Seventy seven years ago a man called Ralph Smith appeared briefly at Swindon Borough Police Court.

In less than three months, executioner Thomas Pierrepoint would put a hood over his head, a noose around his neck and then sent him plunging through a trapdoor to oblivion.

Smith was accused of murdering a 53-year-old widow called Delia Baxter, who lived in Argyle Street.

The remand hearing on March 13 was his second.

A week earlier we had reported: “The sensational affray in Gorse Hill, Swindon, on Saturday night, when a woman staggered to her home with her throat cut, and died shortly afterwards, had a sequel at Swindon Borough Police Court this afternoon.”

We added: “Ralph Smith, described as a 41-year-old labourer of no fixed address, was charged with the murder of Mrs Beatrice Delia Baxter.

“Deputy Chief Constable WT Brooks said that at about seven o’clock on Saturday night a woman heard another woman screaming in Argyle Street.

“Shortly afterwards she saw Beatrice Baxter coming from the backs on the opposite side of the street, go across to her home.

“She went to her assistance and found that she was badly cut on the neck.

“She helped the woman to her home and a doctor and the police were sent for. Mrs Baxter was removed to hospital but died shortly after admission.

“’Blood,’ said Mr Brooks, ‘could be traced in the direction from which the woman had come for nearly 100 yards.’

“Meanwhile the accused walked into Gorse Hill Police Station and made a statement to a constable, and as a result of which he was later charged with this crime.”

The court heard that the victim and her late husband, a GWR worker, had been well known in Swindon cycling circles, and had travelled about 44,000 miles by tandem.

On the night of her death Mrs Baxter had been on her way to a dance. She wore a green satin dress and carried her dance shoes in a small parcel.

Smith, it later emerged, claimed to have loved her. Tragically for Mrs Baxter he was also a thug who hit and threatened her, and finally killed her in a jealous rage because she decided to go dancing.

His execution took place at Gloucester Prison on the morning of Wednesday, June 7, 1939.

Hangman Thomas Pierrepoint’s assistants included his nephew, Albert, who would become Britain’s most prolific executioner of modern times.