Vol 14; No 17 Assassination

[Les1949]

HAMPTON, AROUND AND ABOUT

Things you may not know, or didn’t know you knew!

No 17 Assassination
……at Hampton Court

In June 1838, the Newspapers were full of stories about an assassination at Hampton Court. On the last Thursday in June, the Hampton Races had been held on Molesey Hurst. Hampton Races was always an occasion for betting, drinking and a good time for all attending. Later that day a tragic incident happened in the Hampton Court Palace Barracks. The 12th Royal Lancers were based at the Palace and were responsible for any disciplinary matters there.



At around 7pm, two Sergeants, Hamilton & Taylor had been despatched to arrest Private John Ricky who had been observed to be drinking heavily at the races and had also been insubordinate. Ricky refused them entry to his room, but then came out armed with two pistols, and fired at the two men. James Hamilton was hit in the stomach – Taylor was lucky as the other gun misfired. Ricky was apprehended and conveyed to the ‘Black Hole’. Hamilton was fatally wounded and died the following morning, however before he succumbed, he forgave Ricky.

On the Saturday morning, the Coroner, F J Manning, set up court in the King’s Arms and summoned a jury to investigate into the circumstances of the death of James Hamilto. Within ninety minutes, 13 local gentlemen had been brought together (no women, of course).

The coroner and the jury then proceeded to the Palace to examine the area where the offence had taken place. The reports, somewhat ghoulishly, described the trail of blood! Re-convening, Manning took evidence from other soldiers who witnessed the events. Following all the statements Manning summarised his findings that there was a clear case of ‘malice prepense’ (a deliberate intent). The Jury consulted for five minutes and returned a verdict of ‘wilful murder’. Manning ordered the removal of Ricky to Newgate Street Prison. As for Sergeant Hamilton he was conveyed to St Mary’s Church and buried in the Churchyard – sadly there is no longer any marker to record the spot.

At Ricky’s trial at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Park passed a sentence of death – without mercy. The sentence was later commuted by the Secretary of State to Transportation for Life. When Ricky was told of his escape from an ignominious death, he is reported to have said, “I am glad, but I don’t know what will become of me”.


The Old Historian