Amy Simpson's Life of Pain - Sheffield April 1914
1901 Census
The Simpson family were living at 95 Neville Street in the Burngreave district of Sheffield in 1901 and ten years later they were still in the same property.
1911 Census
Living close by in Neville Street were the Hibberd family but they moved away and in 1911 Census they were living in Kilton Street in the Pitsmoor district of Sheffield
1901 Census
1911 Census
Three years later in April 1914 the Simpson and Hibberd family's met again but in circumstances that defy belief. This is a report from the Sheffield Daily Independent dated Monday 20thApril 1914. It should be noted that Duchess Road where the Simpsons lived in a few miles from Whitehouse Lane, the home in 1914 of Horace Hibberd.
Sheffield Daily Independent dated Monday 20thApril 1914
A week later Horace Hibberd appeared in the Sheffield Police Court
Sheffield Daily Independent dated Tuesday 28thApril 1914
Due to the serious nature of the crime, Hibberd was sent for trial at the Yorkshire Spring Assizes where he appeared before Mr. Justice Atkin. The reprehensible demeanor that he exhibited at the Police Court a month earlier had vanished and he spent his time in the dock crying. He was found guilty and sentenced to ten years which I believe is the maximum sentence that could be applied at the time for the offence of grievous bodily harm. As an aside, earlier reports just referred to caustic substances being thrown into Amy's face but at the trial in Leeds it was disclosed that the chemical thrown was vitriol. Vitriol is an old-fashioned name for one of the most dangerous chemicals you can find: sulfuric acid. This substance is incredibly corrosive, meaning it eats away other substances due to chemical reactions
Leeds Mercury 5th May 1914
As Amy was condemned to a life of darkness and pain, the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star opened a fund for Amy and the response from the public was magnificent. The Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated Monday 11th May 1914 and the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated Tuesday 26th May 1914 give a list of the subscribers and an estimate of the total raised, over £1500.0.0 which is the equivalent of over £120,000 in today's money
Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated Monday 11th May 1914
Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated Tuesday 26th May 1914
As for Horace Hibberd he was sent to Wakefield prison to serve his ten year sentence. It should have been a far harsher sentence!
Admissions Book Wakefield Prison West Yorkshire
Marriage - 20th May 1918
But when I researched this article I found out that Horace Hibberd did not serve even four years of the sentence, This bridegroom in this marriage is definitely the acid-throwing Horace Hibberd (the age of Hibberd and the name and occupation of the father confirm). The only conclusion is that Hibberd was released from his sentence of ten years penal servitude very early. It must have been sometime before May 1918 - he must have been going out with Gladys Beech prior to his marriage and according to the certificate he was living at 14 Petre Street and was employed as a machinist
The next time I came across Horace Hibberd was in July 1934 when he contravened local watering regulations. It speaks volumes for the type of person he was.
26th July 1934
I am unsure about the next item. His wife Gladys is no longer living with her acid throwing husband in 1939 and has been replaced by a "housekeeper" one Charlotte Batty She is listed as married as is Horace Hibberd. She would eventually marry him in 1957 in Lincolnshire.
102 Kincaid Road 1939 National Register
As for Amy, the girl he blinded and disfigured, she remained a spinster and was still living at 31 Duchess Road in 1939. Her entry states "at home through disability". probably one of the saddest entries in the whole register!
1939 National Register
Horace Hibberd lived to 85 years of age before dying in December 1975. He is buried in Sheffield's Shiregreen Cemetery. One can only hope that he had an exceedingly painful and drawn out demise.
HIBBERD, Alfred (~, age 49).
Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on December 3, 1964 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 4599, Section D of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
Remarks: ~.Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 112
HIBBERD, Charlotte (Wife of Horace, age 68).
Died at Chartwell Fen Rd; Buried on March 24, 1961 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 4599, Section D of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Removed from
Washingborough.Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 67
HIBBERD, Horace (Retired, age 85). Died at 90 Green Oak Ave; Buried on December 18, 1975 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 4599, Section D of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
BEECH, George (Sheep Shear Grinder, age 43).
Died at 94 Bramber St; Buried on September 25, 1907 in General ground; Grave Number 2, Section G1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Remarks: Officiating Minister, C G Holt.
BEECH, Henrietta (Widow, age 77).
Died at 53 City Rd; Buried on August 2, 1941 in General ground; Grave Number 2, Section G1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Remarks: Officiating Minister: W Frith: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
BUTCHER, Charles (White Metal Smith, age 33). Died at Sheffield Manor; Buried on December 9, 1866 in General ground; Grave Number 2, Section G1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Plot Owner: Sarah BUTCHER of Sheffield Manor. Page No
CUTTS, Sarah (Widow, age 90).
Died at 32 Union Rd; Buried on June 3, 1921 in General ground; Grave Number 2, Section G1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Remarks: Officiating Minister, H Windross: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
HIBBERD, Gladys (Retired, age 67).
Died at Lodge Moor Hospital; Buried on February 17, 1961 in General ground; Grave Number 2, Section G1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Remarks: Removed from Sheffield Parish.
Notes
Amy's father Walter died two years after the attack on his daughter. He is buried in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery
SIMPSON, Walter (grinder, age 49). Died at 31 Duchess Road; Buried on April 5, 1916 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 3913, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Remarks: Officiating Minister A Puddicombe, Removed from Sheffield Parish. Plot Owner: Louisa SIMPSON of 31 Duchess Road. Page No
He was joined by his wife Louisa a year later
SIMPSON, Louisa (Widow, age 46). Died at 31 Duchess Rd; Buried on May 14, 1917 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 3913, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister W A Martin, Removed from Sheffield Parish.
Were their early deaths a consequence of Hibberd's disgraceful attack on their daughter Amy?
As a footnote both Amy and Hibberd were baptised in the same church Holy Trinity, Wicker.Sheffield
SIMPSON, Amy (of 12 Ct 1 H Neville St, born ~). Baptised March 25, 1891, by H C Knight Curate at Holy Trinity, Wicker.
Parents name(s) are Louisa & Walter (Jobbing Grinder). Godparents: ~ :Page No 99 :Reg No 786
HIBBERD, Horace (of 84 Neville St, born ~). Baptised January 20, 1892, by H R Deck at Holy Trinity, Wicker. Parents
name(s) are Jessie & John Joseph (Labourer). Note: ~
Sources
UK Census
Sheffield Daily Independent dated Monday 20th and Tuesday 28th April 1914
Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 11th May 1914 and Tuesday 26th May 1914
Leeds Mercury 5th May 1914
1939 National Register
Sheffield Indexers
This page was last updated on 30/08/22 14:12