Blood Beneath the Floorboards: The Story of Serial Killer Frederick Bailey Deeming

Frederick Bailey Deeming

On July 30, 1853, a monster was born. Frederick Bailey Deeming, born in England, was a disliked man full of extraordinary stories even strangers rarely listened to or believed. Little did the people around him know that at every wake he left blood beneath the floorboards.

Deeming's killing spree began in England. After marrying Marie James and having four children, the family moved from Australia to Africa and then to England. Deeming had frequent encounters with the law and even spent time in jail for theft and bankruptcy. After moving to England, his family lived a normal life until one-day Deeming's neighbors noticed the rest of the family had disappeared. Deeming assured them the family had just gone away.

The account of Deeming's life gets a little confusing at this point. His use of several different names and frequent moving practices makes his life hard to follow. It is known that he married Helen Matheson in England in 1890. He then quickly left England only to be caught in Uruguay a short time later and jailed for fraud. After being released, he rented a villa, again in England, and was briefly reunited with Marie James and his children. During this time it is also reported that Deeming married Emily Mathers and rented a home at 57 Andrew St. again in England.

While living at 57 Andrew St., Deeming's new wife Emily disappeared. When questioned by friends Deeming assured them she had gone abroad for business and that all things were fine. Near Christmas in 1891, Deeming left the house and moved to Australia. While in Australia, Deeming again found love and was engaged to Kate Rounsefell when life began to unravel for the monster.

Grave of Emily Mathers

When the owner of 57 Andrew St. showed the home to a prospective renter, he noticed a smell in the home. The owner could offer no insight about the problem but was alarmed when a neighbor told him of Deeming's wife's disappearance. The police were called in, and a murderer was revealed.

Under the floorboards near the hearth of the home was the decomposing body of Emily Mathers. Amazed at the finding the police soon searched the rest of the home and found an invitation to a banquet in Australia. Police caught Deeming in Western Australia and soon investigated his other homes and found Marie and his four children stuffed beneath the floorboards in a villa in England.

Deeming was later tried and found guilty. He was sentenced to death by hanging. The trial had angered so many Australians that some 12,000 people cheered as he was led to the gallows and put to death.

Kate Rounsefell

Little more is known about the exploits of Frederick Bailey Deeming. Some believe him to be Jack the Ripper while others question whether they found all of the bodies he buried beneath the floorboards throughout his many years as a killer. One thing is for certain; Kate Rounsefell was the only wife to survive marriage to the killer that left blood beneath the floorboards.