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Murder
- the bloodier the better - always made good material for the authors
of the 'penny dreadfuls' the broadsheets published to mark interesting
events.
One
such publication told in rhyme the story of a dreadful murder on
Midsummer Common, Cambridge, which read:
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'Poor
Emma Rolfe,
Thy fate was dreadful,
For vengeance now, your blood it cries.
We hope your precious soul's in heaven,
Far away
in your blue skies.'
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No
young lovers' meeting...
At
9.30pm on the night of Thursday 24th August 1876 Emma Rolfe, aged
16, met up with Robert Browning, aged 25, near Four Lamps in Maids
Causeway, Cambridge.
But
this was no young lovers' meeting. Emma was in the habit of selling
her favours to anyone with a spare shilling.
Browning
was employed as a tailor in Covent Garden, off Mill Road. He lived
with his parents and a brother and seemed to have been in the habit
of spending his evenings drinking and seeking the company of young
women of easy virtue, for which pleasures he was to pay a heavy
price.
Emma was in the habit of selling her favours to anyone with
a spare shilling  |
On
the fateful evening he had worked with his brother to finish a pair
of trousers for local trader
Mr Ward, who had promised them five shillings if they finished on
time.
The
Browning brothers completed the task and set off to spend the money
on drink. At about 8.30pm Robert Browning parted company from his
brother at the end of Bradmore Street and went home for supper.
Go
to bed instead
At
this time he must have been brooding over something, for he ate
very little and then told his mother he was going out. With
perhaps a mother's instinct for his mood, she advised him not to,
saying he had been out the three nights before.
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Browning took the razor from his pocket and slashed Emma's throat
from ear to ear |
She
advised him to go to bed, but instead Browning lit a candle and
went and fetched a cut-throat razor, placing it in his overcoat
pocket.
He
then left the house and went to a public house known as Canham's
in Fair Street where he had more to drink. He walked from the pub
to Four Lamps where he met not only Emma Rolfe but another girl.
Browning
later stated in evidence at his trial that he told them he didn't
want two women. Emma's companion then left and Browning and Emma
went onto Midsummer Common, in the area known as Butts Green.
He
had promised Emma a shilling to go with him but no money changed
hands.
A
gruesome act
No
sooner were the couple immersed in the darkness of the common, than
Browning took the razor from his pocket and slashed Emma's throat
from ear to ear, nearly severing her head from her shoulders.
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PC Wheel... heard a dreadful shriek from the common |
Browning
then walked to the Garrick Inn and had a glass of ale, his appearance
and behaviour causing some notice among the clientele. He left after
only a short time and was walking in the direction of home when
he came upon PC Wheel who was in the area, having heard a dreadful
shriek from the common.
Upon
seeing the constable, Browning promptly gave himself into custody,
telling the officer that he had murdered a woman.
At
first he was not believed, so took PC Wheel to where his unfortunate
victim lay dead. He handed the razor to the constable and showed
him his blood-stained hands. A
man named Southall, a traveller lodging at the Garrick Inn, assisted
the constable with his prisoner, who was taken to the police station.
A
killer disease
Browning
said at this time that he had killed Emma because she had robbed
him of a shilling and he carried the razor with him as a matter
of habit.
However,
Browning later made a written statement confessing the true reason
for his dreadful crime. He wrote:
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"I
went out of the house intending to kill the girl I went to
Royston with and who gave me the disease."
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Clearly,
Emma Rolfe was not that girl and was merely an unfortunate substitute
target for Browning's resentment.
A
very public inquest
Emma's
body had been taken to the Fort St George public house on Midsummer
Common and it was there that the inquest was held on 25th August
1876. The coroner's jury returned a verdict that her death was as
a result of wilful murder by Robert Browning.
On
29th August, Browning was brought before the Mayor of the borough
of Cambridge and other magistrates and committed for trial before
Mr Justice Lush, to be held at Norwich on 29th November 1876.
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Browning was taken to the scaffold, which had been erected at
the gaol |
At
his trial Browning made little effort to defend himself, and seemed
resigned to his fate. He was sentenced to death with a recommendation
of clemency from the jury 'on behalf of his youth.'
The
judge held out little hope of the prisoner's life being spared.
Browning
was taken to Cambridge borough gaol from Norwich gaol, where he
awaited his trial. He was seen by Dr Briscoe, Inspector of Prisons,
who had been sent by the home office.
No
clemency for the young killer
Browning
was interviewed at length to see if there was any reason why he
should not be executed. Dr Biscoe's report was sent to the Home
Secretary, who replied that he could not see any circumstances that
would justify his interfering with the due course of law.
At
a few minutes before 8.00am on 15th December 1876 Browning was taken
to the scaffold, which had been erected at the gaol.
The
executioner, Marwood, had adapted the apparatus by having a pit
three feet deep dug beneath it. He
had allowed a drop of six feet ten inches, on account of Browning
being 'of light stature.'
From
Cambridgeshire Crimes
© John Bell 1994 ISBN: 1899558004
If you would like a copy of Cambridgeshire Crimes, you can contact
John Bell, the author on tel: 01487 822123
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