Henry Solomon
*The following true crime case contain details on murder and suicide that may be triggering for audiences. Viewers discretion is advised*
Brighton is now known for its fabulous seaside and fun-loving residents, but in 1844 a vicious crime shook the whole city to its core. While many lives were speckled with violence daily, this crime shook even the upper-class society as it was the life of a respected member of society that perished. The murder of Henry Solomon remains unique in its status to this day as the only murder of a Chief Constable in his own police station. His murder sent shock waves through the town and was noted for its randomness, the subsequent trial and punishment of the culprit, and its uniqueness of circumstances.
On the evening of the 13th of March 1844, John Lawrence is brought in by the police for questioning after being suspected of stealing a roll of carpet nearby. He is led into the office of Henry Solomon, Brighton's Chief Constable since 1836.
John Lawrence, who is witnessed to be in physical and mental distress, demands to be given a knife to kill himself. After the men in the office do not comply with his suicide plan, 23-year-old Lawrence is seated in front of Solomon's fireplace to calm himself down, before being questioned further. Solomon intends on interviewing the accused further, when, without prior provocation or disagreement, Lawrence suddenly jolts up and hits the Chief Constable's right temple with the poker from the fireplace he was seated in front of. The other men present quickly apprehend and arrest Lawrence, now for murder. Two surgeons are rushed to see Solomon, who remains conscious after the hit. When the accused thief-turned-violent offender is asked why he committed such a gruesome crime, the young man admits that there is no motive in his offence against Solomon, but that he hopes the policeman will die so he is sentenced to hang. He further explains that he did not even intend to kill Solomon as he had no ill will against him specifically but chose him randomly so he would be responsible for murder and his life would be ended.
Lawrence is detained in the station’s holding cells to stand his preliminary trial on the following day, while two surgeons fight for Henry Solomon's life at his home. Solomon survives the night but succumbs to his injuries on the following morning surrounded by his wife and 9 children.
The preliminary trial takes place on the day of the death and concludes with Lawrence being sent to the Lewes House of Corrections to stand trial later in the month. Even though his original crime of carpet theft is discussed, the magistrate's hearing is overshadowed by the evidence regarding the gruesome murder. The young assailant does not try to justify his actions or speak of his innocence; he remains silent.
It is only on the 20th of the same month, in the official trial of the murder of Henry Solomon, that his defence brings up the possibility of an insanity defence to escape punishment. Lawrence's defence lawyer argues that the absence of motive and the excited and unwell condition of Lawrence at the time of the crime tells of the accused's lack of sanity or possession of his senses. The judge reminds the jury that even though Lawrence seemed aggravated and intended to take his own life, there was no need to end someone else's life to achieve his goal of suicide. He restates that even the unwellness of Lawrence's mind, seemingly only a risk to his own life, does not grant an excuse for the murder of Henry Solomon. The jury quickly considers the case and announces its verdict after merely twelve minutes. The guilty verdict is announced after only 3 hours of trial and John Lawrence is brought to Horsham to be hanged for his crimes.
While in custody, Lawrence denies all opportunities to justify his actions and welcomes his crimes even when tearfully parting from his mother one last time. The now-convicted murderer deplores and grieves the bloodshed resulting from his actions and agrees that no punishment would match the cruelty of his crimes. When being led to the goal on the 6th of April 1844, he is observed by multiple thousands of viewers, who came to Horsham to see the last ever public hanging there. With his last words, he confirms his belief that his next and last judgement will be made by God, who might extend his grace to him as a sinner.
While his immortal soul might have escaped from earthly judgment as he wished, his corpse was used as a bizarre attraction after his death. His face was cast to be exhibited later and his lifeless body was displayed as a curiosity to be examined after paying an entry fee.
Henry Solomon's family met with condolences and sympathy, but a primary concern of theirs remained after the death of their husband and father. The lack of his income left the family dependent on the kindness of compassionate strangers. The benevolent public collected donations for the family that would amount to more than £145,000 in today´s money. Special attention was brought to the cause when Queen Victoria donated to the family and wrote them a personal letter expressing her commiseration. Henry Solomon's widow, Martha Solomon, was now able to afford the daily life and education of herself and her nine children, left fatherless by a preventable display of violence.
This true crime case is a display of both the best and the worst of society. While murder, death, and violence show us the dark side of what humans are capable of, the compassion and will to help the victim's family speaks of the good that people can achieve when they look out for one another. A blue plaque commemorating the events of 1844 was put up on the wall of the former police station, now turned town hall, where Brighton’s Police Cell Museum is located.