Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 18 November 1904

The Mexborough Tragedy.
Evidence at Inquest.
Servant Girl’s Graphic Story.

Yesterday, at the Mexborough Montagu Cottage Hospital, Mr. D. Wightman, district coroner, held the inquiry into the circumstances concerning the tragic deaths of the Trubshaw family, who were wiped out the early hours of Tuesday morning at their pretty home, Scarrington Villa, Adwick Road, Mexborough.

The. victims concerned the tragedy were Walter Henry Trubshaw, 30 years of age; Annie Elizabeth Trubshaw, 30; Gordon Hamilton Trubshaw, 4; and Waiter Kenneth Trubshaw, aged 10 months.

There were only four witnesses called, the principal being the domestic servant, Ethel Hill, whose evident distress told that her recent terrible experiences had left painful impression on her mind.

Councillor James Easton Cliff was chosen foreman of the jury, and the evidence that followed served to throw now fresh light on the motive responsible for the crimes, but rather to make practically certainty that Trubshaw went out of his mind before closuring so tragically the lives of wife and children, and then his own.

Coroner’s Opening Remarks.

The Coroner, addressing the jury, said, in his experience, his servioes had been required many inquiries containing tragic incidents, but never had he inquired into such fearful circumstances those which surrounded the present affair. It appeared Trubshaw had first murdered his wife and children and then committed suicide, and there seemed not the slightest suspicion attaching to anyone else. The facts were straightforward, and the jury only difficulty would be to say in what state of mind was when he did the deeds. Personally he (the Coroner) did not know whether he knew him or had ever met him, but he understood that Mr Trubshaw was man good repute, very steady, and one who seemed to have enjoyed the respect and friendship of a good many the inhabitants of Mexborough. These facts made it all the more difficult to realise that could have done such actions. He would see whether he could obtain facts that would throw light the affair.

 An Affectionate Husband.

Crowther Sugden, brother-in-law of the deceased lady, general manager to Messrs. Clarkson s Old Brewery (Limited), 62, Huddersfield Road, Barnsley, said Mrs. Trubshaw was 30 years of age, and wife of Walter Henry Trubshaw, who was also thirty years, of age, and by occupation the commercial representative of Mr. P. I. Waddington, glass bottle manufacturer, Mexboro’.

He was the father of the deceased Gordon H. Trubshaw, aged four years, and the deceased Walter Kenneth, aged ten months. They all died on the 15th inst. Witness had seen Walter Henry Trubshaw casually, and last alive about nine or ten weeks ago at Barnsley. He then seemed all right. Witness had heard nothing to throw any light on the matter, except that latterly Trubshaw did not look well. Certainly nothing wrong mentally appeared be the matter. Regarding money matters everything was all right. There was no insanity in the family that witness knew of. Trubshaw and his wife were on the most affectionate terms. Witness knew of quarrel, nor had heard of Trubshaw being depressed. The glass bottle trade had been bad lately, but witness did not think that had anything to with the tragedy. Witness further stated that he had searched Trubshaw’s house, and beyond a few small accounts found nothing to indicate monetary trouble. He reached the house about 8 a.m on the morning of the tragedy. He saw all the bodies but the signs of the struggle were mostly cleared away when he got there. The deceased man had been temperate, very much so. Witness could not account for the tragedy in any way.

The Servant’s Evidence.

Ethel Hill, domestic servant, was the next witness called, and she came into the room weeping. She said that she had been the sole servant of the Trubshaws for five months. Mr. Trubshaw had only been away once since witness had been with them. He and his wife were very good friends and had never had even slight quarrel during witness’s residence with them. Mr. Trubshaw seemed very fond of his wife. Witness had noticed a difference in Mr. Trubshaw, who had been attended by Dr. Gardner for whooping cough. He complained of headaches and was in bed all day on Monday. When he was unwell he did not tell his wife. During last month he had complained of headaches four or five times. He had not stayed in bed for it before and was worse on Monday than usual. He did not call in a doctor. His wife waited upon him. He got up about 5.30 p.m. and only had dry toast and tea. He returned bed about 11 clock and witness went her room just before that time. Mrs. Trubshaw went first and her husband followed. He generally locked the front door but on this night, he forgot to do so, and his wife went downstairs and locked the door, returning to the bedroom again. The children had been in bed some hours. They slept in the front bedroom, and witness in an adjoining room on the same landing.

The first thing “witness heard after going to sleep was the children screaming. This was about three o’clock, and Mrs. Trubshaw called, ” Oh, Ethel,” two or three’times. Witness went at once, and saw Mr. and Mrs. Trubshaw on the landing. He had hold of his wife with one hand, and was striking her with the policeman’s staff (produced). He dragged her hack into the front room They were both undressed. Witness got hold of her mistress’ nightdress, but Mr. Trubshaw dragged his wife back; and appeared to be coming for witness, who ran back. He closed the door, and just afterwards witness heard Mr. Trubshaw call out, Die, Beatrice!”

Witness went back to her room, got dressed, and went out to call Mrs. Ellis. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis returned with her. Witness did not see anything more. She did not hear any quarrel previously in the night.

In reply to questions by jurymen, witness said that she heard Gordon cry out. “Oh, don’t.” The policeman’s staff was kept in the kitchen, and was there when they went to bed. Trubshaw was very fond of his children, one of whom had undergone anoperation.

The Injuries Described.

Dr. John Gardener, surgeon, Mexborough, said he had attended the family and was called 3.35 a.m. on Tuesday last. Witness went into the front bedroom first and saw there Mrs. Trubshaw lying on the floor near the window. She was living, but was insensible. She lived about half hour after, and died without speaking. Gordon, the little boy aged four years, was lying in a cot insensible, and died about an hour or more later. The baby was in the parents’ bed. The baby also was alive, but died about an hour after. Witness next went into the bathroom where he found the father, Trubshaw, lying against the door keeping it shut. Pushing it open found him with his throat cut. Mrs Trubshaw dietd from loss of blood and shock resulting from the wounds on her head, which could have been inflicted with the staff and stick produced. Her skull was fractured at the top. The child Gordon died from the same cause. On the body of the baby Walter there was only one slight external wound above the right eye, no doubt also caused by the staff. The child was bleeding from the nose and mouth, and its skull was fractured, in fact all the three skulls were fractured. Witness found the razor in the bathroom lying beside the dead man.

In answer to the Coroner witness said he had known Trubshaw about fifteen months, and latterly he noticed he was worried good bit about a cough. Trubshaw had been troubled to whether it was consumption not. His wife was also worried about it. Witness examined Trubshaw at his wife’s request, but could not find any trace of consumption, and told Trubshaw so. So troubled  was Trubshaw that he would be scarcely convinced. Witness knew of no other trouble, and was of opinion that the allegations regarding the operation on the child were not correct. The children had suffered a good bit with ailments, and had broken their parents’ rest at nights. Trubshaw and his wife were passionately fond of the children, and witness always found them very happy family.

Ethel Hill, recalled, said that nobody else but she and the family were in the house all night. The previous evening at nine o’clock Mrs. Ellis and Beatrice Waller came in, and the former gave Trubshaw, some sweet nitre as he was trembling so with cold.

A Neighbour’s Terrible Discovery.

William Lowther Ellis, the next door neighbour said had seen Trubshaw nearly every day and had noticed nothing wrong with him. On Monday he appeared to have a bad cold, and Mrs. Ellis took him some’sweet nitre as had none. Witness went to bed about 10 o’clock on Monday night, and next morning was awakened  by screams, the sound of heavy blows, and the breaking of crockery. It was about three o’clock and by the time witness and his wife were dressed the girl Ethel Hill was at the back door. They then proceeded into Trubshaw’s house, Mrs Ellis  carrying the candle. Witness found the mother and two children in the front bedroom, and was there when they died. Trubshaw was in the bathroom, but witness did not see him until afterwards, when the doctor opened the door. Witness could give no reason for Trubshaw’s mind being affected, but there was no doubt he killed his wife and children, and then committed ‘suicide.

In reply a juryman witness said Trubshaw went to church as usuaJ on Sunday evening.

The Mystery of Motive.

The Coroner, commenting on the seeming lack motive, said there might be such not apparent to a jury. Deceased probably had something on his mind, and if so, they would never know what it- was. That a man should murder his wife and two children, of whom he was extremely fond, and then kill himself, suggested there must have been something on his mind. The girl’s evidence was the strongest, inasmuch as she had said that Trubshaw had complained of severe headaches, but to his mind there might have been something more, it was unusual for man 30 years of age to go to bed for an ordinary headache.

Mr. Sugden- stated that he had seen a letter, written by Mrs. Trubshaw to Mr. Waddington, explaining that her husband was ill on Monday, and unable to visit the works through suffering from a chill. With the letter she enclosed the cashsheet belonging to the firm.

The Foreman said the jury were all agreed that Mr. Trubshaw must have been in a state of temporary insanity. The jury wished to express their sympathy and condolence with the relatives ot the family. Mr. Trubshaw was a man very much respected in the town, and and his wife were in high esteem.

The Coroner: That makes it all the more wonderful.

The Verdict.

A verdict of “Murder and suicide tem- insanity’ was returned. Mr. Sugden, with emotion, on behalf of the relatives, thanked the Coroner and jury for the kind consideration shown, and the way the inquiry had been conducted.

The Funeral. The funeral will take place this morning at 11.30. Mexborough Cemetery, but the general public will not be admitted.