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Thomas Nash executed– for the murder of his daughter 24th of November 1885.
38 year old Thomas Nash was convicted of the murder of his six year old daughter, Martha Ann on the 24th of November 1885 on Swansea Pier.
Nash had been born in Pembrokeshire in 1847 and as an adult had moved to Swansea to find employment. He was married to Martha and they had two children, Sarah and Martha Ann.
His wife had died soon after giving birth to Martha Ann. On the 16th of November 1885 Nash had re-married without telling anyone. Nor had he told his new wife about his two daughters.
He moved out of his rented accommodation, leaving the girls in the care of his land lady, Eliza Goodwin. Eliza told Nash that she could not look after them indefinitely and asked him for money for their maintenance, which was not forthcoming.
On the afternoon of the 24th of November, Mrs. Goodwin took Martha Ann to the Swansea Guild Hall pay office where Nash was due to receive his wages, as he worked for Swansea Corporation.
He promised to pay Mrs. Goodwin in the next few days and she left the child with him. Nash and Martha Ann were observed by several witnesses leaving the Guild Hall together.
A little later, around 5.15 p.m. father and daughter are seen by several people on the pier, despite the fading light and blustery weather. A few minutes later Nash was seen leaving the pier but there was no sign of Martha Ann.
Nash had thrown Martha Ann into the stormy sea from the Pier Head where she drowned. Nash then attempted to escape but was captured by the boatmen who had been observing his actions and handed over to the police.
The same boatman now started searching for Martha Ann’s body and after a considerable time searching in the dark, her little body was found on the sand dunes hear the high water mark.
The inquest into Martha’s death was held at the Vivian Arms hotel the following day before the coroner, Mr. Edward Strick and a jury of fifteen men. Nash was present, seated between two constables. Martha Ann was identified by her older sister, Sarah.
She went up to her father and said, “How could you do it? How could you do it?” Mrs. Goodwin and some of the boatmen and policemen also give evidence and the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Nash.
Nash was committed for trial at the next Glamorgan Sessions which were held at Cardiff on the 9th of February 1886 before Lord Chief Justice Coleridge. The prosecution was led by Arthur Lewis and the defence by Mr. Glascodine.
Those who had given evidence at the inquest also gave evidence at trial. The jury required just 15 minutes to reach a verdict.
The clerk of the court asked the defendant if there was any reason why the death penalty should not be imposed and Nash replied "quietly but firmly: 'I am not guilty, sir." He was then sentenced to death and transferred to Swansea to await execution.
In the condemned cell he was visited by Sarah and continued to deny the murder to her. However, he did ultimately make a full written confession to the crime to Major Knight, the governor.
The sentence was carried out at Swansea at 8.00 a.m. on Monday the 1st of March by James Berry. A crowd of nearly 4,000 souls had gathered outside the prison to see the black flag flown.
The execution was reported in detail by the Swansea and Glamorgan Herald of Wednesday the 3rd of March. Berry pinioned Nash with his hands strapped in front and his elbows strapped to a body belt. The procession to the execution shed formed up and Nash was escorted to it by two warders.
Berry hooded him and placed the noose around his neck. Nash’s last words were “The Lord have mercy upon my soul”. Berry immediately released the trap and Nash plunged down six feet.
Witnesses noted that there were no movements of the body but the head was slightly over to the right hand side.
The inquest was held later in the morning and the prison surgeon, Dr. J. G. Hall, declared that death had been instantaneous due to dislocation of the vertebrae.
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