William Dove. as he appeared during his trial at the York Assizes, July 19th 1856.
[n.d., c.1856.]
Rare lithograph. Sheet 360 x 260mm (14¼ x 10¼"). Some creasing.
Half length portrait in profile of William Dove, a tenant farmer, while on trial for poisoning his wife. Dove (1828-56) was deeply disturbed: as a child he had tortured cats, chased his sisters with a red-hot poker and was kicked out of school for bringing a gun. Falling under the influence of Henry Harrison, a charlatan fortune-teller, he was told he would marry a woman with 'auburn hair, light complexion and a good fortune'. Believing this was a neighbour, he decided to kill his existing wife with strychnine so that he could follow his destiny. Ending up on trial, he wrote a letter to the devil in his own blood, asking for help. Although being clearly insane, he was found guilty and sent to the gallows: his execution was watched by an estimated crowd of 10,000.
[Ref: 58082] £160.00
Rare lithograph. Sheet 360 x 260mm (14¼ x 10¼"). Some creasing.
Half length portrait in profile of William Dove, a tenant farmer, while on trial for poisoning his wife. Dove (1828-56) was deeply disturbed: as a child he had tortured cats, chased his sisters with a red-hot poker and was kicked out of school for bringing a gun. Falling under the influence of Henry Harrison, a charlatan fortune-teller, he was told he would marry a woman with 'auburn hair, light complexion and a good fortune'. Believing this was a neighbour, he decided to kill his existing wife with strychnine so that he could follow his destiny. Ending up on trial, he wrote a letter to the devil in his own blood, asking for help. Although being clearly insane, he was found guilty and sent to the gallows: his execution was watched by an estimated crowd of 10,000.
[Ref: 58082] £160.00