Frederick Bailey Deeming
English murderer (1853-1892)
Frederick Bailey Deeming (30 July 1853 – 23 May 1892) was an English serial killer who was convicted and executed for the murder of his entire family in Rainhill, Merseyside, England, and his second wife in Melbourne, Australia. He is remembered today because he was suspected by some of being the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper.
Less than three months elapsed between the discovery of the second victim's body in Melbourne, in March 1892, and Deeming's execution for her murder in May 1892; a remarkably short time by comparison to modern western legal standards. This was not only due to efficient police work, but also a result of the considerable international media interest Mather's murder attracted - Gurvich and Wray list numerous newspaper reports on the Windsor murder. Another factor was Deeming's behaviour in public, for while he often used different names, he usually drew attention to himself with behaviour variously described as aggressive, ostentatious, ingratiating and overly attentive to women.
Three copies of his death mask exist. One is on display at the Old Melbourne Gaol in Melbourne, where he was executed, whilst another is in the collection of the State Library Victoria alongside a cast of his right hand and photographs, books, newspaper articles and letters relating to the case. The third is in the collection of the Metropolitan Police's Crime Museum at New Scotland Yard in London - previously displayed there, it is now on display at the Metropolitan Police Museum in Sidcup.
Life
First marriage
Frederick Bailey Deeming was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England, the son of brazier Thomas Deeming and his wife Ann (née Bailey). According to writers Maurice Gurvich and Christopher Wray, Deeming was a "difficult child." At age 16 he ran away to sea, and thereafter he began a long career of crime, largely thieving and obtaining money under false pretenses.
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