Archive

March 29th 2024

Alfred Bateman- Murdered

A Report in the Express and Star 31st July 1888- sets the scene for the Murder of my Grandfathers( Joseph Bateman) Brother, here in Wolverhampton.

Alfred Bateman aged 19 residing with his parents in 23 EAGLE street was murdered by an Italian named Antonio Fritz or Ferritto The body was identified by Ruth Bateman the mother of the deceased . Alfred was a nut and bolt forger he had gone out because for three weeks he had suffered from a burnt foot . He told his Mom that he wouldn't be long because his foot hurt him.

She heard nothing more until 11.30pm when she was told he was dead.

She went to the hospital which was not far away and saw him lying dead, he was not insured.

They had been drinking in the pub called the Invincible Inn ,in Duke Street. Twelve or fourteen men were in the Kitchen and turned out at 11.00pm They went along Bilston Street when they met 9 Italians coming from Bilston Each had an Ice Cream Cart John Pickforth one of the group said we'll all have a penn'orth of ice cream. The Italians stopped and Pickforth placed a penny on the cart. The young man in charge was tall and had dark curly hair ; His name was 'Steve' something. The Italian picked the penny up and said you wont have the bloody ice cream nor the money'

The Italian then kicked Alfred Bateman ....poor Alfred said who do you think that you are getting onto ? At the same time he struck the Italian , but missed him. All the Italians then run off with their carts up the Cleveland Road. They were altogether . When they got to 20-30 yards up the road they threw Ice cream glasses at Alfred and his friends. A couple of Alfred's friends were struck by the glasses. One Sam White was struck and cried out that his wrist was broke. he then ran after the Italians.

The Coroner then asked what the deceased had done. The reply was that he didn't do anything.

The Italian rushed from the horse road, turned around upon him and the deceased shouted 'ive got it'.

Alfred was struck in breast he fell on his back the Italian ran off. The Italian was wearing a white slop White the witness said he shouted 'why he's been stabbed and I ran after the man and catched him about fifty yards away. '


The Italian is reported to have said at the police station where he was charged " Is he dead? I will kill myself....Oh Jesus"
Witness had heard that the Italian that had been called Steve bolted early the next morning . I have still some research to do on the Adjourned Coroner Court.

The express and Star the newspaper had called it a most deliberate Murder when reporting on it on the 31st July 1888.

They described the fracas as a "dispute into a heated altercation and the short temper so characteristic of the Italian race soon made itself manifest . Antonio Fritz its said made a vicious kick at Bateman , but by a manoeuvre the latter managed to escape the full force of the blow. It is not the nature of Englishmen to tolerate the assaults of foreigners in any place or at any time whatsoever.'

There is a lot to report and I will do my over the ensuing weeks to give you a flavour of the most exciting part of the research to date .

Author: Phil Bateman

Article Date: 27th June 2005