Milsom and Fowler Albert Milsom and Henry Fowler murdered Henry Smith , a 79 year–old wealthy retired engineer , on Valentine 's Day , 1896 , at his house in Muswell Hill , London . Smith had been bound with shreds of blankets and had sustained several head wounds . Two pocket knives and a toy lantern were found next to the body . Smith 's safe had been cracked . The day before the murder Milsom and Fowler had been seen near the house . Milsom 's brother-in-law , Henry Miller , identified the lantern as his own . Both men were eventually arrested in Bath . Fowler denied knowing anything about the murder , but Milsom soon cracked under the strain and confessed to robbing the old man , but said his partner had done the killing . Their trial was held in the Old Bailey . While there , Fowler tried to strangle Milsom . They were hanged at Newgate Prison on 9 June , 1896 . References Dilnot , George ( 1925 ) . Celebrated Crimes . Speer , W.H. ( 1929 ) . The Secret History of Crimes . Lambton , Arthur ( 1931 ) . Echoes of Causes Célèbres . Twyman , H.W. ( 1931 ) . The Best Laid Schemes ... . Hicks , Seymour ( 1939 ) . Not Guilty , M'Lord . Gaute , J.H.H. , Robin Odell ( 1996 ) . The New Murderer 's Who 's Who . Harrap Books . Categories : British murderers Dilnot George 1925 Celebrated Crimes Speer W.H. The Secret History of Crimes 1929 Lambton Arthur Echoes of Causes Célèbres 1931 Twyman H.W. The Best Laid Schemes ... 1931 Hicks Seymour Not Guilty , M'Lord 1939 Gaute J.H.H. Robin Odell The New Murderer 's Who 's Who Harrap Books 1996 