Mrs LUCY PACKHAM 1864 - 1890
Lucy Packham was the wife of Thomas Packham the publican at the Marlborough Hotel, Princes Street, Brighton. They had been married in 1888, Lucy being the daughter of Edward Vigor, a butcher, of 190 Southover Street. Previously the Packhams had lived in Coleman Street and Washington Street and had 3 children.
On Friday 2 March 1900 Dr Ross was called to the Marlborough Hotel where he found Mrs Packham dead with massive bruises to her head and body; the post mortem gave the cause of death as a cerebral hemorrhage. Thomas Packham was arrested and charged with her murder; at his trial witnesses testified that he was frequently violent towards his wife. The said that he has frequently sworn at her and threatened her publicly. At one time he had struck her with a copper stew pan and thrown her into a 7 foot deep dust pit; also that he was violent towards their children. He replied in response that she was dirty and idle - and the all male jury found him guilty of not of murder but of manslaughter ! He was sent to prison for 4 years.
Mrs Packham is said to still be present at the Marlborough Hotel;she is not seen but her presence continues to be felt by the bar staff. The Paranormal Research Society have visited the premises.