William Johnson – a little addicted to drink

The re-imagined story …

I should never have read the account of the inquest in the Adver. I knew there had been an accident, I knew he was dead, I didn’t need to know all the details or the extent of his injuries.

I’d only known him a few months but long enough. He was a lost soul. My mother always says I’m attracted to the poor little sods of this world.

He hadn’t yet told me what had gone wrong in his life, but something obviously had. At the inquest he was described as being a little addicted to drink. What a quaint expression. He drank for a reason and it wasn’t because he liked the taste of the beer.

He drank because he was lonely and sad and disappointed with how his life had turned out. When he wasn’t drunk he was angry and resentful but when he was drunk he was happy, or so he thought, but we both knew that wasn’t the case.

I tried to help. If we’d had longer together I might have made a difference, might have got to know the real man.

The facts …

The Fatal Accident Near Wootton Bassett

Inquest and Verdict

Mr W.E.N. Browne, Coroner, held an inquest at the Beaufort Inn, Wootton Bassett, on Saturday afternoon, on the body of William Johnson, who was killed by being knocked down by a train on the GWR near Wootton Bassett Station, the previous Thursday evening, as briefly reported in our last issue. Inspector Wheeler, of Chippenham, was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Great Western Railway Company. Mr T. Taylor was chosen foreman of the jury, who then proceeded to view the body, which was lying in an outhouse at the Beaufort Inn yard. The head and face was fearfully knocked about, and almost beyond recognition. The body had, however, been identified as that of William Johnson, 37 years of age, a native of Coventry, and for the past three years employed as a shop clerk in the GWR Works at Swindon. Deceased was a single man, living in lodgings at 41 Chester St., New Swindon. Deceased’s only brother, Thomas Johnson, who is also employed in the GWR Works and lives at Swindon, was present. Particulars as to the occurrence will be found in the following evidence:-

William Hyland, of Swindon, was the first witness called, and identified the body. He said deceased had worked with him in the same shop in the factory at Swindon- the carriage finishing shop. He last saw him alive on the previous Tuesday Morning at nine o’clock when they had a chat about the “Trip” and other matters. Deceased told him he was not going away this trip time; he had nothing whatever to do with the trip. Deceased has never appeared despondent, but was more of a lively, excitable nature, and much more so when he had beer. Deceased was addicted to drink a little. He had worked in the factory since 1888. Two years ago deceased had a fit in the Works and fell, receiving a blow in the head, which rendered him insensible, and he had to be carried out of the Works. Deceased had told him he had been abroad, having been in the army – the artillery. He was not married.

The next witness called was Matthew Henry Cameron, of Paddington, engine driver on the GWR. He said he was the driver of the express train leaving Bristol at 5.18 pm on the previous Thursday. This train usually ran to Swindon without stopping. When they got this side of Dauntsey on Thursday evening he did not see anyone on the line. The first intimation he received of anything being wrong was when they got close to the bridge about half a mile or so from Wootton Bassett Station. His mate blew the whistle, and he looked round to see what was the matter. The fireman then told him he thought a man had been knocked down by the engine. He immediately shut off the steam, pulled up the train as quickly as possible at Wootton Bassett station, and told the signalman to send someone back to the bridge, as he believed a man had been knocked down by the engine. He felt sure someone had been killed, as there were marks of blood and flesh on the engine. The train was going at a speed of fifty miles an hour. There was no level crossing near the spot where the man was knocked down, nor any public footpath. He believed the buffer plank of the engine must have struck the deceased.

View of the Skew Bridge, Wootton Bassett published courtesy of Roger Cornfoot

Frederick Albert Hurson, fireman, also of Paddington, said he was on the same engine with the last witness. When near the skew bridge at Wootton Bassett he saw a man come down the bank on the Wootton Bassett side of the bridge and stop just by the side of the rails. He (witness) blew the whistle, and the man turned for a moment and looked toward him (witness), and just when the engine was close upon him he made a sudden movement as if he was going to cross the line in front of the engine. He (witness) asked the driver to see if the man was got across, and he looked and replied, “No,” He (witness) then looked on the side of the train again, and saw flesh and blood all up the side of the engine. They then pulled up the train at Wootton Bassett station, and informed the signalman of what had happened.

Thomas Johnson, a clerk in the GWR Works, living at 17, Clifton Street, New Swindon, said deceased was his only brother, and was a single man. He last saw him alive on the previous Monday evening at Swindon. Deceased then appeared to be in his usual health, and was going to the Mechanics’ Institute to see the evening news. Deceased had formerly lived with him. He had no reason to suppose that deceased would commit suicide. He was very much surprised when he heard the previous night what had occurred. He had no idea whatever that deceased came to Wootton Bassett the previous Thursday – he had never heard him speak of the place during the whole 2½ years he had been living at Swindon. He was not aware that deceased knew anyone at Wootton Bassett. – By the Coroner: He had not been altogether friendly with deceased lately. Deceased seemed to have a feeling of being jealous of his (witness’s) position in the Works. If he was at all despondent it was because he did not make such progress in the world as he would like to. Deceased was formerly in a good business as a watchmaker before he entered the army, and he might now have been in a comfortable position had he not been a little addicted to drink.

James Merrett, a labourer on the GWR, said he was working about a quarter of a mile from the scene of the occurrence on Thursday. He and a fellow workman saw the driver of the train shut the steam off, and after the train had passed they could see something lying on the four-foot way which ought not to be there. They went to examine it, and found it was the body of a man; he was quite dead. They sent for a doctor, and put the body on a trolley and took it to Wootton Bassett station. Witness added that he never saw any person on the line or inside the railway fence before the train came up. There was no public footpath near, but there was a path which was used by the packers working on the line, and at the entrance to it there was a notice board warning the public to keep off the line. – In reply to a juryman, witness said he found the body fifteen yards on the Wootton Bassett side of the bridge.

This concluded the evidence, and the Coroner briefly summed up, remarking that there was no evidence to show that deceased was temporarily insane at the time, or that he attempted to commit suicide.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Killed by a passing train.”

Extracts from the Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, July 18, 1891

At the time of the 1891 census William was lodging at 41 Chester Street with William Lang, his wife Mary and their infant son. William’s age is recorded as 39 years, born in Coventry, his occupation was Stores Keeper.

William’s funeral took place on July 13, 1891 and was conducted from his brother’s home in Clifton Street. He is buried in a public grave, plot B1964, with five other unrelated people.

George Hunt – Swindon’s Oldest Man?

Swindon’s Oldest Man? Ooh it was a bold claim to make – even with the qualifying question mark. You can bet there was someone willing to challenge George.

George was born in 1834 in Wootton Bassett, one of Robert, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Jane’s eight children. At the time of the 1851 census he was 16 years old and described as a ‘scholar,’ meaning he was still at school, which was pretty unusual for the son of an agricultural labourer.

In 1853 he married Jane Baker at the parish church in Wootton Bassett. They both state that they are minors (under the age of 21) and both made their mark in the marriage register indicating they were unable to sign their names.

By 1871 George and Jane along with George’s 15 year old nephew were living at 1 Union Street, Swindon, where together they ran a beer house and grocers shop. And here they stayed in Union Street, all be it living at different houses, until we meet George in 1929.

George died on October 5, 1929 and left effects valued at an impressive £1,694 8s 7d. But was he the oldest man in Swindon? I suppose we’ll never know!

Swindon’s Oldest Man?

Mr George Hunt, of Avenue Road, Swindon, who has just celebrated his 95^th birthday. He is believed to be the oldest man in Swindon.

Sadly, George Hunt died within weeks of the story appearing in the local newspaper. He was buried in grave plot E8155 on October 10, 1929. He joined Jane Hunt, his wife, who died at 7 Union Street aged 83 and was buried on March 6, 1917.

Walter J. Spear and The Picture House

Walter J. Spear was a dairyman and then in 1913 he opened a picture house in Wootton Bassett – not an obvious career progression.

Walter Spear came from a railway family, as most people did in Swindon in the latter half of the 19th century. In 1901 the family lived at 81 Radnor Street where Walter’s father Charles and his three brothers Charles, Henry and William, all worked as Steam Engine Makers & Fitters. Even 14 year old younger brother Frederick claimed to be working as a fitter although at such a young age it was highly unlikely he had such a skilled occupation, but you can appreciate his aspirations.

However, Walter aged 17 had bucked the familial trend by becoming a milkman. In 1911 he married Edith Frances Mary Elms and the couple set up in a dairy business at 37 Commercial Road.

Walter’s involvement in The Picture House was over by 1920 and just five years later he died.

Opening of Picture House

On Monday evening the new Picture House of which Mr W. Spear is the proprietor, was successfully opened, and Mr Spear is to be congratulated on his new enterprise.

Beyond local efforts, little has been done in Wootton Bassett in the past to cater for the amusement of the public. This new venture will not only add to the amusement of the public, but may also be made an educative help to the public. The Hall, which has been fitted with all the latest improvements, will seat over 200 people, and the whole arrangements are excellent.

The cinematograph is housed in an iron room, and the light provided by a petrol dynamo. The operator is Mr W. Hicks, and the pianist Mr Lewis.

The opening ceremony was performed by Mr H. Horsell supported by most of the Parish Council. Mr Horsell said that no doubt they would appreciate the enterprise and public spirit of Mr. W. Spear in embarking on that enterprise. He sincerely hoped it would turn out a success for him. He thought this and similar agencies tended to make the people more sober, and, personally, he believed more in counter-attraction than in legislation as a means to promote sobriety. He hoped that it would be such a success that it would have to be enlarged so as to permit of other meetings being held there, which would be a boon to the town. He heartily wished Mr Spear every success.

The exhibition was then proceeded with, and was heartily appreciated by the crowded audience. The programme was as follows:- “The Cattle Ranchers,” “The Redskin Raiders,” “The Adventures of a Timid Young Man,” “The Clifton Zoo,” etc. There will be exhibitions every evening.

Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, March 7, 1913.

Walter Spear aged 43 years died at his home 37 Commercial Road. He was buried on December 18, 1925 in grave plot E7843 where he lies alone.