Kate Webster’s confession, Wandsworth Prison, 28 July 1879

KATE WEBSTER’S CONFESSION.

The subjoined official communication was sent to the Secretary of State by the Governor of the House of Correction, Wandsworth, announcing that the convict Webster had confessed her crime:

“H. M. Prison, Wandsworth, July 28, 1879 (10 a.m.) [so printed; “p.m.”?]

“Sir—I have the honour to inform you that the condemned prisoner, Catherine Webster, has this evening made a confession to her priest, the Rev. Michael M’Enery (whose attention to her spiritual wants has been incessant and most earnest), that she alone committed the act for which she is to suffer; that it was done in a passion to which she was excited by her mistress’s manner, and also having at the time she so committed it been excited by drink. She pushed Mrs. Thomas down the stairs and strangled her below. The sequel to endeavour to hide the crime is already known.

“Feeling that this fact of confession ought to be brought to your notice at the earliest moment, I must plead my excuse for venturing to address you.—I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,

“H. G. COLVILLE, Governor.

“To the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whitehall, S.W.”

The following is the full text of the confession of Catherine Webster, of which we gave an epitome yesterday:

“Wandsworth Prison, July 28, 1879.

“Final Statement of the prisoner, Catherine Webster, under sentence of death in her Majesty’s prison at Wandsworth.

“I made a statement in the presence of the wardress to Mr. O’Brien, my solicitor, on July 10, and a second statement in the presence of the wardress to my said solicitor, Mr. O’Brien, on July 17, both in reference to the Richmond murder. These statements were untrue in many ways, especially that portion of them which referred to the murder of Mrs. Thomas, and the man Strong, who I named in the last one; and I am now informed by Mr. O’Brien, my solicitor, that the memorial presented on my behalf has not been successful, and that I will be executed at nine o’clock on Tuesday, the 29th inst.

I see, therefore, that there is no visible hope for a respite of my sentence, and I am advised by him, and feel that I am bound in the sight of Almighty God to clear everyone of suspicion, and especially those whose names were mentioned in my said statements, before I die, which I am now happy in doing.

In the first place I heartily beg God’s forgiveness and mercy for the numerous falsehoods I have told throughout this unfortunate case, especially because they affected the character and reputation of persons whose names are mentioned, and, secondly, because of the injury they have done to myself in the sight of Almighty God, whose mercy and forgiveness I have no doubt of having obtained.

Since the day I was arrested I was always in dread of the consequences of the crime, and although I had all the assistance of my solicitor, who exercised every possible means, both before and after my trial, to rescue me from my untimely end, yet I had my doubts that I should escape the penalty which I must now pay to the law. I was inwardly unhappy throughout, but bore up under such a terrible trial with the greatest fortitude and courage I possibly could; but when I was approaching the day of my execution, and fearing that nothing could be done to save me, I immediately requested the Governor to send for Mr. O’Brien, my solicitor, that I might open my mind and reveal all things to him immediately, without the slightest hesitation or reserve, which I now proceed to do, knowing well that I have no hope of mercy in this world.

“With respect to the death of Mrs. Thomas, the circumstances surrounding the murder of that lady are as follows:

“I entered that lady’s service in the month of January, 187[9?]. [The last figure is unclear; she entered Mrs Thomas’s service in January 1879.] At first I thought her a nice old lady that I might be comfortable and happy with; but I found her very trying, and used to do many things to annoy me during my work. When I had finished my work in my rooms she used to go over it after me and point out places where she said I did not clean, alleging that I had not done my work properly, and showing evidence of a nasty spirit towards me. This sort of conduct towards me by Mrs. Thomas made me feel an ill-feeling for her, but at this time never an ill-feeling to murder her.

I afterwards had an altercation with her, and we mutually arranged that I should leave her service, and she made an entry to this effect in a memorandum book.