Children murdered while asleep – Family Tragedy – Harrowing bedroom scene – Wife seriously injured.
Husband commits suicide – Bowman’s life at Whittington Moor – His gambling speculations
Special enquiries and interviews
The unexpected happened at Mosbro’ on the main road from Sheffield to Eckington on Monday morning. There resided on the High Street a family better known at Whittington Moor than in the north-east Derbyshire village, named Bowman. They had only been at Mosbro’ two or three years but in that time the husband Joseph Henry Bowman, as manager of the branch established of Messrs. Wright and Sons, wholesale and retail provision merchants of Whittington Moor, had made many friends and was looked upon as an alert businessman, at all times courteous and with apparently one of the happiest dispositions. Such a man in a position of trust was bound to make a large circle of acquaintances and friends. His wife, some three years younger was also much respected and highly spoken of. The family included two pretty children, the oldest of which was two years and nine months old, and the younger about fourteen months, both girls. In the High Street where they lived the elder, Martha was constantly to be seen trotting about in front of the shop managed by her father and was therefore known to all the customers.
Mr and Mrs Bowman and family had lived most happily together. So far as can be learned, no dispute had ever marred their Domestic Felicity and yet in less than quarter of an hour before 5 o’clock on morning in a mad frenzy which can hardly be explained by the rumours which exited on Monday as to the husband having been evidently mixed up with betting transactions the two children had been murdered by their father; he had also attempted to take the life of his wife and had so injured himself that he died soon afterwards. Truly it was the unexpected that happened.
Bowman was in the shop as usual on Saturday, was bright and merry as was his won’t and he retired to bed without a sign that anything was troubling him. His behaviour on Sunday also gave no impression of anything being wrong. It was stated however that on Sunday morning he received a letter from the firm to the effect that stocktaking was to commence on the morrow. This it is understood was not the usual time for the commencement; in fact, it was several weeks earlier than usual. But whether the result of the stocktaking was feared or not on Sunday, Bowman certainly did not appear to be depressed or to show any sign of being fearful and to what might be found out by the firm whose employ he had been since he was fourteen years of age and whom significant trust had been placed.
Sunday’s Rest
The Sabbath was commenced as usual. The children were pretty and neatly attired and during the day Bowman took the eldest child for a walk and to some of his friends spoke in terms of endearment of his child. There is absolute proof that the man had a most affectionate feeling for his wife and children. At eventide he assisted with the children as they were being prepared for bed and still no sign was given of what was to happen. The husband and wife spent the remainder of the day pleasantly. Bowman himself sat alongside the cradle and read a Sunday newspaper, the wife busying herself with little household duties. Supper was had together in the kitchen and without clearing the whole of the utensils away the two retired to rest.
Child’s little ailments what occurred in the night makes it difficult indeed to explain the final cause of the hideous drama in the early hours of the morning. Twice the father and mother were disturbed by one of the children who was suffering from a slight ailment and on both occasions Bowman himself got out of bed, pacified it and got it off to sleep again. The wife noticed nothing to arouse her suspicions that an attempt would be made on all their lives.
It was not until something like a quarter to five in the morning that the wife, terrified beyond measure was rudely awakened from sleep by a sudden and severe blow on the back of the head. She attempted to rise and was then struck again on the temple, after which she struggled from her bed and peculiarly enough though it was she who was being attacked by her husband – her first thought appears to have been for her children. She screamed out, “Oh, my children, my children!”
Cries awake the neighbours, her next door neighbour, Mrs Laughton, wife of Mr William Laughton, cycle dealer occupying the adjoining shop to Messrs Wrights was aroused by this cry and called her husband. Her first thought was that Bowman’s children were ill and she asked her husband to get up and see what the matter was. He hastily dressed himself, but hearing screams in the yard opened the window and looked out. There he saw Mrs Bowman in her nightdress with her face and head covered in blood standing in the yard. He rushed downstairs, but in the meantime a young man named Gilbert Keeton who lives in Stone Street and who was getting ready to go to his work had also heard the cries and appeared on the scene. Though he knew Mrs Bowman very well indeed, he did not recognise her in her terrible condition, her face and head being disfigured with the blows and the blood which was flowing from the wounds. “Who has done this?” he asked and in a terrified voice, Mrs Bowman replied, “It is Joe, but never mind me, look to my children.”
Mr Kemp, the Postmaster, who lives three doors away now, joined Laughton and Keeton and another man named Harry Stones. Mrs Station, who occupies the house on the other side of Bowman’s, took in Mrs Bowman, who was in a fainting condition from loss of blood and shock. She also paid every attention to the poor woman and in a motherly manner endeavoured to alleviate her distress.
Bursting the door open. The men turned their attention to the house. In the cellar kitchen there was nothing except the spots of blood which had fallen from the wife to indicate the scene of bloodshed in the upper room. Thinking that Bowman was armed with a revolver and had shot his wife, Keeton took the kitchen poker and, followed by the others, rushed upstairs. They called out the man’s name but received no response. They could, however, hear a gurgling noise inside and attempted to open the bedroom door. This however was fastened on the inside. Without any hesitation, Keeton took a running kick at the door and the panels were soon knocked through and the door then giving way.
The scene in the bedroom, the sickening spectacle of blood presented itself. Gruesome and terrifying was it to even the strongest nerved. Blood seemed to be spatter everything. Right in front of them, stretched across the bed was the younger child, Charlotte, with its head smashed and, apparently a lifeless corpse. In the cot was the elder child, Martha, with its throat shockingly gashed almost from ear to ear, but just alive. Mr Kemp bound some clothing around its neck and this undoubtedly kept it alive for about quarter of an hour, though it was beyond the possibility of surgical skill to save its life. Keeton picked the baby up and gently carried it to the kitchen placing in on the couch there with the hope that even then something might be done to succour it. It was however too late.
The husband was lying on the carpet at the foot of the bed on his right side, his throat having apparently been gashed several times and about him was a pool of blood. Near his head was a razor and by his side powerful iron pipe tongs, which he had borrowed some time ago to screw up a nut on a pipe. Both instruments were all over blood, which was flowing copiously from the wounds in the murderer’s throat.
The noise had disturbed the other neighbours in the houses adjoining, in one of which is located the village constable, PC Bennett. His stepson looked out of one of the back windows and was told what had happened and was asked to call the constable. In a very few moments, PC Bennett was present and a messenger was despatched for Dr A McLelland Pilcher who without delay came and rendered what medical assistance was possible. In the first place he announced that the children were quite dead and that the man had very seriously injured himself. Having done what was possible to save his life, he recommended his removal to the Sheffield Royal Hospital whether he was subsequently taken in a vehicle which, in response to a message, Mr Gamble of Eckington had sent to the scene of the awful crime.
Bowman’s confession. Although up to the time he reached the hospital, Bowman had occasionally opened his eyes, apparently conscious of all that was taking place around him, not a word had he spoken. At the hospital however, his lips were opened for the first time, “I know I’ve done wrong” he said. “I did not want to leave any offspring behind me.” “What has been going off Joey?” “Is it money?” asked Laughton. Bowman replied, “Aye, aye.” In answer to a further question, “How long has it been going on?” the dying man said, “Some time now.” “I didn’t want to leave any offspring behind me.” He gradually became very feeble and died between ten and eleven o’clock on the forenoon, his last words being, “She’s been a good wife to me.”
The Children’s cat of course, everything in the house was left exactly as it was at the time Bowman attacked his family. It is too gruesome to attempt to describe the bedroom, which it can be understood was not only much saturated with blood, but in a very disturbed condition. The location, however, spoke pathetically of the life of the family. Everything likely to be found in a comfortable little home of this character was there. The kitchen utensils, which had been used for supper on Sunday night, were in the sink. The plates, knives and fork were on the table just as they were when supper was finished the night previously, and an empty pint bottle, which had contained stout and which the husband and wife had shared with their last meal was on the table. There was also a bottle of ink and a pen at the corner of the table near the cradle and from that it is reasonable conjecture that Bowman wrote the letter to his father in law just before retiring to bed or upon getting up in the early hours of Monday morning. In one corner was the little baby’s cradle neat and tidy, the bed clothing only disturbed as was necessary in taking the little one from the bed to share that of the parents upstairs when the retired for the night. On the mangle was the elder child’s little pink frock and its underclothing, spotlessly clean and speaking in silent praise of the industrious young housewife upon whom such a cruel blow had fallen. There was one silent witness during the day, after the Police had taken charge of the house, a tortoiseshell cat, the pet of the little ones, sat patiently at the kitchen door and hardly stirred away a yard during the whole of Monday. Neighbours, no doubt have seen that the poor creature is not starved.
Whittington Moor Impressions. To speak of a brighter side of the tragedy is impossibility, but it was a feeling akin to that which one experienced in visiting the scenes of the youth of both Mr and Mrs Bowman. Whittington and Whittington Moor were essentially the home to them, and it was that idea which prompted a representative of The Derbyshire Times to make some enquiries there. No other topic on Wednesday had any interest for the residents and no occurrence could have possibly come as a greater shock to them. The “poor lass” has all their sympathy. And of Bowman not a word is spoken but of sorrow and regret. On the Moor the whole thing is unexplainable.
Continuously kind enquiries are being made regarding Mrs Bowman, who particularly during Wednesday that should any of her husband’s relatives or members of the firm of Wright and Son call, she should see them. When on Tuesday, Mrs Bowman was removed from Mosbro’ to her father’s home at Sanforth Street, Newbold Moor, she had hardly realised the meaning of the blow that had befallen here on its full weight. On the whole, she passed a good night on Tuesday and of Wednesday she was told one of her younger brothers that Joe must have left some message. It was only then that she was informed of the letter which told of the apparently paltry matter which could have so easily been cleared away, but which led to the awful crime. “Seventeen pounds” the brother remarked to our representative, “Why, if he had only told us of it, I could have put him straight myself, and would have been glad to do it.”
Bowman’s early years. Employed by Messrs. Wright since the time he was about 12 or 13 years of age. Bowman had lived all his life on the Moor before he went to Mosbro’ less than three years ago. He was second of three sons of a family which used to reside in Holland Road, Whittington, but now both parents are dead. His father died about four years ago and twelve months after, his mother passed away that was shortly before Bowman was married. “He was only a little one, but he was a smart lad, and always moved about as if meant business” was one remark which was made by an old tradesman. Football claimed him as an enthusiastic player, and often the Whittington Moor Tradesman’s team was the better for his service. Regularly he used to attend the Congregational Chapel and at the time his wife, Miss Martha Barratt, as she was then singing contralto in the chapel choir. Bowman was spoken of to us as “not exceptionally religious but just went to chapel like most of the other young fellows.” “Short and of medium build, he had a bright and intelligent face with a crop of light curly hair, and by many he is remembered as a very quiet, decent sort of chap.
Betting and Business. The cause of the crime led our representative to make enquiries as to betting, but there was not one of his many friends who could say that they ever knew Bowman indulge in gambling except perhaps at a football match he would wager a cigar or so with a friend. If it had been going on for some time as Bowman himself said on his deathbed, it is apparent that some success must have attended his speculation.
On the Monday a fortnight before the terrible occurrence struck, stock was taken at the Mosbro’ branch and at that time the books were found to be square. A week later a brother of Mrs Bowman’s told us young Mr Wright called at Mosbro’ for the drawings of the shop, and even then, things were right. That would apparently narrow the period of loss down to last week, and Saturday must not be included said young Barratt, for on Saturday, the takings were right to a halfpenny. Therefore, it must have been between Monday and Saturday that the failure occurred.
“Never more than a shilling on.” Again, there is something not quite clear in that, one of Bowman’s sisters is Mrs Holmes, wife of Mr Holmes, joiner at Littlemoor, and on Tuesday in conversation with Mrs Bowman she was told that Joe had complained on the Saturday of bad trade. The shop he told his wife was hardly taking what would cover his wages, so that it would almost be impossible for him, unless under some exceptional circumstances to make away with £17 of the firm’s money. He did a little betting to keep things straight. Mrs Bowman knew that, she told her sister in law; but she had never known Joe to have more than a shilling on.
Bowman’s married life. It will not be four years until November since Bowman and his wife were married but once then Mr Barratt’s house on Sanforth Street had been practically ‘home’ to the young couple. After going to Mosbro’ visits were frequent but never on one of these occasions was a hint given of any troubles in business or in family affairs. At Whittington Moor his wife too had a wide circle of friends for before him marriage she was employed at the jam factory and was well known. Both her parents are alive and she was the fourth member of the family which consists of three sons and three daughters. The last visit paid to the house of his father in law was a few weeks ago and, on that occasion, he went with some friends to see the football match at Chesterfield against Bolton Wanderers. On former occasions he had brought with him his oldest little girl, Martha, who greatly took after her father, clear in complexion and with pretty light curly hair. At Mosbro’ Bowman became a member of the Institute and at one time used to attend frequently. Recently, however, one of his brothers in law, who had visited him, was surprised to hear that latterly he had scarcely ever gone out at nights but had stayed indoors with his wife and children.
Bowman Hyper-Sensitive. To Bowman’s highly sensitive nature the terrible deed is attributed to those that knew him well. “Thought to us the £17 seems but a little thing,” said one, “it was not so to him. He had plenty of friends even apart from his relatives, who would readily have helped to put him straight, but it was just like him. If he had gone to any of them it would have meant telling them what a disgrace to him was, and he couldn’t do that.” This sensitive character appears to have, in little things, previously made himself dear to his friends but none of them dreamed of such a desperate trait in his character as Monday’s tragedy revealed.
THE CORONER’S INQUIRY MURDERER’S WRITTEN CONFESSION.
Dr A Green held an inquest on Tuesday afternoon at the Crown Hotel, Mosbro, on the bodies of the two children, Martha, aged two years nine months and Charlotte Mary, aged fourteen months. Supt. Andrew represented the Police at the inquiry. The Coroner remarked that the case was one of unusual sadness. After reviewing the main facts of the case, he said that so far as they were concerned there was no question of committing the murderer for trial as otherwise would have been done. They had only to enquire as to how the children met their death.
Albert Thomas Barratt, Sanforth Street, Whittington Moor, miner, stated that he was the grandfather of the deceased children, Martha and Charlotte Mary aged two years and nine months and one year and two months respectively. They were strong and healthy children and resided with their parents at High Street, Mosbro, in the parish of Eckington. Their father was Joseph Henry Bowman, who was the manager of the Mosbro branch shop of the Mr Wm Wright of Whittington Moor for over two years. As far as the witness knew he carried on his duties satisfactorily.
The Coroner: “Would you say that he was a bad-tempered man?”
Witness: “No, not so far as I know”
“Was he sometimes in low spirits?
“Well, I believe he was sometimes.”
“Did he suffer from anything?”
“About four or five years ago he suffered from something like a stroke of apoplexy.”
“Since that time, he seemed all right?”
“Yes.”
“You saw him recently?”
“Yes, and he seemed alright.”
“Do you know if in the last day or two the deceased man had been out of sorts?”
“Not that I am aware of.”
“Did he appear fond of his children?”
“Yes sir.”
“He has never been out of his mind at any time of his life?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Is there any mental disease in the family?”
“I don’t know any disease mentally amongst them.”
“You know we want to find the cause of this extraordinary act?”
“I don’t know any cause. There is no mental disease as far as I know.”
“There is no insanity in the family as far as you know?”
“Not that I know of.”
“How long had the deceased man been married?”
“Four years.”
“Was he fond of his children?”
“Yes, very.”
“Was his married life happy?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know anything about any monetary difficulties?”
“No”
“Then as far as you knew he was comfortably off?”
“Yes”
“Had you known him long?”
“Yes, I had known him all his life from a boy. “
“Was he a steady man, or given to drink?”
“No, he was a very steady man and was fond of his work.”
“Had you any reason to suppose he was going out of his mind?”
“No sir.”
The Coroner: “We have concluded that he must have been out of his mind.”
William Laughton, cycle dealer said he lived next door to the Bowman’s. He had known the deceased man several years.
The Coroner: “And what was your opinion of him?”
Witness: “I have always found him to be a straightforward man.”
“Was he eccentric in any way?”
“No.”
“Did he seem to be a bad-tempered man?
“No.”
“Fond of his children?”
“Yes, and his wife too.”
“Civil, obliging man?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see him the day before this occurrence?”
“Yes sir, on the Sunday.”
Was he all right?”
“Yes”
“Cheerful and bright as usual?”
“Yes.”
“Did he complain of headache?”
“No sir.”
“Now I will take you to Monday morning. What drew your attention to something wrong at the house?” I suppose you were sleeping at the time?”
“About a quarter past five, I and my wife were awake in bed and we heard something next door. Only a wall separates the two bedrooms. I heard a sound as if someone had fallen out of bed and I said to my wife, “Martha has fallen out of bed” and we heard a scream at the same time and someone hurry downstairs.”
“That was Mrs Bowman I suppose?”
“Yes, but we thought it was Joe rushing downstairs for something for the children.”
“What else:”
“Then there was another noise in the room as if someone had fallen.”
“How soon after?”
“About a minute or two.”
“Fallen heavily?”
“Yes.”
“And what did you do?”
“There was a scream outside. I lifted up the window and saw someone stood with James Staton. I asked who she was, and he said, “Mrs Bowman.”
“You could tell it was a woman?”
“Yes, she was standing against Staton’s door in her nightdress.”
“Covered in blood?”
“Yes, and she was barefoot, and her head and face were covered with blood.”
“Then did you ask her what was amiss?”
“No, I put on my trousers and ran downstairs.”
“Did she make any communication to you when you got downstairs:”
“No, sir, only we knew something was wrong because she was covered in blood.”
“And what did you do?”
“With three other men, Keeton, Stone and Kemp, I went into the house and proceeded upstairs. Keeton went first and I followed him. Then came Stone and Kemp.
“The door was locked?”
“It was locked from inside.”
“Did you hear any noise before you opened the door?”
“Yes, we heard a noise as if someone was gargling.”
“What did you do when you got inside?”
“When we got inside, we saw the youngest child lying on the bed covered with blood and with its throat cut.”
“Was it dead?”
“Not quite dead.”
“Outside the bed clothes or not?”
“Outside.”
“Well, now, the older child was lying in the little cot at the side of the bed. In what condition was that one?”
“She had her throat cut.”
“Dead or not?”
“Not dead, but still alive.”
“Outside the clothes or underneath?”
“Partly covered.”
“Well, then, the father. Where was he?”
“He was lying at the foot of the bed on the floor on his right side.”
“Was he dressed or in his nightclothes?”
“He was in his nightshirt.”
“Was he moving at all?”
“No, he was breathing heavily.”
“Did he speak?”
“No, he never spoke.”
“You didn’t stop to make any enquiries of Mrs Bowman before you broke into the house?
“No, because I heard her scream and say, “Oh, my children.”
Witness: Proceeding said he sent for the Police and a Doctor. The Police Constable who lived close to was quickly on the spot and a Doctor arrived very quickly.
Witness: Found a razor about a foot from the head of the father. It was covered in blood.
Witness: Assisted to take the deceased man to the Sheffield hospital.
The Coroner: “Did he make any statement to you on the way?”
“No.”
“Did he make any statement to you when you got there?”
“Yes, after asking for a drink of water, I asked him, “What have you been doing, Joe?” He replied, “She has been a good wife to me.”
“He didn’t give any reason for what he had done, did he?”
“No sir, he said, “I have done wrong, Mr Laughton. I asked him what he had done it for, and he said he had done it because he didn’t want to leave any offspring behind him. I asked him if he had gone wrong and he nodded his head. I asked him how long it had been going on and he replied, “Some time.”
“He meant money matters I suppose?”
“Yes, I understood it to mean that.”
Police Constable Bennett who resided near to the Bowman’s said he was asleep when his son called out and told him someone was calling for him. That was about 5.20. He proceeded to the Bowman’s house at once and found blood all the way from the kitchen door up two flights of stairs and into a bedroom, the door of which had been broken open.
The Coroner: “I suppose the blood was from the wife’s wounds?”
Witness: “Yes.”
“She must have been severely injured?”
“Yes, she was.”
Witness: Further stated that the body of the youngest child had been carried downstairs when he got there, and the others were described by the last witness.
The Coroner: “Were they all alive when you got there?”
“No, the youngest child downstairs was dead!
“Where did you take the deceased man to?”
“Onto the bed with assistance and in doing so I found the iron gas pipe tongs or spanner (produced) underneath covered with blood.
“You went with the deceased to Sheffield Hospital?”
“Yes.”
“What time did you get there?
“About 20 minutes to eight, and I stayed there until his death at 10.15 the same morning.”
“Did he make any statement to you?”
“Yes, he spoke to me before he was operated upon and said, “How is Martha? I know I have done wrong. I have got into difficulties.”
“Had you known him some time?
“Yes, two years.”
“Had you noticed anything strange about him?”
“No, he was a very cheerful man.
“Have you seen him under the influence of drink?”
“No, I have seen him fetch a pint or half pint of beer for supper most nights. He was particularly fond of the children.
A Juror: “Have you any idea, Mr Bennett, what the difficulty was:”
The Coroner: “We shall be able to read a note shortly which will explain that.
Another Juror: “Have you found any books?
“I found two books called ‘The Starter’.
The Coroner: “It is a sporting annual. Information about racehorses’ gentlemen.
Witness: Said he also found a note in the house handing it to The Coroner. The Coroner here read a medical certificate to the effect that Mrs Bowman was unable to attend as she was suffering from lacerated wound in the forehead and scalp and concussion of the brain. He added that he did not consider it necessary for her to attend. PC Walker said he found the note underneath the bed near the deceased man’s trousers. He also found another paper on the mantelpiece in the kitchen. The letter was addressed to ‘A T Barratt, grocer, Sanforth Street, Whittington Moor.’ The Coroner proceeded to read extracts from the letter as follows:
“Dear Father and Mother and Sister and Brother I have speculated Mr Wright’s money thinking to make a bit for myself and have failed. I owe to Mr Wright £17. You must sell all up and pay Mr Wright £17. Martha and me and the children are insured in the Wesleyan Insurance Company and you know what club we are in. Pay Mr Wright’s expenses and what is left you have half and give the other half, in any, to my sister Polly. No-one else is to blame but myself so cast no blame upon anyone.”
The Coroner “It seems he contemplated taking his own life at any rate. That is the reason given for doing it.
A Juror: “It is evident he had given way to gambling.
Dr A McLaren Pilcher said he was called about 5.30 to Bowman’s house. He described how he found the wife and children. The child on the sofa was dead when he arrived. Upstairs he found the father. Having had the man lifted onto the bed, he examined his wounds roughly. None of the main arteries had been severed. The other child still breathed, and he applied a tracheostomy tube through the wound in the throat. She coughed it up and stopped breathing. He sucked at the tube, but she soon died. He then attended to the injuries of the woman, which consisted of a wound at the back of the head about half an inch in length which he stitched up and another on the right side of the forehead running down over the eyebrow. It was cut down to the bone. There were no fractures apparently. The right eye was bruised and swollen and had a small punctured wound. He did not rouble to ask her any questions. He did not know her present condition as Dr Palmer had since attended her and she had since been removed he understood to Whittington Moor to take her away from the gossip and unpleasantness of the place. She must have received some very hard knocks which might have been produced by the spanner produced. The wound on the back of the head had he thought been caused by falling on something hard on the floor.
The Coroner: “Had you known this man before?”
Witness: “Yes. He always struck me as being a very kind sort of man. I never knew him to suffer from a consequence of drink.”
The Coroner: “Any peculiarities?”
“No, he was very attentive to his wife when she was confined.
Witness: Proceeding said he had made a post-mortem examination of the bodies of the two children. The windpipe and gullet of the youngest child were severed by a gash right across the right across the throat. The head and face were also very much bruised by the use of some instrument and the frontal bone of the face was broken. The brain was however uninjured. The internal organs were healthy. Death was due to loss of blood from the neck wound. There were two wounds in the neck of the other child and the deeper one severed the windpipe and gullet. The main arteries were not severed. He believed death in this case was due to suffocation resulting from an obstruction in the lower part of the windpipe. The head was knocked about a good deal on the left side and the bone was driven in, lacerating the brain.
The Coroner: “You have no hesitation in saying that death was the result of the injuries received?”
“No.”
“Is there any evidence to show that he had attempted to harm the children before striking his wife?
Supt. Andrew: “No.”
Dr Pilcher: “Mrs Bowman said when she left the room, she did not think he had attempted to touch the children.”
The Coroner: “Could she account at all for the savage attempt on her?”
“No, I asked her if they had had any words or if he had gone to bed depressed and she said, “No.”. Police Sergeant Walker said she told him that she was asleep when she received the first blow. She then rushed out. She merely saw her husband standing beside the bed in his shirt and she rushed out of the room.”
The Coroner: “Very fortunate for her that she did.”
Police Sergeant Walker added that she said she had not words on the previous night. He had wanted her to go out with the children, but she would not.
The Coroner in summing up said the jury would have no difficulty in arriving at their verdict. It was, however, a case which presented certain peculiarities. The deceased was a man who had borne an excellent character, so far as they had been able to learn. He seemed to have been industrious and not given to drink. He was a kind husband and father and his married life seemed to have been a very happy one. There was nothing in his manner on Sunday to show that he meditated the crime. The neighbours saw nothing unusual about him, and the wife did not appear to have noticed anything unusual about him.
The letter he (the Coroner) had read showed, however, that he had got into difficulties and owed his employers – Messrs. Wright, whose branch business he managed – a sum of £17 and that stock-taking was to take place on the Monday. Pushing the two things together it was reasonable to infer that he rather dreaded the stock-taking, which was to take place, knowing that the difficulties in which he had become involved in consequence of his betting would be revealed. That was the only reason that could be assigned for the crime he had committed. There was no evidence to show that insanity ran in his family. He had given the money difficulty as his reason for doing the deed. He (the Coroner) supposed that the jury would return a verdict of wilful murder against the deceased man, Joseph Henry Bowman. The jury had nothing to do with his state of mind at the time the deed was committed.
The jury at once returned a verdict of ‘Wilful murder’ against Joseph Henry Bowman, the father of the murdered children.
INQUEST ON BOWMAN – No Evidence as to State of Mind.
The inquest on the body of Joseph Henry Bowman, 26 years of age, was held at the Sheffield Royal Hospital on Wednesday by Mr D Wightman, City Coroner.
William Bowman, 34 Church Street, Whittington, miner, brother of the deceased, was the first witness. His brother had been a healthy man: but he had been subject to fits whether epileptic or our witness did not know.
The Coroner: “There must be some reason for the murder of the children. What in your opinion, is the reason?”
Witness: “I cannot say, I have no idea. He must have gone mad”.
But have you any idea what should drive him to commit such a crime? Was he in any trouble? I have no idea at all.
Do you know that he was in any monetary difficulty? – No.
Really you know nothing about him recently as you have not seen him for six months. That is so.
Did he do any horse racing? I could not say.
He did not before he was married. I never knew him to back a horse in his life. Whether he has done any betting since being married I cannot say.
Pc Bennett, of the Derbyshire Constabulary repeated the evidence which he gave the day before at Mosbro’ in relation to the deaths of the deceased’s two children. He added in reply to the Coroner, that during the two years he had known the deceased had always been a cheerful man. Witness saw him on Sunday night watching the Boy’s Brigade going to Church, and he then appeared to be in his usual spirits, passing a jocular remark to witness. The deceased had his oldest child with him.
The letter from the firm of Wright and Sons intimating to the deceased that stock would be taken on Wednesday was read and two sporting animals, found in the deceased house, were produced.
The Coroner said he was suicidal with this evidence. The fact that this man has murdered his two children, tried to murder is wife and committed suicide pointing strongly to the state of his mind. He was in good health, not the presumption was that the coming stocktaking had made a great impression on him, as he knew he would be found out. It was for the jury to decide however, whether this entirely accounted for his state of mind.
After some consulation the jury returned a verdict the Bowman had committed suicide, but as so what state of mind he was in there was not suffiecient evidence to show.
Funeral witnessed by Thousands
Profound as has been the sympathy of the Whittington Moor and Newbold people for those who have suffered the shock of the awful tragedy that sympathy only reached the full extent on Thursday, when the funeral of the three victims took place. Probably no event either grave or gay, as brought together on Newbold Moor such a crowd. It numbered thousands and more but the most pathetic reference to Bowman where to be heard.
It was only on Thursday that the bodies were conveyed from Sheffield and Mosbro’ to Newbold. Ms Barratt, father in law of Bowman accompanied Mr C Bown of Chesterfield to the Sheffield Hospital and there the corpse of Bowman was taken charge of.
The conveyancing took the route thorouh Mosbro’ and there the tiny coffins with the remains of the two childrens where place along with the father by Mr Bolsover who had kindly taken to see to everything in connection with the removal of the little ones. He accompanied Mr Bower in the conveyance to Chesterfield whilst Mr Barratt returned to Newbold Moor.
At Chesterfield the arrival was almost unnoticed an quietly the coffins were transferred to other hursts which followed by four coaches took the way Stanforth Street.
Already people had taken their stand to view the act in the mournful drama and it took those in charge of the vehicles all their time to reach the house of Mr Barratt, from which the cortege was to start. Not only procession on its way to Newbold Churchyard. A body of police, under Inspector Sharp was on duy, but their difficulty in keeping the crowd in order was but alight for white the cortege passed the deepest silence resigned and heads were bowed in respect for the memory of one who, as known at Newold was a quiet and much esteemed young man.
But not only Newbold people were spectators from Hasland and Chesterfield, Whittington and Mosbro’ there were many from Mosbro’ neighbours of the unhappy widow had walked that foreseen to witness the last rites performed over two of the prettiest little chldren the village had ever seen.
The onlookers at Sanforth street kep a close on the the window of the room occupied by Mrs Bowman, for they correctly divined the wishes of the widow and expected that she would look upon the departure of the corspe of her dear ones on their last journey. She wish to do so, but here close relations widely forbade such a thing, fearing the the shouck would be too great.owman (brother and sister in law),
The sombre which followed the hearse were occupied by the relatives of Mr and Mrs Bowman and in additon a number of relative followed on foot.
Mr and Mrs Barratt, grandfather and grandmother of the children, were joined by Mr and Mrs Albert Barratt, Mr and Mrs Fred Barratt (brothers and sister of the widow). Mr T Gregory (Brother in law), and Mr Harold Barker. The relatives of Bowman were – Mr and Mrs William Bowman (brother and sister in law) Mr Henry Bowman (brother). Milene, Jane, Annie, Esther, and Ruth (sisters) Mr and Mrs Wells and Mr and Mrs Holmes (brother in law and sister), Mr and Mrs Matthew Levers (uncle and aunt) Mr and Mrs John Levers (uncle and auntie, Grassmoor) Mrs Wragg (aunt), Mrs Walker (aunt Stonegravia), and Mr & Mrs Walker (uncle and aunt, Sutton in Ashfield). Mr and Mrs Wright Parsons, and Mr William Parsons (cousins, Hillstown).
Mr Everett Wright represented the firm by whom man was employed and there wer also present: Mr and Mrs JJ Clayton of Mosbro and Mrs Staton and her two daughters who attended to the injured widow on Monday morning as well as Mrs Laughton.
In the Churchyard.
It was with some misgiving that the arrival at the churchyard was looked forward to, for it were feared there would be difficulty in keeping the crowd within bounds. On that account it was thought best to attempt to keep the churchyard clear but the crowd had anticipated those in charge,, and long before the police were stationed as many as could find standing room in the consecrated spot were there.
But there was not a trace of disorder and heads were bared as the bearers passed into the church carrying the three coffins. At his own request, Mr A Frosby a close friend of Bowman was one of the bearers, and the ushers were Messrs C Hodgkinson, John Farndon, Tom Pursglove, E Gunter and Fred Pursglove. The young women who acted in a similar capacity for the infants were Miss L Hollingworth, the Miss Thompson (two), Miss Annie Barpott,Miss H Cadman, Miss Cooper, Miss Drury, and Miss E Gregory.
The Rev L C Cutlack rector of Newbold, conducted the service, white the crowd outside waited patiently and almost in silence. The time occupied in the church was slightly longer than usual. This, the only little delay in the whole proceedings was brought about the anxiety of Bowman’s two sisters from Manchester to look for the last time on the feature of their dead brother. The request was granted and the wooden part over glass at the head of the coffin was removed for the purpose and replaced with as little delay as possible.
Reverently, the remains were conveyed to the graveside situated on the upper side of the middle walk of the churchyard. With them were conveyed the dozen or more wreaths which friends had sent including one from the widow and one from Messrs Wright and Sons. Even the little childrens playmates of the older children were represented and more than one tear was dropped on the little white blooms which conveyed the sympathy of these innocent little ones, who chould hardly have understood the horror of the occurrence which had deprived them of their little friend.
The words of the burial service rose amid the dead silence which reigned as the resairs of the father were lowered into the grave. Then of the children were placed immediately above the younger at the father’s head and reverntly avove was place the wreath sent by Mrs Bowman, which was buried with the coffins and soon the grave was filled in and the last crys of the memorable event was reached. Many lingered about the churchyard, but most of them present quietly dispersed.
Thanks to Carol Stocks for typing this up on behalf of MHMG.
