Bio

Frederick George Manning was born on May 22, 1821 in England. As a young man, he started working as a guard on the Great Western Railway. This job did not pay very well, and Frederick struggled with his finances.

In May 1847, Frederick married Maria de Roux at St James' Church in Piccadilly, London. Maria was born in 1821 in Switzerland. She moved to Britain and worked as a lady's maid for a wealthy woman named Lady Blantyre. Through her job, Maria experienced a higher standard of living than many people at the time. She developed a taste for luxury and did not want to return to a life of poverty.

Before marrying Frederick, Maria met a man named Patrick O'Connor. He was an Irish customhouse officer and was 50 years old when they met. He had money and was financially stable. Frederick was similar in age to Maria but he did not have the same wealth as O'Connor. Maria faced a difficult choice between the two men and their different lifestyles.

Despite some background issues, Frederick managed to convince Maria to marry him. After their wedding, the couple moved into a stylish home in Bermondsey, London. Soon after, however, Maria realized that Frederick would not receive the promised inheritance he had mentioned. She continued to see Patrick O'Connor. This relationship caused tension in her marriage.

Murder Story

Frederick George Manning was involved in a murder that took place on August 9, 1849. His victim was Patrick O'Connor, a 50-year-old customs officer. On that evening, O'Connor dined at the Manning’s home in London. During this visit, Frederick and his wife, Maria, had a plan to kill him. Maria shot O'Connor in the head, but he did not die immediately. Frederick then finished the job by bludgeoning O'Connor with a chisel. Afterward, they buried O'Connor's body under the kitchen flagstones, using quicklime to help hide the evidence.

The following day, Maria visited O'Connor's lodging to steal valuable items, including his share certificates. A few days later, two coworkers of O'Connor visited the Mannings, looking for him. The couple became nervous and decided to flee London. Maria went to Edinburgh with the stolen items, while Frederick went to Jersey.

Police soon discovered O'Connor’s body after being alerted by his colleagues. They traced the Mannings and arrested Maria in Edinburgh for trying to sell O'Connor's property. Frederick was captured about a week later in Jersey. Once back in London, both were charged with O'Connor's murder.

During the trial, which began on October 25, 1849, each tried to blame the other for the murder. The jury took only 45 minutes to find them guilty. They were sentenced to death and were held at Horsemonger Lane Gaol. Shortly before their execution, they reconciled.

The execution took place on November 13, 1849. A large crowd attended, with estimates ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 people. Maria wore a black satin dress, which later became unpopular because of the event. They were executed by hanging, with Frederick dying quickly. Maria struggled for a few moments before her death. Their bodies were left to hang before they were taken down and buried within the prison grounds.