Bedfordshire

1/ Concealment of Birth, Roddington, near Dunstable, April 1899

Sarah Clark aged nineteen had an illegitimate child at her parents home. Police found the tiny body beneath her bed. Further examination provided evidence that an attempt had been made to boil the infant, before or after death was not yet determined.

2/ Arlesey, (Train Crash) January 1899

3/ Luton Suicide, June 1885

4/ Bedford, July 1883 (Murder/Suicide at Tennis Match)

One summer’s evening at St Cuthbert’s, Bedford, a group of men and women were playing lawn tennis. One of those was Mr Vere, a lieutenant in the army, and Miss Mackay, a young lady of 20 years of age. Everything was going swimmingly when all of a sudden Vere pulled out a gun and shot Miss Mackay. As the group watched in horror several men ran to overpower him but he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Why he committed such a deed is beyond comprehension but thought to be the green-eyed monster, jealousy.

5/ Bedford Murder, June 1895 (Love Tragedy)

6/ Bedford Religious Suicide, January 1890

7/ Biddenham near Bedford, April 1898

There was a gruesome discovery at the River Ouse at Biddenham near Bedford, when the body of a man was found floating, much bloated, with the skin peeling off. It had been there about two weeks, and the legs were tied together with a red scarf. Also a couple of weeks ago were found a sack with umbrella handles in, and other stuff, on the bank of the Ouse nearby, and its believed they belonged to the deceased who was probably a hawker. No identification on him so it remains a mystery as to who he is.

8/ Ampthill, June 1844 (Sleepwalking Suicide)

This one is weird! The man in question is William Sexton, whose father is the White Hart Inn landlord, had recently had a bad bout of asthma, so was bed-ridden most of the time. One morning he went into to his sister’s room and woke her. Her brother was stood there with a huge gash across his throat, dripping with blood. He was taken care of and the wound was dressed. During his recuperation, he wrote down that he’d had a dream where a policeman had threatened to put him in the stocks and to prevent that, he slit his throat. He died a few days later.

9/ Luton, May 1885 (Gymnast Death)

10/ Soulbury near Leighton Buzzard, July 1868

There was a street fight going on in the village of Soulbury, and the lad that was getting a good kicking was a boy called Stone. His 65-year-old father intervened and he kicked one of the bullies in the nether regions. This caused the boy serious damage and he was extremely poorly. This worried the old man so much that he went to his W.C. and hung himself.

11/ Bedford, July 1908 (Body Found in Nettles)

A young lad made a horrific discovery when passing a hedgerow, it was the stiff, lifeless body of the young man which held a revolver in his left hand. He was identified as a pupil of Bedford Grammar School named Thomas Bear, who lived with his Mum in Devon Road. He went missing a week ago, and an ongoing search was being made by police. He had no discernible problems and just passed an exam for Woolwich.

12/ Luton Hoo Suicide, June 1885

A body was found in a spinney on the Luton Hoo estate, with with a single bullet wound to the head. He was 40-year-old Mr Lane, of Lane and Lambie, hat and bonnet makers in George Street, Luton. He went to Harpenden Races on Friday and was in London on Saturday, and nobody saw him until his body was discovered. Police and a doctor attended the scene, and it would appear that he attempted to shoot himself in the heart first, but failed, so put the gun in his mouth and fired. The London visit was to buy the revolver. He had £10 in money on him, gold watch, and a season-ticket between Luton and London.

13/ Bedford Train Death, July 1885

14/ Eversholt, September 1902 (Double Murder/Failed Suicide)

In the little village of Eversholt, a dreadful tragedy occurred when a man called Chambers shot his wife and her 80-year-old mother. Chambers tried to kill himself by shooting himself in the face but the attempt failed. It was such a failure that he walked to the local pub and ordered a brandy, but the landlord sent for a policeman. He was arrested and taken to Woburn, from there to the Cottage Hospital. Mrs Chambers was scared of her husband as he often beat her. Enough was enough and she went to a solicitor to see about a divorce, but Chambers became enraged when he was told and shot them both.

15/ Someries near Luton, June 1889 (Drowned in Well)

The body of Kate Cooper, a teenage girl, was found in a two hundred foot well on the farmhouse owned by her uncle, Thomas Purrett. His farm is one of the biggest on the Luton Hoo estate (owned by Madame de Falbe, wife of Danish Minister), is situated near Someries Castle. Kate and her Mum lived with Purrett and by all accounts lived a happy life. One day she met a friend, Miss Louisa Dorrington who came from Luton and since then had not been seen, and friends and family thought she’d gone to Luton with her pal, but not so. Knowing that she was not there they searched the area when somebody found her hat on the edge of the well. They had to wait till morning as the candles kept burning out at that depth, and was then that they found her in the water. It is thought to be suicide as she had a brick in her pocket, but why is not known.