The canal boat "Annie", owned by Boulton Limekilns of Kidsgrove, Staffordshire arrived into Buxworth Basin on the early morning of October 26th 1898.
On board were, boatman, John Cotton, and his wife, 30 years his junior, Hannah Cotton.
The "Annie" was loaded with a cargo of limestone and prepped for the journey back to the Limekilns the following day, the Cottons then made their way to the Rose and Crown Inn for refreshment.
An argument began between the pair which became more and more quarrelsome, john Cotton drank rum whilst his wife Hannah took tea, on leaving the inn, the pair continued to quarrel with voices became more raised.
Without any further provocation, once aboard the boat, John Cotton set about his wife, beating her mercilessly. Some onlookers who witnessed the scene described Cotton as though he conducted himself "like a wild animal - a look of fiendish loathing across his face".
Hilda Hayes, a young child, saw what was happening aboard the "Annie", she described Cotton as having hold Hannah's arms as she lay flat on the boat and shouting "if you don't speak I'll throw you into the canal".
Hannah didn't speak, Cotton then smashed her head against the side of the boat. Hilda ran to the the Rose and Crown to get help from her father.
John Cotton then took a heavy metal poker and began beating poor Hannah bout the head with it, Thomas Hayes from the Rose and Crown got to boat, he found Hannah lay in a pool of blood by the hatch, he took hold of Cotton and threw him off the boat to prevent him from hitting Hannah any further.
John Cotton made his way back to the Rose and Crown and asked form more rum. Mrs Hayes refused to serve him and said to him "you've really gone and done it this time", he replied "you hold your tongue or I'll serve you as I served her".
Police Constable Whitley from Chapel en le Frith police station attended the scene at 8pm, he found Hannah Cotton lay in the floor of the boat, she was unconscious and had at least 7 severe wounds to her head, face and scalp. she was taken to the Navigation Inn whereby Dr Allan was called to attend - he did what he could but her injuries were so severe she died the following morning.
John cotton was arrested and taken to Chapel en le Frith police station.
A post mortem was carried out on the body of Hannah Cotton which concluded she had died from haemorhrage to the brain caused by beating.
The case against John Cotton was heard at Derby Assizes before Mr Justice Matthew.
Evidence was heard from a number of witnesses.
A local farmer named Carrington, told the court he had heard Cotton declare;
"I have had one wife, I wont be without the old ??? - I will have another, I have been tired of her for a good while".
It didn't take the jury of 12 good men and true, long to reach a verdict, just 15 minutes, they returned with a verdict - Guilty of Murder with no recommendation for mercy.
John Cotton was a native of Penkridge, he was almost 65 years of age, his father had been an innkeeper in Wolverhampton, unable to read or write he became a boatman from a young age. Hannah had allegedly been his third wife, he had been heard to boast the he had killed his previous two wives.
Mr Justice Matthew donned his black cap and in a hushed, packed courtroom sentenced John Cotton to death by hanging.
At 8am on the morning of Wednesday 21st December 1898, John Cotton was hung by the neck at Derby Gaol, Billington of Bolton carried out the execution assisted by his son.
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