THE TERRIBLE EXECUTION OF CHARLES PATTERSON FOR THE MOSS SIDE MURDER

 Charles Patterson - “The Moss Side Murder”.


37 year old Charles Patterson, described in the press as a coloured seaman, rented rooms at 86 Crondall Street in the Moss Side area of Manchester.  His landlady was 39 year old Mrs. Lillian Jane Charlton who also lived in the house with her three children but was separated from her husband.  It appears that there was a relationship between the two, beyond landlady and tenant, that had gone on for about twelve months.  There were frequent quarrels over Patterson’s lack of work and money and Lillian had filed three separate complaints with the police, including one for physical abuse. 


On Saturday the 29th of June 1907 matters came to a head.  When Patterson got home at 1.15 in the afternoon Lillian asked him for his rent money and he told her that he hadn't got any.  After a row he left the house and didn’t return until around 6.30 p.m.  Once again, the arguing began until Lillian ran upstairs to the bathroom, only to be followed by Patterson.  Her eldest son,19 year old George, who had witnessed the quarrel was in the yard cleaning his shoes when heard his mother scream.  He rushed up the stairs and realising she was in the bathroom, kicked in the door.  His worst fears were realised.  Lillian lay dying on the bathroom floor with her throat slit with a shaving razor.  George then ran to a nearby shop for help.  The owner returned with him to No. 86 but could see that it was too late to help Lillian.  PC Harry Meeks arrived and arrested Patterson at the scene who told him “I have done it.” He was taken into custody by Inspector Watson, to whom he gave a full confession, blaming the murder on his short temper.


Mr. Justice Channell heard the case at St. George’s Hall in Liverpool on Monday the 16th of July 1907.  Patterson pleaded guilty in a clear voice and the judge asked him if he understood the charge.  Mr. Justice Channell then asked if there was a doctor from Walton prison present.  Dr. Price was and went into the witness box and testified that he had a serious conversation with Patterson and as a result had no reason to believe that he was insane.  The judge said that he had made enquiries into the case to see if manslaughter would have been an appropriate verdict or if the prisoner was insane. He found no reason to indicate either and therefore sentenced Patterson to death. The whole of the trial proceedings occupied just five minutes.  

It was announced on Monday the 5th of August that there would be no reprieve.  It was reported that he behaved with the “utmost indifference to his crime and fate”.


Patterson was hanged at Walton prison at 8.00 a.m. on Wednesday the 7th of August 1907, by Henry and Thomas Pierrepoint.  Prisoner 3182 was a small man, just 5’ 2 3/4” tall and weighing 138 lbs.  Pierrepoint gave him a drop of 7’ 2” which proved adequate.  The inquest was held later in the day before Mr. Inglis, the Deputy Coroner for Liverpool.  Dr. Price the prison medical officer testified that death had been instantaneous.

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