Albert Milsom

A family story goes that "Albert Milsom" was the Black Sheep of the family" however although Albert is well documented I can find no connection to any of my Milsoms.
 In 1896 Albert murdered a retired engineer called Smith in North London. Albert and his confederate Henry Fowler were both "known to the police" and when jewellery belonging to Smith was pawned in Swindon an arrest was soon made . A toy lantern found at the scene of the crime that was proven to have belonged to Albert Milsom's brother in law confirmed his guilt . The case came to a climax when Albert broke down and confessed . When the guilty verdict was passed on the pair Fowler tried to anticipate the hangman and strangle Albert . For a long time the effigies of Fowler and Milsom took pride of place in the Chambers of Horrors at Madame Tussards waxworks . -

The importance of this case can be judged from the coverage in the Bath Argus of Monday April 20th 1896. Reports of the murder take up 40 column inches whereas the English Cup final (Sheffield Wednesday 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1) are given 3 column inches.