Bio

William Sheward was born in 1794 in England. Information about his early life is limited, but he eventually became a tailor. He married Martha Sheward, and they lived together in Norwich. Their marriage faced challenges, particularly when it came to finances.

The couple often argued about money, which created tension between them. In 1862, William Sheward remarried. By 1868, he was running a public house in Norwich called the Key and Castle.

Although he seemed to have moved on with his life, his past would eventually catch up with him. In January 1869, while on a trip to London, William got drunk. During this drunken episode, he walked into a police station and confessed to the murder of his first wife, Martha.

He was arrested, and a search revealed parts of Martha's remains in various places around Norwich. William's case became widely known, leading to his conviction. He was executed at Norwich City Gaol on April 20, 1869. His actions from many years before ultimately defined his life and legacy.

Murder Story

On June 15, 1851, William Sheward killed his wife, Martha, during a heated argument about money. In a fit of rage, he stabbed her with a pair of scissors. After committing the murder, Sheward dismembered her body to dispose of the remains.

Initially, he buried some parts of Martha's body and boiled others to make them smaller. He then discarded pieces throughout the city of Norwich, including stuffing entrails down drains and tossing smaller parts into gullies.

For eighteen years, William managed to keep the murder secret. He remarried in 1862 and ran a public house in Norwich. However, on January 1, 1869, while in London, he confessed his crime at a police station. He revealed the location of his wife's remains, leading police to find body parts.

William Sheward was arrested and brought to trial for his wife's murder. After he was found guilty, he was executed by hanging on April 20, 1869, at Norwich City Gaol. His executioner was William Calcraft, who was known for his methods. The head of Martha Sheward was never found, and to this day, its whereabouts remain unknown.