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.
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. 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. 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: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. 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
