Catalogue description R v Patrick Herbert Mahon

For a video of television programme, the first half of which recounts the case of R v Patrick Herbert Mahon, 1999 see SPA 2/38/1.

SPA/2/37/2-41 are papers retained by Detective Inspector Thomas James Hall of New Scotland Yard

There is a detailed account of the case L Knowles Court of Drama. Famous Trials at Lewes Assizes (London 1966) pages 37-58

On 2 May 1924 Patrick Herbert Mahon (c1889-1924) of Pagoda Avenue, Richmond, Surrey, salesman was arrested at Waterloo railway station and taken to New Scotland Yard where he soon confessed to involvement in the death of Emily Beilby Kaye (1885-1924), the daughter of Charles Kaye and Emma (née Beilby), who was born on 26 November 1885 at 313 Waterloo Road, Cheetham, Manchester.

[Patrick] Herbert Mahon (aged 21) of 13 Helena Street, West Derby, literary publisher's book keeper, the son of Henry Mahon, clothing merchant's warehouse stock keeper, and Jessie Hannah (aged 23) of 110 Walton Village, Walton, daughter of the late William Hannah, journeyman engine fitter, were married at West Derby Register Office, Liverpool on 6 April 1910.

In the course of his work Mahon met Miss Kaye at an office in London and they began an affair. She knew of his former conviction for a brutal attack on a young woman in 1916, but nevertheless hoped to marry him and to emigrate to South Africa. Mahon, who was married with two children, did not intend to leave his wife but nevertheless rented a bungalow for them, part of a former coastguard station, at the Crumbles, Westham. It was there on the night of 16 April 1924 that they had violent quarrel; Mahon claimed that she threw an axe at him, that they struggled and that she fell, hitting her head against coal-scuttle which killed her. On Good Friday he cut off her head and legs, on 22 April he burned her head in the sitting room grate, followed by the feet and legs, and then boiled some portions of the body in a large pot.

Mahon's wife was worried by his disappearance and after a search of his belongings she found a left luggage ticket. On 1 May a friend of Mrs Mahon retrieved the luggage from Waterloo railway station but on inspection found it to contain bloodstained clothing and a cook's knife. The luggage was examined by officers at New Scotland Yard and then returned to Waterloo. The next day Mahon was arrested as he collected the bag.

The bungalow at the Crumbles was searched and human remains were found. Mahon was charged at Hailsham Petty Sessional court on 6 May with the murder of Emily Beilby Kaye, and the inquest opened in the sitting-room of the bungalow the following day. The trial opened at Lewes assizes on 15 July before Mr Justice Avory and on 19 July, after the jury had taken 43 minutes to consider its verdict, Mahon was sentenced to death. His appeal was unsuccessful and on 3 September he was hanged at Wandsworth Prison.