Blog 13: Tunbridge Wells 1907 - Postpartum Infanticide

The Tunbridge Wells Tragedy of Mrs Jury and the murder of her son.

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Emily Lockyer was born in 1867, she was the 8th of 9 children born to George Henry Lockyer, a Grainer, and Emma Baldwin daughter of a Shoemaker. The year she was born, her father became the Landlord of the Nags head in Maidstone, Kent and she grew up in the Pub until her parents died, her mother passing in September 1892 at age 59 years and her father, just over a year later October 1893, at age 64 years. Her brother Adolphe had taken over as publican at the Nags' head and ran it until 1903.

The following year of 1894, 5-6 months after the death of her father, at age 27, she married 22-year-old William Burton Jury, A Plumber from Tunbridge Wells Kent and they settled there to start a family.

28 March 1895 they welcomed their first Daughter Emily Dorothy, this was followed by William Barton on 8th Nov 1896 and Kenneth George on 12th March 1899.

She suffered from mild depression after her children but seemed to get through it each time and they continued family life with Emily at home raising the children, while William worked at his job.

In the later part of 1902, at age 35, she fell pregnant with 2 twin girls but sadly in June 1903, they were stillborn, they named them Marjorie and Gwendoline.

They were living at 20 Albion Road Tunbridge and in August 1907 she gave birth to their son Louis Leonard but 5 weeks later on Tues 10 September 1907, things took a turn for the worse and she was arrested for the murder of baby Louis.

Mr Buss held the inquest at the Town Hall Wednesday evening 11th September.

Mr R. Gower, solicitor. Tunbridge Wells was present on behalf of Mrs Jury.

First witness was William Burton Jury, father of the deceased child, He said Louis was five weeks old. He was a somewhat feeble child, and, with the mother, had been attended by Dr. Charles Watson. His wife had not been very well after the confinement, and on the previous Thursday, he was summoned from Margate where he had been for a brief holiday. On his return, she appeared to get better, and the nurse left. He said that after the birth of each child, his wife was not herself for a short time but always recovered.

On Monday, his wife seemed usual. On Tuesday morning, he left the house shortly before nine o'clock to telegraph his wife's sister as he wished to send her away for a holiday with her. He left his eldest daughter Emily with his wife, who was nursing the baby.

The Coroner: What happened next?

William replied ''I received a telephone message at the office, and went home at once. I saw my wife sitting with the baby in her lap. I could see what had happened and was broken-hearten''.

The Coroner ''Your wife had cut the child's throat?''

William replied ''Yes''.

The Coroner ''Did she appear to realize the gravity of what she had done?''

William replied ''No, she was dead from the world, and only said, I have done it."

By Mr Gower: There appeared to be no reason why he should not leave his wife. She appeared to be getting on splendidly. On Tuesday morning, she appeared to be even brighter than usual, but when he returned she was in a great depression and no one knew why. When he was called home from Margate he found that Mrs Jury was very "down," but she appeared bright after his return.

By the Coroner: ''Had your wife ever threatened to take her own life?''

William replied ''She had joked, but she had never threatened to injure herself or the children''

After hearing the other witnesses. The verdict on the child's death was ruled wilful murder by Mrs Jury

On Monday 16th Sep in the afternoon, the Magistrate Mr F. Wadham Elers sat at the Tunbridge Wells Town Hall to hear evidence in connection with the sad domestic tragedy.

Mrs Emily Jury, aged forty was brought before the Court and committed for trial at the Kent Assizes.

The painful circumstances of the case, calling for the sympathy of everybody with the accused, have been thoroughly recognized by the Treasury, and the representative of the Public Prosecutor foreshadowed a certain course of dealing with the unhappy woman

Mr Sefton Cohen prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury, and Mr R. Gower defended the accused woman.

Emily appeared in Court attired in a blue costume with a white front. She was wearing a motor hat with a heavy brown veil.

She still appeared very ill, and sat quietly during the proceedings, apparently totally unable to realize her position.

Mr Cohen, in opening the case, first of all, tendered on behalf of the Treasury, sympathy with William Jury in the situation that had fallen upon him, and after recounting the facts to be proved in evidence, said was glad to be in a position to say that the result of Dr. Watson's observation had enabled him to form a conclusion that the accused was of unsound mind at the time she committed the act.

That opinion, taken in conjunction with other facts, the absence of possible motive, the absence of denial or concealment, would be of material importance when the question of sanity was considered at the Assizes.

He thought there could be little doubt, that these facts would lead the Judge and Jury at the Assizes, to the conclusion that Mrs. Jury at the time the act was committed was suffering from post-natal mania and that on her restoration to health, she would be released and restored to her friends.

Evidence was then given:

Mary Reading, 18, living in Albion-road, was the first witness called. She repeated in substance the evidence given by her at the inquest and reported fully last week.

She had known the accused, her husband, and her family for some time, and saw Mrs Jury on several occasions after the birth of the child five weeks ago. As a result of observation of Emily and conversations with her, she had been able to form an opinion of Mrs. Jury's state of mind, which was strange in her manner.

The witness then related how she was summoned to the Jury's house by their daughter Emily and saw the accused sitting in a chair, the child was on her lap. The neck was covered by a blood-stained towel. There was an ordinary table white-handled knife that lay on the table beside her and she knew at that point, she had murdered her child. She saw blood on Mrs Jury's dress and the floor, from the babe's neck, and saw there was a blood-stained cloth around it, covered with blood. She took the knife out and laid it in a bowl of water but did not wipe it. She then sent for Mr Jury, She did not want him to have too much of a shock when he came in.

Mrs Jury was in a dazed condition, and she did not want her to see the knife when she came out of it. She appeared to be in a dream and exclaimed " I have done it." and stated that she had taken Laudanum.

Dr Watson was sent for and examined Mrs Jury and asked her if she had taken anything. She replied, " Yes, laudanum; and the bottles are in the scullery. On searching he found two empty laudanum battles in the ashes under the fireplace, one bearing the label of Mr. Johns, Chemist, of Camden Road, and the other that of Mr. Phillips, Chemist, of Camden Road. He applied remedies and afterwards sent Mrs. Jury to the hospital. but found the infant was beyond human aid.

She said Emily was a good mother and appeared to lavish unusual affection on her baby (this could be due to the previous stillborn children)

Mr Gower asked her '' Immediately after the birth of their first child Mrs Jury was strange in her manner. you mean depressed?''

''Yes''. she replied

The Clerk (Mr A. T. Simpson): ''Was that for some time afterwards?''

''Yes'' was the reply

By the Coroner ''The day before, did Mrs Jury say anything about suicide?''

She replied ''Yes; she said she was a wicked woman and did not think she could be forgiven. I said she could be forgiven, and she then asked if I thought there was any forgiveness for suicide''

Mr. Gower ''After the birth of this child, Mr. Jury went to Margate for holiday?''

''Yes'' she replied

Mr. Gower ''On the Wednesday or Thursday before the Tuesday Mrs Jury was greatly depressed?''

She replied ''Yes, on the Thursday''.

Mr Gower ''When suffering from that depression was she strange in her manner?''

''Yes,'' She replied.

Mr. Gower ''consequence of that Dr. Watson advised that her husband should be telegraphed for, and he came back the same day ?''

''Yes'' was the reply.

Mr Gower ''On her husband's return she became much brighter?''

She replied ''Yes''.

Mr Gower ''Did she suffer similarly from depression after the birth of all the children?''

She replied ''I only noticed it after the birth the first one''.

M.r Gower ''Four years ago did Mrs. Jury have twins, which died?''

''Yes,'' She replied.

Mr Gower ''Was she subsequently very much depressed after this?''

''Yes'' She replied

Mrs Elizabeth Winchester. of 22. Albion Road said she had known Mrs Jury for 6 years.

She corroborated the statements of Miss Reading, as to what took place in the dining room after she was called in.

Dr. Charles. Watson, of 5 Mount Ephraim, said he had been Mrs. Jury's medical attendant for seven years, and attended her at her recent confinement, which was a normal one.

Mrs. Jury got up after a fortnight and appeared to be making good progress but subsequently complained to him of sleepless nights, and also said she was not getting on as well as she wished.

On later dates when he saw her she was depressed and appeared to worry because had ordered her to keep nourishing the child.

After Mr Jury's return, she appeared to throw off the depression but had advised that she not be left alone.

On Tuesday morning Mr Jury, with whom the greatest sympathy is felt in the trying circumstances, left the house after nine o'clock to telegraph to a relative, to arrange for Mrs Jury to be taken away for a holiday. He left her washing the infant, and all appearance seemed in a very cheerful state. A little daughter, aged twelve years, was left with the mother, who shortly after her husband's departure sent the girl to a neighbour Mary Reading

On that same morning, Dr Watson was hurriedly called for and proceeded at once to the house. The witness reiterated his statements at the inquest to the scene in the dining room.

When he attempted to lift the bloodstained towel from the child's neck, Mrs Jury said, " Don't, I don't want to see it." Subsequently, he questioned her as to why she did it, and she replied, "They told me to do it."

After Mrs Jury was taken to the General Hospital she was under his daily observation.

Dr Watson, describing the wound in the child's throat, said it was five inches in length, beginning an inch below the left ear, severing the sternomastoid muscle, all the large blood vessels on the left side, the cartilage of the larynx, and the oesophagus. The knife had penetrated to the spinal column. Death was due to a haemorrhage.

The Coroner: Would the laudanum cause her to be dazed?

Dr Watson ''Not if she had taken it just previously. It would take time to act''.

The Coroner: ''Do you think the woman was suffering from delusions?''

Dr Watson: '' She told me she did not think she could do her duty to the child, and this with the fact that she had to give up nursing, appeared to worry her a great deal. She had fits of depression, and that was why I did not wish her left alone. It is not uncommon''

Mr Cohen: ''You think Mrs Jury was responsible for what she did at the time she took her child's life?''

Dr Watson ''I don't think so''.

Mr Gower: ''There not much doubt about it?''—

Dr Watson ''No. She is getting better but still in a state of mental irresponsibility''

Mr Gower ''It is not uncommon thing for sudden homicidal and suicidal impulses to come on after childbirth?''

Dr Watson: ''That is so, and they appear to be irrefutable''

Police Officer. H. J. Parker, of the Borough Police, said that morning he saw the woman at the General Hospital, and, after cautioning her, told her she would be charged with the wilful murder of her child. She made no reply.

On this evidence, the prisoner was committed for trial at the Assizes, Mr Gower stating that she reserved her defence.

On the 18th Nov, the verdict at Maidstone was guilty by insanity, on Arraignment to be kept in strict custody till his majesty's pleasure be known. She was then sent to Maidstone prison.

Mr R. Vaughan Gower, her defence lawyer, had been endeavouring to get her discharged to a home, but at first, the legal and technical difficulties seemed to be insurmountable.

The kind offices of Lord Hardinge were, requisitioned; and he, together with Mr Vaughan Gower and Mr W. W. Grantham, made strong representations to the Home Office, with the result that Wednesday 11th Dec. a letter was received from the Under Secretary that the Home Secretary was prepared to release Mrs Jury to enable her to be received into a Home, and the next day on the 12th she was received into St. Luke's Hospital, London, where she got the treatment she needed to recover.

LiIFE AFTER

Emily seemed to have recovered and by 1911, was back with her husband and 3 children.

They had moved to 136 Bardon Road Tonbridge. Kent. They never had any more children.

She passed away on 5 June 1921 at Tunbridge Wells at age 54 and was buried at the Tunbridge Wells Borough Cemetery Benhall Mill Road on 8th June

William never remarried and died on 19th Sept 1945 age 73 in Ashford and was buried with his wife on 24th September.

Their daughter Emily married in 1922 age 27 to James W Pink a shop assistant for a Coal Merchant, they lived in Tunbridge Wells had one child Annie Elizabeth.

Emily died in June 1949 at age 54 and was buried on 16th June with her parents

Their son William Barton became a Joiner and also Joined the Great War, at age 18, enlisting in the RAF on 14th June 1915 and working on the Royal Navy ships Last Service Date 31st March 1918 Serving at Chingford Aerodrome He Married in 1926 age 29 to a widow named Florence Everard and he passed away at age 72 on 7 May 1969 and was cremated on 12th March at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium Tunbridge Wells

Their son Kenneth became a Plumbers mate and also joined the Great War at age 18 enlisting in the Royal Engineers, Kent Fortress Company on 3rd Nov 1914 until 13th Mar 1919 He married at age 22 in Brighton Sussex to Lilian M Jackson and they had one son Jack Kenneth, who sadly died age 19 on 6th December 1944 as a soldier in WW2 and was buried at Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. Kenneth eventually became a Grocer and retired to Ullapool, Highland, Scotland where he died in 1981 at age 82 and is buried there.

Sources

1. East Kent Times and Mail (1907) ‘ County News’, 18 December , p. 6

2. Kent & Sussex Courier (1907) ‘ THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS INFANTICIDE CASE ’, 22 November p 5

3. Kent Times (1907) ‘THE ASSIZES’, 16 November p.5

4. Kent & Sussex Courier (1907) ‘ THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS TRAGEDY’, 20 September p.8

5. Kent & Sussex Courier (1907) ‘SAD DOMESTIC TRAGEDY AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS’, 13 September p. 10

6. Kent & Sussex Courier (1907) ‘ MRS. JURY RELEASED FROM CUSTODY’, 13 December , p. 7

7. Tonbridge Free Press (1907) ‘ TUNBRIDGE WELLS TRAGEDY. POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. MOTHER COMMITTED ON MURDER CHARGE’, 20 September , p3

8. 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).

9. 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).

10. 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).

11. Pictures and historical info from Wikipedia https://www.wikipedia.org/