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Murder of Harriet Staunton

SOLVED1875Penge, London, England2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
File:Harriet-Staunton.jpg
File:Harriet-Staunton.jpg — Credit: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain

Background

Harriet Richardson was the daughter of an Essex clergyman who died when she was twelve; she inherited £5,000 from a great-aunt's will and was reportedly of limited mental capacity. Louis (or Lewis) Staunton, an auctioneer's clerk from Streatham born around 1851, met Harriet through a family connection while involved with fifteen-year-old Alice Rhodes, whose older sister Elizabeth was married to Louis's brother Patrick Staunton. Harriet's mother, Mrs Butterfield, opposed the match and unsuccessfully sought to have Harriet declared a lunatic under Court of Chancery protection. Louis and Harriet married at Clapham in June 1875, after which Mrs Butterfield was cut off from contact with her daughter.

Crime

In March 1876, Harriet gave birth to a son, Thomas Henry. Louis bought a house, Little Grays, near Cudham in Kent, and by August was living there with Alice Rhodes, while Harriet and the infant were sent to live nearby at Frith Cottage with Patrick and Elizabeth Staunton. Mother and child were confined to a bare upstairs room, and Harriet was reportedly deterred from leaving by threats of violence from Patrick. An October 1876 escape attempt ended with Harriet being forcibly restrained and assaulted. In early 1877 the infant became gravely ill and was taken to Guy's Hospital on 8 April 1877, where he died the same day, severely malnourished and bearing a bruise suggestive of abuse. On 12 April 1877, Harriet was moved to a lodging house in Penge, arriving in a severely weakened state, and she died there on 13 April 1877. Her death certificate initially cited "cerebral disease" or "apoplexy."

Investigation

Suspicion was raised by Harriet's brother-in-law, Louis Casabianca, who reported concerns to police after encountering Louis Staunton at a post office. An inquest found Harriet's body filthy, severely malnourished, and infested with lice, weighing five stone four pounds; the cause of death was recorded as starvation and neglect. Louis Staunton, Patrick Staunton, Elizabeth Staunton, and Alice Rhodes were arrested and charged with murder, and the case drew significant public attention.

Trial and review

In September 1877, the four defendants were tried at the Old Bailey before judge Henry Hawkins. The defence, led by Edward Clarke, argued Harriet's malnourishment stemmed from alcoholism, and medical witnesses suggested she had died of meningitis and tuberculosis. The jury found all four guilty, and they were sentenced to death. The verdict prompted a letter to The Lancet signed by seven hundred physicians objecting to the treatment of medical evidence, and a public campaign, led by novelist Charles Reade, alleged bias by Hawkins. Home Secretary R. A. Cross reviewed the case: Alice Rhodes was pardoned and released immediately, and the other three had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Patrick Staunton died in prison; Elizabeth was released in 1883; Louis Staunton was released in 1897, maintaining his innocence, and emigrated to Australia.

Key facts

Victims
Harriet Staunton, Thomas Staunton
Date
1875
Location
Penge, London, England
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1875-06

    Louis Staunton and Harriet Richardson married at Clapham.

  2. 1876-03

    Harriet gave birth to a son, Thomas Henry Staunton.

  3. 1876-08

    Louis Staunton moved into Little Grays with Alice Rhodes; Harriet and Thomas sent to live at Frith Cottage with Patrick and Elizabeth Staunton.

  4. 1876-10

    Harriet attempted to escape from Frith Cottage but was forcibly restrained and assaulted by Patrick Staunton.

  5. 1877-04-08

    Infant Thomas Staunton was taken to Guy's Hospital and died the same day, severely malnourished.

  6. 1877-04-12

    Harriet was removed from the cottage and taken to a lodging house at 34 Forbes Road, Penge.

  7. 1877-04-13

    Harriet Staunton died at the Penge lodging house.

  8. 1877-09

    Louis Staunton, Alice Rhodes, Patrick Staunton, and Elizabeth Staunton were tried and convicted of wilful murder at the Old Bailey and sentenced to death.

  9. 1883

    Elizabeth Staunton was released from prison.

  10. 1897

    Louis Staunton was released from prison and emigrated to Australia.

Best coverage

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People

  • Alice Rhodes

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton; death sentence later commuted, and she was pardoned and released immediately after review.

  • Harriet Staunton

    VICTIM

    Died in a Penge lodging house on 13 April 1877 of starvation and neglect.

  • Louis Staunton

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton at the Old Bailey in September 1877; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released 1897.

  • Thomas Staunton

    VICTIM

    One-year-old son of Harriet Staunton who died of malnutrition at Guy's Hospital on 8 April 1877.

  • Elizabeth Staunton

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released in 1883.

  • Patrick Staunton

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; died in prison.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Archival records

  • File:Harriet-Staunton.jpg

    portrait victim

    File:Harriet-Staunton.jpg

    Credit: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Source

Places

Penge, London, England

51.4142, -0.0453

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Harriet Staunton died in a Penge lodging house in April 1877, days after her infant son died of malnutrition. Her husband Louis Staunton, his partner Alice Rhodes, and his brother Patrick and sister-in-law Elizabeth Staunton were convicted of her murder at the Old Bailey; Rhodes was later pardoned, while the other three death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment amid doubts about the medical evidence and trial fairness.
Where did the murder happen?
Penge, London, England.
Who was convicted?
Alice Rhodes (Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton; death sentence later commuted, and she was pardoned and released immediately after review.), Louis Staunton (Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton at the Old Bailey in September 1877; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released 1897.), Elizabeth Staunton (Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; released in 1883.), and Patrick Staunton (Convicted of wilful murder of Harriet Staunton; death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; died in prison.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in England

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Harriet StauntonWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSHarriet Staunton and the Penge murderThe Guardian · 2026-07-10