Oh, God, I am Not Guilty!

Percy and Edith Thompson married in February 1915; everyone believed they were the picture perfect couple. Frederick Bywaters, a young lad met the couple at an August Bank Holiday on the Isle of Wight. There, Edith and Bywaters became mutually attracted to one another, and Percy grew suspicious. Bywaters suggested a divorce between Percy and Edith, but Percy refused to grant it. Since Bywaters was in the S.S. Morea, he was only in England between voyages. During their separation, Edith would write him love letters. In the 62 love letters mailed to Bywaters Edith mentioned how she put poison or ground glass in his food. Edith also sent her lover snippets of cases concerning death by poisoning. On the afternoon of October 3, Bywaters and Edith had a meeting in a London teashop. Afterwards, Edith went to the theatre with her husband when Bywaters suddenly sprung out. There was a quarrel between Bywaters and Percy and finally, Bywaters stabbed Percy eventually leading to his death. Edith, happier to see Bywaters then pained by her husband’s death did not tame the killer but eventually Bywaters did fall under suspicion. “Frederick Edward Francis Bywaters was charged with murder and Edith Jessie Thompson with incitement of the crime.” (Press 250) At this point, we see that even though the killer, Bywaters acted alone, Edith Thompson was also accounted for the murder. She instigated the crime and convinced Bywaters to aid in her attempt to kill Percy. Unfortunately for Edith, she was sentenced to death along with Bywaters and was said to have last stated, “Oh, God, I am Not Guilty!” (Press 253)