Murderous Monday - Men Who Kill - John Carter - Wife Killer

On Tuesday 5th December 1893 at Reading Gaol, John Carter a cowman from Watchfield, Berkshire met his marker at the end of James Billington's rope for the murder of his third wife Rhoda Carter nee Titcombe.

John Carter was born in 1850 In Wachfield, Berkshire to William Carter, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Elizabeth Anger.  John first appear on the 1851 Census aged eleven years living with his parents and siblings in Watchfield, Berkshire.

On 17th July 1871 John Carter married his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Thatcher in Farringdon, Berkshire.  Together John and Elizabeth had six children together, Elizabeth "Annie", Clara, Elizabeth Louisa who sadly died in infancy, Martha, Thomas and William Henry.  The 1881 Census shows John and Elizabeth, along with Annie, Clara and Martha, living in Cottage House in Worton Hamlet, Cassington, Oxfordshire. 

On 18th June 1887 the marriage ended when Elizabeth mysteriously fell down the stairs at Broadleaze Farm in Watchfield, breaking her neck.  The coroner recorded the death as accidental.  Later that year on 19th October John Carter married his second wife, Elizabeth Ann Alder.  John and Elizabeth had one child together, a son Nelson.  In the September of 1889 Elizabeth mysteriously disappeared.

In 1893 John married again, this time to Rhoda Ann Titcombe.  Three months after their marriage things began to sour.  On the night of 20th June 1893 young Thomas Carter lay awake in bed with his younger brother:

"At 11 p.m. on 20 July 1893, 9-year-old Thomas Carter lay in bed with his younger brother listening to an almighty row between his parents; a not unusual event. At just after 11.30 p.m., he heard his mother Rhoda cry, ‘No, John, no!’, then almost beseechingly, ‘Lord have mercy on me,’ followed by silence. The Carter children, who were farmer boys, were up at 4.30 a.m. the following morning to do their chores. Afterwards, as they ate their breakfast, Thomas noticed his father acting in an unusual way. He had lugged a large bath and firewood into the smithy that adjoined the cottage. These items were followed by two more; a pitchfork and a shovel. Both boys knew better than to question their father so they made their way to school in silence."

Rhoda's family become suspicious of her sudden disappearance:


"Mrs Titcombe, Rhoda’s mother, lived with her son David a few yards away. At 9 a.m. on 21 July, she knocked on Carter’s door but got no reply. Through the window though, she could see Rhoda’s new green coat hanging on the kitchen door. Also, only three breakfasts had been laid on the table. Turning, she saw Carter leaving the smithy. She enquired of Rhoda. ‘Gone to her sisters at Eastleech’ came the surly reply. She was then ignored. ‘How long will she be gone?’ ‘Didn’t say, day or two.’ Carter entered and closed the smithy door. Anne Butler, Rhoda’s friend, was hanging out clothes when she noticed thick black smoke accompanied by a sickly stench coming from the smithy. Anne crossed the road and hammered on the smithy door. ‘Where is Rhoda?’ enquired Anne. ‘Go away, you are a loose woman. Rhoda’s up at Eastleech’, was the reply."

Suspicions in the village grew as thick smoke was seen billowing from the smithy attached to John Carter's cottage:

"When smoke was seen gushing from the smithy again on 22 July, David Titcombe knocked on the door. Not being satisfied with Carter’s explanation that he was boiling up offal, David decided to make the thirty mile round trip to Eastleech by bike and also to send Anne Butler for the police. PC Sparkes made a couple of cursory calls at Carter’s farm, without finding John Carter. He was pretty sure that Rhoda was alright and that her brother would have found her at Eastleech. When news came to the contrary, he became alarmed and made a successful effort at contacting Carter. He searched the farm in Carter’s presence and became very suspicious. ‘She’s left me,’ stated Carter. Sparkes thought to himself that it was strange that a woman would depart leaving all her good clothes behind."

However John Carter couldn't keep his terrible secret forever:

"On 25 July, Carter had a drink with his brother in Wantage and confessed to him that he had killed his wife. At 9 a.m. on 26 July, after wrestling with his conscience all night, Carter’s brother walked into Wantage police station and reported Carter’s confession. John Carter was arrested at 11 a.m. Shortly after, Sergeant Benning and PC Sparkes searched Carter’s barn. Three inches under the floor, Rhoda’s body was discovered, the nose smashed and with horrific bruising around the throat. The body had been burned and boiled."

Unsurprisingly speculation was now rife about the death of John Carter's first wife and the disappearance of his second.  A search of Broadleaze Farm where John and Elizabeth worked at the time was made.  Whilst the search was underway John Carter was tried and found guilty of the murder of his third wife Rhoda and he was hanged on Tuesday 5th December 1893.  On the Wednesday after the police made a shocking discovery:

"Colonel Blandy, chief constable of Berkshire, and Superintendent Butcher, of Farringdon, resumed the search on Wednesday, for the missing body of the second wife of Carter.  Digging was carried out on several places and after about two hours' hard work a perfect skeleton was discovered buried about a foot below the surface of the ground, in the rick yard of Broadleaze Farm, Shrivenham, where Carter was employed, and about 100 yards from the cottage where he lived.  The police were induced to resume their search for the missing woman, in consequence of the confession made by Carter.

Coroner's Inquest

On Friday at the Barrington Arms, Shrivenham, Mr. Jotcham, coroner for West Berkshire, opened and inquest on the skeleton found at Broadleaze Farm, about two miles distant in the same parish.

A complete skeleton was found discovered about 10 feet below the surface.  What seemed to be the remains of a flannel petticoat was round the body, stockings on the legs, and the busks of a pair of stays were also found.  The skull was intact, and the jaw contained a fine set of white teeth.

Dr Coniston Spackman, of Farringdon, said he examined the remains found.  They belong to a female of medium height, and when put together formed a compete skeleton.  The nose seemed as thought it had been smashed.  There were no signs of strangulation."

Murderous Monday - Men Who Kill - Isaac Lee - Bedlem Asylum

Isaac Lee was born in Woodley Green in Berkshire in 1788 and was a successful brush maker in London until the death of his wife.  The passing of his wife affected Isaac badly and he became prone to violent outbursts.  Such outbursts led to Isaac being admitted to St Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum, better know as Bedlam.  In the 1850s a person admitted to the asylum could leave if they were able to find someone responsible to look after them. 

After being admitted Isaac wrote to his relatives, John and Elizabeth Cannon, who lived in Boyn Hill Maidenhead.  After a suitable rent was agreed between the two parties, Isaac Lee moved into the Cannon household.

Living with John and Eliza at the time was their son James, his wife Eliza  and their two young daughters Elizabeth (Lizzie) and Caroline Cannon.  The 1851 Census shows the family, including Isaac Lee living in Boyn Hill, Maidenhead. 

It was at the house on 16th March 1852 Isaac was left in charge his of his four year old great niece Lizzie.  Lizzie had spent the morning playing happily in the house when a piglet suddenly entered room.  This enraged Isaac he set about the piglet with a billhook.  The piglet's screams and the large amount of blood frightened poor Lizzie who made a run for the door.  Suddenly Isaac barred the way and set about little Lizzie in the same manner as the piglet.

Police Constable Simon Frewin was called to the horrific scene and described how it took the strength of three stout neighbours to over power Isaac before he was able to arrest him.

The Observer reported on 29th March 1852

"Murder Near Maidenhead

A labouring man, names John Cannon, residing at Boyne Hill, has, for the last two years, taken as a lodger a relative of his wife, named Isaac Lee, who has always shown indications of weak intellect.  On Tuesday morning week, having been left in the house with a little girl about four years of age, a granddaughter of John Cannon's, he cruelly murdered the poor child, it is supposed by knocking its head against the floor, and afterwards kicking it about the room.  Lee was taken before the magistrates on Friday week, and committed to take his trial at the next assizes for the county of Berks for murder."

Isaac was charged with murder at Reading Assizes, but was found unfit to stand trial due to insanity.  Isaac was sentenced to spend the rest of his natural life in Bedlam Asylum, the place he tried to avoid by living with the Cannons.

Steel engraving of
St Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum
(New Bethlem Hospital)
c1928 

Shortly after Lizzie's murder James and Elizabeth moved out of the family home in Boyne Hill, where John and Eliza remained, to Market Street in Maidenhead, Berkshire.  James and Elizabeth had a further four children together, three sons, William born in 1852, Sydney born in 1855, Thomas in 1857 and one daughter, Eugene born in 1860.

Murderous Monday - Men Who Kill - John Owen/Jones/Jennings - The Denham Massacre

At eight o'clock on the morning of August 8th 1870, at Aylesbury Gaol, John Owen met his marker at the end of William Calcraft's rope for the horrific murder of Emanuel Marshall, his wife, sister, mother and three of Marshall's children.

John Owen had been born in Byfield, Northamptonshire on 3rd June 1832 to John Owen, a tailor, and his wife Elizabeth Bush.  He first appears on the 1841 Census aged nine years old, living with his parents, elder sister Caroline, and brother George and younger sister Elizabeth.  In 1851, eighteen year old John is an apprentice Blacksmith working for and living with Thomas Mason in Byfield, Northamptonshire.

Emanuel Marshall had been born in 1836 in Hillingdon, Middlesex, to William Marshall, a gardener, and his wife Mary.  Shortly after Emanuel's birth his family moved to the village of Denham in Buckinghamshire. 

The six year old  Emanuel can be found on the 1841 Census living with his parents and elder siblings in Cheapside Lane, Denham, Buckinghamshire.  In 1851 Emanuel is working as a shop boy.  William Marshall passed away sometime between 1851 and 1860. 

In 1860 in Suffolk Emanuel married Charlotte Sparke.

On the 1861 Census the newly wed couple can be found living with Emanuel's widowed mother Mary at her home in Cheapside Lane.  Emanuel is now working as an engine fitter.  Emanuel and Charlotte had four children together, Mary Charlotte born in 1861, Thirza Agnes born in 1864, Maude Gertrude born in 1866 and Francis William born in 1868.

In 1870 Emanuel was the blacksmith for the village and a well liked and respected man.  Emanuel's sister Mary Ann had returned to the family home and was due to marry George Amor on 24th May.  everything seemed well, until a shocking discover on 22nd May 1870 at the Marshall family home.  Police Constable Charles Taverner was called to the scene and reported:

"I went to the house and found the doors open.  I found two bodies - the wife and the sister - lying just inside the door and the sister's feet towards her head.  A petticoat covered them.  About two feet from them was a sledgehammer... this was covered in blood.  Then I went into the wash house and found the bodies of the three children.   I found an axe... also covered with blood.  There were extensive wounds on all the heads of the bodies... I found the body of Emanuel, the father, in the forge, lying flat on his face, with his hands stretched out.'

Little Francis William had survived the massacre as he had been staying with relatives to make room for his aunt Mary Ann's return for her wedding.

A thorough search of the property was executed and a rather odd discovery made, a set of blood splattered clothes not belonging to anyone in the family were found.  A pair of boots, trousers, a coat, a cord jacket and vest, a slop (a loose fitting smock or tunic), a deer stalker's hat and a red and white checked neckerchief.  Police Constable Taverner had seen a man wearing clothes exactly like this the previous morning whilst on duty.  The stranger had made an odd remark about seeing a man threatening to throw his wife into the canal before asking for directions to the Marshall's home.

It was also found that the drawers of the bureau had been opened and Emanuel's silver pocket watch was missing.

St Mary The Virgin, Denham Village
where the Marshalls were laid to rest
  © Copyright Jack Hill and licensed for
reuse under this
Creative Commons Licence

Superintendent Thomas Dunham arrived from Slough later that evening and took charge of the investigation.

A few witnesses remarked on seeing a man in the area wearing clothes they believed to be Emanuel's.  One witness, Emma Simpson, initially mistook the man for Emanuel when she came across him on the road coming from the Marshall home.  However the police had very little else to go on and finding the murderer seemed impossible. 

A lucky break came in the shape of Charles Coombes, a bricklayer from Uxbridge, who had become increasingly suspicious of his new acquaintance and his behaviour, so much so that reported his suspicions to his employer.

Charles had shared a lodging house with his new acquaintance he knew as Jack, and had been offered a silver pocket watch by him.  Charles declined the offer and Jack pawned it.  According the Charles on the day of the murders Jack had left the lodgings house and returned much later, 'attired quite differently,' along with a silver pocket watch.  Jack explained away his change of clothing by saying that he had been to visit his brother who had given him his clothes and the watch.

Jack, or John Owen was eventually arrested at the Oxford Arms, Silver Street, Reading.  Superintendent Dunham recalled, 'I went into the kitchen, which was behind the house, and there were about a dozen men and women there.  Coombes at once pointed out Owen.'  Upon being recognised John Owen said, 'I never murdered man, woman, or child.'  Superintendent Dunham then said, 'You are charged with murdering seven people, among them Emanuel Marshall.'  John Owen replied, 'I have not murdered anyone but I know who did.'  It was pointed out to John that he was wearing the murdered Emanuel's boots and some of his clothes.  All John said was, 'That may well be.'

 

 

Silver Street, Reading, Berkshire c1891

John Owen was searched and pawn tickets where found on his for a silver watch like the one missing from the Marshall's home and the deceased Emanuel's waistcoat.  Both pawnbrokers used identified John Owen as the man they had dealt with.  John was taken to Reading Police Station before being taken to Slough by train.  A thousand people lined John's route to Reading Station, where they hissed at him.

On Wednesday 24th May 1870, John was brought before magistrates at Slough Police Station where it was found he had a long history of criminal activity, mainly theft in and around London.  Emanuel Marshall's sister in law, Mary Sparke identified the clothes and boots that had been found on John Owen at the time of his arrest as those her brother in law had owned.

John was committed to trail on 21st July 1870 at Aylesbury before Judge Baron Channell.  John pleaded not guilty.  Several witnesses testified to having seen John in the area at the time of the murders and to the fact he was wearing Emanuel's clothes and boots.  Witnesses where also able to testify that goods stolen from the Marshall home where pawned in Reading and Uxbridge.

It surfaced that John had been previously employed by Emanuel, but bore him a grudge as he felt he had been underpaid for his work. 

The defence tried to argue that there was no real evidence linking John to the murders and just because a person was wearing the clothes of a dead man, it did not mean he had murdered him.  The jury was unconvinced and found John Owen guilty.

Aylesbury Gaol

There are rumours that John Owen asked to sleep in the coffin he was to be buried in the night before his execution and that he also threatened to punch  hangman William Calcraft in the face for not visiting him.

In 1881 the only survivor of the Marshall family, twelve year old Francis William can be found living with his grandparents machinist Loyal Sparks and Sophie his wife at 19 Rockingham Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex.  Sadly Francis was to pass away in 1886 aged only eighteen years.

Murderous Monday - Men Who Kill - William Broome/Brooks - A Slough Murder

On Thursday 24th November 1910 at Reading Prison at eight o'clock in the morning William Broome, alias Brooks met his maker at the end of John Ellis's rope for the brutal murder of Mrs Isabella Wilson.

Isabella Wilson was born Isabella Fletcher in 1841 in Towcester, Northamptonshire, in 1857 she married chimney sweep Richard Wilson of Maidenhead in Eton, Buckinghamshire.  Sadly the marriage didn't produce any surviving children.  Isabella and Richard moved address frequently until Richard's death in 1896.  In 1901 the recently widowed Isabella is working as a wardrobe purchaser and living at 14 Dellary's Road in Surbiton, Surrey.  By 1904 Isabella had moved to 22 High Street, Slough, where she ran a second-hand clothing shop.  Next door at number 20 was a branch of Singer's, selling sewing machines.

Not much is known about William Broome, he was born around 1885 and served as a regular in the Northamptonshire Regiment during the Boer War and then later served in the Berkshire Yeomanry.  His father was the manager of the branch of Singer's next door to Isabella Wilson's shop.

Isabella was quite elderly and while her health was good, the vision in one of her eyes was quite poor, for this reason her sister Mariah and her brother in law Edward White would often visit Isabella of an evening, to check she was okay.  Isabella had a rather concerning habit of carrying large amounts of money about her person wrapped in a purse concealed under her dress.  This made her a target for robbery.

Slough High Street c1909
Copyright Slough Library

During the day of Friday 15th July 1910 nothing extraordinary was noted, however when Mariah and Edward White dropped in to visit Isabella something was a miss.  Edward White recalls:

"We arrived there at about twenty past seven, but when we got opposite the shop we saw a motor-bicycle outside.  The handles of the machine were resting against the window, and thinking it was a customer engaged in the shop we did not go in, but decided to do our shopping first and call back on the old lady.  We had been to see her the night before and she was all right.

At about eight o'clock we returned, when the shop door was open as usual, and the motor-bicycle was gone.  As soon as we got into the shop we noticed that the middle door entering the living room was nearly closed.  This was unusual, as Mrs Wilson always kept it open so she could see into the shop.  When we saw that the door was closed we wondered what the matter was, and I called out, thinking she might have gone to sleep.  There was no answer, and on pulling the door open and looking into the room, we saw that she was lying on the floor.  She was in the habit of having a nap in the afternoon, and I though she might have fainted and fallen off the sofa.  When we got to her, however, we found she was cold, and at once saw that there had been foul play.  The cushion from the couch was tied tightly over her face with a piece of gauze or string which went right around her neck and the knot was so tight that we could not release it.  Her hands were tied together with a pocket handkerchief and were across her breast.  My wife tried to get the cushion off her face while I at once went for Dr Fraser, who lives a few doors down.  He came back to the store and found that she was dead.  There was a wound on the left side of her head, by the ear, as though she had been struck by some instrument, and the blood had trickled down over her face.  Her purse was on the table, cut open.  It had been emptied.  This was the purse she wore under her dress.  The purse lay by and ordinary table knife, which had evidentially had been used for cutting it open.  There was also some bread and cheese on the table.  We went upstairs to see in anything was missing, and found that her room had been ransacked.  Some of the boxes were lying open, but there were one or two locked, which had not been forced."

It was clear that the motive for Mrs Wilson's murder had been theft.  Mrs Wilson's skull hand been fractured from blows to her face with a heavy blunt instrument, her hands showed defensive wounds from her attempting to ward off the attack, however the cause of death had been suffocation from the cushion tied to her face.  The time of her death was placed around early afternoon.

Soon after the murder had been made public several witnesses can forward to report a suspicious character seen in the area at the time of the murder.  That suspicious character was identified as William Brooks. 

Slough High Street c1910
Copyright Slough Library

Brooks was eventually arrested on the 17th July in Harlesden, London, he was found to have two parallel scratches on his right cheek.  A statement taken. 

William stated:

"I make the flowing statement voluntarily and of my own free will:  I reside at No. 146, Albany-street, and occupied the front room second floor.  Previously I lodged at Albert-street, Regents Park.

On Friday morning last, the 15th, I got up about 8:30 a.m., and after having a wash, etc., I went out.  I don't think I saw anyone in the house that morning. I went to the place in Villiers-street [a café], and had some breakfast.  The woman there always served me.  It is about half-way down on the left side.  I then proceeded to Scotland Yard and went to the public carriage branch.  I saw an officer at the window and handed in a form filled up which I had previously received at the same office.  The officer called my attention to time.   It was then 10:20 a.m., and he said 'You are too late for to-day.  You must call some other day at 10 a.m. sharp.'  I then left the office and remained in the yard where they test the cab drivers who are applying for licences.  I remained there until about 1 p.m. 

Then I went to the public house - I think the Trafalgar - in St Martin's Lane, and I had a piece of bread and cheese and a glass of stout, for which I paid 3d.  Then I went to my lodgings at 146, Albany-street.  As I went in I saw the servant in the passage. She might not have been the servant but a woman living in the house.  I did not speak to her.  I did not pass her as she was standing at the end of the passage furthest from the door.  I sat in my room reading a newspaper for an hour or so.  I was not reading all the time, but messing about.  I left my lodgings about 2:30 that afternoon.  I had a walk around and went to Edgware-road.  I went into a grocer's shop near Cambridge-terrace and wrote a post-card to my girl, Miss Bunce.  I think she lives in Camden Town.  I have known her on and off for about six months and I did not know her address until about a week ago.  I posted the card at about 3 p.m.

I then went to Hyde Park and met a fellow I know by sight.  I cannot recollect his name but I think it starts with a 'P.'  I reached the park about 4 p.m., and left there between 5 and 6 p.m.  I then returned to my lodgings and as I passes upstairs I saw the landlady in the front room.  I wished her 'Good afternoon.'  I stayed in my room and hour and a half, had a wash, a read, etc.  afterwards I went out to a picture show near the Britannia public house, Camden Town.  I remained there about two hours and then went home, arriving there about half past ten.  I don't think I saw anyone as I went in.  I went straight to bed and remained there until about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The scratches I have on my right cheek were done last Saturday by a man I had a few words with outside the Britannia public house, Camden Town.  It was given me during the scuffle and my eye has been discoloured.  The man who did it employs I man I know by the name of 'Ginger' to collect bets for him in and around the lavatory outside the Britannia."

The Britannia, Camden Town
Source - Pubs History

There were several untruths in William's statement.  Firstly an officer from the Public Carriage Department of New Scotland Yard testified that he had seen William Broome on Saturday 16th July at 10:35 when he handed in an application form, not Friday 15th as stated by William.  Also the police officer noticed marks on William's face that seemed to be a day or so old.  Dr Alexander Carson Smythe was able to testify that the scratches on William's right cheek where in his opinion caused by human fingernails and not by the buttons of a coat as William had stated later.

But perhaps the nail in William coffin were the five witnesses that placed him in the area at the time of the murder. 

One witness, Thomas George Dellar testified that having known William by sight for the past two and a half years saw him near 22 High Street, Slough around the hours of 1 and 2 p.m.

William was unemployed and facing financial difficulties.  It was found that a few days before the murder William had tried to sell a diamond and ruby brooch without success.  There had also been some difficulties in getting his Army reservist pay.  Having lived next door to Mrs Wilson for the past two and a half years, William was familiar with her habits, especially that of her having a nap in living room behind the shop at 1 p.m. everyday.  It seemed William had the motive and the means.

On 23rd October 1910, the jury found William Broome guilty of the wilful murder of Mrs Isabella Wilson and he was subsequently sentenced to death.  William immediately appealed the courts decision, however the case was dismissed.

William never confessed to the crime and walked to the scaffold unaided.