William Thomas Aldred aged 54 a widower living in lodgings on Eaton Street, Clifton a couple of minutes’ walk away from Ida Prescotts house of 90 Manchester Road. Ida a widow had lived in the house for over 20 years with her husband John and children Irene and William.
It is said Aldred had been pursuing Ida for a relationship for the previous 18 months, how serious the relationship became isn’t clear, he was however a consistent visitor to the widowed Ida’s house.
Aldred had called at Ida’s house around 9.45 pm on February 16th 1920, the couple went into the kitchen. A disagreement of some sorts happened within a few minutes. 14 year old daughter Irene heard noises and an obvious fracas, the kitchen door opened and Ida bolted out the door holding her throat from which blood was gushing freely.
Ida collapsed beside the staircase where she very soon passed away.
Next door neighbor Tom Haslam who was on his way to bed had clearly heard Irene scream at the sight of her mother’s injuries. He rapidly went to number 90 to investigate and found Ida dead. Aldred suddenly appeared through the back door. He challenged Aldred and asked him “ whose done this mate?”. Aldred responded immediately admitting his guilt. Quite strange although Aldred readily admitted his crime he attempted to hide the razor outside, it was later found on top of an outside toilet of a neighbouring house. Aldred likewise proclaimed his guilt to a man named Penberthy and next to Moses Hully.
The three men escorted him to the police station. On the way to the station Aldred is alleged to have uttered the words, “ I’ve been courting her for 18 months and it’s her own fault I’ve done it”
Aldred was arrested and charged with the murder of Ida Prescott, he was accused of cutting her throat with a razor.
The inquest to Ida’s death was conducted at Pendlebury Town Hall, a significant number people were gathered outside waiting for the inquest result and to attack Aldred. The crowd made up of mainly women jeered and shouted and it took quite some time to get Aldred through the crowd and into a car sending him to remand in prison.
The court case was relatively straight forward in the May of 1920. The examining doctor at the time of her death testified her wounds could not be self inflicted. Aldred pleaded guilty in court though his counsel had him switch his plea. His counsel pleaded insanity as the cause of his actions and instructed the judge that Aldred had been a patient on a psychiatric ward twice and was clearly mentally disturbed. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to death. He appealed his execution, failed and was hung at Strangeways Prison in June 1920.
It does seem quite apparent Aldred was suffering from some kind of mental illness, although the judge during his trial remarked his actions were nothing more than jealously.
Ida was born in Clifton in 1875 the daughter of William and Ann Hardy. She spent her young years living at 132 Manchester Road Clifton just a few houses away from her marital home of 90 Manchester Road. Ida married John Prescott also born 1875 in Clifton in 1902. The couple had three children, Irene, William and sadly one child who died in infancy. John Prescott a bricklayer who worked at the local colliery passed away leaving Ida widowed in 1918.
William Thomas Aldred was born Burying Lane, Swinton in 1864 the son of William and Ann Aldred. His father passed away when he was a young boy. For a time he along with his mother, elder brother Samuel and younger sister Margaret lived with his maternal grandparents the Parkinsons. His mother later married Joseph Stockdale and the family moved to 45 Long Street, Swinton.
William a surface labourer at a local colliery married Mary Fitzpatrick a girl originally from Dublin in 1883. They first lived with Marys' mother Hannah Fitzpatrick at 517 Bolton Road close to Engine Brow and the Windmill pub. The couple had 10 children, unfortunately only three survived past childhood. Amongst the 10 children born were Ellen Fitzpatrick Aldred, Ellen Fitzpatrick Aldred, William, Jessie and Emma.
All research [c] Sue Tydd
The map above shows the location of Eaton Street and 90 Manchester Road just a short walk away.
© Susan Tydd
Please do not reproduce without permission
Please do not reproduce without permission