Winslow History | Murder and suicide in Hobhouchin Lane, 1908

Murder and suicide in Hobhouchin Lane, 1908

Buckingham Advertiser, 9 May

SON SHOOTS HIS FATHER AND COMMITS SUICIDE.

Not only the town of Winslow, but the whole district was thrown into a state of great excitement early on Saturday morning, May 2nd, by the intelligence that a horrible murder and suicide had been committed in a cottage in Bencham Lane. [This otherwise unknown name must have been written by a reporter who misheard "Hobhouchin"] It appears that Joseph Warner, aged 64, and his wife lived in a cottage which belongs to the estate of Winslow Hall, and has been in the occupation of the Warner family for the past 200 years. It is the first of a pair of cottages in the lane, and is thatched and whitewashed, with the wood-work gas-tarred, giving it a Swiss-like appearance, and it is approached by a side garden gate, with a door to the cottage at the rear.

Joseph Warner stood over six feet in height and was well-known as assisting in the auction markets. His son, Richard Warner, lived with them in the cottage, and was what is termed a handy man, one who could cut a hedge, thatch a rick, do a little gardening, and so on, and he was of a very steady and thrifty nature. At the last County Court at Buckingham, the father was sued for a debt, and said he could not pay, he was out of work, and his children kept him. His Honour Judge Snagge remarked that as the children, as the defendant had termed them, ate part of the groceries and bread for which the defendant was charged, they must appear at the next Court. Seeing that the son, Richard aged 25, was the only child living with his parents, he took this very much to heart, especially as on the morning when his father came to the Court he gave him £3 towards the debt, and had also paid other debts and become liable for the rent of the cottage. He was also afraid that if he should be out of work he could not keep the home going, and he brooded over this to the extent that it brought on sleeplessness and severe headache. He consulted the medical men, but the symptoms did not improve, but rather became worse during the past two or three weeks, till his nerves utterly gave way under the constant strain.

Last Friday morning, whilst Mr. Gazey, stud-groom for Mr. Mc Corquodale, was giving him orders for the day, he (Richard Warner) abruptly took off his coat and ran away. Later, Mr Gazey found him at the house of Mrs. Sleigh (sister to Richard Warner). He appeared to be ill, and Dr. Kennish was called in, and advised that he should be looked after and have a rest. He complained of his head and said it would send him out of his mind. He remained in his sister’s house till about 10 o’clock, when he went out and returned again, when he gave her his money, amounting to £41 10s., after which he again left for home. Shortly after 6 o’clock in the morning (Saturday), he got up, and his father also rose and lighted the fire downstairs, Richard Warner went into his mother’s bedroom, and placing his arms round her neck, kissed her and wished her good-bye, a thing she said that was most unusual, and she could not think why he did it. He then evidently went downstairs again, and with a gun, shot his father, who was sitting by the side of the fire-place in a chair, on the left side of the face, blowing off the greater portion of his head. He then left the house and went into an outhouse close to the door, bolted himself in, took out the empty cartridge from the gun, re-loaded it, and placing it between his knees, blew the greater part of his own head away. The single-barrel gun was an army converted rifle and belonged to his brother-in-law, Mr. John Sleigh, and it is surmised that he took it away from the latter’s house, together with three cartridges, on the previous night.

THE INQUEST
Was held at the Police Station at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, before T. F. Vaisey, Esq., Coroner. The jury was composed of the following tradesmen:- Messrs. A. J. Clear (foreman) W. George, W. Walker, S. Wigley, Geo. Midgley, John Hill, W. Matthews, W. E. Woodmam, John Guest, John Gates, H. Saunders and Geo. King.
Supt.Lait, Fenny Stratford, was present, and also Norman McCorquodale, Esq.
Serge. Wootton was in charge of the inquiry.
The jury having been sworn.

The Coroner said they were all well aware of the unfortunate matter that had brought them together and he did not think when they had heard the evidence they would have any difficulty coming to a verdict. They would have to inquire into the state of the mind of the deceased Richard Warner at the time he committed the sad tragedy. He was afraid that as the law at present stood they would have to go to the cottage and view the bodies, but he did not think they need take off the covering from the faces…What they had to do was to satisfy themselves as to how these two men met their deaths, and he did not think it was at all necessary that they should be expected to witness the very painful sight the heads of the two men presented.

The jury then retired to view the bodies, which were lying in the cottage, fully a mile away from the police station, and which occupied about half an hour.
On the return of the jury the following evidence was taken:-

Hannah Warner deposed: I live at Bencham Lane, Sheep Street, Winslow, and am the wife of Joseph Warner, aged 64, whose body the jury have just viewed. He was a labourer. I am also the mother of Richard Warner, aged 25, labourer, whose dead body the jury have just viewed. I last saw my husband about half past six, as nearly as I can tell, this morning. He was then in his usual health. He got out of bed and dressed and went downstairs to light the fire, as usual, and left me in bed. Whilst I was in bed I heard a gun go off downstairs, I did not stop to dress but at once went downstairs in my nightdress. I saw my husband sitting in the chair by the side of the fire-place. He was shot in the head. My son Richard was not in the room. Although I went down immediately I heard the shot, when I got downstairs there was no one in the house but me and my dead husband. I went to the door and called for Mrs. Stairs to come, and she came at once. I missed my son and did not know where he had gone to. I asked Mrs Stairs if she had seen my son and she said “No.” My son has not been quite right in his mind lately. He has been rather funny in his head. He looked funny about the eyes, and he said his head was so bad. He complained of his head. He has never in my presence or hearing threatened to do himself any injury in any way whatever. He seemed on pretty good terms with his father so far as I knew. I do not know any more… I did not know that my son had a gun. I heard the gun go off. I have never seen him with a gun, and he did not keep a gun in the house…
[She was then questioned by Sergt. Wootton, Supt. Lait and Dr. Kennish before the Coroner asked questions]
[Mrs.Warner] My son slept during the night, he told me in the morning that he had slept tolerably well.
Coroner: When did he tell you that?
Witnes: He came up to my bedroom and said he had slept well.
Coroner: Why did he come up to your bedroom?
Witness: He brought me up a cup of tea. He then put his arms round my neck and kissed me, and wished me “Good bye.”
Coroner: Was that unusual?
Witness: Yes. It was unusual for him. I do not know what made him do it.
The poor woman here broke out crying and was led out of the inquiry room.

Annie Stairs deposed: I live in Bencham Lane, Sheep Street, Winslow. I live next door to the Warner’s one of the two houses adjoining each other. I know Joseph Warner and Richard Warner well. I last saw Joseph alive yesterday afternoon. He seemed then in his usual health… This morning I heard the report of a gun and Mrs. Warner called me. I only heard one report of a gun. That was about half past 6. I went to her house and saw Joseph Warner sitting in a chair by the side of the fire-place. He had been shot and was quite dead. I did not see the son, and I have not seen him since. So far as I know these people lived together on very good terms with each other. I have never seen Richard Warner with a gun, and I do not know that he had a gun… I was in an outhouse which adjoins the outhouse of Warner’s cottage when I heard someone come into Warner’s outhouse and bolt the door, and in a minute I heard a gun go off.
Supt. Lait said it was evident the witness did not hear the report of the gun in the house, but the one in the outhouse, where she was close at hand.

Martha Sleigh deposed: I live at Shipton and am sister to Richard Warner. My husband’s name is John Sleigh. Richard Warner came to our house yesterday morning about 10 o’clock and threw himself down on the floor. He said “Oh! My poor head. I don’t know what I shall do.” I put a vinegar rag on his face, and he laid on the floor till Mr. Gazey came. Richard Warner remained in our house till 10 o’clock at night. He had some pudding at dinner-time. He would not have anything else. I have noticed some time past that he has been rather peculiar in his mind.
Has he threatened to commit suicide? – Yes.
How long ago? – Last Saturday.
Had he before then? – Yes.
Did you send for a doctor yesterday? – Yes.
Did you tell the doctor that he had threatened to commit suicide? – Yes.
How did he come into possession of a gun? – I do not know, unless he went into the front room whilst I was in the kitchen. Whilst I was in the kitchen I heard the front door opened. I went to sleep whilst I was in the kitchen, and he was in the front room. I called out “What have you been up to, Dick?” He said “I only looked out of the front door.” But I believe now that that was the time when he put the gun outside the front door, so that he could take it away afterwards. That was about half past 10 at night. He then went home and came back again.
What did he go up home and back again for? – He said he just wanted to run up home and see how his mother was, and he said he should not be gone long. He came back again in a very short time.
Where was the gun kept? - It stood in the corner near the fire-place in the front room. It was not loaded. The cartridges were kept in a small box and the box was kept in the cupboard in the kitchen. I do not know how he got the cartridges.
When you knew that he had told you several times that he intended to commit suicide, do you not think it was very foolish to leave a gun and cartridges about the house? – I did not think anything about it at all then.
When did he say he would do away with himself? – He said last Saturday night “I shall jump into Shipton Brook.” I did not take any notice of him talking like that…
Supt Lait: Did you notice the gun in the front room yesterday? – No, It was there the day before. The gun produced is the one.
[Martha Sleigh was asked about money]
The Coroner: Why did he give you money?
Witness: He always said he would give it to me. He had brought the money to our house several times before this, and I would not have it. Last night when he came back the second time he brought the money.
What did he say? – He said. “Here’s the money.” It was money he had saved. He offered it to me and I refused to take it.
Why did you take it? – I did not take it. I was sitting down and he threw it into my lap. I said he could have it again in the morning.
What did he say? – He said, “You have this. I shall never want it again I am sure.” He said “I’m sure I shan’t be here much longer with my head.”
The foreman: Has he ever threatened to shoot himself? – No, he has never talked about the gun.

John Sleigh deposed: I live at Shipton and am brother-in-law to the deceased Richard Warner. I saw him most evenings. He complained much lately of his head and not being able to sleep. He did not give any reason or cause for not being able to sleep. I have noticed this for the past two or three weeks. I have never heard him threaten to do away with himself… I last saw him alive about twenty minutes to nine last night. I then went out… I saw him at dinner time. He looked rather dull then… I kept the gun in the corner of the fireplace in the front room. I do not know when I saw it there last. I do not go into the front room much… I kept the gun for ordinary purposes. I have not used it for the last six months. I took out a licence when I used it, but I have not taken out a licence this year… I have had the cartridges 18 months. Mr. Willmore gave them to me so that I could do some shooting in his fields. The cartridge and the empty cases produced are similar to the ones I had in the little gun box. They are No. 12 cartridges. The gun produced is my gun. I looked in the box today and there are three [cartridges] missing. There is only one of the four cartridges left in the box. It is a converted army rifle, single barrel.
Were you not afraid of his getting possession of this gun after your wife had told you that he had threatened to do away with himself? – I was not afraid, or else I should have broken the gun up or put it away. He had not threatened to do away with himself in my presence. My wife had told me so, but I thought he was suffering from a cold in his head…
Was he on good terms with his father? – Yes, I think so. When he came down to my house yesterday I asked him how his father was and he said “Pretty fair.”
[Dr. Kennish agreed.]

George Gazey deposed: I live in Sheep Street, Winslow, and am stud-groom in the employ of Mr. McCorquodale. I have seen a good deal of the deceased Richard Warner lately during the time he has worked with me. During the past three or four weeks he has complained of pains in his head. Yesterday morning about half-past nine, I was giving him his orders for the day, and he surprised me by at once taking off his coat and running across the yard, vaulting the gate, and running across the fields. I was confused and followed him some distance by his traces in the ground, but I could not overtake him. Knowing that he had suffered from pains in his head, I was afraid of what might happen. I came back to the yard and made inquiries, and I then went to the house of his sister, Mrs. John Sleigh. I asked if Dick was in and she said “yes.” I said “What is the matter with him.” She said she did not know. He then came into the room where we were standing, and we went into the front room. I said “Dick, boy, what is the matter with you?” He said, “Oh! My poor head. It’s so bad. I believe I’m going out of my mind.”…I asked his sister to watch him whilst I sent for a doctor, and I sent for Dr. Kennish.
Did you ever hear him say that he would commit suicide? - Never. He was the last man I should think would ever have done it.
Did you notice a gun in the front room? – No, I did not. Had I noticed one I should have asked them to put it away from him.
You give him an excellent character? – First class, I have never had a better man…

Dr Kennish deposed: I was passing down Shipton Street last Tuesday, when I saw the deceased Richard Warner. I noticed that the water from the floods was running through the ventilating grating of a cottage, and he explained the cause of it to me. He gave me a most intelligent answer and explanation. We stood talking together for six to eight minutes. When I was going away he said he had not been able to sleep well for the last three weeks or more. He said he had such a bad headache, and he asked me if I could give him anything for it. I told him to come to the surgery and see me in the evening about six o’clock. He came at that time… He said he could only account for it because he was learning to read and write, and he was very anxious to get on with his lessons, and he was afraid he should not succeed… I gave him some simple sleeping powders, and told him to come again in a couple of days to see me. He came again last Thursday evening, and told me he had slept 5½ hours on Tuesday night and 6½ hours on Wednesday night, but in spite of that he felt queer in his head. Yesterday (Friday) morning about half-past nine, I received a message to go to the house of Mrs. Sleigh. I went and found Richard Warner lying on the floor in the front room with a pillow under his head. I asked him what he ran away from Mr. Gazey for. He replied “I do not remember anything about it.”… I tried to ascertain from him what were the peculiar feelings, but I could not obtain anything definite from him… I asked her [Mrs.Sleigh] if he had ever said anything about committing suicide. After a time she reluctantly admitted that he had said something about committing suicide… She appeared to have a great affection for him. I asked her to look after him and to ask her husband to do the same, and she promised to do so. I told her they must keep him in sight all night. I saw nothing more of him till this morning, when I was called at a quarter past seven to the house of Joseph Warner, in Bencham Lane. Sergt. Wootton was there and called my attention to the out-building, where the body of Richard Warner was lying partly in the sitting position. The door had been forced open before I got there. There was a large wound on the side of his face and head. One half of the face had been blown away and the brains were exposed and scattered about. The gun was not between his knees at that time. Sergt. Wootton showed it to me. I then went into the house and saw the body of Joseph Warner. He was sitting in a chair by the fireside of the fire-place with his head thrown backwards. A large portion of his face and also his nose had been blown off…There were marks of the shot on the wall. Both deaths were instantaneous, and in my opinion they were due to shock and haemorrhage, the result of gunshot wounds.
Supt. Lait: Were you surprised that the son Richard should have committed such a rash act? – Yes, I had no idea from his conversation and manner that he would have done so. It must have been some sudden impulse…
Supt. Lait: He could not have been placed under restraint?
The coroner: No doctor could have given a certificate.
Dr Kennish: Before a doctor can give a certificate of insanity he must have unquestionable grounds for doing so. The sister was the only person he had spoken to about doing away with himself, and that appeared to be only a mere general statement such as one often hears…

George Gazey was re-called.
The Coroner: We want to know whether you know if Richard Warner was at variance with his father?
Witness: Well, he had some ill-feeling against his father for some reason or other. He felt that he should have to keep him or something of that sort. He had lost his other place, and he said if he lost the one with us he did not know what he should do. He seemed to think he had no further prospect.
The Coroner: He seemed to brood over it?
Witness: Yes. His father was put in the County Court for a debt, and Richard met me as I was going to breakfast on the morning that his father was to attend the County Court at Buckingham. He said “I’ve got on first-class, and now I’m in for another trouble.” I asked him what it was and he said “My father has got to go to Buckingham County Court today. I went upstairs to my box and took out £3, and threw it on the table and told him to take out and that it was the last copper I should give him.”…
Supt. Lait: Was he not a close miserly-sort of young fellow?
Witness: He was a young fellow who never visited public-houses. He took care of his money. When he got a shilling he out it on one side and bought a pig or two.
The Coroner: You would call him thrifty and not miserly?
Witness; Certainly.
The Foreman: Was he about to get married?
Witness: I never heard anything of that.
Dr Kennish: I asked him if there was any love affair or anything of that sort, and he said there was nothing of the kind. It seemed more of a family trouble. He said he had got to keep his father and mother, and he did not know how they were going to live. He spoke more in sympathy than otherwise…
Mr. Mc Corquodale said he could explain the matter about the rent. The cottage was formerly taken in the name of the father, Joseph Warner, but as he got into arrears, it was transferred to the son Richard, who paid off the arrears, within six months. That was some time ago. It was very much to the credit of the son Richard.

Sergt.Wootton deposed: About 7 o’clock this morning a lad came to the police-station and made a communication to me in consequence of which I went to the cottage of Joseph Warner in Bencham Lane. I went into the living room, where I saw Joseph Warner… I then went into the outbuilding, which is in the yard about six or seven yards from the door to the house. I was told that the door had been found bolted, and that it had been forced open, but that no one could get inside owing to the position of the body of Richard Warner. Mr. Walker was present, and I asked him to saw the post in two, which he did, and we were then enabled to take the door away. That having been done I saw the body in a sitting position on the floor in the corner, with a gun between the legs, which were somewhat spread out and the muzzle of the gun was pointing upwards.
The Coroner: Was there any string or anything else attached to the trigger.
Witness: No. He was wearing slippers at the time, and it appeared that he must have pulled the trigger with his finger. There was nothing whatever attached to the trigger. On the seat I found the empty cartridge case I now produce…After Dr. Kennish had seen the bodies, I took the body of Richard Warner into the house. I searched both bodies and found nothing on Joseph Warner at all, except a small pocket knife. In the right-hand jacket pocket of Richard I found the loaded cartridge I now produce, and which is similar to the other two exploded ones. He had a few coppers upon him. I searched his bedroom and found nothing bearing upon the case at all. I found a large number of old letters, which I concluded he had received from a young girl. Amongst them I found the one I now produce, in the same hand-writing and written by the girl to him since she left Winslow last Wednesday week and went to live with her parents.
Witness handed the letter to the Coroner…[it did not bear upon the case]…
Supt. Lait: You knew this young man?
Witness: I knew him well and always looked upon him as a most steady, respectable young fellow. I have not noticed anything about his manner as being strange in any way.

The Coroner, addressing the jury, said they had a great deal of evidence brought before them about this unfortunate case. It appeared to him to point entirely to the fact that the poor father was shot by his son and then that the son took his own life. It was also apparent that the son evidently felt that he had some grievance against his father, and this caused some ill-feeling. It was also evident that the son had not been very well - in fact, he had seen the medical man. And the grievance he had against his father and his own illness seemed to have brought on insanity, which occurred by sudden impulse at times. There was no doubt too, that he brooded over the matter. It was also in evidence that he must have taken away the gun from his sister’s the night before, and after shooting his father he went out of the house and into an outhouse, and bolted himself in before shooting himself. The jury would have to weigh the evidence, and say whether in their opinion the poor fellow was labouring under temporary insanity at the time he committed the awful deed. If they were of that opinion they would return a verdict to the effect that Richard Warner, during temporary insanity, killed his father Joseph Warner by shooting him and then committed suicide. For himself, he thought the evidence was very clear about it.
The jury at once returned a verdict to that effect.

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS.
In order to avoid publicity as much as possible, the funeral of the two victims, Joseph Warner and Richard Warner, took place shortly after 6 o’clock on the morning of Wednesday. The bodies were carried from the cottage, amidst a hushed silence, broken only by the tolling of the bell. But on reaching the precincts of the Parish Church it was found that quite a large number of persons had assembled even at so early an hour. The Vicar, the Rev. T. Hinkley, officiated and the bodies were taken into the sacred edifice where the first portion of the Burial Service was read. On retiring to the churchyard, both bodies were lowered into one grave, and the service completed. The mourners were Mr. Frank Warner (son), Mrs. Sleigh, and two other daughters, Mr. J. Sleigh (son-in-law), Miss Sleigh (grand daughter), Mr. Thos. Warner (Buckingham), Mr. John Warner (Winslow). Among others present at the church were Mr. N. McCorquodale, J.P., Mr. G. Gazey (stud-groom), and Mr. T. Barnett (butler).
It need hardly be added that great sympathy is felt with Mrs. Warner, the widow, so suddenly bereaved of husband and son.