On the evening of February 9th, 1928, Alfred Webb, his son Clifford, and their family friend Frank Sweeney were returning to the Webbs’ flat at number 20 Pembridge Square.
Mr. Webb was a well-to-do West London accountant. He was no stranger to affluence and prosperity. He was, however, a stranger to danger.
Upon returning to the flat, the Webb party found that it had been broken into and ransacked. The intruder had gained entry by breaking a glass panel in the door. Clifford and Sweeney were sent to fetch the police while Alfred stayed behind. Little did he know, the intruder was still in the flat.
The intruder was cornered. His exit was blocked by the man at the door. The intruder chose to shoot his way out and run from the building. Clifford, just down the street, heard the shot and saw a dark figure take off into the night.
Police found Alfred suffering from a gun shot wound in his open doorway. Quickly they got him to hospital, where he died of his injury.
Police were quick to begin their investigation. They began by going door-to-door and making enquiries about the stranger seen fleeing into the night. They learned from a neighbour that a man had knocked on her door saying he was from ‘Warwick Garage’. The man asked to speak to the household chauffeur. Seeing as the woman did not have a chauffeur in her employ, she sent the man on his way. She gave the police as detailed a description as possible.
Police were perplexed. The couldn’t find any garage by that name. They were convinced, though, that they were on the search for a professional thief. A thief who took every opportunity to look for an easy target. An empty, upscale flat was a perfect target. Then, an officer seemed to remember something. ‘Warwick’, he said, struck a bell.
The officer recalled that he knew of a skilled houserbreaker by the name of Frederick Stewart who lived at Warwick Mews. He was 28 years old, and often resorted to theft and pawning in order to support his affinity for the race track.
Officers had two options – horse track or dog track. Well, it wasn’t horse season, so they made their way to the dog track.
Two weeks later, he was found in a pub near the dog track. He fit the description given to them by Alfred’s neighbour. In due course, he was brought in and asked to answer questions about the break in at Flat 3 number 20 Pembridge Square.
Stewart readily admitted to the break-in, but he claimed no responsibility for Alfred’s death. He told police that he tried to force his way around Alfred in the doorway, but they grappled over his gun. As they fought, the gun accidentally went off, and he fled before he’d be suspected of a murder he didn’t commit.
His story definitely didn’t add up. Shortly after Alfred had been found, the murder weapon had been found. It was a Browning automatic pistol. It had, indeed, been fired, but not just the once that Stewart claimed. A second shot was attempted. The bullet jammed the gun.
Frederick Stewart had intended to gun down Alfred Webb upon being discovered breaking into the flat. Stewart was arrested and charged with murder.
His trial took place on April 18th, 1928 at the Old Bailey. The Jury found him guilt. Mr. Justice Avory sentenced him to death by hanging.
In a twist of fate, Frederick Stewart was executed on June 6th, 1928 at Pentonville Prison. It was Derby Day. He asked politely if they’d postpone his hanging until after the results had come in. His request was not granted.
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Sources:
The Mammoth Book of Bizarre Crimes – Robin Odell
Murder Houses of London – Jan Bondeson
Hanged at Pentonville – Steve Fielding