowered by other convicts and detained before the guards reached the scene and restored order. Bly died on 15 June from blood poisoning caused by the wound and Radcliffe was charged with murder. He was hanged by William Calcraft; on the 15th August 1870 in Dorchester.