Bensley Cyrus Lawrence was murdered at the Sawmill in Goods Station Rd
Bensley Cyrus Lawrence was born on 17 April 1834 in Shropham Norfolk , the 2nd of 7 children to William Lawrence and Lydia Peck Dunnett.
At age 16 he was living with a Miller John Andrews and his family, working as his Mill apprentice.
On 8 Apr 1858, at age 23 he married 20-year-old Maria Twigg at the Church of England parish church of All Saints in the village of Snetterton, Norfolk..
They settled in Shropham, Norfolk, and in Jan 1859 they welcomed their first child George into the world, then Thomas in Nov 1860.
By 1861 they had moved to Tayfen Road Bury St Edmonds and Bensley had become a Miller.
In Oct 1863 they welcomed their first daughter Ann Maria into the world.
By Apr 1871 they had moved to a Villa in Bury St Edmonds and Bensley was now working as an Engine Driver at a Mill. Maria gave birth to another daughter Clara Elizabeth, in June.
then came Bertie Twigg born in May 1873 and lastly Laura Maria in Oct 1875.
He continued to work as an Engine Driver and In 1882 he moved to Tunbridge Wells Kent with his wife and 3 youngest children Clara Bertie and Laura to 64 Tunnel Road and started work at the Baltic Sawmill on Goods Station Road.
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The Baltic Sawmills Company was the most important employer of labour in the area over a long period and had bases in Western Road, Goods Station Road, Commercial Road, and Kensington Street and it acquired notoriety in 1888.
In 1888, Bensley Lawrence was working as an Engine driver and timekeeper at the Mill on Goods Station Road and lived with his wife and their 2 youngest children, Bertie & Laura, in a cottage on Tunnel Road adjoining the Mill, on the corner of Mercer Street.
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It was said he was a quiet, inoffensive hard-working man.
On the night of Friday 20th July 1888, he was called from his home with a message by a visitor who told him that he was wanted by Mr Potter, the foreman, so he got on his boots and hat and headed toward the office of the Mill at the end of Mercer road where he was shot.
A witness had seen Lawrence talking to two young men just before the shot was heard, described as wearing dark working jackets and bowler hats (which were fashionable in those days) despite an intensive investigation. the police had no clues as to the identity of the assailants.
Superintendent Embery took the case and said every circumstance points to the conclusion that the murder was planned and arranged and it seemed to have been quickly carried out.
On Tuesday 24th July, The inquest was held at the town hall before Mr Thomas Buss, the Coroner for the Tonbridge division of Kent. Mr F W Stone watched the case on behalf of the Baltic Saw Mill with the relatives of the deceased and Mr W C Cripps the Town clerk was there for the Police.
The 12 Jury men and the foreman had been to the General hospital to view the body before assembling at the Town Hall.
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The first witness was his wife Maria, who explained they had lived in the town for 6 years and their house was on Tunnel Road but had an entrance in Mercer Street. She had been preparing supper at about 9.45 pm when there was a knock at the door, her husband had answered it, she heard a man say ''Mr. Lawrence Mr. Potter wants you at the Cyprus, which was a public house and she then joined the conversations saying that Mr. Potter could not want her husband there.
The man then said to the office at the Sawmill. Her husband seemed very quiet and did not speak to her but he put on his boots and cap and went out.
Getting uneasy when he didn't return, she sent her son Bertie to look for him. he soon returned and said his father had asked for matches to light the gas in the office. Mr. Potter had not appeared yet.
The family was going to bed when she heard an explosion but didn't know what it was, she went to the door to look out and saw several people about. A neighbour came up asking if there was anything they could lay her husband on as he had been shot and he was brought to the house by the 2 men. She spoke to him and he asked to be laid down. he was taken indoors and afterwards taken to the hospital.
She said she knew of no one who would have any spite against her husband but he did not always tell her what took place at the Mill.
The voice of the man was a strange one and appeared to be muffled. she thought it was that of a man named Cramp, (the 1881 census shows a Bank Clerk called Cramp who lived at Cyprus Villas in Upper Grosvenor Rd). A key was given to her after her husband had been shot but she did not recognise it, although she knew of the other keys he carried by sight.
His son 15-year-old Bertie was the next witness, he stated he was sent to find him. He found him in conversation with a stranger on the corner. the men were standing apart, not saying anything, he could not see the man's face as it was dark, his father sent him home to get some matches, telling the lad that Mr Potter would probably not be long, he got him the matches and the bade him good night and went back home.
Shortly after he was taking a bath when the shot was heard, he got out of the bath and as he came downstairs, his father was brought indoors by 2 men. he said he knew a man named Cramp and the man had a similar build but the voice was different when he heard him at the front door.
He said he had once heard his father say that the men did not like it when he put down the time when they arrived late to work.
Jacob Foster, a labourer at the mill who lived next door to the deceased was in the water closet when Lawrence was talking to the man but did not recognize the voice.
Two boys were then called Arthur Shoebridge age 15, living at 49 Tunnel Rd, was in Goods Station Rd and saw 2 men on the corner, looking up Mercer St at about 8.45 PM.
He had met another boy named Frank Hemsley, from Kirkdale Road who suggested they go and play in the Timber, and at around 10 pm, they were playing among the timber at the sawmill when they saw the two men at the office of the sawmill. They crossed to Baltic Road (which is now Elizabeth Gallick Court) but stopped at the logs and spoke, the boys overheard some of their conversation.
Hemsley said he knew the victim well but didn't recognize him in either of the men. He alleged to have heard one of the men say '' Now's your time. Be careful what you get at and I will stop here'' then they parted, one going in the direction of the Baltic Mill office and the other remaining on the spot.
The boys thought this as a strategy, the object being to get hold of them for playing amongst the timber and they consequently left the place and made their way home.
Thomas Potter, the manager of the sawmill was the next witness and stated Mr Lawrence bore an exemplary character and he had the utmost confidence in him. he said that he had sent no one to his house to collect him and if he wanted to see him, he would have attended the house himself.
When asked if he had had any troubles at the Mill, he replied. ''The new boiler was put in about 2 months ago by a London firm and while the works were in progress Mr. Potter had to complain to the engineer because the men were so slow. He appeared to have been drinking and Mr Potter had told Mr Lawrence and the Forman, Mr Moon that they should have told me about it''. He said Lawrence had said that he knew the man was not going on as he ought to and should be glad when he was gone. Mr Potter noticed quarrels between the firm that came down and the men at the Mills.
The next witness was Fred Kemp living in Good Station Road, who had seen Mr Lawrence near the office with a stranger. He heard Lawrence say ''Where is he? Where's he got to? the other man made no reply. After he walked past he heard them talking, he could only describe the stranger's clothes, as he had turned his face from the lamp as he went past.
Next was Henry Willard a Carman at 69 Tunnel Road, on his way to Good Station Road via Mercer St. He saw Lawrence talking to another man who had his back to the building. Lawrence wished Willard a good night. He returned a few minutes later and saw the men still there. He came back out again about 15 minutes later but did not see the men on the corner. He went down to the Black Horse Public Inn (This was the same public house that the Murderer Harold Apted had visited the night he murdered Frances O'Rourke)
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On coming back through Stanley Road he heard a pistol shot, on arriving at the corner of Mercer Street Mrs Dennis asked him to go and see who the man was that was lying in the timber yard and there he found Mr Lawrence lying on the path which led to Baltic Road. He asked him what was the matter and he replied ''Oh Harry''
Alexander Ruffles was a Porter for the South-eastern Railway living at 36 Tunnel Road and was driving his horse and van down Good Station Road. When he got to the sawmill he saw 2 men standing on the path. He recognized Lawrence but not the other man. He put the horses and van in the stables and when he returned to Baltic Road. He was asked to go across the road where he saw Lawrence on the ground and other men attending to him. He went to search for a constable and went back to the spot again. A young man gave him a key that had been found at the scene.
Robert Crouch a Railway Carman living on Belgrave Road gave evidence stating he was driving down the good station in front of the previous witness Ruffles, upon finishing his work on the road, he made his way back and saw 2 men leaning over Lawrence, He said, when he asked what was wrong, one replied 'it's bad' and he was one of the men that got him home. he asked Lawrence if he knew who had done this and he replied - ''No''
John Barker Smith, a grainer lodging at 90 Goods Station Road was the next witness. He said he was going into the Baltic Coffee house which was situated at 93 Good Station Rd (opposite Kirkdale Road), just up from the Sawmill, and stated he also saw Lawrence standing with a man, minutes after he heard the pistol shot. He went out and crossed the road and saw Crouch and Ruffle lifting Lawrence off the ground. There was a suggestion to check the timber, in case the culprit was hiding but no one volunteered to do so.
Next to give evidence was Elizabeth Gertrude Dennis living at 3 Mercer Street. She said she heard the pistol, shot, and went out hearing a moan coming from the timber area. she saw no one running away. She saw Mr Willard and asked him to go and look.
Dr Stanford was the medical officer called to the house. He said he found the victim with a small circular wound in front of his left ear and the hair and skin around were browned and stained, as if the pistol had been fired at close range. He suggested he be taken to the hospital, he asked several questions but he could not answer.
The house surgeon at the hospital Dr Hillier next to give evidence, said he found several powder grains in the flesh around the wound after the blood was washed away. He said the victim was semi unconscious when brought in and this gradually got worse until he died.
The Post Morton found a bullet embedded in the bone which led from the centre of the brain. He also said that looking at the position of the wound, it is unlikely this was self-inflicted. There were no other bruises on his body which would assume a fight had occurred.
The police arranged for the removal of all the timber to search for the weapon but nothing was found.
The inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or person unknown.
A reward of £100 was put up for the crime by the Home Office.
The murder sent shock waves around the town, with no suspect to bring to justice and no motive, the whole affair was shrouded in mystery and people were concerned.
There were rumours and assumptions put forward to the police. many being extremely ridiculous and against Mr. Lawrence's character, even pointing to a family rift over money, with his brother George, who had also moved to Tunbridge Wells and worked as a Coalman living in Western Rd but this was confirmed to be false and was dismissed, as they had reconciled their differences.
The Proprietor of the Saw Mills Mr C B Powell stated that he had known the deceased for the past 18 years and could speak in the highest term as to his general character.
Bensley Cyrus Lawrence was laid in his final resting place the following day 25th July 1888, at the Kent and Sussex Cemetery in Benhall Mill Road,
On the 27th of September, a letter was alleged to have been given by a young man named Dobell to a boy to deliver to the office of the Tunbridge Wells Advertiser.
This letter was written by an illiterate person and professed to have come from the murderer of Lawrence and charged some of the witnesses at the inquest with making false statements.
The writer promised to write again and supply the full particulars of the crime, and was signed ''Another Whitechapel murderer''
Foolishly, this letter was however regarded as a hoax and wasn't followed up and the case was unsolved for three months.
On the 9th Oct, a young man named Charles Joseph Dobell, a 17-year-old plumber from Cranbrook Kent, whose father was an insurance Agent, was discussing the atrocities of London with a fellow workman called Page, The Whitechapel murders of Jack the Ripper were filling the headlines and during their talk about this, he confessed that he had shot a man but the remark was looked upon as an empty boast by Page.
Two days later 11th October, Dobell and his friend William Gower age 19, a Moulder from Vale Rd, Tunbridge Wells, whose father worked as a Carter for the Baltic Sawmill attended the Salvation Army service.
Captain William Cotterell had become head of the Salvation Army Corps at Tunbridge Wells in 1888 and had made his exonerations to those present. After the preaching, he noticed that there seemed to be something very heavy on Gowers's mind.
The following morning on the 12th Oct between half 8-9 am, Gower appeared at the captain's house. He was admitted and the Captain enquired if he obtained victory on the previous night.
He replied ''No I didn't get saved'' but added ''I believe my mate got saved last night'' After some further conversation, in which Gower was strongly encouraged to say whether there was anything on his mind he replied ''there is something bad that has been done at Tunbridge wells that me and my mate have been at the bottom of it. We have been two bad characters, we were at the bottom of the sawmill murder'', he then added ''Me and my mate did it, we tossed as to who should do it''
When asked why it was done, he replied ''it was out of spite of Lawrence because he had stopped my time at work'' asked how he did it Gower replied ''one of us fetched him out, told him he was wanted, and when the road was clear me mate shot him''
The Captain then asked him if he was sorry for what he had done he replied ''Well sometimes we feel that if he was to rise again we would do it again''.
When Gower had left, the Captain put himself in touch with his superiors and he was told to communicate the information to the police
Captain Cotterell, who was entitled to the £100 reward offered in connection with the murder, declined personally to accept the "blood money" and the founder of the Salvation Army General William Booth wrote to the same effect. knowing they had committed these young men to their possible deaths. It is proposed to devote the money to some charitable purpose.
William Gower was arrested and searched and a key was found, when asked if it was a key to the sawmill or his house, he replied ''no, it's the key to an outhouse where I keep my rabbits''
Supt Embery went to his residence at 34 Stanley Road (Located beside the Black horse Pub) and went to the back of the house, where the outhouse was. He unlocked it with the key and found 12 rabbit hutches in three tiers. In the second one on the top row, he saw no rabbit. he opened the hutch and found it filled with wood. He removed the wood and at the back found a box securely screwed down. he took it away and unscrewed it and in the box amongst a load of wool was a fully loaded 6-barrel revolver and another 8 cartridges that matched it, this was produced as evidence in the court.
He then ordered Constable Bennett to arrest Charles Joseph Dobell
When Dobell was arrested, he denied all knowledge of the crime, then upon hearing Gowers' confession he said ''You are right, you have got the murderer''.
Their reason was that Gower hated Lawrence because when he worked at the mill. He was always booking him in late and telling him off and on 27 occasions over 6 months, he had fined Gower a penny for being late at work.
Both were charged, at the Tunbridge Wells Police court on Saturday, 13th Oct with the wilful murder of Bensley Cyrus Lawrence.
A fresh disclosure was made on that Saturday morning which when repeated in the police court on Tues 16th Oct created a marked sensation. Police constable Bennett said that Mr Cripps was passing Dobell's cell when he put his head through the door and remarked ''it's a wonder you didn't hear of another murder, upon which the constable replied ''what do you mean?''
Dobell answered that on the previous week, Weds 26th Sept he and Gower had sent a letter to a man named Langridge, who worked at the sawmill, telling him to meet them at Clarence Road, where they were going to bring a girl for him ''Me and Gower went to Clarence Road and saw Lanridge and we were going to pop him off, only there was a constable there''.'' we thought to finish one more off and that was Edwards and then we should have stopped''.
Mr. Cripps had given evidence at a police court that one day, a short time previously he met a man named Martin who said he had broken into the Baltic Sawmill some years ago. Edwards had informed the police and subsequently, Martin was taken into custody and committed for trial.
When they made a full confession. the Police blamed the crime on the influence of 'penny-dreadful' comic books, saying it had fired their imaginations.
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They were tried at Maidstone Assizes on Thursday 13th December 1888, with Mr Justice Mathew presiding
They both denied murder but were found guilty after a two-day hearing.
The jury added a recommendation for mercy because of their youth, especially in the case of Dobell. Nevertheless, it was ruled they were to be hung by the neck until dead.
In Maidstone Gaol the two young men received an unprecedented flood of visitors, religious and philanthropic, until in the end, their numbers had to be restricted.
There were petitions for mercy, including one from Canon Hoare of Holy Trinity, and Gower felt sure that he would be reprieved, promising that if he were he would become a Salvation Army preacher.
The home office secretary declined to interfere, the petition had been signed by 2016 residents of Tunbridge Wells, as well as others from the surrounding areas.
On the 1st Jan 1889, The young prisoners spent the day writing letters to family and friends, after they were told there would be no reprieve.
They retired at 11 pm and James Berry, the executioner had arrived on that night and slept in the gaol.
It was reported that they appeared to have slept well and arose at 6 am on Wednesday, January 2nd, and had some breakfast.
The Chaplain, the Rev. W. Packson, who has been unremitting with his attentions, was with them early. Both prisoners prayed fervently.
The pinioning process took place in the short passage near the cells occupied by the prisoners, and they had a walk of only about six yards to the drop.
Those present were the Under-Sheriff Mr. F. Scudamore, the Governor of the prison Mr. W. Green, and the prison Doctor. Mr. Hoare along with six reporters.
It was reported, that both men walked firmly to the scaffold, and there was not the slightest appearance of halting by either.
Gower first took his place on the drop, and both calmly adjusted their feet to the chalk marks made by the executioner.
The chaplain repeated the last words of the solemn service, while Berry adjusted the white caps.
As soon as the bolt was drawn, the drop fell and death was instantaneous, there was, however, a slight quivering of the rope to which Dobell was attached.
Those present who had attended many previous executions declared that they had never seen men meet their fate with more calmness. The whole episode was said to have taken just 20 seconds.
Dobell was then 15 days short of his 18th birthday, and he consequently entered the halls of crime, as the last person under 18 to be executed in Britain.
Life After
The family had to move out of their Tunnel Road home as it came with the Job and new Engine Driver, with his family moved in.
Marie and the children moved to 27 Quarry Road Tunbridge Wells
There was a fund created, for Maria which raised around £300.
It included a donation of £1 from The great Whiskey Distillers company in Ireland. £300 in 1889 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £48,311.46 today.
She became a baker and confectioner at the Quarry home.
Grief struck the family again on 11 Feb 1994 when Maria and Bensleys, firstborn child George Bensley, A carpenter, who had moved to Tunbridge Wells with his wife Jane and son Bensley, shortly after his parents and resided at 153 Queens Road, died from Meningitis.
He was just age 35 leaving his widow Jane with 3 children Bensley age 9, Annie age 6, and Edith just 2 years old, so no doubt Maria helped his widow and her grandchildren to survive.
Marie continued doing her trade in Quarry Road until she retired and moved to Dudley Road. She passed away on 6th Jan 1932 at age 94. She was buried with Bensley at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium
Daughter Clara Married George Hogben, a domestic Coachman in 1899. they never had children and they remained in Tunbridge Wells. George passed away at their home at 2 Shaftesbury Rd on 19th November 1950 after a long illness at age 77 and was cremated at Charing Clara passed away at Pembury Hospital, after a short illness on 20th Dec 1961 at age 90 and was cremated on 28th December at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium
Son Bertie Twigg had become a Solicitors Clerk and married Rosa May Soames, Daughter of a Bricklayer in 1898 at Eastry Kent and settled there. They had 3 children Gladys May, Cyril Davies, and Basil Alfred Twigg.
He returned to Tunbridge Wells, with his wife when he retired and lived in Stone Street. He lost his wife in 1944 and he passed away on 30 Nov 1958 at Calverley Lodge Nursing Home, Tunbridge Wells age 85, and is buried at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium with his wife.
Daughter Laura married Charles Jarvis, a Grocers Assistant from Herstmonceaux Sussex in Tunbridge Wells 1902 and they moved to Brighton Sussex, then onto Guildford Surrey, where he became a Grocer. They had one child Eric Charles Lawrence. Charles passed away at St Luke's Hospital Guildford on 28th May 1947 age 72 and Laura passed away around 6 months before her Brother Bertie on 21 May 1958 at Mount Alvernia, a private Nursing Home in Guildford age 82
Sources
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (1888) ‘ MYSTERIOUS MURDER AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS’, 28 July, pp. 5-5
Kentish Mercury (1888) ‘ TUNBRIDGE WELLS ’, 03 August, pp. 2-2
Ipswich Journal (1888) ‘THE MURDER OF A BURY MAN IN KENT’, 17 October 1888 , pp. 6-6
Western Daily Press (1888) ‘ CONFESSION" OF MURDER AT A SALVATION ARMY MEETING’, 17 October, pp. 3-3
Kent & Sussex Courier (1888) ‘ THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS MURDER’, 19 October , pp. 6-6
Kentish Gazette (1888) ‘ THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS MURDER’, 03 November , pp. 6-6
Echo (London) (1889) ‘ THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS MURDER. MET THEIR FATE WITH CALMNESS’, 02 January, pp. 2-2
Tunbridge Wells Journal (1889) ‘ TUNBRIDGE WELLS MURDER DOUBLE EXECUTION’, 03 January, pp. 4-4
Freeman's Journal (1889) ‘ TWO YOUTHS EXECUTED’, 03 January , pp. 3-3
Kent & Sussex Courier (1889) ‘ Our appeal for Mrs Lawrence ’, 25 January, pp. 5-5
Kent & Sussex Courier (1950) ‘ DEATH NOTICES’, 24 November, pp. 8-8
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser (1961) ‘ DEATH NOTICES’, 29 December, pp. 11-11
Bring your backstory to lifeTM (no date) Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. Available at: http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ (Accessed: 09 February 2024).
Archive, T.B.N. (no date) History’s colorful stories in black and white, Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ (Accessed: 11 February 2024).
The central database for UK burials and cremations (no date) Burial records, cremation records, grave maps, genealogy and ancestry at Deceased Online. Available at: http://www.deceasedonline.com/ (Accessed: 11 February 2024).
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