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Why Kate Webster’s Murder of Julia Martha Thomas Captivated London In 1879
Relationships between boss and employee aren’t always optimal but can usually be mended by either a simple conversation or a formal parting of ways. Unfortunately, not everyone chooses to pursue such rational avenues to workplace disputes. That was certainly not the strategy of Kate Webster, a 19th century English maid, who became a grisly celebrity when it was discovered that she had murdered her employer and disposed of the body in the most horrendous of ways imaginable.
Few cases have ever shocked the public as much as the brutal killing of Julia Martha Thomas. The twice-widowed former schoolteacher was in her mid-50s and living alone in Richmond, located in the southwest portion of London. She was notorious for eccentric behavior and a penchant for travel, which gave her the aura of having money despite actual rather modest means. Therefore, when she hired servants like a live-in maid, the decision was likely motivated more by the appearance of such a move rather than necessity. Unfortunately, she also had a reputation for being unpleasant to work for.
When she was hired by Thomas in 1879 as a temporary replacement of a maid who had fallen ill, Webster was a 30-year-old Irishwoman with a shady past. Born as Kate Lawler in County Wexford around 1849, she had a long history of theft since childhood,and had even served time in prison. She…
