Frank Philpott
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Abt 1870 - Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Christening:
Death: 23 Mar 1898 - Wellington, Otago, New Zealand
Burial:
Events
• He had a residence in 1871 in Portsea, Hampshire, England.
Parents
Father: John Philpott (1827-1908)
Mother: Mary Ann Martha Peckham (Abt 1831-1904)
Spouses and Children
1. *Sirah Maud Baker ( - )
Marriage: 26 Oct 1897
Status:
2. Anna Eliza Martin (1871 - 30 May 1938)
Marriage: 16 Mar 1888 - New Zealand
Status:
Children:
1. Philpott ( - )
Notes
General:
Philpott was originally charged with forgery regarding a cheque.
Philpott also charged with bigamy.
m 1888 to Anna Eliza Martin, yet to find his first wife as could be re gistered under one of his aliases
Silverstream Murder - Philpott alias Stanhope, Wells, Smith & Wood.
There is an excellent account of the Silverstream Murder recorded in ' Famous NZ Murders' by Dudley G Dyne, 2 chapters titled Hawthorne's mat e. It appears Frank Philpott murdered Hawthorne by shooting him in th e back of his head and burying him in a shallow grave 100 yds from th e Silverstream Railway for his money, camp items & tools. For a shor t period, they shared a small whare (hut) together in a clearing by th e bush where they worked together felling trees for railway sleepers . Philpott fabricated a series of lies as to the whereabouts of Hawtho rne until the community became suspicious and alerted the Police and H awthorne's body was found. Philpott had the revolver on him that was u sed to kill Hawthorne and a forged receipt for Hawthorne's items. Desp ite letters to his lawyer claiming his innocence, he finally admitte d murdering Hawthorne to clear another person's name. There was no ind ication that young Hawthorne (21y) was romantically involved so killin g over a woman seems unlikely.
Death - Silverstream Murder
Execution of Frank Philpott. Frank Philpott, alias Stanhope, was hange d at the Terrace gaol at 8 o'clock this morning, for the murder of hi s mate, Ernest Alfred Hawthorn, at Silverstream, on September the 7t h last … Tom Long, the executioner, then arranged the rope, and Philpo tt stood firm. There was a slight increase of color in his face, and i t was evident he keenly realised his position, but he showed no sign s of breaking down and met his fate manfully. The executioner, curious ly, forgot to draw on his cap till reminded by the gaoler, and as he s tepped forward to do so, Philpott closed his eyes. When the drop fel l death was instantaneous. (Marlborough Express 23 March 1898)