Sarah Richens – drowning fatality

The body of an elderly woman was pulled out of Park Pond in November 1899. Discovered by Joseph Pinnegar she was later identified as Sarah Richens, aged 74, the wife of Joseph Richens of Tuck’s Cottages, Devizes Road,* Swindon.

At the subsequent inquest her financial sitation was examined in great detail to ascertain whether her death was an accident or something more sinister. It was revealed that Sarah and her husband survived on approximately 7s a week and that Sarah was known to beg for pennies in the street.

The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide from drowning, while temporarily insane.”

The Drowning Fatality at Old Swindon

Inquest and Verdict

As has already been announced in our columns, the woman whose dead body was taken out of the Park Pond, Swindon, last Friday, was afterwards identified as being that of Sarah Richens, wife of Joseph Richens, of Tuck’s Cottages, Devizes Road, Swindon. She was 74 years of age.

The inquest on the body was held at the Frome Hotel, Hythe Road, on Saturday, at 4.30 p.m., and a jury of whom Mr. T.P. Goodman was chosen foreman. The jury had some distance to walk to view the body – to the mortuary in the cemetery.

Returning to the Frome Hotel, the following evidence was taken:-

Joseph Richens, son of deceased, said he resided at home with his mother and father. Witness was employed at the VWH Repository, and helped to maintain his mother. Asked if he had ever heard her express a wish to destroy herself, witness said she had done so twice to his knowledge. There was nothing unusual about her behaviour when he left home to go to his work on Friday morning at half past eight. She was not at home when he returned to dinner, but he did not take any notice of it, because she often went round to her brother’s, Mr Thomas Wheeler’s, in Prospect.

The Coroner: Was she in receipt of parish relief?

Witness: Yes, sir, 3s. per week, and I had to pay 1s. a week.

The Coroner: What wages do you receive?

Witness: I get 15s. a week, sir.

The Coroner: And you help to maintain your mother out of that?

Witness: Yes.

The Coroner: Her brother is Mr. Thomas Wheeler, of this town, is he not? – Yes.

The Coroner: Has he assisted her?

Witness: No, not that I know of.

A Juryman: Does your father receive anything from the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society?

Witness: No, from the Foresters. He receives 3s. one week and 2s. another – 5s. a fortnight. Witness added that his father was almost an invalid. He had had rheumatic fever. He did not receive parish relief.

A Juryman said he must contradict the witness when he said that deceased’s brother never gave her any financial assistance, because he (the juryman) had seen Mr. Wheeler give her money.

Another Juryman asked the witness if he was aware that deceased begged coppers from persons passing her in the street. – The witness replied in the negative.

Joseph Pinniger, working foreman, in the employ of Mr. T.H. Deacon, at Park Farm, spoke of seeing the body in the water, and with assistance he got the woman out, but she was quite dead. This was before twelve o’clock on Friday. The woman could not have fallen into the water, as there was a rail fence around it, and she must have crept under the rail to get near the water. The pond was a rather deep one.

Dr. Carew Webb, assistant to Dr. J.C. Maclean, said he examined the body at the mortuary. There were no marks of violence, and death was evidently due to asphyxia, caused by drowning. Death had taken place within six hours previous to the time he saw her.

The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide from drowning, while temporarily insane.”

Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, November 17, 1899.

Sarah Richens 65 years old of Tucks Cottages, Devizes Road was buried on November 14, 1899 in grave plot C691, a public grave, with four others.

Properties on Devizes Road pictured more recently. My thanks to local historian David Lewis who responded to my email.

‘I found “Tuck’s Cottages” in Devizes Road on the 1901 census – 16,15,14,13 – William Morris’s house, then The Fountain, Lewisdale, then Tuck’s Cottages. You will have to make up your own mind where exactly they are.’

William Morris’s house

The pub formerly known as The Fountain (see motif in the pediment)

Cranford House

Myrtle Villa

Frank Nutbeem – St. John Brigade Superintendent

Frank Nutbeem was born in Wroughton in 1895 the youngest son of Robert William and Mary Nutbeem. By the time of the 1911 census Frank and his two brothers were living with their widowed mother at 24 Shelley Street. All three young men were employed in the Works, Frederick 20 as a Coach Finisher; Claude 17 as a Brass Finisher and Frank 16 as a Screwing Machine boy.

Frank had begun work as a 15 year old machine boy on August 8, 1910 at a daily rate of one shilling and two pennies. He would remain working in the Machine Shop (No 15) his entire working life, except for his service in the RAMC during the First World War.

Mr G. Culling, chairman of the GWR Swindon Division of the St. John Ambulance Association stated that the tragedy of this accident was one with which, ‘had it been required of him, he could have so efficiently dealt.’

Fatal Accident in Swindon GWR Works

Death of Mr F. Nutbeem: Ambulance Stalwart

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by Mr. Harold Dale, the Wilts Coroner, at the inquest at Gorse Hill Police Station, Swindon, on Tuesday, on Mr Frank Nutbeem (45), of 61 Grosvenor-road, Swindon, who was killed instantly when he was drawn into a machine while at work in the Swindon GWR works on Saturday morning.

Evidence of identification was given by his brother, Claude Nutbeem, who said his brother had been in good mental and physical health before the accident.

Fractured Skull

Dr. Frumin, GWR Medical Fund, said that he was called to No 15 Shop in the GWR works about 11.10 a.m. when he found Nutbeem lying entangled in a machine. His head and face was crushed and his body was acutely bent. He was dead.

His injuries were a severely crushed dome, and fractured skull in front and behind.

Samuel John Owen, Highworth-road, Stratton St. Margaret, a machine foreman in No. 15 Shop, said that Nutbeem, who was a chargeman machinist, had been working a Holroyd four spindle axle-box boring machine for the past 18 months. He had complete charge of the machine.

Owen said that about 10.55 on Saturday morning he was told that Nutbeem was caught in his machine, so he telephoned from his office for ambulance men. A doctor was called, and soon arrived.

At the scene of the accident he saw Nutbeem had been carried into his machine.

He was on his back, and his head was underneath the “bar.” He appeared then to be dead.

Nutbeem was wearing a warehouse jacket of a grey coarse canvas material. These coats were long, and were worn by all the machinists, though it was not compulsory. The costs were bought from a private concern by the men themselves.

Nutbeem’s coat was found round the “bar,” which had a protruding cutter.

Heard a Shout

Stephen John Hunt, a machinist, of 15, Alfred-street, Swindon, said that he worked by Nutbeem.

On Saturday morning he heard a shout, looked up, and saw Nutbeem was in the machine. He rushed round, and stopped the machine, when he found that Mr. Nutbeem had become entangled.

Regret and sympathy was extended to the relations by Mr. Ray Hobbs, representing the NUR (Swindon branch). Mr Hobbs paid high tribute to Mr. Nutbeem for his work in connection with the GWR No. 3 Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Mr Dale said that it was an unfortunate case in which a very good worker who was thoroughly used to his machine, had been accidentally caught in it.

Mr. Nutbeem, who was married with a family, was a prominent St. John Ambulance Brigade worker. During the last war he was a sergeant in the RAMC and was attached to the Swindon Unit of the Field Ambulance.

An Appreciation

Mr G. Culling, chairman of the GWR Swindon Division of the St. John Ambulance Association writes:

By the death of Mr Frank Nutbeem, the GWR Swindon Division of the St. John Ambulance Association has suffered a great loss.

Qualifying for his first ambulance certificate in 1912, he served during the last war with the Swindon unit of the Field Ambulance of the RAMC, attaining the rank of sergeant. Upon the formation of the Old Comrades Association he became a popular member and retained his membership until his death.

Upon returning to civil life he became closely associated with those who at the time were organising the local division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and was quickly promoted to the ranks of Sergeant, Ambulance Officer and Brigade Superintendent – a position he held until his retirement from that body a few years ago.

Frank held a remarkable record in competitions and for some years captained teams which were successful both in local contests and those organised by the GWR Company, and his Swindon team has on two occasions been one of the representative teams of the Company in the inter-railway annual competitions in London. He was leader in 1928 of the local Great Western team, who succeeded at Paddington for the first time in winning the Directors’ Shield, and they won the same trophy again in 1936.

During the years 1932-1936 he served on the Swindon Divisional Ambulance Committee, and shewed great ability in organising classes and instructing pupils in first aid, and was instructor to the Great Western Ladies’ Class when this was formed. These abilities were recognised by the local authorities, who since 1938 had utilised him as instructor at classes organised under the ARP scheme. He was also a keen worker in similar services organised by the GWR Company.

“Nutty,” as he was familiarly known to a wide circle of friends, has passed over – the victim of an incident of rare tragic intensity – in circumstances with which, had it been required of him, he could have so efficiently dealt. The esteem and regard in which he was held was shewn on Sunday morning, when over 150 ambulance men at the Bridge-street Institute joined with Dr. Hick and the Ambulance Committee in paying a silent tribute to his memory and as an expression of their deep sympathy for Mrs. Nutbeem and her two daughters in their loss.

He held gold awards for prolonged efficiency in first aid to the injured. Of him it can truly be said that his life was dedicated to the service of others, thus upholding the motto of the Order of St. John: “For the benefit of humanity.”

North Wilts Herald, Friday, 25 October, 1940.

Frank Nutbeem 45 years old, of 61 Grosvenor Road, died at the Great Western Works. The funeral took place on October 24, 1940 when he was buried in grave plot C1682.

You may be interested in reading about another St John Ambulance stalwart, Jack Dixon. It is more than likely that Jack and Frank Nutbeem served alongside each other, taking part in the various competitions at which both were so successful.

You can read about the life and times of Jack Dixon and the Dixon/Atwell family in the award winning book A Swindon Time Capsule – Working Class Life 1899-1984 by Graham Carter available from the Library Shop.

Edward William Archer

I can’t help but think those in authority found this boy an irritant. It looks as if he had been in trouble since a young child, receiving the birch at the age of just 11. He was obviously such a nuisance no one could be bothered to get his name right, and when he unexpectedly died the verdict was ‘food poisoning’ – probably!

Singular Death of a Reformatory Boy – An inquest was opened by Mr. Coroner Sylvester on Saturday as to the death of a youth named William Edward Archer, aged 15, belonging to Swindon. – Deceased was at the Reformatory. He was not strong, and had been medically attended off and on. He complained of feeling unwell on Friday, and was sent to bed, and told that if he felt worse a doctor should be sent for. His temperature was taken twice, and was normal; and he was seen during the night by Mr. Crichell, one of the labour masters, who asked him if he was in pain or wanted anything. He replied that he wanted nothing. When Crichell went through the ward shortly before six next morning he found him dead. Dr. Hubert Willcox said death was due to the presence of an irritant in the intestines, the exact nature of which could not be stated till the contents had been analysed. The inquest was adjourned till the 9^th inst. for an analysis to be made.

Two jurymen remarked that they had other engagements for that date, Mr. W. Papps being a delegate at a Foresters’ meeting at Devizes, and Mr. E. Foreman having an engagement as market for a Yeomanry prize meeting. The Coroner declined to alter it, and summoned all to attend on the date named.

The Wiltshire Telegraph, Saturday, October 7, 1905.

Is this the same William Archer, aged 11, who was found guilty at the Petty Sessions in 1900 along with Henry Love 8, of stealing a tin of salmon from a grocer’s shop? The younger boy was bound over to be of good behaviour, while Archer was ordered to receive three strokes with the birch rod. The same day Archer was charged with two other lads with stealing a money-box from the top of the harmonium of a blind street musician. Further strokes of the birch were added to his punishment.

Edward William Archer was 15 years old when he died in 1905 at the Wiltshire Reformatory for Boys in Warminster. The subsequent verdict of the inquest was that the County Analyst, Dr Dyer, had made an exhaustive analysis of the stomach contents and could find no trace of any poison, irritant or otherwise, suggesting the cause of death might be ptomaine poisoning (food poisoning). The Coroner questioned whether the lad had eaten some fungus in mistake for a mushroom and said that the most suitable verdict would be that death was caused by acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The jury accordingly returned a verdict to this effect.

The boy who died in the reformatory is identified as Edward William Archer, the son of William James and Martha Archer. Between 1891 and 1909 the Archer family lived at various addresses in Gorse Hill. William James Snr worked as a general labourer and Martha as a laundress. At the time of the 1901 census the family lived at 21 Hinton Street. Eldest daughter Elizabeth 16 was a housemaid and Louisa 14 a tailoress. There were four younger boys William James 13, Edward William 11, Frederick George nine and five year old Arthur Walter.

Edward William Archer aged 15 is recorded as being buried on October 4, 1905 in grave plot C1646. The Radnor Street Cemetery index register records his home address as 21 Hinton Street; the chronological register includes his place of death as Warminster Reformatory. Edward William is buried with his sister Louisa who died in May 1905. She was 18 years old and her address is also given as 21 Hinton Street. Buried with them is their father William James Archer, aged 53 who died at the GWR Hospital and was buried on March 6, 1909. His home address was given as 1 Edinburgh Street, Gorse Hill. There is one other burial in this unmarked, public plot.

The Wiltshire Reformatory for Boys was inaugurated at a meeting of magistrates and other figures of authority at Devizes Town Hall in September 1855. The Reformatory in Warminster comprised 20 acres of land (later increased to 40 acres) where the boys received between 10 to 15 hours of education a week, spending the rest of the time working the land and growing produce that partly supported them. By 1902 additional phases of building had increased the accommodation capacity from 30 boys to 100. The Reformatory closed in 1925.

Gorse Hill images published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Sydney Albert Eyles

Sometimes the layout of the streets of Swindon has changed so little you can easily visualise a description in the newspaper. I regularly walk down Deacon Street from the cemetery, crossing at the traffic lights on Commercial Road close to the derelict Tented Market building. It does not take a lot of imagination to recreate this location as it was in 1905. Today the busy flow of traffic is one way coming up Farnsby Street and along Commercial Road. And more than 100 years ago it appears it was equally busy on one Saturday in 1905.

Image of Deacon Street published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Fatal Accident in Swindon

A Boy Killed

On Saturday about noon a shocking accident happened in Commercial Road, Swindon. A boy named Eyles, whose parents live in Dixon Street, was passing down Deacon Street. When at the corner near the Market Hall, a heavy vehicle drove down Commercial Road. The boy, who is slightly deaf, did not hear the approach of the vehicle, and was knocked down. The wheel went over his chest, and the injuries were so severe that he died shortly afterwards. He received treatment at the GWR Medical Fund Hospital. An inquest was held on Monday at the Mechanics’ Institute, before Mr J.W. Pridham, Deputy Coroner.

The following evidence was taken:

Arthur James Eyles, clerk in the GWR Works, father of the deceased, was the first witness called. He stated that he last saw his son alive at about nine o’clock on Saturday evening.

Benjamin Robert Dixon, 72, Deacon Street, Swindon, a fitter, said he was in Commercial Road when the accident occurred on Saturday about 12 o’clock. He first saw the child running across the road in front of a horse and dray. The horse was going at a jog-trot, and the driver appeared to be driving carefully. The dray was a brewer’s four-wheeled dray, and there were some empty barrels in it. It was going towards Faringdon Street, and was almost in the centre of the road. The child ran off the kerb just as the dray was passing and went under the horse’s head, and was knocked down, the wheels passing over the child’s chest. In witness’s opinion, it would have been impossible to have pulled up the horse in time to save the boy.

Albert Whitbread Fox, labourer in the GWR Works, said he was also in Commercial Road at the time of the accident, and saw the child run in front of the horse. The driver appeared to have control over his horse. Witness ran and picked the child up after the dray went over him, and helped to take deceased to the Medical Fund Hospital. He did not think the child had any reason to run in front of the horse.

Thomas Hunt, carter, in the employ of Messrs Horsell and Marson, of Wootton Bassett, said that on Saturday last about noon he was driving a dray down Commercial Road. The accident occurred at the corner of Deacon Street. The street was rather crowded at the time. The boy rushed across from the kerb and got knocked down by the horse. It was impossible for him to pull up the horse in time.

Dr. G. Rodway Swinhoe stated that he had a telephone message from hospital at about 12.8. He went to the hospital as soon as possible and found the child was dying. Another doctor was present a few minutes before him. On examining the body, he found that wheels had passed over the lower part of the chest, and death was due to shock caused by the accident. No limbs were broken.

A verdict of accidental death was returned.

The Evening Swindon Advertiser, Tuesday, February 14, 1905.

Deacon Street/Commercial Road pictured in 2009.

Seven year old Sydney Albert Eyles, Dixon Street was buried on February 17,1905 in grave plot E7318. Sydney is buried with his parents in a privately purchased grave plot. His mother Margaret Louisa died in January 1913 and his father Arthur James in 1951.

James Shopland – a local hero

The re-imagined story …

I’ve seen them all arrive at Swindon Junction, the King and Queen in 1924, the young Princess Elizabeth in 1950, politicians, film stars, you name them, I’ve seen them. But I’ve never seen a sight like the day they brought back the body of James Shopland.

I was just a youngster then and recently employed as a station lad. My duties mostly consisted of carrying things around, everything from luggage to parcels. I wasn’t allowed too close to the passengers as they alighted from the trains; I was considered too cheeking and disrespectful. I had a lot to learn and looking back I reckon my education began that day in July 1900.

Early that morning I was told to clear out a small, seldom used room along the platform. I was to get rid of any rubbish and sweep the floor. I was to place a small table there and a couple of chairs and to make sure everything was polished.

“Who are we expecting?” I asked Fred, the head porter, “the bloomin’ Queen herself.”

I soon learned not to give him any cheek. He boxed me round the ear and gave me a good telling off. I was lucky not to lose my newly acquired job that day and for a good few weeks after that I tried to keep out of his way.

The room was to be made ready to receive the floral tributes for a funeral due to arrive that afternoon. So many wreaths and crosses, I had never seen so many. That day on July 11, 1900 I witnessed the homecoming of an unsung hero, James Shopland who died as he tried to rescue three men in an accident at the Southampton Sewage Works at Chapel.

The funeral cortege left Mr Shopland’s home in Woolston, proceeding by way of the floating bridge to the Dock station. A special carriage was attached to the 2 pm train to Swindon where Mr Shopland was to be interred at the Swindon Cemetery on Kingshill.

The coffin was carried from the train, through the station and placed in a glass-panelled car. I watched the pallbearers return to collect the flowers and counted more than 60 wreaths and crosses. Some were placed in the car, others were carried by those that followed.

I watched the long line of carriages with many more people walking behind. The procession continued along Wellington Street where blinds and curtains were drawn at the windows and people stood with bowed heads to pay their respects.

The story of James Shopland’s death had already appeared in the Swindon Advertiser, but I was just a silly, cheeky young lad. I had paid no attention. That evening, when I told my Pa about the funeral, he told me how James Shopland had died.

primroses

The facts …

James Shopland, a civil engineer, was born in Purton in 1873, the son of James Rew Shopland, also an engineer.

By 1900 James had moved to the Southampton area and on July 6, 1900 he was at the Southampton Sewage Works, although it was pointed out at the inquest that he had nothing to do with the works, but was assisting in the rescue.

Three labourers working in the press house at the Sewage Works had attempted to free a blockage in a lime vat, firstly by ramming a rod down from the top, which was the usual way of clearing it. However, when this didn’t work, one of them went down into the ejector chamber and tried to free the pipe by undoing it. They tried to remove the cap but this wouldn’t move either, so they proceeded to remove a flange from the bottom and then the upright pipe. This immediately set off a fast flow of sludge and released a smell that rendered the men semi-conscious.

Passing workmen attempted to rescue the three men who were all lying unconscious in the sludge. As a call went out for volunteers, James Shopland arrived on the scene. A witness at the inquest described how as Mr Shopland descended the ladder he saw him put his hand to his head.

At one point someone tried to stop any more men going into the chamber, declaring that at this rate there would soon be fifty dead at the bottom.

James was brought to the surface where artificial respiration was attempted, but he was already dead. At the subsequent post mortem the cause of death was found to be due to congestion of the lungs brought about by carbolic acid gas poising.

The jury at the inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death and commended the noble endeavour made by James Shopland and four others who had attempted to rescue the men.

James was 26 years old and had been married for just a year. He is buried in plot D100 with his wife Helena (Nellie) Elizabeth Shopland. Helena moved to Bournemouth where she lived with her widowed mother-in-law, but she eventually came back to Swindon. At the time of the 1911 census she was living at 159 Goddard Avenue with her sister Violet Blanche Brown. She died just a few weeks later, on June 16, 1911. Her funeral took place on June 20 and she is buried with her husband.

James Shopland D

George Palmer – cricketer

We have long become accustomed to sensationalist tabloid journalism, but the heading in a Victorian issue of the Swindon Advertiser seems particularly insensitive. When a young cricketer collapsed and died on the pitch the heading read ‘His Last Innings.’

George Palmer was born in Northampton in about 1861 and we learn from the inquest report that he had served in the army in India before arriving in Swindon. At the time of the 1891 census he was lodging with William and Lucy Taylor at 20 Percy Street, Rodbourne where he worked as a Blacksmith’s Striker in the Works. He married Charlotte Annie Varney at the parish church in Fairford just seven months before his death.

His Last Innings

Sudden Death in the Cricket Field at New Swindon

A Cricketer Falls Down Dead

A shocking case of sudden death happened in the Recreation Ground, New Swindon, on Saturday afternoon. A young man named George Palmer aged about 34 years, and living at 15, Percy-street, Even Swindon, was playing for the Even Swindon Cricket Club against another New Swindon team. He was batting and had just hit a ball for five runs. Afterwards he made one run, and had just got to the wicket when he fell down dead. As he fell he uttered the words “Cover up my head,” and never spoke again. A doctor was sent for, who pronounced life extinct. The body was removed to deceased’s home, and Mr Coroner Browne communicated with. Deceased had only been married a few months.

The Inquest

An inquest was held on the body of deceased on Monday afternoon at the Dolphin Inn, Even Swindon, before Mr W.E.N. Browne, County Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr H.G. Hughes was foreman.

The first witness called was Henry Brooks, a GWR employe of 4, East-street, New Swindon, who said he knew deceased well. He had never heard him complain. Witness was umpire in the cricket match in which deceased was playing on Saturday. He was quite cheerful when he commenced playing in the match on Saturday. He had made eight runs, and had run six of them, when he fell down by the wicket. Witness thought deceased was in a fit. He was taken underneath a tree, and as he lay there he said, “put something over my head.” Deceased did not speak again, and died immediately. Witness had heard that deceased received a blow from a cricket ball whilst playing a match a few weeks ago.

Mr Hayward, a juryman, said he heard that deceased said as he was going to the match that he hoped he should not have a fit again.

Wm. Palmer, brother of deceased, said he saw him on Saturday morning, and he was quite well then. Deceased was struck with a ball on the temple about a month ago. On Saturday witness was playing with deceased in the match. He saw deceased fall, and went and fetched some water, but deceased did not speak again.

Dr. Howse, partner with Dr. Swinhoe, said he was called to deceased in the Recreation Ground, and found him quite dead. He had since ascertained that deceased had serves in the Army in India, and had a sunstroke. The circumstance tended to produce a weak heart and the excitement of violent exercise and the heat of the day would cause sudden stoppage of the heart’s action. In his opinion death was due to syncope or sudden failure of the heart’s action.

The jury returned a verdict accordingly.

George was buried not in Radnor Street Cemetery but in the churchyard at St. Mary’s, Rodbourne Cheney on June 19, 1895.

The Funeral

of deceased took place on Wednesday. Mr. Palmer had been a member of the Even Swindon United C.C. since its formation, and was always held in very high esteem by his own clubmates and local cricketers generally. Consequently a very large following from the various clubs in the district attended to pay their last respects, besides a good muster of his old shopmates and friends, numbering altogether upwards of 170. The houses en route to the church at Rodbourne had with few exceptions the blinds drawn and the route was lined with a large concourse of sympathising onlookers. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. C.T. Campbell, who delivered a very touching address at the graveside. The wreaths and flowers sent by various clubs and friends formed quite a floral display. The corpse was borne by eight members of the Even Swindon United C.C.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, June 22, 1895.

William Hall – killed at work aged 13 years and eight months

At 13 years and 8 months of age William was working as a ‘slipper.’ A ‘slipper’ was a young lad who assisted with the movement of wagons by horses. He would place the chocks to ensure that the wagon did not move when parked. They were called slippers because the chock looked like a slipper.* As one of the jurymen remarked during the inquest – ‘he thought it a great shame that the Co. should employ lads at such work. It was very dangerous for the lads so employed.’

William Hall had a short life. You could easily miss him on the 1881 census returns where he is recorded as James William Hall aged 4 years old. He was then living in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire with his parents John and Ellen, and two brothers. William was born in Swindon in 1877 but by 1881 the family had lived in Wales for a few years. His younger brother Thomas was born in 1879 in Llantrisant while Frederick was born in Llanelly in 1883. By 1890 the family were back in Swindon living at 166 Rodbourne Road, handy for the Works where John worked as a Stationery Engine man and where William would soon join him.

The Fatal Accident at the GWR Station

On Saturday, Mr W.E.N. Browne, coroner, held an inquest at the Cricketers’ Arms, New Swindon, on the body of the lad William Hall who received fatal injuries at the GWR Station, New Swindon, on the previous Thursday. Mr T. Wheeler was chosen foreman of the jury, who then proceeded to view the body, which was lying at the GWR Medical Fund Society Hospital. Inspector Wheeler was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the GWR Co. The following evidence was taken:-

John Hall sworn, said: I am father of deceased, whose age was 13 years and 8 months. He had been only two days in the employ of the GWR Co., but he was at the same work for three days a fortnight ago, but left and did nothing till he was taken on again during the past week.

Henry Roach, shunter, in the Loco. Dept., said he was standing near the E Box in the afternoon. He heard someone call out, and on looking round he saw the second wheel of the van go over the deceased. Witness went to the lad’s assistance and picked him up. He asked deceased how he got under the van, and he replied, “My foot caught in the points, and it threw me down.” Deceased was quite sensible when picked up. The driver was at the horse’s head.

By a juryman: – It was a general practice for boys to be employed in “slipping coaches.”

(A juryman here interposed with the remark that he thought it a great shame that the Co. should employ lads at such work. It was very dangerous for the lads so employed).

Albert James Ford, said he was a driver in the employ of the Great Western Railway Company. Deceased was working with him as a “slipper.” On the day of the accident he was at work with the deceased, as usual. The first he heard of the accident was when the boy, being caught under the wheel, cried out. He went to the lad, and found the wheel had passed over him, and his shoe was left in the points. It was a horse box that was being drawn, but the boy was not riding on it at all. Witness had that same morning cautioned the deceased against walking on the rails, and he was not doing so when the accident happened. If the lad’s foot had not caught in the points the accident would not have occurred.

Mr Cailey, assistant to Messrs Swinhoe, Bromley, & Howse, said deceased was admitted to the hospital about 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. He was suffering from severe injury to the thigh and one arm. Deceased had his boots on when brought to the hospital. He lingered till six o’clock, when he died from exhaustion.

The Coroner having briefly summed up, the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, Feb. 15, 1890.

c1886 View of Swindon GWR Works from railway line published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Today there is no one left to remember the young boy who was doing the work of a man. No one to remember that William Hall was 13 years and eight months old when he was killed at work.

William was buried on February 18, 1890 in grave plot B1778 – a public grave that he shares with two others.

*Many thanks to David Robert for correcting a previous error.

Sarah Cox – guilty of wilful murder?

The story of Sarah Cox was revealed for all to read in the local press; to question her morality; to gossip and pass on the details of her crime. Yet who knew the facts; who knew what had happened to her? Her employer W.H. Stanier, Chief Clerk to William Dean, Chief Locomotive Engineer at Swindon Works, described her as ‘a God-fearing, steady girl.’ To his knowledge she never went out but once a week, besides going to a place of worship.

She kept the secret of her pregnancy and the identity of the child’s father, but in the end she confessed to her crime.

The inquest on Sarah’s baby was reported at great length. Then, perhaps surprisingly, the charge was commuted from ‘wilful murder’ to the lesser, second indictment of ‘concealing the birth of her child’.

But what happened to Sarah …

Rolleston Street pictured in 1957 shortly before demolition. Published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Inquest on an Infant at Swindon

Verdict of Wilful Murder

On Saturday Mr. Coroner Browne held an enquiry at the Clifton Hotel, New Swindon, into the circumstances attending the death of an infant which was found buried in a garden at the rear of No. 28, Rolleston Street, New Swindon. The case has excited considerable gossip in the town. It appears that a young girl named Sarah Cox, in service at Mr. W.H. Stanier’s, the Sands, Old Swindon, was confined on Wednesday night, April 24^th, unknowing to any of the family, and that she took the child away in her box, and afterwards buried it in her brother’s garden in Rolleston-street. Mr George Wiltshire was chosen foreman of the jury, and the following evidence was taken:-

Richard Cox, brother of Sarah Cox, stated that he lived at 28 Rolleston-street. His sister came to his house on Thursday morning. He saw her at nine o’clock in the evening, after he came home from work. He went to bed that night about 11 o’clock, leaving her on the couch in the front room. She would not go to bed that night. She brought her box with her when she came to his house in the morning. He went to his work as usual the next day, and at twelve o’clock he was sent for by his wife, who told him of what had taken place, and that the body was in the back garden. He at once went into the garden, and saw where the earth had been removed, and then gave information to the relieving officer and Inspector Cruse. He saw Sarah Cox, his sister, about eight days previously, and noticed she was stouter than usual, but she had never made a decided statement that she was enceinte. His sister had been away from his house since October last, except coming occasionally since Christmas, on account of ill-health. His sister had had a child before, but it only lived a short time – some three months.

Mary Ann Heath, a laundress, living in the Quarries, Swindon, said she knew Sarah Cox as a servant at Mr. Stanier’s. She saw her there at a quarter to eight on Thursday morning. Witness had not then any suspicion as to the girl’s condition. She looked very ill; her face was as white as paper, and her lips were black. The girl never said anything as to her state of health. She left at half-past nine o’clock on Thursday morning in a cab, which Mr. Stanier had ordered;- By the Coroner; All the time witness was attending at Mr Stanier’s she never saw anything wrong with the girl, nor misjudged her in any way. The girl had told Mrs Stanier that she met with an accident a month ago. Mrs Stanier asked witness if she had any suspicion about the girl, and she replied, “Not in the least.” No complaint was made to her by the girl. Witness noticed a large bloodstain on the bed when she made it.

Inspector Cruse said that just before one o’clock on Friday morning he had his attention called to this matter by Richard Cox, and in consequence went to 28, Rolleston-street. He saw that the earth in the back garden had been disturbed. He removed it, and found about three inches below the ground the body of a newly-born male child wrapped in two newspapers, and with a piece of tape tied tightly round its neck. He saw Ellen Cox, the previous witness, who told him all that she had stated in her evidence. He had the body removed to the mortuary, and communicated with a doctor.

Mr E.C. Arnold, FRCS, MB, said he was called soon after one o’clock on Friday to the house, 28, Rolleston St. He went and saw Mr and Mrs Cox there. He went upstairs, and there saw Sarah Cox. He found she had every symptom of having been recently confined. She informed him that she had been delivered of a child on Wednesday night. He examined her in the presence of a witness. He saw the body of a child with a piece of tape tied round its neck. He afterwards made a post-mortem examination of the body and found that it had breathed. The girl said she had no recollection of anything except that she was confined on Wednesday night, and the next morning she found the child dead on the floor with the tape tied round its neck. He called in Dr. Streeten to assist him in the post-mortem examination, and they concurred in the opinion that it was fully developed, and perfectly healthy in every organ. There was a deep groove round the neck, and the signs were those of asphyxia. With the exception of the mark made by the tape, there were no signs of violence. The tape was tied with sufficient tightness to cause death. There was no proof, however, that the child had had a separate existence from its mother. The cord was divided near the placenta end, and had the appearance of having been cut, and not torn. The girl could have cut it herself.

Mr W.H. Stanier was the last witness called. He said that Sarah Cox had been servant at his house for the past six months. Within the last two months she had complained of stiffness in her hips. About four months ago she went to her brother’s in consequence of illness. During the past month she had frequently complained of her hip, and ascribed it to rheumatism. On several occasions she had gone to the GWR Surgery for advice and medicine.

On the night of Thursday, April 11, on her return from the surgery, she said that Dr. Bromley had advised her to take rest for a few weeks. Mrs Stanier asked her if she wished to go at once, or if she could remain until another servant was obtained. She replied that there was no difficulty in her staying a week or two longer.

The girl had a bedroom to herself all the time she was with the family. Mrs. Heath, the laundress, who had given evidence, had been in the habit of coming to assist in the house once or twice a week, and she would be the only woman likely to go into the girl’s room. On Thursday morning she got up and set the breakfast. Mrs. Stanier came to him shortly after eight o’clock, and remarked that the servant seemed very ill. The result of their conversation was that he ordered a cab to take her to her brothers. Mrs Stanier sent Mrs Heath to her bedroom, and she afterwards said there appeared to be nothing inconsistent with the girls’ statement.

Witness had previously consulted Dr. Bromley, and he said he did not notice that the girl was in the family way. Witness said he would like to add that he had always held the highest opinion of the girl’s character. He believed her to be a God-fearing, steady girl. To his knowledge she never went out but once a week, besides going to a place of worship. The excellent character she bore (disarmed) all suspicion.

This was the whole of the evidence and after some deliberation the jury returned a verdict of “Wilful Murder” against the mother, Sarah Cox.

The jury gave their fees to the Victoria Hospital.

Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, May 4, 1889.

The Alleged Wilful Murder

In the case of Sarah Cox, 27, servant, indicted for the wilful murder of her child at Swindon, the Grand Jury thew out the bill for wilful murder, returning a true bill on the second indictment of concealing the birth of her child at Lyneham. Prisoner pleaded guilt to the lesser count, and she was let out on her own recognisances and those of her brother to come up for judgment when called upon.

The Salisbury Times and South Wilts Gazette Saturday, July 6^th, 1889.

The details of the baby are recorded in the Radnor Street Cemetery burial registers as – Cox 1 day old 28 Rolleston Street buried on April 29, 1889 in plot B1178, an unmarked, public grave.

Albert Cook – a little boy crushed to death

This is the unbearably tragic story of three year old Albert Cook who hitched a ride home from school on the axle of a brewer’s cart. It is the story of two young boys who witnessed the accident but were too frightened to alert the carter, and were later called to give their evidence at the inquest. A story of unbelievable horror, which anyone at the scene would surely never be able to forget.

A Little Boy Crushed to Death

On Tuesday evening a most sad and painful accident happened to a little fellow named Albert George Stephen Cook, living with his parents at 10, Swindon Road, New Swindon.

It seems that a light covered wagon belonging to Col. Luce, brewer, of Malmesbury, was proceeding down Eastcott Hill on Tuesday evening, when a Mrs. Tyler living at 114, heard a scream, and running to the door saw a child entangled in the wheel. She immediately apprized the driver of the fact, and he stopped his horse, and with the help of P.S. Peplar, who was soon on the spot, started to extricate the poor little child from its awful position.

The body was so tightly fixed between the wheel and the axle that a “jack” had to be obtained from Messrs. Affleck, Bros., Prospect Works, and the wheel taken off before the child could be removed. This taking about one hour. Dr. Fox assistant to Drs. Rattray and Lavery, was sent for, but life was extinct.

It is evident that the child was doing what hundreds of them do every day, viz., swinging or riding on the backs of wagons, one of the most dangerous practices for a child, and after this frightful accident, we should think mothers would warn their children against it.

The Coroner was communicated with, and an inquest was held on Wednesday evening, at the “Globe” Inn, Eastcott Hill, before Mr Amos Barns, deputy coroner, and a jury of whom Mr Charles Fox was chosen foreman.

William Cook, living at 10, Swindon Road, said he was father of the boy, whose age was three years and two months, and his name was Albert George Stephen Cook. Harold Matthews, a boy of six summers, said he with others, including the deceased, were returning from school. When they got to Eastcott Hill, they saw a wagon, and they ran behind to get a ride. Deceased sat on the axle, and he (witness) thought he was looking out between the bed of the cart and the wheel to see if the carter was coming after them, when he caught his head in the wheel and springs. Witness was frightened, and did not call to the driver, but went away.

Jesse Goldsmith, aged nine years, said he saw deceased sitting on what appeared to him to be the drag chain, and he went to rise himself up, and in doing so, fell into the spokes of the wheel, which drew deceased up to the top, and then deceased body stopped the wheel. The driver of the wagon stopped at the top of the hill and the children were round the wagon then, and the driver drove them away, but they waited until he got up into the wagon again, when they ran to the back of the wagon as before.

Emma Tyler said she lived at 114 Eastcott Hill, and on the day in question, about 4.15 p.m., she heard a scream and ran to her front door and there saw deceased in between the wheel and the wagon, his head being drawn nearly up top of the wheel, whilst his body was twisted under the bed of the wagon. She called to the driver, who stopped the horse immediately, and got down.

Charles Warner, of Malmesbury, said he was a drayman in the employ of Col. Luce, of the Malmesbury Brewery, and he was the driver of the wagon on which the little child met its death. He said when he got to the top of Eastcott Hill he stopped, and put the drag and safety chain on. The vehicle was empty, but he thought it would be easier for the horse. There were several children waiting to get a ride, he supposed, when he got back into the wagon. He ran after them and told them to run away. When he started he had no children on the back, and he was not aware any came there until the woman called out to him. He found the child in between the off hind wheel and the bed of the wagon, with its body twisted round through the springs. He helped take the wheel off and the pins out of the springs before they could get the child out. From the position it was in, it must have been sitting on the axles or day-chain, and fallen into the wheel.

Dr William Monds Fox said he examined deceased and found very few external marks of injury, but the neck was dislocated, which caused death.

The deputy coroner said the main point the jury had to decide, was whether or not the driver of the wagon had shown any negligence or was to blame in any way in the matter. The foreman said the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” and wished to exonerate the driver Warner from all blame.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, August 24, 1895.

Albert G. Cook 3 years old of 10 Swindon Road was buried on August 23, 1895 in grave B2339 an unmarked, public plot, with three babies – 14 days old Henry Trappel who was buried on August 19, 1895; Stanley William Herbert Hayes, 8 months old, who was buried on September 22, 1921 and Leonard George Scott, 11 months old, who was buried on September 24, 1921.

Season of mists – last day

Sadly, we have arrived at the last day of our virtual walk through Radnor Street Cemetery – it’s been fun, hasn’t it and the weather wasn’t too bad? It could have been worse. We conclude by stopping off at the grave of William Chambers.

Despite a shortage of readily available building land and a depression in the railway industry during the 1870s, Swindon enjoyed a building boom throughout much of the late Victorian period. Many of our street names bear testimony to a number of local builders, George Street, Crombey Street, Colbourne Street, Ponting Street, Turner Street.

William Chambers lived and worked as builder and funeral director in the end house in Ashford Road, the one with the Calvary cross in the brickwork. The silhouette of the shop sign can still be seen. As we have already discovered William Chambers was building on the Kingshill estate in the 1890s.

William was born in Stroud in 1839 the son of Samuel, a handloom weaver, and his wife Maria. In 1859 he married Sarah Tyler and the couple raised their family of eight children in nearby Bisley where William then worked as an agricultural labourer.

In 1871 he was working as a bricklayer and by 1884 the family had moved to Swindon where William established himself as a builder and contractor. His four sons would eventually join him in the business, William and Alfred both bricklayers and Robert and Samuel who were joiners.
From 1884-1897 William was engaged in building projects in Stafford Street and Hythe, Kent and Maidstone Roads. In the last decade of the nineteenth century William was also busy building in Ashford Road.

At the time of the 1891 census eldest married sons Alfred and William both had homes in Stafford Street. Family folklore tells how so many relatives once lived in Stafford Street that it was known locally as Chambers Street.

William’s son Samuel took over the family business after his father’s death. A 1906 trade directory entry describes the business at 1 Ashford Road as under new management – S. Chambers (late W. Chambers) builder & contractor, dealer in all kinds of building material, funerals completely furnished, repairs promptly attended to at moderate charges.

William died in 1901 and Sarah in 1926. I think this stylish headstone befits a couple who spent their lives in the funeral business.

I’ve very much enjoyed your company this week. You may like to join us for ‘an in person’ cemetery walk this Sunday September 29. Meet at the chapel 1.45 pm for a 2 pm start.

Extracts taken from To Autumn by John Keats