Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 16 November 1904
Terrible Tragedy at Mexborough.
Triple Murder and Suicide.
Traveller’s Insane Crime.
One of the most painful domestic tragedies that we have ever had to record occurred at Mexborough yesterday morning, when a man, apparently in sudden paroxysm of insanity, murdered his wife and two children, and committed suicide.
Without warning, without any reason so far as can be ascertained, a loving husband and an affectionate father took the lives of those who were nearest and dearest to him, and then died at his own hand,
It was shocking tragedy, gruesome in its details, but not associated with any of those sordid circumstances that accompany many murders. So far from taking place in a squalid locality, and being traceable to drink and previous quarrelling, its scene was a new and residential part of Mexborough, and its perpetrator a man who had the respect many friends. His name was Walter Henry Trubshaw, a clerk and commercial traveller, in the employ of Messrs. Peter Waddington and Sons, New Don Glass Works, Mexborough, and he lived at Scarrington Villa, Adwick Road, with his wife and two children, Gordon and alter Kenneth, aged respectively four years and ten months.
Ethel Hill aged 15, lived with the family as domestic servant, and she is now the sole survivor who can tell ‘ of the tragedy of which she 1 saw a part, and of the fate which, evidently, she narrowly missed sharing.
Trubshaw, it is stated, had been in failing health for several months past. The children also have suffered from ailments, which have necessitated medical attendance on one or more of the family for the last twelve months. Only a week ago the elder underwent operation for tonsilitis. These troubles seem to have preyed on Trubshaw’s mind, and he has been in a despondent state.
He continued at his work until Saturday last, and on Sunday, with his wife, attended Parish Church, where he acted as sidesman. On Monday, however, he was not at all well. He stayed in bed nearly the whole the day, only getting about half-past five in the afternoon. While with his wife and children in the sitting room he appeared very downcast. He went to bed again about half-past ten. Half an hour later his wife followed him, and at the same time the servant , retired to her room.
Heads Battered With a Truncheon.
It was about three o’clock yesterday morning i that the murders were committed. The servant was suddenly awakened by hearing her mistress shouting, in an agonised tone, ” Oh, Ethel, save me.”
She jumped out of bed, and she opened the door of her room was horrified see Mrs. Trubshaw on the landing in the desperate clutches her husband. Both were attired in their nightclothes. The poor woman was making frantic efforts to escape, but Trubshaw, who had a policeman’s truncheon, raised high in the act of striking her, dragged her back into the room. The maid heard him say, ” Die, Beatrice, die, love.” and , also heard the screams of the children. With the intention of helping her mistress, she partially rushed forward, but the aspect of Trubshaw frightened her, and she ran back to her own room. While hastily putting a few clothes, she distinctly heard horrible thuds in the adjoining front bedroom, where Trubshaw was battering in the heads of his wife and children. Then, with all speed she left the house, and knocked up Mr. Ellis, the neighbour, who carries on the business of a clothier in Bank Street, Mexborough.
A Chamber of Horrors.
Mr. Ellis had been aroused before this. The screams and noise caused by Trubshaw’s deadly work were heard next door, and Mr. Ellis was already out of bed. He states that he and Mrs. Ellis were awakened the shouting and screaming of attacker and victims, and heavy thuds as someone delivering cruel blows. In the midst of such terribly suggestive noises he heard the little boy distinctly cry out, ” Don’t, daddv.”
Realising that something serious was happening. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis hurriedly dressed, and had just got downstairs when they found the terrified servant at the back door. Hill was shaking with fear and unable to give an account of what was transpiring and with praiseworthy promptitude, Mr. Ellis and his wife, the latter carrying the candle, proceeded next door, and upstairs to the front bedroom, where a ghastly scene of carnage met their eyes. Not knowing whether the madman was still large, Mrs. Ellis ran out of the house again, but Mr. Ellis proceeded alone. The room, he says, presented all the horrible signs of deadly struggle, the bedding, walls, and floor being covered with blood splashes. The poor woman was lying on the floor, with her head cruelly battered, and blood freely flowing. On the bed was the elder child. Gordon Hamilton, and in adjoining cot., the other little one, Walter Kenneth. Both children were served in the same shocking manner, and the room generally presented scene murderous carnage. A policeman’s staff, evidently used for battering the heads, was lying the floor.
But the perpetrator was not to seen, and Mr. Ellis, who had heard groan and thud whilst proceeding the stairs, went look further for Trubshaw. Hearing another groan in the vicinity of the bath-room, found the door was kept shut by a body on the floor. Later, when an entry was made, Trubshaw was found with huge cut the left side of his throat, and a blood-stained razor lying beside him, here, too, being all the accompaniments of tragedy. None of the victims were dead, though in a palpably dying condition, and when Mr. Ellis lifted Mrs. Trubshaw’s head, and said, “It will be all right; the doclor will here soon.” the poor woman seemed to realise what he said. Mr. Ellis with wonderful promptitude, had a doctor sent for, and himself immediately went and informed the police.
That the servant experienced providential escape is apparent by the fact that when she left her bedroom to run out and give the alarm, she closed the door behind her. On her return the door had been burst open, and the bedroom was of disorder, clearly indicating that the demented man had gone in to kill her before he did away with himself. The room of the triple murder bore appalling evidences of the life and death struggles, china being smashed and practically everything painted and bedaubed with human blood.
The summons to the doctor and police was speedily answered. Dr. Gardener and Police-constable Judd arriving at the house very quickly, with Inspector Watson and Sergeant –Matthewsa few minutes later. Dr. Hatherley was also quickly on the spot. All the victims were living, but were unconscious, and beyond human aid, first one and then another passing away, the last, dying about 5 20 a.m. The police have since discovered the bedroom an ashplant walking stick, covered with hair and blood. The skulls of the murderer’s victims were all fractured, and in their dying state they presented a pitiable sight.
Sensation the District.
The news of the fearful tragedy spread with great rapidity, and caused the utmost consternation throughout Mexborough district. Numbers of people visited Adwick Road but all that they could see was the house, behind the drawn blinds of whose front bedroom window were such terrible evidences.
Adwick Road is in a newlybuilt part of the town. At present, it contains very few houses. At the spot where Trubshaw lived, there are only five, in two blocks, and they are all of the comfortable villa typo. Scarrington Villa, like its neighbours, is fronted by a small garden, and its exterior had always presented an appearance of homely care and comfort.
Nobody in Mexborough was able to suggest any cause for the crime, except a sudden attack of maniacal frenzy. Trubshaw was about 33 years of age, and an admittedly affectionate husband and father. His wife’s age was about 31 They had lived Mexboroagh only about, four years, and during that time Trubshaw had become widely known and respected. He was a sidesman Mexborough Parish Church, and actively associated with Church life. Always, when off work, he was to be found in (he bosom of his family, the only feasible explanation of his crime a sudden collapse of mental condition, taking the form of murderous mania.
Early in the afternoon mournful party made their way from the railway station the house. They were relatives of the deceased persons from Barnsley, and included Mr. J. W. Dobson, the father of the murdered woman.
The inquest will be held at the Cottage Hospital, Mexborough, to-morrow.
The News In Barnsley.
Complete Consternation and Amazement.
The receipt in Barnsley of the news of the terrible crime created consternation that it is impossible describe. Trubshaw was perhaps better known there than any other place, for, though not a native of the town, he was exceedingly well known, and his wife was the third daughter of Mr. J. Dobson, who at one time was the most prominent figure both the municipal and social life of the town.
Trubshaw came to Barnsley in the eighties. His father was the Master of a Workhouse in Warwickshire, and his brother, Mr. Howard Trubshaw, with whom he came to reside, an assistant at Pitt Street National School, where he will be perhaps best remembered by his devotion to swimming and athletics generally. Shortly after his arrival in Barnsley the younger Trubshaw obtained employment in Mr. Dobson’s office, and being a young man of some ability and pleasant address, quickly rose to a position of responsibility in connection with the commercial department the firm. At that time Mr. Dobson was, as stated, one of the most prominent men in Barnsley. He was a member of the West Riding County Council and of the Barnsley Town Council, whilst he was a generous supporter most of the charitable institutions in the town, and, naturally, as his right-hand man, Trubshaw became scarcely less well known. His marriage with Miss Dobson took place six years ago at Barnsley, the ceremony being performed at the Parish Church, where Mr. Dobson was then churchwarden.
A few years ago financial difficulties overcame Mr. Dobson’s firm, and though it is now carried on as Messrs. Dobson and Nall (Limited), the former proprietor is not connected with it in any direct way, his labours being devoted to the interests of another: glass manufacturing establishment in the neighbourhood. When the crash came, Trubshaw removed from Barnsley to Mexborough, where he has since been engaged with Messrs. Waddington firm, and though little has been heard him in the former place, he was understood be fairly comfortably circumstanced, and his family was always referred to living a, happy and contented life.
Mrs. Trubshaw’s two elder sisters are both married, and reside in Barnsley, the wives of Messrs Sugden and McLintock, both of whom are prominently connected with trading houses in the town, whilst her brothers are connected with the glass making industry. A fourth and youngest sister is also married, and lives in London. Mr. Sugden and Mr. McLintock, along with Mr Dobson, brother of the murdered woman, were yesterday morning notified by the police the ‘ terrible tragedy, and went as quickly as possible to the scene of the outrage. As the news gradually spread, the greatest sympathy was expressed for the grief-stricken family. Mr Dobson’s fortunes during the past few years have not been the brightest, but nobody looked for anything awful as this last cruel blow.
Whilst in Barnsley Trubshaw had the reputation of being respectable, hard-working, conscientious young fellow and what should have prompted this last deed is a matter on which public knowledge him is entirely blank. He had a large circle of friends, amongst whom it is impossible to say whether grief or utter astonishment at his perpetration of such a crime is uppermost.
Trubshaw was of capital physique, and for several years was prominently identified with local detachment of the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons, holding, at the close of his career there the positions of sergeant and secretary of the corps. He was an expert swordsman, winning the regimental trophy known as the one year, whilst used frequently to act as instructor j the corps, and he was also known in other spheres, indoor athletics. His brother now Master of one of the Gloucestershire Workhouses.