Murder of Mr. E. H. Watts near Newport Pagnell
Mr Edward Hanslope Watts, a well-known landowner in Buckinghamshire, lost his life in a lamentable occurrence on Sunday afternoon on a county road near Newport Pagnell. As he was returning from Hanslope Church, with his wife, a sister-in-law of general Sir John French, he was shot dead by his gamekeeper, a man named William Farrow, who fired two shots at Mr Watts from behind a hedge. Mr Watts fell to the ground, the bullet having struck him on the back of the head. Mrs Watts, who was walking a few yards in the rear of her husband, rushed to his assistance, and as she did so she caught sight of the assailant, half hidden in the trees, with his gun still at his shoulder. Exclaiming "He's firing again," the lady dropped by the side of her husband, and thus probably avoided a similar fate.
The sound of the firing attracted the attention of a lodge-keeper, living a short distance away. He rushed to the scene, and saw Mrs Watts holding her husband, who was apparently dead. On examination it was evident that life was extinct. A second shot had been fired at Mr Watts, and had hit him in the centre of the back, tearing his clothes to shreds. Mrs Watts, overcome by the tragic affair, had by this time collapsed, and she remains in a state of prostration.
Farrow, after killing his master, ran from the hedge where he had taken up his stand to the back of the spinney, a distance of about 35 yards, and there shot himself. He was discovered lying full length on his back, with his double-barrelled gun stretched by his side. Apparently he had shot himself while standing, and death must have been instantaneous.
Farrow had been employed by Mr Watts for nearly two years, and it is stated that he was under notice to leave. It is not believed, however, that this fact had anything to do with his act. About twelve months ago Farrow, when out shooting with his master on a neighbour's coverts, sustained a bad sunstroke, and was carried home in an unconscious condition, remaining in that state for some hours. About 45 years of age, Farrow leaves a wife and three children, the eldest being 12 and the youngest six.
Mr Watts, who was the village squire, was highly esteemed throughout the county generally. He owned considerable property in the district, and was a much-respected landlord. Only a few months ago he succeeded the Duke of Grafton as chairman of the Stony Stratford bench of magistrates. He was about 60 years of age, and had been a prominent politician in the Unionist interest in Buckinghamshire. He had also been closely associated with local charitable movements. His tragic fate has caused a deep sensation in the village of Hanslope, in which he had lived for so long, and in the surrounding neighbourhood. Mrs Watts is a sister of Lady French, and a daughter of the murdered man married Mr Mark Poore, a brother of the Duchess of Hamilton. Mr Watts was born on June 12th 1845.
The death of Mr Edward Hanslope Watts will be felt by several families in this county. The widow of that gentleman is Sophia Edith, daughter of Mr Richard William Selby-Lowndes, of Whaddon Hall. Two of her sisters are Eleanor, Lady French, wife of Sir John French, and Mrs Emily Thornton, widow of the late Mr Charles Stuart Thornton, of St John's, Muggerhanger, eldest son of the late Mr Harry Thornton, of Kempston Grange. Another sister married Mr R.A. Aspinall. On the side of the Thorntons there are close ties by marriages of the late C.S. Thornton's brother and sisters with the Pyms of the Hazells, the St Johns of Bletsoe, the Duberlys of Gaynes Halls, Hunts.