by Nene Adams

Created on: May 27, 2008   Last Updated: May 28, 2008

"He has had to suffer for this deed,
And Justice she has held the sway,
By murdering poor Harriet Lane,
His life, the forfeit had to pay."
-19th century murder ballad

"A most fearful murder has been brought to light,
I'll describe it to you in the verses I write,
A poor woman's body cut up has been found,
Causing dismay Whitechapel around"
-19th century murder ballad

On the surface, Henry Wainwright was a respectable, hard-working, likeable man of the comfortable Victorian bourgeoisie. He had inherited his family's brush-making business at 84 Whitechapel Road, London, was a temperance lecturer and he lived with his wife and four children in an upscale house in Tredegar Square. But despite his personal and financial success, Henry had a questionable character and a secret a secret buried under the floorboards of a warehouse which would ultimately lead him to the gallows.

Next door to the brush-works was the Pavilion Theatre, which Henry enjoyed. He also enjoyed the pretty young performers, often arranging a quiet, short-term, romantic liaison with a girl who caught his eye. However in 1871, when he met the vivacious and beautiful Harriet Lane, an apprentice milliner at a dressmaker's, Henry fell in love. He set up Harriet in her own little love-nest in the West End; under the name Mrs. King, she bore him two children in the years he carried on his double life. Unfortunately, happily ever after began to sour. Harriet liked to drink, and she turned strident and demanding when in her cups. By 1874, Henry's business was failing. His debts were mounting. Harriet was constantly pressing him for money to support his illegitimate children, and threatening to expose their affair to his wife if he did not come through. Something had to be done.

As part of his plot to be rid of his mistress, he first asked his brother, Thomas, to court Harriet to lay the groundwork for a later disappearance. Thomas agreed, and began to woo the woman while using the pseudonym Edward Frieake (which, to add to the confusion, was the actual name of an auctioneer of the Wainwright's acquaintance). Correspondence was exchanged between Harriet and her new admirer.' It is debatable whether Thomas knew the truth of his brother's plan, or if he was an unintended accomplice to a murder plot. What is known as a fact is that the last time Harriet Lane was seen alive was at four o'clock in the afternoon on September 11, 1874, having told her family she was meeting Mr. Frieake' at 215 Whitechapel Road, a warehouse

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>