# Ellen Ash — 1881

Canonical: https://hessleroad.com/historical-case-ellen-ash.html

A Wassand Street murder case, a death sentence and a reported reprieve, preserved in newspaper and sentencing references.

Place: Herbert's Terrace, Wassand Street

Date: Late May / early June 1881; exact date under research

Status: Historical murder case

## Ellen and the Wassand Street address

The Hull Times index identifies Ellen Ash and Herbert's Terrace, Wassand Street, with a report dated 4 June 1881. A further entry of 23 July records a death sentence in the Wassand Street murder case. [Source](https://www.rbarnard.karoo.net/Times%20Index%2077-86%20.pdf)

## The contemporary report

The Huddersfield Chronicle of 4 June describes Ellen's husband, James Ash, as a fisherman. It reports that he surrendered to the police and that the inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder against him. This contemporary report adds context to the shorter Hull Times index entry. [Source](https://huddersfield.exposed/wiki/Huddersfield_Chronicle_%2804/Jun/1881%29_-_page_3)

## Sentence and reported reprieve

A compiled sentencing register lists James Ash under 19 July 1881 in the North and East Riding. The original court record should be consulted before treating that entry as a definitive trial date. [Source](https://oldbritishnews.com/death-sentences-1880s/)

A later Hull Daily Mail account reports that the death sentence was commuted to imprisonment. This is a reported reprieve, not an execution; its date and the formal terms still need confirmation in Home Office or court records. [Source](https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/history/historic-june-murders-shocked-hull-4265566)

## Why the exact date remains open

The later account places the killing on 1 June, while an indexed contemporary July report gives 31 May. We retain the year and flag the discrepancy rather than silently choosing between them. The first identified Hull Times report is dated 4 June, which is a publication date rather than proof of the day Ellen died. [Source](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1881-07-01/1881-07-31?basicsearch=%22james%20ash%22&retrievecountrycounts=false)

Herbert's Terrace belongs to the surrounding neighbourhood rather than the main-road frontage. A historic map, household records and the original newspaper pages would help recover more of Ellen's life and locate her home precisely.

## Timeline

- 4 June 1881: Hull Times index entry and contemporary Chronicle report.
- July 1881: Death-sentence references in the register and Hull Times index.
- Later reported outcome: The Hull Daily Mail retrospective reports commutation to imprisonment.

## Research still needed

- Resolve 31 May / 1 June using the original death registration and inquest reports.
- Confirm the trial date and formal commutation record; no execution is asserted.
- Locate Herbert’s Terrace and research Ellen’s family, life and burial.

## Sources

- [Hull Times index, 1877-1886: Wassand Street case and death-sentence report](https://www.rbarnard.karoo.net/Times%20Index%2077-86%20.pdf)
- [Huddersfield Chronicle, 4 June 1881, page 3: contemporary Hull report](https://huddersfield.exposed/wiki/Huddersfield_Chronicle_%2804/Jun/1881%29_-_page_3)
- [Old British News: death sentences in the 1880s; James Ash entry](https://oldbritishnews.com/death-sentences-1880s/)
- [Hull Daily Mail: historic June murders; later account of the Ash case](https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/history/historic-june-murders-shocked-hull-4265566)
- [Contemporary indexed July 1881 reports: date of the Hull killing, British Newspaper Archive](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1881-07-01/1881-07-31?basicsearch=%22james%20ash%22&retrievecountrycounts=false)

Decorative illustrations are not verified portraits or reconstructions. Collection cutoff: 1960.