Hounslow

1/ Fatal Accident at the Royal Brewery, Brentford, August 1855

A fatal accident occurred at the Royal Brewery in Brentford when a chunk of the wall fell on half a dozen children playing in an alleyway which runs down to the Thames. Two of them died at the scene, the third one who was buried under rubble managed to escape unhurt. The arches had recently been built but gave way for some reason.

2/ Hounslow, May 1908 (Babies Bodies)

The bodies of two kids have been found in the back garden of someone’s house. Police have arrested somebody on suspicion of the child murders, but altogether three have been detained. Next to the youngsters was the corpse of a dog. (What was the address?)

3/ Hatton Road, Bedfont, August 1892 (Cruelty to a Cripple)

4/ Chiswick Railway Fatality, June 1891 (Nine Elms is Battersea Power Station area)

On a South-Western train arriving at Nine Elms on Tuesday morning, it was found that the brakesman, John Ridden, was missing. A light engine was immediately sent along the line in search of him, and at Chiswick, his body was found cut to pieces.

5/ Death at Isleworth Station, July 1889

6/ Body Found at Linden Gardens, Chiswick, January 1890

7/ Isleworth Baby Farm, October 1896

8/ Ashford (Family Suicide) January 1845

At Ashford near Staines, William Oliver and his wife and family lived in a tiny cottage by the road. The wife sold matches to make ends meet, the three kids were regularly seen begging for food or money and they got relief from the parish. The husband and wife were found one morning laid on the bed, she was naked lying face down and he was partially dressed and laid on top of her. A quick glance showed you the poverty they were in. The kids dressed in rags, a saucepan with a few pieces of coal in it. A police search revealed a piece of paper with some arsenic in it. There was a piece of bread and some old bacon bits, which were eaten by the parents but not the children. One of the son’s, William, said he father had asked them to eat the food, but he refused. The idea was to kill the entire family as well as themselves, but the children pulled through and are now in the care of the Union House.

9/ Chiswick, (Attempted Double Murder/Suicide) January 3rd, 1885

10/ Chiswick, February 5th, 1885

11/ Hounslow, June 1875 (Servants Suicide)

Harriet Parker, the 25-year-old domestic servant at the Reverend J.Hall’s, Vicar of Spring Grove Church’s residence hung herself in her room and left this sad note to her fellow workmate, Sarah Lock. It reads as follows:

“Sarah Lock. Dear Sarah, Do not look for me, by the time you read this I shall be no more in this world; but tell my mother and father not to trouble about me. This is my last wish, and they are not to think that I am not in my right mind, for I have no mind at all. I am without a spark of faith or love to God, so I cannot live. I am sure it may be said of me, as it was said of Judas “It was better for me if I had never been born”, so I may as well be the devil’s in death, for I cannot be in this life. Now, Goodbye. All I can say to you is this-hold fast to Christ in a prayer, for if I had done that and not doubted, it should never have come to this. A fortnight ago I could say “Lord I am thine”. (Across the letter was written-“I am in the well in the brickfield”)

Sarah Lock was the housemaid to the Reverend, and Parker was the cook. She was found hanging by a rope, with the note on the bedside table, neatly laid out.