John William Anderson

In August, John William Anderson, a young clerk, gave up work and took to drink. and as a result relations with his wife became strained. They argued constantly and she threatened to leave him unless he got a job. On 27th August they visited a neighbor and appeared on good terms. but later. when they returned home. another neighbor heard screams from their house. When the disturbance was investigated, Mrs Anderson was found lying in a pool of blood: she had been stabbed seven times. Anderson gave himself up immediately and freely confessed to the murder.  He was tried and convicted and sentenced to hang. The sentence was carried out on the 22nd December 1875 when he was hanged by William Marwood in Newcastle.