A History of London's Prisons by Geoffrey Howse

Author:Geoffrey Howse
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781783030675
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2013-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

Notwithstanding Edith Thompson’s physical state at her execution (she had to be carried from the Condemned Cell to the drop by four male warders), the execution itself was not without incident and in its aftermath the remaining women to hang in British prisons were required to wear a special garment, in order to prevent a reoccurrence of the unpleasantness that occurred as Thompson breathed her last breath. When the bolts had been drawn by John Ellis and Thompson plummeted to a swift death, a copious amount of blood haemorrhaged from her vagina. Many of those present in the Execution Chamber who witnessed it were severely distressed, the hangman John Ellis included. Afterwards, because Edith Thompson had gained weight during her incarceration in Holloway’s Condemned Cell, despite a considerable loss of appetite, this caused some to speculate that she was pregnant. The fact that she was pregnant at the time of her execution was not mentioned in the autopsy report. Others have suggested that a previous self-induced abortion had damaged the lining of her uterus and the force of the drop had caused massive internal damage. Some have been quick to point out it was merely a particularly heavy menstrual flow. These assertions were being based on research conducted in Germany both before and during World War Two, where it was showed that menstruation was often interrupted by the stress of being tried and sentenced to death, but could resume on being informed of the actual date of the execution. After Edith Thompson’s execution all women executed in Britain were obliged to wear special canvas knickers, to prevent any such bleeding being visible.

Sir Henry Curtis-Bennett, Thompson’s leading counsel, commented after the trial and execution:

She spoiled her chances by her evidence and demeanour . .. I had a perfect answer to everything, which I am sure would have won an acquittal if she had not been a witness. She was a vain woman and an obstinate one. Also her imagination was highly developed, but it failed to show her the mistake she was making . . . In short, Mrs Thompson was hanged for immorality.

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