A tragedy of a terrible and heartrending character occurred near the village of Hanslope, Bucks., on Sunday, Mr Edward Hanslope Watts, J.P., of Hanslope Park, being shot dead while returning from Church with his wife, by one of his gamekeepers -- William Farrow -- who afterwards committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth.
These few brief words convey bald facts of what is one of the most sensational and ghastly crimes that has been committed in this part of England in living memory. Hanslope and the district for a wide radius, in which the deceased gentleman was well known and highly respected, was plunged into poignant grief and sorrow, and the hearts of all the inhabitants were set throbbing with the deepest sympathy for Mrs. Watts, prostrated at her agonising experience of beholding her beloved husband murdered before her eyes.
No less full and sincere was the sympathy felt for the poor wife and three small children of the man Farrow, whose terrible act has brought widowhood, grief and desolation to the small cottage in Tathall End, as well as to the stately mansion in Hanslope Park.
THE MURDERED SQUIRE
The late Edward Hanslope Watts, J.P., was one of the best known men of North Bucks., and a representative of the highest type of the English landed proprietors and country gentlemen. His estate at Hanslope was admirably administered, and he was regarded by his tenants as a most excellent landlord and greatly liked by all. He was often spoken of in terms of affection as "The Squire", he being the Lord of the Manor. The Manor of Tathall anciently belonged to the Family of Tothill, and afterwards to the Lanes. It was sold by Sir Wm. Wake, Bart., to Edward Watts, Esq., who also acquired by purchase from the Howe family the Manors of Stoke and Singleton. Mr Edward Hanslope Watts, whose life has been so tragically cut short, was Chairman of the Stony Stratford bench of Magistrates. He succeeded His Grace the Duke of Grafton, who resigned, owing to the weight of his increasing years, a few months ago. For many years he held the office of Churchwarden of Hanslope, and he always took great interest in all the affairs of the parish.
Mrs Watts is a daughter of the late Mr Richard William Selby-Lowndes, of Selby House, Bletchley; and her sister is Lady French, wife of General Sir John French, who have often visited Hanslope Park. Mr. and Mrs. Watts have only one child, who is the wife of Mr. Mark Poore, a brother of the Duchess of Hamilton.
THE MURDERER
The gamekeeper, William Farrow, is said to have been about 45 years of age. He was a big man, standing about six feet. He and his wife, with three young children, lived in a small house at Tathall End, about a mile from the village of Hanslope. Mr Watts has employed Farrow -- who originally came from Mursley, near Winslow -- for about two years as an under-gamekeeper. From all accounts he appears to have been a man of quiet disposition. Never once had he been heard to speak a word against his employer and those who have been associated with him would certainly have thought him to be the last man in the world to have committed the terrible crime he has done. It is now, however, recalled that last year he was somewhat queer through, it is thought, sunstroke, but he apparently got all right again. Another thing that is freely talked about is that on occasions for some time past he has been partaking too freely of alcoholic liquor.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME
The story of the crime is one that is most painful to contemplate and to record. Mr. and Mrs. Watts, whose residence in Hanslope Park is a little over a mile from the village, attended service at the beautiful Parish Church on Sunday morning. The Vicar, the Rev. W. J. Harkness conducted the service and preached. As many of the congregation noticed their esteemed squire in his accustomed place, little did they imagine that it would be the last time they would see him there, and that within a brief hour that bright and peaceful Sabbath would become a day of gloom and dread memory. It is a very pleasant and picturesque road that leads from the village to the entrance to the Park, and after the service Mr. and Mrs. Watts, when they had exchanged the usual courtesies with neighbours and friends, walked leisurely homewards, enjoying sunshine and refreshing breeze.
Meanwhile, in a mind, the workings of which are fearful to think of, was evolving the plan of a murderous and dastardly attack on the unsuspecting and defenceless Squire. Early in the morning Farrow had been rather unsettled in his manner. He is said to have asked for a drink of homemade wine, and then to have gone out. He returned and got some cartridges, which he told his wife he was going to give to a man named Whitbread. At that time he had no gun with him; in fact he had not brought his gun home for several days. It is supposed that he had a gun concealed in the woods. After getting the cartridges he left the house, and his wife saw no more of him until he was brought home dead.
HOW MR WATTS WAS KILLED
The spot where the tragedy occurred is on the Hanslope road, about fifty yards before one reaches the gates of the Park. On either side of the road are fairly tall hedges bordering shady spinnies, the general appearance of the locality with pretty lodge and Park entrance being very pleasing. The gamekeeper Farrow was in ambush on the left hand side waiting for Mr. And Mrs. Watts. He had been seen in the vicinity earlier in the morning, but no one in the least suspected what he was planning. As near as can be ascertained it was about a quarter to one when Mr. Watts was killed. The only actual eye witness of the terrible affair was Mrs. Watts, but even she, it is said, did not clearly see who it was who fired. From an examination of the spot it appears that the murderer allowed Mr. Watts to pass a few steps beyond where he was concealed, and then he aimed a double-barrelled sporting gun at him and fired twice with all too accurate an aim. Mrs. Watts, who was walking a little way from her husband, was horrified to see him stagger and fall to the ground bleeding from a ghastly wound at the side of his face and head on the left, and also on the shoulder. She flung herself on her knees and tried to raise him, but he had been killed practically instantaneously. One can imagine her awful mental agony and distress at thus seeing her husband shot down without warning, and with such appalling suddenness find him dead before her, and his life's blood flowing and forming a crimson pool on the road.
At the time of the occurrence Mrs. Green, wife of Mr. G. Green coachman, and her son, Mr. W. Green, were in their home, the Lodge, not more than a hundred yards away. They heard two shots and a woman's scream, and running out they found Mr. Watts lying on the road and Mrs. Watts kneeling beside him calling him piteously to speak to her. Their first thoughts were that it was an accident, but they heard Mrs. Watts cry, "Fetch a doctor. Someone has shot the squire." The man who had fired the shot had vanished, but Mrs. Watts indicated to them the direction from which the gun had been fired. Mrs. Green stayed with Mrs. Watts, who was almost prostrated with grief, while her son rushed for assistance. Mr. Green, the coachman, having met his son, from whom he heard what had happened, hurried to the scene, upon which several other people had now arrived.
A COURAGEOUS ACT
Speaking with Mr. Green, the writer learned that he was informed that the shots had been fired from the spinney, and he asked some of those nearby to go into the spinney and search it, but they, not knowing whether they themselves might be fired at or not, were reluctant to do so. At this time neither Mr. Green nor anyone was aware that it was Farrow who was the murderer, and that he had shot himself, so that Mr. Green displayed great courage in going into the spinney alone and unarmed. He got over the fence and looked around. After going some distance he saw the figure of a man in the long grass with a gun lying across the body with the barrels pointing upwards. He at once seized the gun, and looking down at the man's face he discovered it was Farrow, who had shot himself in the mouth. He was astonished to find that it was Farrow. "It was the last thing I should have thought," he said.
The sad news spread with great rapidity, and help was soon forthcoming. Dr. Rutherford and Police Constable Powell quickly arrived from Hanslope, but medical assistance was, of course, of no avail. The Police at Newport Pagnell were telephoned to and Superintendent Pearce, Sergeant Chilton and Police Constable Garner came by motor car in quick time, and made all necessary investigations. Dr. W. H. Bull also arrived by motor from Stony Stratford.
The murderer had put himself beyond reach for his wanton and cruel act, and all the Police could do was to take charge of the body and get preliminary particulars for submission to the Coroner of the district. We understand that a number of cartridges were found in Farrow's pockets, and also a book relating to his work as a gamekeeper. This was examined, and certain statements of an incoherent character were found written. Exactly what the wording of these statements was the Police would not divulge before the inquest, but it was gathered they had some reference to another gamekeeper.
A SAD PROCESSION
The body of Mr. Watts had been reverently laid on the grass by the side of the road, awaiting the arrival of an ambulance party from Hanslope. It was found, upon examination, that over 100 small shot had entered the side of his head and back, in fact this part of his body was pitted all over with shot wounds. It is thought that he received most of the charge of two cartridges.
The stretcher party consisted of Messrs. Arthur Ditum, Clifton, Webb, and Green. The body was placed on the stretcher and taken to the house. Mrs. Watts, who had not left her husband, walked by the side of the stretcher, holding his hand. She tried to bear up bravely under her great sorrow. When the bearers halted for a brief rest she knelt beside the stretcher with bowed head, gazing pathetically at what she could hardly realise was the lifeless form of her husband, who a brief while before had been full of life and animation. Her dress was seen to be stained with his blood. It was a scene which would move anyone to tears.
Meanwhile the body of Farrow, having been placed on a hurdle, was conveyed from the spinney and taken to his home at Tathall End. Here was another distressing scene when the wife was informed of the occurrence, and had the dread ordeal of receiving the body of her husband.
During the day hundreds of people from the surrounding district visited the scene of the tragedy and gazed with mournful interest at the spot where Mr. Watts fell. His blood had made a dark brown patch on the road. The spinney from which the murderer fired, and his home at Tathall End, were also objects of interest.
A STATELY MANSION
Hanslope Park is one of the most charmingly situated mansions in North Bucks., commanding a wide stretch of beautiful country, consisting of rich pasture lands and sloping tree-studded meadows. The stately mansion, from the time of William the Conqueror, has been the ancestral home of the Squires of Hanslope, whilst the park has been in the possession of the Watts family for three generations. Edward Hanslope Watts, J.P., was the last of his line, with the exception of a married daughter, the wife of Mr. Mark Poore, of Greenwich. There are, however, several sisters of Mr. Watts, one of whom, Miss Watts, lives at Castlethorpe. The estate, roughly, is about 2000 acres, whilst the greater portion of Hanslope, including the Watts Arms, belonged to the deceased gentleman. He was an indulgent, kind, and sympathetic employer, and could scarcely have had an enemy in the district. A keen sportsman, he occasionally followed the hounds, whilst his preserves were also well stocked, and afforded enjoyment for shooting parties during the season. The estate stretched irregularly from Tattle End to Pinden End. Until two years ago Mr. Watts was his own gamekeeper, but acting on the advice of his son-in-law, he engaged the two gamekeepers already mentioned.
CRICKETERS' GARDEN PARTY ABANDONED
Owing to the death of Mr. E. H. Watts, who was a close personal friend of Mr. B. Wentworth Vernon, J.P., of Stoke Bruerne Park, the latter abandoned the garden party he was giving to the Northants cricket team at his place.