Robert Ward - “The Walworth Tragedy”. On the 3rd of October 1899 the Billingtons were in action at Newgate for the hanging of Frederick Preston. The following day, Wednesday the 4th of October, they were at Wandsworth to hang Robert Ward. Originally Ward was to be hanged alongside Frederick Preston at Newgate, but the High Sheriff had him transferred to Wandsworth as the crime had been committed in South London. Robert Ward was a 27 year old bricklayer who had been convicted at the Old Bailey, before Mr. Justice Phillimore of the murder of his five year old daughter Margaret Florence. A further charge of murdering his other daughter, two and a half year old Ada Louisa, was not proceeded with. Ward had been married for some six years and lived at 11 Boundry Lane in Walworth. He went to work on the morning of the 20th of July but came home at lunchtime. His daughters were playing outside. He took them into the house and his wife left on an errand. The W...