In 1885, Ann Sarah Scotney married William Hibbard. Over the next nine years, the couple had four children, two of whom passed away. By 1894, they lived in two rooms at Ann’s mother’s house, 77 Cooper Road, off Barking Road, but by now, there was little affection between them.
William Hibbard was a stevedore by trade but much preferred alcohol to work. His usual routine was to work just one or two days each week, keep his family on as little money as possible and spend the rest on drink in one of the local public houses. Once he was in drink, William also mistreated Ann, but he was always very careful not to hit her where bruises might show. Thus, he would strike her on the arms or body and only the family knew the extent of the injuries she suffered.
On Monday 30 July 1894, William came home for his lunch at 12.30 pm. His mother-in-law, Sarah Scotney, was in the kitchen at the time and she saw him go upstairs after he had eaten. Later, he left the house and there was little doubt in Sarah’s mind that he was heading for the nearest bar.
At around 2.00 pm, Ann Hibberd took her two children out for a walk. The eldest was able to walk by her side, but she carried the youngest child in her arms. She returned shortly after 3.00 pm, to announce to her mother than ‘Mr Bill’, the nickname she used for William, was misbehaving with some women in The Peacock, a local public house. William had been with Mr Green, the man from next door, and Ann determined to tell his wife what he was up to, but when she went next door, there was no reply to her knocking.
Approximately one hour later, at 4.00 pm, Ann took the children out once again. Sarah Scotney did not see her daughter again that day and the next she heard of her was when a constable knocked at the door, to say that Ann was in custody on a charge of stabbing her husband. The events of the rest of 30 July, were detailed by various witnesses.
Emma Massey was the daughter of the landlord of The Peacock, situated in Freemasons Road. Emma worked for her father, as a barmaid, and was on duty throughout 30 July. At approximately 2.00 pm, she had seen two men and two women come into the bar. Though she did not know them at the time, Emma now knew that one of the men was William Hibberd.
Some time later, Ann Hibberd came into the off-sales bar, with her two children. She ordered a quart bottle of gin to take home and a pennyworth of ale to drink on the premises. As the drink was served, Ann asked Emma if her husband was in the other bar. Even before Emma could answer, Ann had looked over the counter, into the other bar, and spotted William, saying, ‘Oh, there he is. I can see him.’ Ann then asked Emma if William was with any women. Emma, being rather tactful perhaps, said that she didn’t know. Ann drank her beer, took the bottle of gin, and left.
William and his friends also left The Peacock soon afterwards but, by 5.00 pm, he was back, talking to a group of men around the bar. Some time before 6.00 pm, Ann also returned to the bar, still with her two children. She immediately went up to the group of men and asked William if he would come home. William merely laughed. He then reached into his pocket, produced a penny, and said he would buy Ann a glass of beer. However, once the drink had been served, William picked up the glass and threw it over Ann. He then left the bar, followed soon afterwards by a soaked Ann.
Rather than walk home, William had simply strolled to the next public house, The Royal Albert, also on Freemasons Road. William was seen there by Eliza Smith and, a few minutes later, she saw Ann enter the bar, go up to William, and again ask him to come home. Though Eliza did not know the significance of the comment, she heard William laugh and ask Ann if she wanted another glass of ale.
Once again, William walked outside, to be followed by his wife. Eliza Smith left at the same time and Ann spoke to her on the way out, saying, ‘My husband is a beast to me. He earned nine shillings on Saturday, and gave me one out of it, but I will do for him with this.’ Only now did Eliza see that Ann had taken a knife out of her pocket.
Still not content to return home, William walked back to the first public house, The Peacock, where he was seen by Harriett Butcher. Yet again, Ann followed him in and asked him to come home with her. Yet again, William laughed in her face and encouraged everyone in the bar to laugh at her too.
It was not until after 8.00 pm that William finally left the public house, followed again by Ann, who was still carrying one child and dragging the other one alongside her. By 8.15 pm, they were walking down Freemasons Road, and walking towards them was John Barclay and Joseph Storey.
Barclay and Storey were in conversation, and taking little notice of the couple walking towards them. Suddenly, the woman lifted her right hand and appeared to strike the man in the left shoulder. As she did so, she shouted, ‘I will kill you; I mean it.’
The man staggered forward, fell to his knees, but then managed to drag himself to his feet. He took some steps away from the woman but she followed him, caught up, and appeared to strike him twice more. Only now did Barclay and Storey see that she held a black-handled knife in her hand. Even as Ann stabbed William, she still held her youngest child in her arms.
Ann Hibberd was soon taken into custody and charged with stabbing her husband. Unfortunately, William did not respond to medical treatment and died from his injuries on Wednesday 1 August. The charge against Ann was then amended to one of wilful murder and she appeared at the Old Bailey, to face that charge, on 10 September 1894. Mr Horace Avory and Mr F Gill appeared for the prosecution whilst Ann was defended by Mr Grantham and Mr Hall.
In addition to the witnesses already mentioned, the prosecution called William Green, the gentleman who had been drinking with William Hibberd on the fateful day. Green stated that he had first met William at around 2.30 pm and they had gone for a drink with two women friends. The two friends finally parted at 4.30 pm and the next time Green saw William, he was being taken from the scene of the stabbing, in a pony and cart. Having heard about the stabbing, Green then saw Ann Hibberd, with her children, at the corner of Garvery Road. She seemed to be very emotional and asked Green what she should do. Green thought it best if the children were taken home and began to escort Ann there but within moments, they had been overtaken by a constable, who arrested Ann.
That constable was Francis Kronk who said to Ann, ‘You will have to come along with me, to the station, for stabbing your husband.’ Ann had replied, ‘I hope I have killed him. I did it intentionally.’ Later, at the Canning Town police station, Ann also said, ‘I saw him drinking with two women. It was jealousy.’ When she was searched, Ann had a farthing short of three shillings and five pence on her person.
Constable Henry Taylor had also been close to the scene of the stabbing, and had gone to offer what aid he could to the stricken man. It was Taylor who took William Hibberd to the Seamen’s Hospital and helped the medical staff to undress him.
The doctor who had treated William was Dr Edward Phillips. He testified that William was brought to the hospital at 8.55 pm, in a state of collapse. He had a number of wounds, the most serious of which was one high on the left breast, just above the heart. Despite prompt treatment, William died at 4.50 pm, on 1 August. Dr Phillips conducted the post-mortem on 2 August and saw that the stab wound to the chest had pierced the pericardium and the right ventricle of the heart. In his opinion, considerable force must have been used in order to penetrate the clothing.
In the event, having listened to details of the way William Hibberd had treated his wife, the jury decided that Ann had received such provocation as would reduce the charge to manslaughter. They also added a strong recommendation to mercy. Having avoided the hangman’s noose, Ann was then sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.