Kate Dover

Kate Dover
Born
Felicia Dorothea Kate Dover[1]

1855 (1855)
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Died (aged 69)
Rotherham, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
OccupationHousekeeper
EmployerThomas Skinner
Known forArsenic poisoning of employer
TermLife
Conviction(s)Manslaughter
Criminal chargeMurder
PenaltyPenal servitude for life
Details
VictimsThomas Skinner
Date6 December 1881
Date apprehended
18 December 1881
Imprisoned atWoking Female Prison
11 February 1882
Released before 1901.

Felicia Dorothea Kate Dover (1855 – 26 March 1925) was an English woman who was tried for murder and convicted of manslaughter in 1882 following the death of Thomas Skinner from arsenic poisoning. She was trained as an artist at Sheffield School of Art and was skilled in drawing flowers. She was popularly known as the Queen of Heeley due to her artistic interests and her standard of dress.

In 1880, at age 25, she become the housekeeper of etcher Thomas Skinner, aged 61. Despite the difference in age, he was considered her "sweetheart" and said to be courting her "with a view to marrying her".[2] In 1882, Kate Dover was tried for murder and convicted of manslaughter following the death of Skinner from arsenic poisoning.[3] Her trial was a major event at the criminal court in Leeds Town Hall; it was attended by many people and attracted significant newspaper coverage.

Dover's counsel for the defence, Frank Lockwood, employed the "clever defence"[4][5] of stating that she had given Skinner arsenic, but had not done so with a clear intent to kill him. Instead of being hanged for murder, she was sentenced to penal servitude for life.[5][4] Her sentencing was in line with a trend against the use of the death penalty, in which the defendant's character was seen as relevant in determining sentences.[6][7] Kate Dover served her sentence at Woking Female Prison, and was released by 1901. In her remaining years, she lived with her sisters at Rotherham, dying unmarried.

  1. ^ "The Sheffield Poisoning Case". Lancaster Gazette. Lancaster, Lancashire, England. 31 December 1881. p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sheffield DT 24 Dec 1881 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dundee Adv 10 Feb 1882 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Westley, F. C. (11 February 1882). "A Clever Defence". The Spectator. pp. 180–181. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b Birrell, Augustine (1898). Sir Frank Lockwood: A Biographical Sketch (2nd ed.). London: Smith, Elder & Company. pp. 82-84. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Punishment Sentences at the Old Bailey". The Proceedings of the Old Bailey. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Year was invoked but never defined (see the help page).