Edith Thompson
Dotable Brftisb
Frederick Bywaters
and
Edith Thompson
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PREFACE.
THE extraordinary interest which the public took in the trial of
Frederick Bywatera and Edith Thompson was the subject of much
adverse comment at the time. It may be that the present-day
fashion of sensation-mongering in trials, and dishing up crime for,
the delectation of the Sunday morning lie-a-bed is to be reckoned
among the leas worthy of the uses to which the craft of writing
can be put. Yet it is the public interest in justice which alone
keeps it reasonably pure; aud although wo cannot all attend Courts
of law, we are all concerned in what is; transacted there. Unfortu-
nately the public ear is only open when a crime or trial is coloured
by what are called e sensational " (jircumslauces. But there are
many circumstances other than those described by that disagree-
able "word that repay the closest altuatiou, and should be pondered
over by serious people; aud for that reason tliis case has been con-
sidered worthy to be included in tho Notable Trials Series.
In order that tho reader should have material upon which to judge
the main issuo in the case, 1 have thought it desirable to publish
in full not only that portion of IJho lottos on which the <mo waa
founded, but ako the other and equally illuminating portion of which
nothing was heard in Court. The material upon which my apprecia-
tion of this caiSo rests consists of official and unofficial documents,
observation and impreasion of the persons concerned in it, studies
of the locality, andi conversations with relatives and friends of the
two defendants. 1 am obliged to the Director of Uablic Prosecu-
tions, Sir Archibald Bodkin, for his kindiie&s in giving me access
to the transcripts' of the shorthand notes prepared for tho Court
of Criminal Appeal; and to Mr* Justice Shearman for revising the
proofs of the edition of his charge to the jury which appears in
these pages,
F.Y,
LONDON, Novemhr 9 1923*
CONTENTS.
Introduction,
Table of ])ate&,
The 1'rial
Indictments,
Discussion on the Letter^ -
Kwfoucr
John AiabroHc Henry Lcixton,
Robert Taylor, -
Dora Finch Pittonl, -
Percy Wdwaid Ch* v^l t \, -
John Webber, -
Dr, Noel Maudsley,
Walter Crimea,
Walter Mew, - - -
Richard Halhday Thomson,
Cyril (teal, - - -
)eech
ioi the <Yown,
/or t)
/'^MnKiM
17
1H
18
IS
T)p. Percy Janie Drought,
Mr Lilian !jy%\atwh,
William !CttHt,ice (iraydon,
EmcHii Fofiior,
Jl)
i>0
t>0
til
Mrs. Fanny MIUI.I Le',ter,
Frank JdwajUl> lull, -
Arthur Neulmty,
IfrrlwrKtarlton,
21
ilrn. Lilian Vailoiulei,
I'VUE
xni
xxxu
1>5
,aa
ru
Mmdencc for the /Vwtcwfton (ctmfiHtwtl j.
Edith Annie Brow n, * - 3:2 , Alfred SchoUw,
Amelia August a Lee, - 't'2 | Percy rfamofa, -
Rose Jacobs, - - - JJi John Uawock, -
Charles Higgms, - - - o.'i ; Hiohatu Hollars,
Frank Page, - . . ;{y '
Statements by the Prihoiwr, Kdith J< J KMC
Statements by the Prisoner, Frederick U;
Leonaid WilliamH, *
Henry William Forster,
Charles Caldwell Taylor,
Tiriiii) T)AY- FuiitAY, 8rn DKCKMBKU,
for tin l*roMctitnm
John 1
Dr. I'ornartl Henry Salisbury,
Frederick Edward Francis Bywatcr,
42
42
4f>
x CONTENTS.
Evidence for the Prisoner Thomson. ,
l>UiB
Mrs- Edith Jessie Thompson, ........ 7#
FOTTATH DAY -SATUKDAY, OTH DEOEMJ^R, 1922.
Ewdence for the Pruonrr Tliompson (continued).
Mrs. Edith Jessie Thompson, ......... i>7
Avis Ethel Graydon, ....... ... 104
Mrs. Ethel Jessie Graydon, ......... 105
Glo&mg Speech for Ik? Prisoner
Mr. Cecil Wliite!ey k ........... 105
Closing SpMch for tto Prisoner Thomson.
Sir Hemy Curtis Bennett, - - ...... Uii
Closing fywch for tht> Pf t wRt<r TlwtnpMn
Sir Heury Curtis Bennett, ......... II
Clokuiif tfiwwh Jos tfid Prosecution.
The Soli
to the Jury.
Mr. Justice {Shearman, - - * K'llt
The Verdict, ...... - 156
Tho Sentence, - - - . 156
APPENDICES.
I. Letters from Edith Thompson rind Frederick Bywaters put m
Evidence at the Trial, 161
II. Letters from Edith Thompson not put in Evidence at the Trial, * 2)0
IIL Court of Criminal Appeal ^,ex v. By waters, &1L
Court of Criminal Appeal Rex v. Thompson, '255
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Jiltlith Th<mpso (from a sketch bv Jiiu .\3. Pure), - - /'Vo
Slr Thomaw hiwkip, K.Cl, -....--- Many ?
Frederick Byvmhuv, --.-.--
Edith '.rhonipKon, - - - *
Mr. Ocoil WhiU'loy, ....-.- -
Sir llfiiiry (3urti lioiuu'i't, K*(). - - .......
The HOE. Justice Slumnuua, - - * - 5
Kdith r riioi|HOD, - - - ,
Frederick BywiA*tor&i, - - - . ' . - - - ,,
INTRODUCTION,
I.
ON the midnight of October 34, 19:23, Mr. Percy Thompwwu
a London whipping clerk, and his v&ifo Edith were walking from
Ilford Station along the Belgrade Road towards ihe street called
Kensington Gardens, where they lived The road along which they
were walking was straight and monotonous, and a.t that hour of ihe
night almost de&erted. The people who ha<l come out by the flame
train had dispersed in different direction^ and Roon this couple,
tired enough, as we may wupiw>se, after a* long day*** work awl an
evening at the theatre, found themselves almost alone. Their rela-
tion were not oonlial, although they lived outwardly on quite good
termw. It in prohnMo, therefore, that they walked for the mot
part in silenco, each occupied vtith private IhouffhtH, and that the
silence of the night wiw unbrolvou but for the sound of their foot*
steps along the paved road divided only l>y the pakhoH of lipht that
waxed and waned' as they passed the Huccowive lamp-jxwtft. But
they were not alone Other footsteps were hurrying after thoirw;
footstep** of fate indeed ; whoso overtaking meant the death of the
three peraonti who encountered in that place. The hurrying foolwlopa
were theme of Frederick By waters, a youth of twenty > homo on
leave from hiw work a a Hhip'a writer ou Ixwwl the s,s. " Korea/'
After a few words of altercation ho drew a knife and stabbed Percy
Thompson to deathor rather, left him in a dying condition mink
againnt the wall at the side of the road. He then ran away* Edith
Thompson, after an attempt to minister to her htmband, ran to find
help, and met other people, returning home late also, who had been
walking some distance behind along- the game road* On their
return with a doctor they fownd that ThompHon was dead,
This, is the simplest possible statement of the crime which waft
the subject of the inquiry Bet forth in the following pages, I do
not propose here to recapitulate in narrative form a story which ia
fully unfolded in the trial itself. I propone only to discuns some
aspects of it which were not, and! could not be, the subject of inquiry
in a Court of law, but which have eome bearing on any dispassionate
examination of the case in. its relation to general bumaa justice as
distinct from technical justice.
xiii
Bywaters and Thompson,
ii.
This is a story of passion, and, strange to say, is for that very
reason regarded! as disreputable in itself by many people. It ia,
on the contrary, the passion in it which alone invests what would
otherwise be a story of sordid 1 crime with any dignity or psycho-
logical interest The crime was essentially sordid and common-
place the husband stabbed to death by his rival in his wife's affec-
tions in the presence of and! (so the prosecution alleged) with the
approval of that wife. It would be difficult to imagine any circum-
stances which would afford a shade of justification or excuse for this
extremely primitive proceeding But the ca&e as a whole v;as not
sordid, because the murder formed such a small part of it, and the
emotional antecedents of the act itself, illuminated by a series of
the most remarkable letters that have been made public in modern
times, lift the whole story out of the commonplaco Nothing is
commonplace if we know enough about it It is commonplace for
a jealous man to kill his rival, but it is not commonplace to bo able
to trace back his emotional history and bo aware of the emotional
force that ultimately swept him away on its tide.
Criminal lawyers have an incorrigible instinct for melodrama;
and they are apt to see, or rather to present, every one in tho light
of martyr, hero, or villain. Some of them scorn to have a quaint
theory that human nature JK divided into two kinds of people : on the
one hand, plain, decent people, the stuff of which judges and juriftm
are mad'e, who are shocked and horrified at any transgression of tho
moral law, and can hardly believe that persons should bo found
wicked enough to transgress it; ou the other hand, blackguards ami
devils, degraded by such things at? passion; guilty, outsidn llio
licensed degrees, of a thing called lovo; and generally and deservedly
in trouble of some kind until they are swept within the mewhos of
the law. The Ilfordl case wast no exception to this rule. Tho three
persons concerned were duly presented in the melodramatic way.
TJhe good, patient and unoffending husband; tho manly young
fellow, corrupted' and debauched by the experienced woman of tho
world; and! the black-hea*rted sorceress, weaving hor flfKjlls, casting
her nets, and bringing ruin on evory one connected with hi*r.
Now we cannot pretend to fenow the inner hearts end lives of
these three people, but we can get a little nearer the truth than
that. The unhappy victim of this savage aseawunaliorx seems to
xiv
Introduction.
have been a fairly inoffensive person, and the worst I have heard of
him from those who knew him is that he was stupid and! vain. But
there is ample evidence that in his married life which was a very
unhappy one for him as well as for his wife he had cultivated the
art of being disagreeable with confliderable success. The circum-
stances of the marriage were in themselves not conducive to happi-
ness. Husband and wife earned their living separately. They
left the house at a quarter past eight in tho morning and did not
return until seven in the evening There were no children, and
they had thus practically nothing in common except tho dormitory
side of existence, which seems to have resolved itself into a chapter
of bitter squabblings, and Lho deeper trouble thai underlies tho
persistent attempts of a husband to tuko as a right Hometliing that
should! only bo given. It is .not to bo wondered til. that a weak
character -such as Thompson's expressed itself in this dilemma wilh
acrimony, with meanness, and sometimes with violence. lie
the one with the real grievance; and ho seems to Lave made the
of it.
It is when we come to the characl.cn* of By water H aud Mrs.
Thompson that we are at once confronted with un element of tlie
unusual. Neither of these puraouH \uw at* all lik< what the general
public thinks. Bywatcrs was noi. the innocent young larl that
his defenders presented to tlie jury; Kditli Thompson \\aH -not, tho
corrupt, malignant sowseroBS portrayed by tin* prosecution. A
great deal of play wa made about their renpcctivn age**, awl it
was suggested tha.t she was an experienced wwium corrupting a
young lad. That is not the way I MOO it. Bywatero wa twonty
and she was twenty-eight, but in some wayn he was tho elder of tlie
two, as he was certainly the more masterful. JTo WHS an alnioot
excessively virile, animal type. He had knocked about, the world ;
he had knowledge of life, and an exceptionally strong will. You
will readl in the course of the trial a great deal alx>ut the woman'**
influence on him ; but I am convinced that hit* influence upon her
was at least as great -as hers upon him, and probably greater; and
they came upon their undoing becmiNO of a certain exaggerated
difference between them. Bywaters, a I read his character, was
totally devoid of imagination; actions wore his only realities.
Edith Thompson had &n excess of imagination. To her actions were
unimportant. Her chief cotiscioufinoHS was hardly ever in what
ehe waa doing at the time, but inhabited a world of dreams and
XV
Bywaters and Thompson.
make-believe If this aspect of the characters of the two people
concerned be kept in mind, I fftink it will make many things clear
which must otherwise remain obscure.
III.
But it is not enough to say that Edith Thompson had too much
imagination. We must look more closely at her than that; for
she is the sole key to this mystery, and without understanding of
her the whole story cannot be justly read. There are people to
whom everything is common, and to a great part of the public
Mrs. Thompson was a common and commonplace woman. But
there were people present at the trial who are connoisseurs in
women and scholars of their character, and who* are able to recog
ruse, behind the most sordid disguises, the presence of that some-
thing which lifts a woman out of whatever class she may naturally
belong to and! sets her in a class apart the classi of influencing,
compelling, driving, beckoning women, who have power over men,
and, through them, over the world. To isuch students it was clear
that Edith Thompson belonged to that company; and no ouo who
read, for example, Mr. James Douglas's marvellously sensitive, acute,
and discerning analyses, written during the course of the trial, can
have any doubt as to the power of a personality which, from the
dismal decor of the dock, could .so act on an intelligence that no
experience can de-humanise. She was compact of contrasts and
contradictions. She was called a hysterical woman by many people
engaged in the case; but through five days of acute trial I saw no
sign of hysteria in her. She was remarkable in this way: that
quite above her station in life, quite beyond the opportunities of
her narrow existence, she had power of & kind that is only exer-
cised by women possessed of a high imaginative talent; she had
that peculiar quality of attraction which over-ridea beauty and
prettiness. She was not what is called a beautiful woman, nor
always even pretty; but she had a certain character, certain move-
ments of infinite grace, a head finely poised on a beautiful neck,
and the secret of looking like a hundred different women according
to the nature of her environment. There is one simple test by
which you may judge the kind of woman that Edith Thompson was.
No two photographs of her looked like photographs of the same
xvi
Introduction.
ronmn; from different angles of view, in different clothes, she
appeared like different people. Put her in a housemaid'** dress
and she would look like a housemaid; place her in tragic circum-
stances and she became a tragic actress. She was, to that extent ,
Evorywoman; and she had the secret of the universal woman. The
three portraits of her in this book are like portraits of three different
people; if you askedl me which she was like, I ^ould Ray ribo was
like none of them, and like them all; but the one which best repre-
sents her character is the pencil drawing made of her by a dis-
tinguished artist as she wit in the witness-box, and that is not the
portrait of a common or commonplace woman. If she had been a
Frenchwoman she would have been long ago taken out of her
humble working life and! been at once the slave and the ruler of
some connoisseur in extravagant caprice. Stage, costumes, jowela,
and victims would have been provided for her. As it was, a book-
keeper in a milliner's shop, she had to find her own stage, her
own eznpho, her own dranm. Sho had lo find her own victims ;
and in the end she herself way the chief victim of her own tragic
personality.
IV.
Bywaters was a cluan-cut, aolf-possessed', attractive-looking
youth of twenty, with a good character and record* At the opening
of this drama which developed! into & crime passional ho was a ship'*
writer or clerk who had become the friend and intimate of Mr. and
Mrs. Thompson. Ilo was nineteen years of age, eight years
younger than she. She and her husband did not agree. They
were physically incompatible, and saw very little of each other aa
little as she could help. The husband had employment in a ship-
ping office, and he was book-keeper in a milliner's shop in Aiders
gate Street. She had! no particular home life or duties, and such
as she had she sought to avoid as much aa posmhle. Her acquaint*
ance with young Bywatera ripened rapidly into friendship and them
love. He was often away at sea for long 1 periods, and during those
period* she used to write to Mm letters of a kind, charactoriHod
by Mr. Justice Shearman a " guah," which lovers and friends at A
distance love to receive; letters telling him her thoughts aa they
rose in her head, what she was doing, what Bhe was reading, what
she was thinking; and breathing throughout a curious puaslow, half
9 *vil
Bywaters and Thompson.
of the mother, half of the slave-mistress, that gives its supreme
interest and power to this correspondence. They also contained a
great deal of reference to attempts at the administration of poison
to her husband, which belong to the criminal part of the case and
which for the moment I will leave aside. But asi to the general
contents of these letters I would say, paying all respect to the com-
ments of a learned, humane, and impartial judge, that they are
true love letters, and that the emotion in them is both deep and
true. They contain passages: of actual beauty, to find the match
for which .you wouldl have to look in the love letters of people far
above her in poetic and literary attainments. The lovo they
breathed being illegal, was as a matter of course the subject of
unsympathetic reference in a Court of law. " Insensate, silly
affection," the judge called it. Love may be unwise, but it can
never be silly; and how something that is founded on passion
and] emotion can be insensate I will leave the legal mind to decide.
Lest I be accused of speaking disrespectfully or unreasonably of an
eminent and -admirable judge, I will quote one passage which seems
to me fairly typical of the judicial treatment of emotional matters.
" You have been repeatedly told," he said, " that this was a case of
great love, and we have had for days both speeches and questions
with reference to this love. Just at the end of the letters comes
this passage : ' He has the right by law to all that you have the
right to by nature and love.' If that nonsense means anything, it
means that the love of a husband "by his wife means nothing because
marriage is acknowledged by law." Just read again the simple
sentence from Mrs. Thompson's letter. Surely it is a brief and
exact statement of the position as it existed between these three,
and is, therefore, not nonsense. " I have no doubt," added his
lordship, " that the jury and every proper-minded person is filled
with disgust by such expressions " Disgust at what? At the state-
ment itself, or at the suggestion that there can be any right but that
of law? It seems to me that love and nature are both things that
have very definite rights of their own, although it is the business
of the law to restrain ifoem, if it can- In any case, the number of
judges who can, with advantage intercalate their judicial utter-
ances with these little homilies on life and conduct is so inconsider-
able as to make the practice, upon the whole, undesirable.
Introduction,
v.
It is these letters, however, that focus our interest in the
sequence of events that led to the death of Thompson. With
regard to the incriminating passages) in them, in which the strangest
descriptions ore given of alleged attempts at poisoning the husband,
I think the explanation is quite simple. Mrs. Thompson's dramatic
sense, aided by her imagination, and quite remarkable fluency in
writing, led her, in order to keep her image commandingly before
the absent lover, to represent herself as. engaged, for his sake, in
the dreadful task of poisoning her husband. She wished him to
believe that there was nothing she would stop at; though, in fact, she
had no intention whatever of running the risks that such attempts
would have involved. It is certainly inconsistent with her char-
acter, as I conceive it, that if fiho had really intended to poison
her husband she would have philandered with the idea on paper, and
written reams of incriminating matter. She would! have done it,
and said (or written) nothing about it* A Borgia does not write;
she acts. With Edith Thompson words, took the place of actions.
hi her words she wa& speculative, adventurous, indirect; in her
actions she was logical, direct, and even in her transgressions
conventional. She was a woman who could play with ideas to
any extent, while her actions remained quito limited a.nd almost
normal. She lived two lives; one, this dream life, the life of the
heroine of the letters; the other a commonplace routine life of
some one who passed daily as in a trance from Ilford to Alders-
gate Street, and back from Aldersgato Street to Ilford, and who,
sitting at her desk apparently keeping accounts, was really engaged
in weaving an imaginative web that should stretch across half the
seas of the world, and bind her lover with its gossamer threads.
By keeping these letters Bywaters brought ruin to the writer.
She kept none of his; she was too loyal for that. It ia extremely
probable that he entered into this grim and shocking game of cor-
respondence about poisoning meaning it as little as she did; and it
is probable that they both found an erotic stimulus in giving full
play on paper to their jealousy* And when the letters ceased,
and they met again, they had worked themselves up too far; what
had been grim play had to become grim earnest; and to avoid anti-
climax this jealous lad} was forced to the climax of the knife.
A* the trial proceeded, and all this obvious pretence -was exposed
xte
Bywaters and Thompson.
andl stripped, whatever attraction it may have hafl for them fadea
away. As the words, pleading and passionate, were read and
re-read until every one in Court was familiar with them, one could
see the miserable consciousness growing in both of the accused
persons that what she at anyrate had! meant to be lovely and happy,
all they had dreamed of, hoped for and fought for, had come to
terrible nemesis and confusion. Such humiliation, quite apart from
any suggestion of guilt, is the inevitable result of dragging'
emotion into a Court of law. It has no place there ; it cuts a pitiful
figure there, andl that which may have been true and beautiful in
its living environment becomes false, horrible, and deadly there.
VI
Let us now consider the way in which the legal problem posed
before the Criminal Court was dealt with. The trial can hardly
be regarded as a classic from a legial point of view. A fastidious
jurist might even describe it as slovenly, in that the scheme of tho
prosecution seemed never to have been either clearly conceived or
clearly presented to the jury; while those conducting the defence
found themselves in such a dilemma, as a consequence of the strategy
adopted, as to leave little opportunity for anything beyond ingenious
quibbling on Mr. Cecil Whiteley's part and emotional eloquence on
the part of Sir Heniy Curtis Bennett. The Treasury counsel engaged
in the prosecution were Mr. Travers Humphreys and Mr. Roland
Oliver, but owing to the nature of the oaae and the fact that both
prisoners were to be tried together, it was decided to send down
the new Solicitor-General, Mr. (now Sir) Thomas? Inskip, K.C.
This officer's practice had) largely lain apart from the criminal law,
and he was not much at home in the handling of a case like thi,
It is possible, moreover, that he had very little time in which to
study his brief ; but whatever may have been the cause, his handling
of the case was loose and uncertain. There was a certain irony in
the fact that sitting beside him AS his junior, and almost idle
throughout the case, was Mr. Travers Humphreys. a man who*e
mind seems to me the hardest, brightest, and most exact of those
engaged in criminal work for the Treasury Mr. Humphreys had
practically nothing ix> do except occasionally to read the long extract*
from the letters which took: so many hours. It wast a curious occu-
pation for him, thus to be reading aloud these passionate utter*
XX
Introduction.
aces in the presence of the woman who wrote them; and it is to
his credit that, much as he disliked the task, his reading of those
letters was by -no means unsympathetic ; and some of their haunting
phrases that were repeated so often in Court will remain associated
in my memory with the tonesi of Mr. Travera Humphreys.
The legal interest in the case centres! round the matter of
the letters, and the way in which they were to be used. The question
as to the trying of two prisonersi together for the commission of one
crime, which was made a point of appeal by the defendants, and
which took an acute form in the case of the trial of the Seddons, 1
is one on which the existing law is clear, though not satisfactory.
The \voman was charged with murder, her alleged part in it being
that of a principal in the second degree. If a jury were satisfied
that tthc waN present, and supported, instigated, assiwted or
commanded tho accomplice by whose actual hand the deed was
done, they could find her guilty of murder equally with her accom-
plice. Whether, in such a case, the two are tried separately or
together iai & nmtter entirely in the discretion of the Court before
which they arc brought; und if any hardship or injustice ensues to
one or other of the accused persona through the weight of evidence
offered against both pressing unduly against either, the only remedy
lies in tho Court of Appeal.
In this case there could be no doubt whatever as to who actu-
ally committed' the murder. The case against Bywaters was as clear
as any case of murder could be, and there was practically nothing
to be pretended in his defence except thai ho w,os the instrument and
agent animated by a powerful and compelling influence* And for
his counsel to press that defence would hare been inevitably to
fortify the attack on the woman, and embarrass her defence which
he was expressly instructed not to do. What the prosecution
desired was to bring the crime home not only to Bywaters but to
Mrs* Thompson, and the only way in which they could do this was
to bring in the letters written by her to Bywatera, and! w> strangely
preserved by him. They were necessary as evidence (a) that she
desired Thompson's death; (6) that she was for a perod of ooa-
eecutive months engaged in endeavouring to compass that death;
(o) that she was in conspiracy with Bywaters right up to the day
of the murder to bring that death about; and (d) that she wa*
*8ee "Trial of the Saddens" in the Notable Trials Seriea.-Eo.
xxi
Bywaters and Thompson.
present when the crime was committed, and knew beforehand that
it was to be committed. It was chiefly the way in which the
letters were presented that lays the prosecution open to criti-
cism. The letters do not seem to have been carefully enough
analysed and the bearingsi of the really essential passages marshalled
into any sort of sequence The mass of the correspondence was,
so to speak, thrown before the Court, and prosecuting counsel browsed
through it, taking advantage of anything which seemed likely at
the moment to assist the particular aspect of the case which he was
presenting. The result was a, great deal of confusion, a great waste
of time, undue emphasis on certain passages) of the letters which
would not bear the weight of the construction sought to be placed
on them, and the neglect of other passagesi which, while they would
have served the purpose of the prosecution equally well, would have
been more helpful and illuminating in discovering the truth. A
defect in form of this kind, inherent in the design of the case for
the prosecution, affects the form of the proceedings throughout li
confuses the defence, which has to follow the track of the prosecution,
and it makes it very difficult for the judge to deliver a clear cliargo
to the jury, since ho also has to follow the original wandering coin so,
retrace his steps, and traverse over and over again the samo ground!
as it is approached from different angles 1 and for different purpose**.
All theso defects will be apparent to a student of the trial as it
appears set forth in the following pages
VII
But if the defects of the prosecution were serious, tlio defects
of the defence were fatal. As I have already indicated, thero wu
really no case for the defence of Bywaters, and Mr. Cecil Whiteloy'tt
final speech is interesting chiefly for its ingenuity, and might servo
as a model of what can be done and said in the defence of a. mur-
derer who is practically found standing over his victim with tin?
weapon in hisi hand. But the case of MrH. Thompson was very
different. No one suggested that whe had committed' the murder,
and the only evidence that she had ever intended any murder was
furnished by herself in a series of letters so fantastic that it should
not have been Impossible to find an explanation of thorn that might
satisfy a jury. It seems to me that Sir Henry Curtis Bennett lost
one of the opportunities of his lifetime when, after the confused
XXII
Introduction.
uncertain opening of the Solicitor-General, he did not for once do
wha,t counsel are so often telling juries they are doing, but, in fact,
so seldom do leave the prosecution to prove its case and attempt no
positive defence Let me say at the earliest possible moment that
there is- no suggestion that Sir Henry was personally responsible
for the line of defence or for the consequences Mrs Thompson
insisted upon going into the witness-box and giving evidence For
counsel to give actual advice on .such a subject in a matter of life
and death is to take a greater responsibility than 1*5, perhaps, right;
but I think if I had been in Sir Henry's place and found that my
client was determined to go into the witness-box, I riiould liavo
asked her to brief another counsel. No one can ever fore (oil tho
effect which the evidence of a defendant in a winder charge \\ill
have on the case, but an experienced lawyoi could 1m \e foietold, and
must have known, the very great diHiculty thai the prosecution
would have in getting a. conviction against Mrs Thompson if aha
did not herself give evidence, and contented lieiveif b^ moroly
denying, through hor counsel, that blio liarfl anything v.iwtcver toil<>
with the killing of Poicy Thompson, and throwing upon tho piORccti-
tiun the onus of proof that she had
The dilemma is -un acuto one On tho one hand there is the
adverse comment \\hieh the judge in his. Humming xip is entitled
to make on the silence of the accused purso-n ; the jury are asked to
draw tho inference that if there was any true story to tell, the
accused \\ould be tho ii";U, to \vifch to tell it. T1iro is tho advantage,
m tlio case of au attractive woman, of tho i'1'u.H of her poraoimJily
and the appeal to humanity through the pathos of her position;
although, in my own opinion of modern juries, the value of that
effect should not be put too high On the other hand, there w tho
tcmble danger of the crow-exam inati 0*1 to which the accused giving
evidence is subjected; tho risk of tho one word too much, or tho
failure of mental endurance ut a critical moment, that may turn the
scale of opinion ugainwt the accused. And, of courwo, there in
alwitya the possibility, if a person who haa not given evidence ii* con
vie tod, of the awful misgiving that if ho or she had gone into lh*,
wilTUfSS-box the jury might 1m ve found a dilturont veidict. Th<
re:iM.r>ns against Mi>i. Thompson go-ing into t,he wittieftH-bov wore,
liow^or, HO stro/ig that when she inBiHted on doing HO who threw
away hor case There isi nothing about which our law is* 'i
scrupulous an in toeing that the fact? of a cane against -which nc
XMii
By waters and Thompson.
defence is made escept thaft of denial are proved against the prisoner
beyond all shadow of doubt The case for the prosecution ou Iho
indictment was that Bywaters and Mrs Thompson, " on the J'ourlli
nay of October, 1922, in the county of Ewwy, ta>d -vvjlluu I lit* juris-
diction of the Central Criminal Court, xnuidered Percy Th
That is what the jury were asked to find If the defence had
on behalf of Mrs. Thompson, " I did not murder Perry T
I had nothing to do with it; I hail no knowledge of it, and I
blunnodl and hornfi *d \vhen it took place, and I defy the pi*oi;tMMt<oi/
to introduce any evidence with which that denial IH not absolutely
compatible," and had rested on that, I do not think you Aoald havo
found a British jury to convict her. For all Iho ouderutt)
(apart from the letters, with which I shall deal In lor) support** the
theo-iy that Mrs. Thompson did not pl?n or prcpo.ro tliist nnwior in
any wuy; that she did not suggest it to By waters, jiiwl that v.hcu
it took place it caused her surprise, horror, and! dirinay There i
the evidence that site had planned the next day to go \\Ith her
husband to Paddingtori Stahon to mtet a servant iYom romwjll vl'cwu
they had engaged 1 the servant who did, in fact, arrho on ilii aflir-
noon, of the very day on which Thompson was fcillecJ Then* ts Ihe
evidence of John Webber, of which 1 think nearly enough v,as uot
made in the trial Ho lived at 50 De Vere UardeuH, llford, and at
what must, have boon the moment of the murder, anil .'jO or -10 ^aitb
way from the spot where it wu^i committed ho heard a \oict* iaL<d
in the silence of the night a woman's voice, crying, *' Oh <lon't
oh don't ' ?; in the mo-st piteous manner Jle ua:-. rolmittf tu l.l;
but so impres&ed was he by this cry that ho put on law clcrihcM and
went out into the street, whei'e ]je met the little crowd of tinea
hurrying to the spot ^here Mrs. Tliomj>on wa holding ii{* her
husband That is evidence, surely, not that M m. r riir>uqu^>n at,sitod
an<l approved of the crime, but that she trie* I to pi event, it, yet I
think the only bearing of UUH evidence jillutled to- }>j Uie j'kl;j;t* WH
that it went to prove that Mrs.. Thompson \vau protieni and a wltmsH
of the mtirder. Itdoew Jiot Keem to me that that I'H 1lu k l.ruo value of
this piece of evidence, or that noatly enough weight was giv< k n to it
as bearing out what I believe to have boon the fact: that Mm.
Thompson, however much she rni^ht have desired that u kind J'rovi-
d ; ence would remove her husband from her path, \va& jimt an horrified
as any one else when she saw that tlio furious assault of Bywaters
upon him -was, in fact, a murderous assault.
xxt v
Introduction.
VIII.
But Mrs Thompson did o inlo iao u "tuess-boy and toll her
stoiy. Roughly, it was the came story as By waters had told, with
minor discrepancies, of detail winch P*'O unimportant. Tlioy iiad
both, naturally, not knowing hov lai l-i police were in po-'se^io-n
of I ho facts, and being deb i rout: not to incriminate one another, made
false or incompKle stalomcnlw on anest. 3*ut when they came
before a jury they attempted no denial of the mrun facts: they
attempted to explain them. But remember Hi at they wero both
trying to explain ?omethhj<* vilni'h, in t!io L^ht of a.n oidmary Court
of law, was inexplicable namely, (he manning of the fantastic
passages in their cor respond once. With regard to that conos-
prwdonoe, I think the defence made another mistake in not having
the whole of" the lotlerw put in i's nvideiico instead of that portion
of tlit'in selecied by <lu pi'MvrutiO'ii. Tlie c^'ot of this \voul(!
have been twofold The pjoporlion of the "poison and #iass "
pousagcH to the whole com*Hpoinloiipe wouIT have been aeon to- be
voy wmall; wliereas the jury LtuJ the iiu]irowioii that the greater
part of Mrw Thorn pnon't* corivMiiondonco coimiRted of discussions
as to the bet and iuol, co?ivc*niont niotliod of mnrdej'ing a
hiiBbaAd In the second place, other inultcr \vould have appeared
which would inevitably have rmpgeBied a vury different explanation
of many of the poftMngcft relating to drug.s and poisons. IB it not
clear, on a careful study of these letters, that this unhappy woman
was on more than one occasion, sometmiGK with the advice and
assistance of By waters and Komctiniew without it, engaged in taking
measures, to counteract the results of inlercour^o, either with her
husband or with Bywa.ters? Turn to the paswage on page 204, and
again to passages in the letters which will bo found on pages 220,
221, U2SJ, 224, and 226. There is no doubt in my mind aa to the
nature of the actions to which thono letters refer, and the words
"daring" and " risking, " of which o imich play waa made by
prosecuting counsel when they occurred in that iinid letter " I am
still milling to dare all and riak ail if you are " occur here in quite
obvious connection with the other matter. Of course, Kir Homy Curtia
Bennett was aware of all those pnHMges and of the value they might
have. But there he was in another dilemma., for if he wero to
introduce them and put tho construction indicated by them on many
other passages adduced as evidence of murderous intention, he would
XXV
By waters and Thompson.
have had to present his client to the jury, not only as an adulteiess,
but aa an abortionist; and he no doubt thought that the prejudice
created m their minds by that admissao|n would outweigh any
advantage to be gained by such explanation of the poison passages
as it might afford The^e again one may be glad that one had not
to make that decision; but the meaning of these passages' cannot be
ignored by any student of the case, and they throw a very con-
siderable light on other passages which, without that light, are
obscure or inexplicable
IX.
The explanation given by the two accused porsonsi of the in-
criminating passages in the letters was either that they referred to
a suicide compact between them, or to the intention to take what
\\as to Mrs. Thompson the extreme stop of leaving her huwband
and going away with Bywaters, or to the various attemptb
that they undoubtedly made to get Thompson to divorce her. Thin
as these explanations sometimes appeared in Court, they aro fin
thinner when readl in print There .are, no doubt, passages -which
are quite truly explained by one or other of thoso aim wont; but
there are other passages that quite obviously ho.ve nothing to do
either with -suicide or elopement In my opinion, the real explana-
tion of tho passages relating to definite attempts on the husband^
life by means of poison, glass, &c., is that these two people were
playing in their letters a very dangerous kind of game, in which
Mrs. Thompson's, too fertile imagination cast her for the role of thai
tragic heroine with whose existence in fiction she wasi very familiar.
The most genuine kind of lying in the world is purely fantastic
lying, which arises from a desire to escape from the unintorasting
actualities of life. In this way children lie, telling you of some
marvellous thing which they have seen or done. The fact i merely
that the world as they found it at the moment was not sufficiently
interesting to satisfy their imaginations, and so they invented 41
world that was So with this woman. Her life during tho long
absences of Bywaters on his voyages was dull compared! with the
life that she imagined for herself For remember this about Iwr j
she was a woman with a single idea and ambition : tho ambition of
a happy and open union with the man she loved. If there is one
thing thai runs like a continuous thread throughout this cono-
xxvi
Introduction.
spondence, it is that ambition. It *aa a, passion with her; it was
the real inspiration of her life at this time. The question naturally
occurs to any sane person : why did ,<he not leave Thompson and go
and Jive with Bywaters? The sano person ignores Respectability,
which was her god, and Romance, \\hich was. her goddess To
indulge the goddess would have boon to offend the more powerful
god; and theie are questions of finance entangled' with Respectability
which powerfully abet that deity. Yofc the woman to \\hom open dis-
repute is a deterrent from her dearest "wishes would surely be unlikely
to substitute muidor for Jt ! We are hero in the very toils of senti-
mentality. The lesson seems to Le that a woman who lakes*
Respectability for her god and' Ikuiumoe for her goddess, antl enlists
a practical young man in their Mmcv, may powdbly iind ht'rt-vlf in
a minrnw* from whiuh the only i'jslju i *iliu# agent is a rope.
E3nt her passion for a prosperous and re&peelable union was
so great that what she did apart from it, the way in which film spent
her dayn, the way in which hlio amused' liorHulf, \vasi of very little
importance to her. She was (.npitblc of being- a lively ami uuiimng
companion, and there are many humoioiu* passages iu tin no UtleJH
that wuggestH her intolerance of dulness, and the rather mischiovouH
pleasure who look in shocking people. There are pas^a^on on pugoH
231 and !238 that arc paitiruiarly jlluirunativc of tliiw qualii.y. Slio
was a very at tractive woman, nnrl in her busint'asi life she was oxtrenioly
capable, and came co-nwtatitly into contact \\ith a Jar^o circle ox
a^quaintunces, among thorn the buyers in largo csstablfuhnients (for
she was a very wiccetu&ful Halewomau), JMU! in the course of this inde-
pendent existence she had many opportunities of aniuwmonl of ^Iiicfo
it is clear that slui availwl herself. It was a method of pUHNiWft the
time and speeding tho hours of what WHH lo her the unreal part of
her life, as apart from the real dreamworld that she entered when
she began to write to hef lover. Tho profound! ftense of the trivi-
ality and unimportance of ovory tiling &slio did apart from him
breathes through her accounts of climecM, diuuom, oarpuditioiiH. 1 It
in this HonHe of proporliou, so lai-kin^ in other ways, which <;ive
tho light touch to Iior liltlo ihunibuai] Hko(clioM, full of \\l( and 1
charactoriKation, of people I hat she nit.
J At ono of thews at Honloy, ho deonl." hcji'Holf UH l)oiu^ "tho guwst of
M,R, Mr. Stanley UolcMih"-- Ku.
xrvi!
By waters and Thompson,
x
There was, of course, every reason Tor putting Eywate:u m the
witness-box. He had 1 a stoiy to toll, and he was the only person
who could tell it To tell it in lug own words wasi his only possible
chance But putting Mis. Thompson in tlte witne&s-bos was quite
another thing. Her real case wvs a mere denial. Instead of that,
the defence were forced to make an attempt to disprove the ca&e
for the prosecution, instead! of leaving them to prove it; and were
also forced to try and prove Mrs 1 . Thompson's explanations from the
witness-bos when they should have been content with resting on
denial. You cannot prove a negative To attempt to do so on
oath is to lay ycmvelf open to a damaging orosK-oxamination.
Only a study of the letters will reveal tho truth about the rela-
tionship between these two people. In tho mutter of influence, I
think that in absence hersi was tho stronger, but when they wore
together hisi was obviously the dominating will. " Why will you
never dio anything that I ask, darling? Yo-u still havo your owa
way always " It is obvious tliat during his last absence he was
becoming loss enthusiastic, and attempting to turn tho relationship
into a platomoone. I beliove him to have bceif a virile degenerate,
quite capable of blackmail ; and that one reason why ho so carefully
kept all these letters, while she destroyed his, was that if and when
he wanted to get rid of her he would have something to hold over
her in the way of threat. At any rate, she wa obviously terrified
at the thought of losing him, and her last letters revealed this
anxiety. But when he returned' and they came together tho paswion
flamed out again, and all question of turning it into a plutonie
friendship vanished in the excitement of their re-union. In the heat
of that excitement the mind of By waters forged the intention Jo put
an end somehow or other to tho existing situation. I bolieve hit*
account of what happened to bo substantially correct, and that it
was in a kind of agony of jealousy And despair that he nought
Thompson on that night, with the idea of forcing him to come to
some arrangement; and that some taunting word fanned his jealous*
hatred into fury, and that having once struck he struck again, with
the will and intention to murder.
Introduction,
XI
Having regard to the way in winch the case was conducted and
to the very definite trend' of the judge's summing up, it became
increasingly likely that the jury would find both the prisoners guilty
of murder Nevertheless, the verdict with regard to Mrs Thompson
came as a shock to most people who heard it. Even then, aftei
sentence had- been passed, few people thought; that It would actually
be carried out But things loosely or wrongly done in the begin-
ning have a way of continuing on tiielr course, so* that it is very
difficult to give them another direction ; and although an extensively
signed petition was piesented to the Home Secretary on behalf of
Mrs Thompson, he found himself in the dilemma which was the
inevitable ^sequel to the method! of the prosecution and the defence,
So much prejudice had been created, the juiy had HO evidently been
allowed to take for granted that Mis ThompRon \\aai the real inspire?*
and originator of this crime, that to let her escape the consequences,
while visiting them upon By \vaterh 1 , seemed, in the foiced and t*enU-
mental atmosphere concerning influence that had been raised, a
matter of gross injustice The lemit record of the Home Office
with legard to reprieves had not been a. fortunate one, and this
particular incident happened .at a moment when, in order to justify
past weaknesses, a little show of cc firmness and determination J} was
indicated. Decent opinion was genuinely shocked and horrified at
the thought of Mrs, Thompson's execution; but indecent opinion,
which aomet lines in matters like this seenis to have more voice and!
more influence, wae all for the sensation afforded by the execution of
a young aiid attractive woman whose hands, at any rate, were in&o*
cent of blood.
The demeanour of the two tragic protagonists, m the terrible
interval between the rejection of their appeals to the Court of
Criminal Appeal and the day of their death was characteristic of
both. Bywatere was dauntless, self -satisfied, matter-of-fact, and,
apparently, unmoved and unaffected by any imaginative senae of*
what was in store for him A letter written to hfe mother a. few
hours before M execution was m iirra, precise, and neat in cah-
gmphy, and as conventional and unemotional in content, as that of a
btaker acknowledging a deposit. As far as 1 know, he neither
ctascredt nor attempted to wiite to Mrs. Thompson, nor she to write
to* Mm: at anyrate the prison regulations, permitted no
By waters and Thompson.
tion between them. They parted in the dock They who had 1 shared
so much, shared the last awful moments of their ordeal; and there-
after never shared anything more, unless they can he said to have
shared the tremendous and' simultaneous! extinction that awaited
them him at Penfconville, and her half a mile away at Hollo-way
on the morning of 9th Januaiy.
Mrs. Thompson hardly ever spoke of him, or of anything
personal. She lived in prison in the same kind! of agonised trance
as had enwrapped her through the trial When her relations! visited
her she tried to talk of commonplace and impersonal thing, as they
all did, with the result that there must have been a. good deal of
unreality and play-acting about these artificially cheerful interviews.
Only once, when her mother spoke to her about the lettersi and said,
" How could you write such letters 2 " did she say something of deep
significance in this case " No one known what &wd of letters he
was writing to me. 39
He went to hisi death with firmness and assurance ; she was taken
to hers in a state of collapse, and, I hope, of merciful oblivion. For
on the most sober consideration of the case, her execution sooms to
have been without other than merely legal justification, and to havo
been the result of a kind of frozen moral inertia which seized thoso
whose business and responsibility it should havo boon to avoid an act
that, although technically justifiable on legal ground**, was, in the
considered judgment of sober public opinion, as essentially unjust a.s
it was inexpedient.
XII.
There was so much false diagnosis about this ca,e that I should
like to make one assertion in the name of things as they aro, instead
of as they might be wished, or ought, to be. Thisi crime wa a con-
sequence of frustrated passion. "Guilty passion 7 ' tho judge and
counsel called it. Well, those two people nevor felt particularly
guilty, but they did feel hampered'. Life on 4 or & a week may
afford opportunity for tho birth and development of illegal passion;
it did not in this case afford much opportunity for the indulgence or
satisfaction of it, in more than snatched meetings at a toa shop,
walks in municipal parks, and in that romantic intercourse which
consists in outpourings of the heart on paper. If they had belonged
to another class, where people have leisure and freedom, wo should
XXX
Introduction,
ne^er have heard of them except, perhaps, in the Divorce Court.
The sordidness of their case was the killing, not the loving. That
part of the story was real, and the long letters from " Peidi,"
telling of her thoughts, her hopes, her trials, the books she waa
reading, all those trivial jottings that a-i'e the soul of true and frank
correspondence (and it is only a very small pait of the letters that
contained the criminal matter), were the expression of a tine
emotion; incomprehensible, perhaps, to people who have forgotten
(and how soon we forget ') the power of youthful passion, but really
very simple, and possibly pardonable to people who have not for-
gotten
Age is eternally jealous of youth; impotence is jealous of
passion; law is jealous 1 of liberty; those who ha.ve found happiness
within the pale are apt to look with suspicion and misgiving on
those who daro to seek and find' happiness without the pale. Intellect
affects to despise emotion; yet a real and deep emotion, however
wayward, ia a more vital thing than are tho sterile and negative
barriers within which, necessarily, but in vain, the social state tries
to confine it. That is why we have Courts of law, for a world
ruled only by emotion would' be a dreadful place. The lesson of it
all surely ia never to lot emotion escapo from its own sphere, to
wander into the dreadful wilderness that ends in the Court and
the prison house. Mr. Justice Shearman frequently referred to
Bywaters as "tho adulterer," apparently quite unconsciouH of tho
fact that to people of Bywators'si generation, educated in tho ethics
of dear labour and cheap pleasure, of commercial sport and the
dancing hall, adultery is merely a quaint ecclesiastical term for
what seems to them the great romantic advonture of their lives.
Adultery to -such people may or may not bo "sporting," but its
wrooigiiess is not a matter that would troublo them for a moment.
Sinai, for thorn, is wrapped in. impenetrable cloud. And if wo
are not prepared to ada.pt the laws of Sinai to the principles of
the night olub and the th& dansant, I soo no other alternative but
to educate again our" young in the eternal verities on winch tho law
is based.
Leading Dates in the Bywaters and Thompson Case.
1914. Edith Graydon employed at Carllon & White's, Lomlftn
191i5. January 15 Percy Thompson married to Edith Uraydon.
1918 "February Fredeiick Bywaters joins Moi chant Service
I(fe20 July The Thompsons move to 41 Kensington Gait lew, H'ovd.
1921 June Bywabers goes with them to Shanklm, L\Y.
,, 18 He returns to live \vith thorn as a lodger.
August 5 He quairels with Thompson and leaves
,, September 9 He leaves in as J/bre for the J&infc (Corrcspoiiu<>Aict
between Ity waters and Mrs Thompson)
October 29 Bywaters lotui'ns to England.
November 8 He vuats the Thompsons.
December 11 He sails again in the J/brert (Correspondence continual)
102*2 January 6 He retains home
20 He sails again.
10 JJywators returns home.
,, 31 By waters sails agdin in the ilforea.
M- h I GorreBpondcnce coutnmod.
May 25 By waters leturns in the Jforen.
June 9 "By waters sails again for the East
V * t I Correspondenoe continued.
St'pttniber 2J)- By waters arrives at Tilbury, worko on ship, and
at homo
,, 25 TIo meets ATrs Thompson.
29 Jit* leaves ship and #<MM to his mother's home.
October 2 He meets Mrs. Thompson by appointment,
3 They have tea at Fuller's, and Ica-ve together at 5. IS.
The Thompsons go to the thoatio.
Bywaters spends the evening at the Graydons, um\ loaves
about 11 p.m.
Percy Thompson murdered at Jlford about midnight.
4 Mrs. Thompson visited by police 3 a.m.
Bywators arrives at his mother's house early a.m.
Ho goes to town,
Ho spends the evening at the Graydons, where ho is
arrested. Statement to police
Mrs. Thompson arrested.
5 She makes a statement.
Post-mortem on the body of Thompson.
By waters is charged, and make.s a second statement.
9 Knife iound in Seymour (lardcns,
12 Letters found in Bywaters's chuwt on boaul .#. Afwer,
Novomber $ ^ThompHon'a body evhunied. l\>Ht-mortftm.
By waters ami Mrs. Thompson before Magistrate* Com-
rmttod for trial.
Dooember 0-11 Trial at tbe Old r>niley
21 Appeala of Bywatorwancl Mrs, Thompson heard awl din-
mil Bed.
1923. January 9 Frti<lcnck Bywatcru hanged at Poutonviilo and
Thompson at llolloway
THE TEIAL
WITHIN THE
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT,
OLD BAILEY, LONDON,
WEDNESDAY, 6xn DECEMBEE, 1922.
Judge
MK. JUSTICE SHEARMAN.
Counsel for the Grown
THE SOLICITOJR-GENKLIAL.
Mr. TJIAVERS HUMPHREYS.
Mr. KOLAND OLIVER.
(Instructed by tho Director of Public Prosecutions.)
Counsel for the Prisoner Frederick Bywuters
Mr. CECIL WIIITELEY, K.C.
Mr. HUNTLY JENKINS,
Mr. MYLES ELLIOTT.
(Instructed by Mr, Barrington Matthews.)
Counsel for the Prisoner Edith Thompson
Sir HENRY CURTIS BENNETT, K.C.
Mr. WALTER FRAMPTON.
Mr. IVOR SNELL.
(Instructed by Mr. F. A. S. Stern.)
[Copy InOMtmeut No. 1.*
ttbe mine
AGAINST
FREDERICK EDW D FRANCIS
BYWATERS
AND
EDITH JESSIE THOMPSON.
CENTRAL CBIMINAL COURT
Presentment of the Grand Jury.
F. E. F BYWATERS and E, -7.
THOMPSON are charged with, the fol-
lowing offence:
STATEMENT OP OFFENCE
MUBDEB.
Particulars of Offence.
F. E. F BYWATEBS and E J
THOMPSON on the 4th day of October,
1922, in the County of Essex, and
within the juiisdiction of the Cential
Criminal Court murdered Percy Thomp-
son.
[Copy Indictment Jfo 2 f
tTbe
AGAINST
FREDERICK EDW*> FRANCIS
BYWATERS
AND
EDITH JESSIE THOMPSON.
CENTRAL CEIMINAL COUBT.
Presentment of the Grand, Jury,
F. E. F. BYWATERS and E. J.
THOMPSON are charged with the fol-
lowing offences :
FIRST COUNT :
STATEMENT OF OPFENOB.
Conspiracy to Murder contrary to
see. 4 of the Offences against the
Person Act, 1861.
Particulars of Offence.
F. E. F. BYWATERS and E. J
THOMPSON on the 20th day of August,
1921, and on divers days between that
date and the 2nd day of October, 1922,
in the County of Essex, and within the
jurisdiction of the Central Criminal
Court, conspired together to murder
Percy Thompson.
"This is the Indictment upon which there
was Conviction.
t The accused were not tried on ttiii.
SECOND COUNT:
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Soliciting to Murder contrary to see.
4 of the Offences against the Pefbon
Act, 1861.
Partictilart of Offence.
E. J. THOMPSON on the 10th day of
February, 1922, and on divers days
between that day and the 1st day of
October, 1922, in the County of Essex,
and within the jurisdiction of the
Central Criminal Court, did solicit and
endeavour to persuade and did propose
to F E. F. Bywaters to murder Percy
Thompson.
THIRD COUNT :
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE.
Inciting to commit a misdemeanour.
Particidars of Offence.
E. J. THOMPSON on the 10th day of
February, 1922, and on divers days
between that day and the 1st day of
October, 1922, in the County of Essex,
and within the jurisdiction of the
Central Criminal Court, did unlawfully
solicit and incite F E F. Bywaters
unlawfully to conspire with her, the
said E J Thompson, to murder Percy
Thompson.
FOURTH COUNT
STATEMENT OF OFFBNCK.
Administering poison with intent to
murder contrary to sec 11 of the
Offences against the Person Act, 1861.
Particulars of Offence,
E. J. THOMPSON on the 26th day of
March, 1922, in the County of Essex,
and within the jurisdiction of the
Central Criminal Court, did administer
to and cause to be taken by Percy
Thompson certain poison or other de-
structive thing unknown with intent
to murder the said Percy Thompson.
FIFTH COUNT:
STATEMENT OF OFPENOK.
Administering a destructive thing
with intent to murder contrary to HOC.
11 of the Offences against the Person
Act, 1861.
Particulars of Offence.
E. J. THOMPSON on the 24th day of
April, 1922, m the County of EBHOX,
and within the jurisdiction of tho
Central Criminal Court, did administer
to and cause to be taken by Percy
Thompson a certain destructive thing,
namely, broken glass, with intent to
murder the said Percy Thompson.
First Day Wednesday, 6th December, 1922.
ilr WHITELET My lord, befoie the prisoners plead to this
indictment I have a (submission and an application to make, and that
is that in the interest of each of these prisoners there should be two
separate trials. The first indictment charges them both as principals
with the murder of Peicy Thompson I have had an oppoitunity
of reading the depositions and the exhibits. In my submission it
is cleai that there must be a question of the admissibility of evidence
which may be evidence against one prisoner and may not be evidence
against the other, and that the introduction of such evidence must
of necessity prejudice tho case of the other prisoner.
Sir H. CURTIS BBNNETT> I desire to associate myself with the
application of my learned friend
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL I hope thai your lordship will refuse
ihe application
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN I can boe no ground for granting Ihe
application.
The CLEJIK OP TUB COURT Fiedorick Edward Frauds By waters
and Edith Jessio Thompson, you are charged together on indictment
with the offence of murder, the particulars being that on tho 4th
October in this year you murdered Percy Thompson. Frederick
Edward Francis Bywators, are you guilty or not guilty?
The PRISONER BTWATERS Not guilty.
The CLERK OF TUB COURT Edith Jessie Thompson, are you
guilty or not guilty?
The PRISONER THOMPSON Not guilty.
(The jury were 'duly sworn.)
Sir U, CURTIS BENNETT My lord, before Ihe Solicitor-Genera)
starts to open the case to tho jury 1 Lave an objection to make to
certain evidence that I understand the Solicitoor-Oeneral desire to
mention to the jury in his opening*
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN The juiy will retire and you can make
your objection.
(The jury re-liral)
Sir JI, CURTIS BENNFIT Thoro are two iiidictmouits, RK your
lordship knows; one iiKliolmenfc chaigeK both Ihe defendants with
the crime of wilful murder, und then (hero 18 the second indict-
ment with n number of counts charging conspiracy to incite murder
and other charges. I understand that the indictment which is to be
proceeded with is the first indictment. On ihat indictment I under-
stand tho prosecution desire to open to tho jury certain luttorH
which were found in tho powfleission of tho def1ant By waters written
3
By waters and Thompson.
by the defendant Thompson. I appear for Mrs. Thompson and, on
behalf of Mis Thompson, I object to the opening of those letters ta
the jury or, in fact, to the admissibility of those letters at any time
in evidence as against Mrs. Thompson upon the first indictment.
The charge in this indictment is a charge of murder, and, no
doubt, the Solicitor-General is going to suggest to the jury that the
actual blow which was struck was struck by Bywaters I do not
think that he is going to suggest that any blow was struck at all
by Mrs. Thompson
Mr. JUSTICE SHEAUMAN Struck, us I understand by the evidence,
in the presence of Mrs Thompson.
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT In the piesenc of Mrs Thompson
Now, the letters 1hat I am talcing objection to contain certain pas-
sages which make it appear that Mrs. Thompson was writing to By-
waters suggesting to him that he should send her ceitain material
for the purpose of giving it to her husband to cause his death, and
also suggestions that she was her&elf administering certain things
to her husband I submit that the admissibility of i-etteis such as
those cannot be acceded to until the prosecution have, first of all,
showed that Mrs. Thompson took some active part in the murder
if it was murder, of her husband.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN That is for the jury 1o decide, iho
matter of conspiracy.
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT Yes, iny lord If there were some
act committed by Mrs Thompson, the prosecution might then argue
to your lordship that they ^ore entitled to put these letters in
evidence, either to show intent to rebut the defence of accident, or
ix> show a system ; but, until some act, some definite act, is proved
by the prosecution as against Mrs Thompson, then I submit that
all these letters go to show is that if the letters really mean what
they are said to mean, Mrs Thompson is a person who would not
be likely to commit the offence which is charged against her.
Mr. JUSTICE SUEAIIMAN I wish you would give mo a sample,
because a great many of the letters contain quite different matters,
I mean matters of affection showing the relations between tho parties
Do you object to these too?
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT In some letters, where there is matter
which I object to, there is also a great deal of matter which I should
really welcome, but I cannot, of course, say that part of a letter
is evidence and part is not.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN You are at present arguing on letters
which are suggesting a desire to kill this man or give assistance in
killing: him Give mo an example
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT Exhibit 18 is one. " I took possession
of it, and when he missed it and asked me for it I refused to give it
him," &c. (reads) That is a sample. I was submitting that evidence
of that sort is only admissible against Mrs Thompson for the purpose*
4
Discussion on the Letters.
of showing either that some act of hers was done with intent, or
that that act was part of a system, or to rebut the defence that it
was an accidental act on her part. Your lordship will remember,
as having been one of the Court, that this matter was fully dis-
cussed in the case of The King v Armstrong which was heard in
the Court of Criminal Appeal. The decision was that Armstrong
having been in possession of arsenic at a timo when his wife, in
fact, died, the prosecution were entitled to say, " You i*e.re not in
innocent possession, as you say you weie, of that arsenic, and we
can show that you were not in innocent possession of it because,
in the month of October, your wife having died in February, you
were using it again lor the purpose of trying to kill some one."
That was the decision in that case, but there, of course, there was
the evidence that Aiinstrong was in possession of poison, and it
was the defence of Armstrong that ho was in innocent possession
of such poison, and, therefore, it <was necessary 1o show from the
point of view of the pioseculion that that dofenco which Armstrong
rcas putting forward was a defence which was not a true defence
upon the evidence which they had available 1o put, before the juiy,
and so the Court of Criminal Appeal held. Now, in my submission,
this is a very different case. 1 am in this difficulty ; I <lo not know
how tho Solicitor-General is going to open tins case 'to the jury.
Mr JUSTICE SHEABMAN Only in one indictment It is a very
difficult question when evidence becomes admissible in rebuttal of
defence Putting that aside altogether, IK not this particular xnattei
evidence of felonious intent? I am putting aside the question which
you and I will both take oaro of } evidence against one prisoner is not
evidence against another; that, I think, tho jury will fully under-
stand before the case is over. But is not this ovuienco of a felonious
intention of this lady who, it is. alleged, was present at the murder?
Sir II. Ctrims BENNETT Not upon this indictment. It would
be evidence, I agree, and I should not be able to object to these
letters upon the second indictment. Supposing these letters really
mean what upon tho face of them they look to moan. This letter
that I am referring you to (exhibit 18) was in fact written on 24th
April of this year Now, the death of Mr. Thompson took place in
the early morning of 4th October of this year. Can it 1)6 possibly
said that a letter written, even if it does moan what it looks to mean
on the face of it, upon 24th April of this year can be evidence that
upon 4th October Mrs. Thompson, who certainly struck no blow,
was a party to the killing of her husband six months after? There
is surely a locus pcenitentia for every one, and if a letter is written
and is even meant to convey that. Mrs. Thompson was anxious in
April that her husband should die, can it possibly bo said to be
evidence that she, although present and not striking any blow upon
4th October, was in fact a party, a principal, to the killing of her
husband? I submit not.
5
By waters and Thompson.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN It is conceivable, is it not, that she was
not a principal in the first degree, but m the second degree? It
makes no difference
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT No, my lord It is conceivable, of
course, that the case for the prosecution may be presented either
that she was a principal in the second degree, or an accessory before
the fact, and I want to deal with it upon that basis, because 1 assume
that that is the way it may be put.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN An accessory before the fact you will
correct me if I am wrong in fact becomes a principal in the second
degree.
Sir H CURTIS BENNETT If present ehe would become a principal
in the second degree; if not present and had taken some previous
part in the matter, then she would be an accessory before the fact.
It is roaliy an academic question, the position of Mrs. Thompson.
But the fact remains that the prosecution desire to put this letter
and other letters of a similar sort, over dates which vaiy from
November, 1921, until August, 1922, before the jury for the purpose,
not of showing that something which Mis Thompson did const it uted
murder, but of proving, as Hicy suggest, that she was guilty of
murder. Those letters, in my submission, are the only evidence
of murder (if they were evidence) as against Mrs Thompson at- all.
The whole of the rest of tho evidence relating to thai, night of 3rd
October and the early morning of 4th Octolxjr is absolutely con-
sistent with Mrs. Thompson having been taken by surpuso "in Ihe
attack which was made upon her husband, and 'knowing nothing
whatever about it at all. If the prosecution can show some act by
Mrs. Thompson which has, to have light thrown upon it to show
whether or not it is an innocent act or a guilty act, then those
letters might be admissible; but before they tecomo admissible
they have got to show some Ruch intent, and in my aubmisHion the
writing of those letters months before October is too distant from
the date of the alleged crime, nnd cannot be aaid to be evidence a*
to what Mrs. Thompson was doing upon 3rd October.
Mr. CECIL WHITELEY On behalf of Bywaters I also wish to-
object.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEABTIAN There are some letters written by him.
Mr. CECIL WmTELEY There are only three letters written by
Bywaters, and I have no objections to their admissibility On thV-
subject that the letters written by Mrs. Thompson which were found
in the possession of By waters ought not to be admitted in evidence
in this case, my grounds for making the submission are quite shortly
these The fact that they were in his possession is, of course, no
answer by the prosecution until tho prosecution can show that the
contents of those letters really are relevant to the issue which is
before the jury. Now, I do not suppose it is going to be suggests!
that they are being put in on the question of identity. Your lordship
6
Discussion on the Letters.
will remember the decision in Thompson in the House of Lords. I
do not suggest that is the ground on which it is suggested, because
there is no question of identity; therefore the only possible ground
on which they can be admitted is on the ground of felonious intent.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Is your contention at present that they
are not evidence against your client, or not evidence at all?
Mr. CECIL WHITBLET They are not evidence against my client
or at all, because the effect of those letters by Mrs. Thompson in
January to May of this year is too remote for there to be any con-
nection between what is said in those letters and the assault on the
deceased man in the early morning of 4th October.
The SOLICITOR -GENERAL My learned friend, Sir H. Curtis
Bennett 9 has taken two objections, as I understand it. One of them
is that the letters are not admissible because they are not evidence
against his client, and the second objection is one which I should
have thought ^as more for the jury than your lordship as to their
weight
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN That is for the jury.
The SOLICITOU-GENERAL The question is, are they admissible*
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN First of all, are they admissible against
the lady?
The SoLiorapn-GinrasaAL As tegards Mrs Thompson, I submit
they are admissible becnuse she is being charged as a principal in
the second degree, and they arc admissible 1o show that sho- gave the
incitement without which we May the mtmler would not have been
committed, and thai is the way in which she is brought into the
case. She is indicted, as the law permits, as a principal in the
murder, although she did not strikes the blow. The crime i one
where one hand struck tho blow, and we want to show by those
letters that her mind conceived it and incited il ; the evidence of
that is the letters that Mrs. Thomson wrote to the man who ntnick
the blow. The case of The. King v. Armstrong is, as your lordship
said, a very different case indeed There it was a question as to
whether letters or evidence which showed a crime against B had
been contemplated was in any way evidence against A, and ii was
said that a certain foundation otight to be laid before you could
bring evidence of the otho-r matters. That is not the case here.
Those letters are evidence of the particular crime which is charged,
namely, that she prompted the crime and incited the crime, and aho
is therefore a principal in (.ho second degree. As against By waters,
the letters are found in his poKsession; they are evidence of motive.
Mr, JUSTICE SHBARWAN You will, of course, prove that he
received them. You say they are evidence against her; on what
ground ?
Tho SoMCiTon-GnNKKA^ I say thoy are evidence- against her
because he receiver! them; it is then a question as to whether we
ought to attach any weight to thorn, but it JR certain ho received
7
Bywaters and Thompson.
them and that he kept them; it is evidence of motive and intention,
and the letters may be necessary, and, indeed, in this case are
necessary.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEIAKMAN I think they are evidence of intention
and motive. It is a very difficult question.
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT As I understand, the reason given
for the admissibility of this evidence is that these letters show a
direct incitement to this crime Now, the letters may upon the
face of them show incitement to the crime of either poisoning or
destroying Mr. Thompson by means of giving him glass. In my
submission, there must be some nexus between those letters and
what they contain and the killing as it took place. The killing
which is alleged to have been murder took place by a stab, as is
alleged, by Bywaters on Mr Thompson. Now, where is the con-
nection between that act of murder and these letters which are
written months beforehand? In my submission, there is no nexus
between them at all, and the proper way to deal with these letters
is to deal with them under an indictment which actually charges
a direct incitement, to use my friend's words, to murder. Upon
that indictment, clearly admissible; upon this indictment, in my
submission, not.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN I think these letters, letters such as
the ones to which Sir Henry Curtis Bennett referred, are admissible
as evidence of intention and evidence of motive, and I shall admit
them. Objection can be taken in the proper way whon they come
up. Only one other matter. I do not think you can contest the
letters showing the affectionate relations between the parties ajo
not evidence of motive in so far as they show affection.
Sir H. CUKTIS BENNETT The letters, as I have pointed out,
contain both.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN You cannot object to them in that way?
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT I am objecting to them on that
ground.
(The jury returned into Court.)
Opening Statement for the Crown.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL May it please youi lordship, members
of the jury- on 4th October, a little after midnight, Percy Thompson
was stabbed to death on his way home from Ilforcl station, near
which he lived. He was in a dark part of a road, not over-well lit
at the best of times, when he was struck, first of all, apparently,
from behind, and then in front, by some assailant. The only
person present was his wife, Mrs. Thompson, who is now in the
dock. She is charged with Bywaters, who is said by the prose-
cution to have been the assailant, with the murder of Percy
8
Sir Thomas InsKip, K.C.,
Solicitor^ toneral
Opening Statement for the Crown.
The Solicitor-General
Thompson. You will be able to distinguish as to the relevancy of
the evidence as between By waters and Mrs Thompson. I give you
that warning befoie I come to tho facts in order that you may
the more closely, if possible, follow tho evidence which I shall open,
and which shall bo given. I ask you to dismiss from your minds
any suggestions that you may nine heard about the case in other
The deceased man, Percy Thompson, aged thirty-two, was a
shipping clerk, and ha/1 been engaged with the same firm for
twelve or thirteen years He married in January, 1915, Miss
Graydon, whoso parents were living at Manor Park Thore are
no children of the marriage. Mr and Mrs. Thompson lived at two
or three different places after their marriage, and at the time of the
incident that I um going to refer to they were residing at 41 Ken-
sington Oardens, Ilfonl, which they had bought in July, 1920.
Mrs. Lester, who had occupied the hoiuje previously, continued to
live there as a lot Igor. Mrs Thompson was a little younger than
her husband she in twenty-eight years old now and, perhaps
because Ihcro wort* no children, 01 for other reasons, she wnw carry-
ing on her employment, with a firm of wholesale milliners in Alders-
gate Street, lioing book-keeper and manageress foi the firm, and a
capable and induKiriwm servant.
The priwoner Bywatois Ls only twenty years of age. He
was engagwl for HOMO tinio in tho service of the P. & 0. Company
on tho " Morea " as a laundry steward, and his employment neces-
sitated his absomu* from England for coiiHidtorablo periodH. When
in this country ho lived with hm mother, Mrs BywuterB, who at
one time resided in Manor Park. At. the time of the incident
with which we ur tioncentwl Inn mother had removed to Upper
Norwood. Bywaforn, whom* nhip caiuo to Tilbury Dock, found it
more convenient to livo with the GriydonH at Manor Park, and in
that wuy, no doubt, ho hnrmno acquainted with Mrs. Thompson.
He had also been nl, nehool with the (* ray dons. The acquaintance
of By waters with tho Thompsons became more intimate after a
certain date in 102 1. In Juno of that year ho accompanied them
on a holiday to Khankliri, in the Islo of Wight. lie returned with
them to their house a(> II ford, and continued to stay with thorn
until some dale in August, when an incident happened which
made him desire lo loavo, and Mr. Thompson to direct that he
should leave, the houHO. It, appeared that the relation*} between
Mr. and Mrs. ThoriipHou, formerly happy, had become lew happy,
and there was a (jtmrrcl between them which rectal led in Bywators
leaving thoir hmiKO. On iJlKl, September Bywaiern left in hi nhip,
returning in tho autumn and departing again in November*
About thi Littio there were a number of letters written by Mr.
Thompson to Jiywatern, tho origin of which may havo been tho
holiday in 1921. I say < hut bonnuw throughout thcwo lottery there
Bywaters and Thompson.
The Solicitor-General
is a constant return to a certain date 27th June, 1921 -mentioned
by Mrs. Thompson as a date which marked a crisis or change in
the relations between her and Bywaters Whether that was the
origin of what happened afterwards or not is not necessary for
you to decide. The fact of importance for the moment is that
during his absence there was a passionate and ardent correspondence
between these two persons which showed that they were engaged,
or intended to engage, in an intrigue. Of course, Mis. Thompson
still lived with her husband, but the letters, as I have said, were
of a passionate nature All these letters were found in the posses-
sion of Bywateis by the police, and taken from his pocket or from
his room where he lived with his mother on the day or day after
the murder, or found in a " ditty box " on the ship There is
one letter which I wish to read. It bears no date, and it rofors
to one incident in connection with racing which enables the proHe-
cution to fix un approximate date It appears to have been written
to Bywateis when he was some distance from the United Kingdom.
It was written, as the prosecution know from the racing incident
referred to, after the running of the November Handicap, which
was on 26th November, 1921, and the internal evidence in the lettei
shows that it was written before Christmas. In that letter (exhibit
27) there appears the following:
' It us the man who has no right, who generally comforts the woman
who has wrongs ' This is also right darlmt isn't it? as things arc, but
darlmt, it's not always go'ng to be is it ? You will have the right soon
won't you? Say yes
There is a inoro significant passage in the letter, the first of
many such, indicative of the intention or desire on the part of the
writer to take active measures It is for you, members of the jury,
to eay what this passage means
The time goes slowly enough m all conscience I don't fcoem to care who
spends the money, as long as it helps mo to dance through the hours. 1
had the \vroag Porridge to-day, but I dont suppose it will matter, I doni
poem to care much either way. You'll probably say I'm careless and I
admit 1 am, but I dont care---do you?
The unexpectedness of the passage, the inappropriateness of
that passage as it stands, is startling It will bo for you to ay
whether the line of thought that was in Mrs Thompson's mind
was that the existence of her husband was a bar to the happiness
she thought she could attain.
I turn now to a letter of 3id January (exhibit 13), in which
Mrs. Thompson says
Immediately I have received a second letter, I have destroyed the first
and when I got the third I destroyed the second and so on, now the only
one I have is the " Dear Edie " one written to 41.
10
Opening Statement for the Crown,
The Solicitor-General
Let me here explain thai 4.1 is Uic number of the house in
Kensington Gardens, Ilford, wheie Mrs Thompson lived. I
should add that she sometimes received letters at Aldersgate Street.
The only one I have is the ' Dear Edio * one tvutten to 41, which I
am going to keep It may be useful, who knows 4 ' . . . I've sur-
rendered to him unconditionally now do you understand me? I think it
the best way to disarm any suspicion, in fact he has several times asked
me if I am happy now, and I've said ' Yes quite * but you know that's not
the truth, dont you
When she says " surrendered to him " she is undoubtedly
referring to her husband. In another part of the letter she says,
" You won't always be ' the man with no right,' will you tell me
you won't." Some of the passages are indicative of nothing more
than guilty passion between the parties, but the letters are im-
portant when you come to decide the question as to whether Mrs,
Thompson had any reason to &et rid of her hxisband
Bywaters was at home on 7th January, and left again on the
20th. While he was at home no letters, so far as is known, passod
between the parties Soon after he left the letters began again.
I read now from tho loiter of 10th February (exhibit 15)
Darlmt You muftt do fcomeUung this time I'm. not really impatient
but opportunities come and go by they have to because I'm helpless and
I think and think and think perhaps it will never come again . . .
On Wednesday we had words in hod Oh you know darlmt over that same
old subject and lie said it was oil through you Fd altered , About
2am he woke mo up and afakud for water as he foit ill 1 got it for him
and asked him what the matter was and this is what he told me whether
its the truth J dont know or whether ho did it to frighten mo, anyway it
didn't Ho said someone he knows in town (not the man I previously
told you about) had given him a prescription for a draught for insomnia
and he'd had iL made up and taken it and it made him ill Ho certainly
looked ill and his eyes were glassy I've hunted for tho sid piescription
everywhere and cant find it and asked him what he had done with it and he
said the chemist kept it 1 told Avis about* the incident only 1 told her as
if it frightened and worried me as I thought perhaps it might be useful at
some future time that I had told somebody. What do you think, darlmt.
The passage is perhaps dark, but light Is thrown on it by i*
later paragraph, which reads
It would be so easy darlint -if I had things I do hope I shall.
One of the features of the case is the number and character of
the newspaper cuttings thai have been found They are cutting**
of a very great variety.
Mr. JUSTICJS SHKAHMAN Sent to Bywatera?
The SOLICITOK-GBNEHAI* Yes. Along with the loiter dated lOUi
February there was a newspaper ouUing ref wring io the poisoning
II
Bywaters and Thompson.
The Solicitor-General
of a curate and his household by hyoscine. In the same letter there
was another newspaper cutting headed " Poisoned chocolates for
University Chief. Deadly powder posted to Oxford Chancellor.
Ground glass in box " I ask you to notice the latter phrase.
Another letter contained a cutting, " Beautiful Dancer Drugged.
Visit to Chinese Restaurant," giving an account of the poisoning of
a woman by cocaine who was suspected of having had cyanide of
potassium administered to her I ask you carefully to note that in
her letter of 22nd February (exhibit 16) she writes
I suppose it isnt possible for you to send it to me not at all possible,
I do so chafe at wasting time darlint
What " it " refers to is entirely for you, and whether it has
any significance I leave to your determination. You will distinguish
between expressions of devotion and those which appear to indicate
an intention bo get rid of the husband That is the letter contain-
ing the cutting about the death of a " Beautiful Dancer."
On 14th March she writes again, exhibit 20
I ask you again to think out all the plans and methods for me I wait
and wait so anxiously now for the time when we'll be with each other
even though it is only once for ' one little hour.'
With this letter there was enclosed a newspaper cutting which
had reference to another poisoning case It \vill bo for you to say
what she indicated In March By waters returned to this country
and sailed again at the end of the month. The letters then indi-
cated the strength of tho desire and a greater determination on
the part of Mrs Thompson to take action against her husband . On
31st March, the day Bywaters sailed, when you might expect passion
to be at its height, she wrote (exhibit 50)
After tonight I am going to die ... not really . . . but put.
on the mask again darlmt until the 26th Maydoesn't it seem yearn and
years away 7 It does to mo and I'll hope and hope all the time that I'll
never have to wear the mask any more after this time. . . . This time
really will be the last you will go away like things are, won't it 7 Wo
said it before darlint I know and we failed . . but there will be no
failure this next time darlint, there mustn't be I'm tolling youif things
are the same again then I am going with you wherever it is if its to flea
I am coming too and if it is to nowhere I'm also coming darlint. You'll
never leave me behind again, never, unless things are different
In that letter two possibilities are presented. I sutfgewt that
the phrase " if things are the same again " means " if my husband
is still alive, and I cannot bo with you except by leaving him, I
will go with you.'* In the other case how wei^o tilings to bo different
except by the destruction of her husband's life?
The next letter is a long and ardent one, and it contains pas-
12
Opening Statement for the Crown.
The Solicitor-General
sages of great importance. I refer to the letter of 1st April, ex
hibit 17, where the following appeal's
Don't keep this piece. About the Maiconigram do you mean one
saying Yes or No, because I shant send it darlint I'm not going to try any
more until you come back I made up my mind about this last Thursday
He was telling his mother etc the circumstances of ray ( Sunday morning
escapade ' and he puts great stress on the fact of the tea tasting bitter * as
if something had been put in it ' he says Now I think whatever else I try
it in again will still taste bitter he will recognise it and be more suspicious
still and if the quantity is still not successful it will injure any chance I
may have of trying when you come home Do you understand 7 I thought
a lot about what you said of Dan Darlint, don't trust him I don't mean
don't tell him anything because I know you never would What I mean is
don't let him be suspicious of you regarding that because if we were suc-
cessful in the action darlint circumstances may afterwards make us want
many friends or helpers and we must have no enemies or even people
that know a little too much. Remember the saying * A little knowledge is
a dangerous thing ' Darlint well have no one to help us in the world
now and we mustn't make enemies unnecessarily He says to his people-
he fought and fought with himself to keep conscious ' I'll never die,
except naturally I'm like a cat with nine lives ' he said and detailed to
them an occasion when he was young and nearly suffocated by gas fumes 1
wish we had not got electric light it would bo easy I'm going to try
the glass again occasionally when it is safe. I've got an electric light globf
this time
In the letter of 21th April, exhibit 18, Mrs, Thompson writes
I used the " light bulb " three times, but the tlurd tune he found a
piece so I have given it up until you come home.
That is the suggestion carried into effect You aro not being
asked to say whether sho attempted to poison her husband; all you
are asked to consider is whether Mrs. Thompson incited By-
waters to kill her husband, and the letters aro important from that
point of view. They are important to show that he o worked
and preyed on the mind of this young man by her suggestions that,
although it was his hand that struck the blow, it was her mind
that conceived the crime.
On 1st May who wrote to Bywaleis at Port Said, exhibit 19
I don't think we'ro failures in other things and we musn't be m this.
We musn't give up as wo stud. No, we shall liavo to wait if we fail
again. Darlint, Fate can't always turn against us and if it is we must
fight it You and I are strong now Wo must bo stronger.
We must learn to bo patient. . You said it was enough for
an elephant. Perhaps it was. But you don't allow for the tasto making
only a small quantity to be taken It Bounded liko a rfproach was it meant
to be? Darlint I tried hard~~you won't know how hard bocaufto you
weren't there to see and I can't tell you nil but I did I do want you to
believe t did for both of us. . . .1 was buoyed up with the hope oi
13
By waters and Thompson.
The Solicitor-General
the " light bulb " and I used a lotbig pieces too not powdered and
it has no effect I quite expected to be able to send that cable but no-
nothing has happened from it and now your letter tells me about the bitter
taste again. Oh darlmt, I do feel so down and unhappy. Wouldn't the
stuff make small pills coated together with soap and dipped in
liquorice powder like Beechams try while you're away Our Boy had
to have his thumb operated on because he had a piece of glass in it that's
what made me try that method again but I suppose as you say he is not
normal I know I feel I shall never get him to take a sufficient quantity
of anything bitter. No I haven't forgotten the key I told you before
. . , If ever we aie lucky enough to be happy darling I'll love you such
A Jot I always show you how much I love you for all you do for rnc
All that lying and scheming and subterfuge to obtain one little
Jiour in each day when by n#ht of natuie and our love we should be
together for all the twenty-four in every day
What effect ^vould letters of this soit Lave on a young man
whose affections she was engaging? On 18th May (exhibit 52^) she
makes yet another of the almost innumerable suggestions to encom-
pass her husband's death. This time the suggestion cornea from a
lx)ok that members of the jury may possibly have read, written by
llobert llicheng, " Bella Donna." She quotes the following from
it:
It must be remembered that digitalm is a cumulative poison and that
the same dose harmless if taken once, yot frequently repeated, becomes
deadly
Tho letter goes on " Is it any use?" She ivfers constantly
U> this book and the Ic&son it Js to teach to (hum as a possible
method of taking her husband's life. On 23rd Muy (exhibit 23)
die says
I'd like you to read " Uclla Donna " first you may hiwn sotm-tliing
from it to help ns, then you can road " The Fruitful Vino."
On 9th June Bywaters went a\\ay and did not re-turn until the
following September. On I3lh Juno she writes (exhibit $4) about
an apparent illness of her husband
Darlmgest Boy I'm trying very hard very very hard to B.B.* T know
my pal wants me to. On Thursday ho was on the Ottoman at tho foot of
the bed and said ho was dying and wanted to be had another heart attack
thro me. Darliut I had to laugh at this because I knew it couldn't bo
a heart attack. When ho saw this had no oiTect on mo ho got up and
Btoraod I said exactly what you told mo to and ho replied that he knew
that's what 1 wanted and ho waant going Lo givo it to moit would
make things far too easy for both of you (moaning you and me).
It may t>e KuggewUMi that there IB nothing to nhow any want of
* B,B. apparently means " be brave." Kd.
14
Opening Statement for the Crown.
The Solicitor-Genera!
harmony between Mr. and Mis. Thompson except natural quarrels.
After reading that passage it does appear that theie was a bitter
antagonism Theie is a postscript to Mrs. Thompson's letter of
4th July (exhibit 26) " Have you studied bichloride of mercury,"
which I am told is a deadly poison There is anoth-er letter in
which there is reference to a passage in " Romance " where she
says
Then we were pals this year we seem no further advanced. Why
should you not send me something 7 You still have your own way always.
If 1 do not mind the risk why should you
There is in that connection a more significant passage in which
it appears that she was the dominating mSuence in the crime. She
was 28, and the man was only 20. The letter in question contains
the following :
From then onwards everything has gone well with our lives : Durlmt
I should not mind if I could feel some day I could make up to you for
some of the unhappmess I have cost youI fool it shall come right bub
there is no conviction in it, why cannot we see into the iutuie
I suggest that through tho eoirespondence it become clear that
it was Mrs Thompson who was urging Bywutera on to commit the
dime in some way or other in ordor to becure the happiness upon
which her passion was set. lie may have been reluctant or not,
but can you, members of tho jury, have any doubt after hearing
these letters that she was not reluctant 2 The tame comes when
apparently she in determined that there shall be a culmination of
the whole idea. It appeared that the man was cooling in his affec-
tion, or passion, or his readiness to commit the crime. fie wan
approaching this country and in a letter (exhibit 28) she Bays, " I
think I am fearfully disappointed about you not getting in on
Friday." She also refers io it being 109 days wince who has seen
him. Further on in iliat lotter she says
Darlingest boy, I dont quite understand yon about " PiK" Tfou
say " Can wo be Pals only, Peidi, it will make jt easier *' Do you
mean for always 7 because if you do, No, No, a thousand times. We can't
be " pals " only for always darlint its impossible physically and
mentally It must bo still (< the hope of all " or " tho finish of
all." If you still only mean for a certain time and you think it best,
darlint it shall bo so I don't sec bow it will be annier myself
You sound very despondent when you say about " Time passes and with it
some of tho pain Fate ordained our lot to be hard " Docs Home of the
pain you feel pass with time? Perhaps it does things seem &o much
easier to forgot with a man his environment ie niways diffproiit but with
a woman it's always tbo tin mo. Durlmt my pain gets lew? and lewi bear-
ableit hurts more and more every day, every hour really. . . . No, 1
don't think the man who mistook mo for " Romance* " wait docent darlint,
but I do think he was quite genuine 111 mistaking me, I don't think it
13
By waters and Thompson.
The Solicitor-General
was a ruse on his part Yes, darlint you are jealous of him but I want
you to be he has the right by law to all that you have tho right to by
nature and love yes darlmfe be jealous, so much that you will do some,
thing desperate
Bywaters' ship arrives at Tilbury on 23rd September, and she
sends him a telegiam, " Can you meet Peidi Broadway 4 p.m."
That she was not content oven then to leave the man alono appeals
from another newspaper extinct dated 20th September, headed
" Chicken Broth death Rat poison consumed by fowl kills woman IJ
This was a refeionce to the death of a woman who was said to have
taken poison in chicken broth There is no doubt that Mrs. Thomp-
son and Bywaters did meet on SBth September and the death of Peiey
Thompson took place on 4th October They met outside, the premises
where Mrs. Thompson was employed Bywaters was seen by a Mrs.
Vallender outside the premises and they \\eio s-oon afterwards in
Fuller's shop. II seems that on the Sunday or Monday hefoic tho
crime Mrs Thompson wrote to By waters. Tho letter (exhibit 60) is
undated, and it commences
Darhngest lover of mine, thank you, thAnk you, oh thank you A
thousand times ioi Knday it was Jowly its uhvuyr. lowly to #<> out
with you And then Saturday yoa I did fo<'l huppy . All Saturday
evening I wab thinking about you . 1 tried ho linrd to find a \vay
out of to-night ckrl ingest but lie w<is Minacious and ctUIl Jh~T Mippowe \\o
must mako u. study of this deceit for sonio time longer I hutc it. ...
Don't forget what wo talked jn tho Tua Room, 1*11 still mk and try if
you will we only have 3j wars loft darhugost.
That is a rather ciyptic reference to a peiicxl that Airs. Thompson
mentions moro than once. Sho speaks HonwtiinoH of four years;
then fifteen months have) passed, and now she say thero are three
and three-quarter years. I ask what, did they talk about HI ihe
tearoom? I put it that there was a Iwig course of uugKcwtiozt*
resulting in a desire to escape from the- position, and a fresh Btiggos-
tion was made in the tearoom On 2nd October, in the morning,
Bywatcirs was rung up by a woman. Mrs. Bywaler anawwed tho
telephone and Bywatert* was summoned to it. fie left tho hoimo that
morning, and was seen with Mn Thompson in the* aft,enioon. Oi>
1rd October Bywaters was again rung up on the telephone. Ife left
the house, wearing a grey overcoat, and wan noen with Mrs. Thompson
at Fuller's between four o'clock and 5,15, at which hour they left the
shop together. He spent tho evening at tJio Hraydons* house while
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson went ta a theatre with a Mr. and Mr.
Laxton, Mr. Laxton being an uncle of Mrs. Thompson. Mr, and Mrs.
Thompson went back to Ilford after the performance. (The Solicitor-
General described the circumstances of the attack on Mr. Thompson
and pointed out that there wcro no signs of a struggle.) Other
theatre-goers were attracted to the spot and hoard Mrs. Thompson
exclaim, te Oh, my God, will you help me? My huaband is dying,"
16
Opening Statement for the Crown.
The Solicitor-General
Releasing to the occasion when at Ilford police station Mrs.
Thompson saw Bywaters, the Solicitor-General said She was much
agitated and exclaimed " My God, what can I do? Why did he do
it J I did not want him to do it I must tell the truth. I saw nay
husband struggling with Freddy By waters." Bywaters at first de-
clared that he knew nothing about the mattei, but whem told that
Mrs. Thompson was being charged with him, he said " Why Mrs.
Thompson? She was not aware of my movements. I met Mr. and
Mrs Thompson in the road I said to him, ' You have got to separate
from your wile ' lie said, ' No ' I said, ' Yes.' We struggled,
and I 'took my knife from my pocket We fought and he got the
worst of it She must have been spellbound as I never saw her move.
The i oason I fought Thompson is because he never acted like a man
to his wife I could -not go on seeing her live like she did. I did
not intend to kill but only to injure him "
A. post-moitem examination allowed that the-ie were piactically
no traces of any poison There was a trace of morphine, but the
presence of that might bo due to other reasons, and it has not signifi-
cance in the case Nor was there any trace of glass in the body.
(The Solicitor-General read the statements by the accused.) 1
suggest to you, members of the jury, thab you will have io consider
whether the hand that struck the blow was moved, was incited, to
the crime by Mrs. Thompson It is no answer that tho whole of
the incitement should come from Mrs. Thompson. It may be that
the passion of the young man may havo led him in that direction*
There is the undoubted evidence in the letters upon which you can
find 1hat there was a preconcerted meeting between Mrs. Thompson
and Bywaters at tho place; but supposing you were not wholly
satisfied that there was a conspiracy made to effect the murder afc
this place and time, if you are satisfied that Mrs. Thompson incited
the murder and that, incited and directed by her controlling hand,
Bywaters committed the murder, then it will be my duty to ask you,
after hearing the evidence, to find her who incited and proposed the
murder as guilty as Bywaters who committed it.
Evidence for the Prosecution.
JOHN AMBROSE HENRY LAXTON, examined by Mr. TRAVERS
HUMPHREYS I live at South Tottenham. The deceased Percy
Thompson was my nephew by marriage. From time to time I met
him and his wife, the prisoner Thompson. On Tuesday, 3rd
October, I met them both by arrangement at the Criterion Theatre ;
I think the arrangement was made by my wife about a week or a
fortnight beforehand. After the performance was over we left
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson at the Piccadilly Tube station, about
quarter to eleven or eleven o'clock. They were going^ to Liverpool
Street, and went down a different lift from what we did.
o 17
By waters and Thompson.
John A. H. Laxton
Cross-examined by Sir H CURTIS BENNETT I had gone on
several occasions before to the theatre with Mr. and Mrs Thompson.
So far as I could see, they appeared to bo on good teims. The
party upon the particular evening to which I have spoken was an
ordinary happy theatre party, and when Mr. and Mrs Thompson
left us at the tube station they appeared to be upon their usual
terms.
EGBERT TAYLOR, examined by Mr ROLAND OLIVER I tun a
police constable of the K Division, and am accustomed to making
plans I have prepared a plan of the neighbourhood of Belgrave
Road and Kensington Gardens, Ilford, which is now produced I
have shown by dots the actual scene of the crime, nearly half-way
between Endsleigh Gardens and Kensington Gardens. I also show
the street lamps in the neighbourhood. The place where the uci unl
killing was done is a dark part of the road at ni^ht. The spot I
have maiked on the plan as the scene of killing is only 54 yards
from Thompson's house, 41 Kensington Gardens At this point
the pavement is 7 feet wide, and the roadway is 26 feet wide.
DORA FINCH PITTARD, examined by Mr. TRAVERS UUMPIIUUYH
I live at 59 Endsleigh Gaidens, Ilford A few minutes before iml-
night on 3rd October I arrived with some friends of mine at flford
station, and I proceeded to walk home by Belgra\o Road. When
I was between De Vere Gardens and Endsleigh (i Aidant* I HUW a
woman running towards me the prisoner, AJrs Thompson She
cried out, " Oh, my God' Will you help rao; my husband is :ll,
he is bleeding/' I asked her whete he was, and she said ho was
on the pavement. I took Mrs. Thompson to ilio house of Dr.
Maudsley, at the corner of Courtland Avenue, and then 1 -wont
back to Kensington Gardens, Mrs. Thompson being just in front of
me. Finding a man lying on the pavement, I asked Mrs. Thompson
what had happened to her husband, and ehe said, " Oh, don't sisk
rne, I don't know. Somebody flow past, and when I turned to
spoak to him blood was pouring out of his mouth." Mrs. Thompson
was very agitated and incoherent.
Cross-examined by Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT When I iinsl na\v
Mrs. Thompson she was running hard in my dueclion
It was quite clear to you that at that time slio was in a
hysterical condition? Tes, she was very agitated.
It was quite obvious to you that what she wanted was to get
help for her husband? Tes, I suppose so.
PEROT EDWARD CLEVELT, examined by Mr. TRAVBUB
I live at 62 Mayfair Avenue, Ilford. I was one of the party
which included the last witness, Miss Pittard. While walking
18
Evidence for Prosecution.
Percy Edward Clevely
through Belgrave Road we met the prisoner, Mrs. Thompson, who
seemed to come out of the darkness, as it were She spoke about
her husband having fallen down, that he was ill, and she wanted
help, and she asked where we could find a doctor. We went to Dr.
Maudsley's house, and, on returning, we found the deceased lying
on the pavement with his back piopped up against the wall I
asked Mrs. Thompson how it had happened, and she said she could
not say " Something biushed past," or " flew past," or words to
that effect, " and he Fell down."
Cross-examined by Sir II CURTIS BENNETT When Mrs.
Thompson first came up, was not the first thing she said, ec Do you
know a doctor, do you know a doctoi ? " No, I think the first thing
was that she asked foi help She asked for a doctor, and said that
her husband had fallen down. On the way back from Dr Mauds-
Joy's Mrs. Thompson ran on in fiont of us to get back to her
husband When we got there we found her kneeling down with
When you asked her what had happened, was she in a very
agitated condition? Yes, she was ceitainly very excited and
agitated.
And hysterical and incoherent in her statements? Yes.
JOHN WEBBER, examined by Mr. ROLAND OLIVER I am a sales
manager, and live at 59 De Vere Gardens, Ilford. About 12 30
in the morning of 4th October, just as I was about to retire to
bed, I heard a woman's voice saying, " Oh, dou't; oh, don't," HI
a most piteous manner. On hearing that I went out into the
street, and I saw two ladies and a gentleman coming towards me
in the direction of Dr Maudsley's house. One of the ladies was
running in front of the other two After they had passed me I
saw a match being struck, and 1 went up to the place and found a
man sitting against tho wall. Mrs. Thompson was there alone
with him, and I asked her if the man had had a fall, but she said
she did not know. I asked her if I could be of any assistance to
him, and she said, " Don't touch him, don't touch him, a lady and
a gentleman have gone off for a doctor." After that Dr. Maudsley
came with Miss Pittard and Mr. Clevely. I helped the doctor to
undress the man. I heard the doctor ask Mrs. Thompson if he had
been ill, and where they had come from. She told him that he had
not been ill, and that they had como from the Criterion Theatre.
Cross-examined by Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT I have no doubt
whatever that the voico I heard, " Oh, don't; oh, don't," was the
voice of Mrs. Thompson. It waa about three or five minutes after-
wards that I saw the three persons coming towards me. Mra
Thompson, who was in front, was sobbing and running hard.
When I went across to where Mr. Thompson was sitting on the*
pavement I found Mrs. Thompson there, evidently waiting for
19
Bywaters and Thompson.
John Webber
assistance. I asked her if he had had a fall, and she said " Yes no
I don't know.'*
It was quite evident, was it not, that she was in a very agita ;ed
state at that timefl I should say she was almost hysterical
Dr. NOEL MAUDSLEY, examined by Mr TRAVIS HUMPHREYS
I live at 62 Courtland Avenue, Ilford, which is at the coiner of
Belgrave Road. I was called up by Miss Pittard in the early
morning of 4th October, and I went to a spot about half-way
between Kensington Gardens and Endsleigh Gardens. I there saw
a jnan lying on tho pavement, with Mrs Thompson standing
by his side. I stiuck a match and made an examination of the
man. I first examined his pulse, and found that ho was dead. I
should think aboxit five or eight minutes would elapse from the
time I was first called to the time I actually got to the body. When
I examined ihe man I should say ho had been dead somewhere about
ten minutes. Mrs. Thompson was in a confused condition, hys-
terical and agitated I asked her if her husband had been taken
ill coming home in the train or coming along the load, and she
said no. When J told her that her husband was dead she said,
"Why did you not come sooner and save him? " I saw no
wounds; tliero were no bleeding points to observe, but tho blood
was welling out. of his mouth I did not see any indications of a
struggle having taken place.
Cross-examined by Mr CECIL WIHTE^EY I never directed my
attention at all to the wounds from which this 111*111 was Miifforing ;
i made no examination.
WALTER GIMMES, examined by Mr. TRAVHUS HUMPHREYS I am
a sergeant of the K Division of the Metropolitan Police. About
3am. on 4th October I went to Mrs. Thompson's house and asked
her if <she could explain to me what had happened on the road homo
from the station She said, " I don't know, I can't say; I only
know that my husband suddenly dropped down and screamed out,
* Oh.' I then rushed across the road and saw a lady and gentle-
man, and asked them if they would help me, and they went with
me to the doctor." Later on in the morning I asked her if she was
carrying a knife in her handbag at the time, and she replied,
" No." I then asked her if she or her husband Raw or spoke to
any person when they wore coming through Belgrave Jftoad, ami
she replied, " No, I did not notice any one."
Cross-examined by Sir II. CuitTis BENNETT I was along with
Sergeant Mew when thia conversation took place with Mrs. Thomp-
son at three o'clock in the morning. At that time she appeared to
be ver^ distressed and inclined to bo hysterical. Sergeant Mow
asked her, " Can ;jrou account for tho cuts on your husband's neck?"
Mrs. Thompson said, *' No. We were walking along; my husband
20
Evidence for Prosecution,
Walter Grimes
eaid, * Oh ' I said, * Bear up,' thinking he had one of his attacks.
He then tell on me and walked a little fuither; he then fell up
against the wall, and then on to the ground." Sergeant Mew then
asked her if her husband carried a knife.
WALTER MEW, examined by Mr TRAVEBS HUMPHREYS I am a
police sergeant. I went to Bel grave Road shortly after 1 a.m. on
4th Octobei Mis Thompson was there beside the body of her
husband. After the body was removed by some other officers I went
with her to her home, 41 Kensington Gardens, which was quite
close by. On the way there she said, " Will he come back? " and
I replied, " Yes." She then said, " They will blame m for this "
At three o'clock on that same morning I returned to 41 Kensington
Gardens and saw Mis. Thompson again 1 asked her, " Can you
account for the cuts on your husband's neck? " She replied, " No
Wo were walking along and my husband said, * Oh.' I said, e Bear
up,' thinking he had one of his attacks He then fell on me, and
walked a little further. JTe then fell up against the wall, and then
on to the giound " I asked her, ft Did he have a knife? " And
she replied, " No, I did not see a knife or anything." I noticed
that her coat and her clothes and face had signs of blood on them,
which would be natmal if sJio had boon holding up her husband or
anybody else who was bleeding.
Cross-examined by Mr. CECIL WIIITELET I \vent to the mortuary
to which the body was taken, and I saw the clothes taken off the
deceased man's body ITe was woaiing a blue suit There was a hip
pocket on the right-hand side of the trousers.
Ciofla-exanuned by Sir IT. Cuims BEKNJOT The upper paH of
Mr. Thompson's clothing was saturated with blood The blood
which I saw on the clothes of Mrs. Thompson was quite consistent
with her having assisted her husband and having propped him up
against the wall in the position in which he was found,
By Mr, JTTHTIOH SHEARMAN When -she said, " Will he come
back," I thought she meant would they bnng her husband's body
back.
Oross-eaiaminatwn, contwwed I do not flunk sho realised at the
time that her husband was dead.
EIOHAIID HALLUXLY THOMPSON, examined by Mr TRAVBBS
HUMPHREYS I live at 49 Seymour Gardens, Ilford. The deceased,
Percy Thompson, was my brother. He was thirty-two years of age
at the time of his death. I last saw him alive on the night of 2nd
October. At that time he appeared to be in goal health. Hia wife
and he had been living at 41 Kensington Gardens, Ilford, for some-
thing over two years. I was called in the early morning of 4th
October to go to 41 Kensington Gardens, and I got there between
quarter to two and two o'clock. I had been told that my brother
By waters and Thompson.
Richard Halliday Thompson
had had a seizure and was dead. When I got to the house I found
my sister-in-law there; she was in a very agitated condition. I
asked her if she could give me a rough idea of what had happened
and how my brother had met with his death. She stated 1hat lie
was walking along and suddenly caino over queer, foil against tho
wall, and slid down saying " Oh " She told me that her husband
had been complaining of pains in his leg on the way from tho
station. She went to get the neatest doctor, and on her way who
met a lady and gentleman, and asked them lo obtain assisianco foi
her I understood then that they went with Lor to tho doctoi'w,
and lie was rather a long time coming, and she complained about
it. When the doetor arrived her husband was dead I understood
her to say that the doctor said he had died from hicmorrhago I
do not think I asked her any other questions.
Cross-examined by Mr. CECIL WmrELwr My sister-in-law was
a Miss Graydon; T have known h-er for many yeai&. My broilier an<J
his wife frequently visited tho Graydons at 231 Shakespeare descent *
I think they usually went there- on a- Friday. I have never met tho
prisoner By waters at the Graydons' house.
Cross-examined by Sir 11. Cuims BHNNEIT My brother joincil
the London Scottish in 1916, and was discharged' because he wa,
suffering from heart trouble and was totally unfit Tor
CYKIL GBAI*, examined by Mr. TRAVERS HUMPHUKYH T am a
police constable. At I2.t30 a.m. on 4th October I, with tho aNsistamv
of another constable, took the body of the deceased man Thompson
to the Ilford mortuary and assisted to undress the body I did not
find a knife or any other weapon m the posMossion of the decent I
man. Except for the cuts in the clothing caused by a knifes I di<J
not find that the clothing had been torn at all.
Dr. PERCY JAMEH Duouonr, examined by the SOLICITOH-GENEIUT,
I am divisional surgeon to the Ilford Police Division. On ftth
October I made, by di red ion of tho Coroner, a post-mortem examina
tion of the body of Percy Thompson. I found on the body, on ihe
left side below the ribs, four slight cuts on the skin. I also found
on the front of the clim two slight cuts parallel to one anolhur*
two slight cuts on tho right side of the lower jaw, and on tho inner
side of tho right arm, at tho elbow, there was a cut #| iuchcM long
I then found a stab iu tho back of the neck 2 inches deep and ! inches
wide; that was above the clothing. Then there was a slab at tho
back of tho neck slightly to the right 2J inches deep and 1| iut*ht>:
wide, passing upwards towards the right ear.
By Mr. JusraoiiJ SOTARMAN These were two separate- siabn.
Easamituition continued The result of tho necond stab was
tha.t there was about half a pint of blood in the stomach which had
come from the artery in the neck, the carotid artery, which had
Evidence for Prosecution.
Dr Percy James Drought
been severed I should say that the wounds at the back and round
the neck required a consideiable force. Those at the front were
superficial, and did not require so much force. I came to the con-
clusion from the bloodstains that the assailant was on the footpath
when the blows were stiuck With regaid to the slight wound at
the front, tho assailant must have been in front and then got round
to the back with the deeper ones. The slab that cut his carotid
artery is more likely to have been struck from the back than from
the front It would have been possible for the man to walk after
the blow that severed the aitery was struck, but not for very long.
I do not think he would be able to speak very much. I should think
that the man would die in about a couple of minutes after the severe
slab was deliveied The wounds which I saw could have been inflicted
by the knife which is now produced.
Cross-examined by Mr. CECIL WHITELEY In my opinion, the
wound on the neck, the fatal wound, was leceived from behind.
But it is doubtful? It is doubtful I am quite clear that the
fatal wound was the last blow that was inflicted.
Mrs. LILIAN BYWATEKS, examined by Mr. ROLAND OLIVER I am a
widow, and reside at 11 Wcslow Street, Upper Norwood The
prisoner Bywaters is my son. He was twenty on 27th June of this
year. For some years past ho has been employed a a ship's writer
by the P. & Company. When the ship was in port and his duties
did not necessitate Ins staying with the ship he. used to live with me.
Ouce in the summer of last year he stayed away for about a fortnight.
He told me that he had been staying with Mr and Mrs. Thompson
at Ilford, and that he had gono with them to the- Islo of Wight for
a holiday. I believe this was in July of last year, but I could not
say for certain. For tho last year or more he has been on the P. &
0. ehip " Morea " When she was in port she was generally at
Tilbury, and my son always stayed with me except on the one
occasion I have spoken to. I believe he sometimes slept on board.
I know the Graydou boys through their going to school with my son.
I believe that he once stayed for a short time with the Graydons
at Manor Park, but I could not .say for certain I know Mrs
Graydon slightly, and have been in her company onco or twice at the
outside. The last time I saw her before this affair waa early this
year, but I did not speak to her then.
Coming to the last timo that my son came home from sea, the
" Morea " got in on 23rd September, aad my son remained, with tho
ship, working there for Rome days., but sleeping at home. I think
he stopped working on the ship on Friday, 29th September. That
day he just went up to town, as far as I know, and came back home
to aleep some time after nine o'clock in the evening. On the
Saturday morning he went up to town and came back to tea. On
Sunday, 1st October, he stayed at home all day. On the Monday
23
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mrs Lilian Bywaters
morning he went up to town. Before he went out there was. a
telephone message, I answered the telephone and spoke to a woman.
I do not know whose voice it was. As the result of speaking to that
woman my son came downstairs from his bedroom and spoke through
the telephone. He went up Lo town just after eleven o'clock, I
think, and he came back at night with the 11.5 train from Victoria
I had been in town myself that day, and I came back in the name
train. Our station is Gipsy Hill. On the Tuesday the telephone
rang just before nine o'clock, and my son answered it I do not know
whether it waH a man or a woman who rang up. My son M't the
house a little before twelve I went to bed about half-past ten lhat
evening; my eon had not returned then Later on the front -<i<x>r
bell rang I could not say what time it was; I think I ^as sleeping
when the- bell rang I called out, " Is that, you, MiVk* M and he
answered, ** Yes, Mum." Next morning I said to him, " You weie
Into last night, were you not? " and he said, " Yes " 1 asked him,
"Did you go (o Bleep in the train? " and h< said, " YOR, and wnt
on to Norwood Junction," two or three stations further doun tit* >ne-.
Tie did not way how he had got back from there. On the n\i day,
Wednesday the 4th, I went, up to London with my son, and lofl linn at
the corner of Chcapmde, just past Nicholson's, belw^on half JHU-M t\\o
and throe o'clock in the afternoon. That WUR. the hit tirno I wiw
him before he was in custody About eleven o'clock lhat '\v,'ing
I saw Inspector Page when I got home, and I took him to ni} *i'
bedroom. I saw him take some loiters out of a miiicasc*, and ;dso
two pieces of paper out of my 80-n' coat.
By Mr. JUSTICE SIIBAIIM^N I believe the last (rain to oin slalion
leaves Victoria at ten minutes pawl twelve, but 1 could not say for
certain.
Cross-examined by Mr. CBOJL WHITBLRT My husband wa a
whip's clerk also. lie joined the Army in Deemnlmi*, 1914, mid wa
killed in the war. After my husband wa killed I started a milliner'*
business in Upper Norwood My boy has been with me always oxoept
at the time he has been at sea and the time he was staying with
the Thorn] )8onfi. When ho \VUN at school he got a splendid character,
every report was marked " Excellent." After leaving school ht
went to some shipping agents in Leadenlmll Stre&t, and remained
with them for about nine months. lie left there with an oxwllunt
character, and went to another firm of shipping agents, with whom
he remained tmtil February, 1918, when he joined the merchant
Korvice as a writer. Since then he has been at sea most of the linns
with intervals of about a fortnight, and hifl certificate of discharge
at the end of each voyage shows that his character for ability wa vory
good and for general conduct also very good. He has been practically
all over the world. I have two daughters aa well as my aon. When
ho came back the last time his ahip arrived on 23rd September, and
he came straight back that day to my house at Wostow
24
Evidence for Prosecution.
Mrs Lilian Bywaters
Although he was working on the ship until 29th September, he always
slept at home. On Saturday, 301 h, he came home to tea about
four o'clock, and he did not go out again until about eleven o'clock
on the Monday morning I was not a^vare until I heard recently
that he visited the Graydons' house on the evening of 2nd October,
nor was I aware that he visited the Graydons again on the Tuesday
evening. On the following day, 4lh October, he was with me ia
London until after tv\o o'clock, when he left me at Si Paul's
Churchyard
Has he always been an excellent eon 1 ? One of the best that a
mother could have.
WILUAM EUSTACE GKATDON, examined by Mr.
HUMPHREYS I reside at 231 Shakespeare Crescent, Manor Park. The
female prisoner is my daughter She was married to Mr. Thompson
on 15th January, 1915, stud whe will bo twenty-nine years of age on
Christmas Duy Theie are no children of tho marriage She lias
been living for the last two years at 4] Kensington Gardens, Ilfoid,
and I saw both her and her husband there- from time to timo I
have knoAvii the prisoner Bywatom for two and a half or three
years to tho best of my recollection. When be vias at home belw<xm
his voyages lie used to come* to our house from time to time, and
he stayed for a period with un while ho was waiting for a ship. I
think thai would be in the summer of 1021. When he returned
from his voyage on 2*3r<l September of this year he visited us on
several occasions lie was at our house on Monday, 2nd October,
about 6.45 or ecven o'clock in ihe evening, and left about ten, or
possibly a little later II o came alxmt the same time on Tuesday,
3rd,, and left about the same time. I remember my unmarried
daughter, Avis, saying in the course of that evening and in the
presence of Bywaters that the Thompsons bad gone tx> a theatre, but
he made no commo-nt. I BUW Bywaters again at our house next
evening, the 4th, about swre-n o'clock, lie had a copy of tho
Evening News, ami he asked mo if I had seen the paper. I said,
" No." Then he said, " This is a terrible thing if it is true " I
surmised what he was referring to, and said, " I am afraid it. is
only too true- "
Did you knew at thai time that Mr Thompson had been killed
by somebody? I knew Mr. Thompson was dead. While Bywators
was at my house thai evening Homo police officers came and took him
away.
Cross-examined by Mr. OBOIL WiiiTBMay My daughter and her
husband were weekly visitors at our houne; they practically always
came on a Friday. Bywaters was known to mo and my family for
some considerable time, and ho was a frequent visitor at our house.
He came back from his last voyage on 23rd September, but he did
not come to see us until Monday, 2nd Od ober, whom ho came round
25
By waters and Thompson.
William Eustace Graydon
about 7 30 in the evening It is quite probable that he would stay
talking to mo and my family until about 10 or 10 30 perhaps riot
quite so late. My son Newenharn was there, but he may have gone
out during the evening Bywaters spoke lo me that evening about
some tobacco that I had agreed to fret for linn lie came again
about w-ven o'clock an the evening of Tuesday, 3rd October, and ho
remained until ten or thereabouts. During the \tho1o iitno he was
talking to mo and lo my wife and my daughter Avis I cannot/
reeolloet Mrs Thompson's name coming up during that conversation
1 have no recollection of any comment being made upon the tobacco
pouch that he had. I wos not present in tho room during the wholo
time that he was there, and it is possible that somothiiig may have
been said about the tobacco pouch vh.cn I was not m the room.
Was he exactly the tumiu on I hat evening a he had always been
on juovious evenings' Quite.
Nothing unaiml about him? Nothing -whatever
Cross-examined by Sir II Ouum Dimi-in I kiuw my HOii-in
lain for alxwfc sevo'ii years before his marriage
During the whole of ilio time jou know him had he comjluizK k d
of heart attacks? lie. had complained of \aii<nKs attacks, generally
his he-art. I have never wen him mynolf in a heart, ait nek.
I ahou you an enclosure (exhibit I5a), winch HUH in a
written by y<!ur daughter to By \\atafH It, is a cutting from I, ho
fifotcb of Oth February, IJ)22, and it iw hemled '* ()uralc\s hw
of three. Mysteiy of his death sull unsolved. Wife and doctor.
Woman awkoil to leave I ho <V>uii during mun' evklimw." Ha\n
you got that? Yo, 1 ww that that report rcferw t,o a Dr. l'ic*jtou
Walli, who ^as my doctor ninct* about IfMK).
From J!)00 until 1015, wlion your daughter got married, Dr.
VreHton Walliw would have been lutr doc-tori Ho would. Mubit
15b IK apjiarcntly a continuation of tins mum* report " POIHOTUMI
(turute. Uosumccl inqueKt today following arialyHt'H invent igat ion. 1 *
Bywaters lived for wmie time at Manor .Park, uf> to ISMO or there-
about^ T could not. way whether Dr. Prt'Klon Walliw wan also the
doctor. Exhibit No. !24, which is now whowzi nn\ iw in 1117
handwriting, arid i dated I'Hh Junrt,
1 rang Avis yesterday and flho an id ho came down thoto In a
And told JDad everything about all the rov\H \vo have had ovci* you but
ata did not Ttioutlon h(\ said anything uhtKit ilio fh'i.t roitl out 1 on August lt
so I fr'upposo lie Jcopt that back to unit hit* own end**. Dad Bald it WAS
a disgraceful thing that you should <'-omu buiwcon hunhand and wiftj and 1
ought to be ashamed b&rVmt, 1 told you thin IH how tiicy would Jook at
it th(y dout underfttaiid and thoy novor will any of them,
novor camo to ino and made any complaint an to the
conduct of BywatwH with my daughter; that in tho
imagination
Evidence for Prosecution.
William Eustace Grayclon
Dad was going to talk to me Avis said but I went down and nothing
whatever was said by any of them I told Avis I shd tell them off if
they said anything to me I didn't go wl lining to my people when he did
things I didn't approve of and I didn't expect him to but however nothing
was said at all Dad said to them ' What a scandal if it should get in the
papers " so evidently he suggested drastic measures to them,
There is no truth whatever in those two paragraphs. As a matter
of fact, I had no idea that my daughter and her husband were not
on pood terms Whenever 1 Raw them together they always appeared
to be quite happy and fond of each other
Re-examined by the SOLICITOR -GENBIUL I cannot remember any
particular theatre being mentioned when my daughter mentioned the
fact that the Thompsons had gone fco the theatre or were going to the
theatre on the night of 3rd October It would not bo necessary or
convenient for Bywntors to go through Ilford in order to get from
my house in Manor Park to Upper Norwood
By Mr JUSTICE SmsARMAir The ordinary way would be by the
District Railway from East Jltim to Vicioiia
Se-estwtnintttiun continued There is no route that I know of that
would take him through or near Belgravo Rood in order to get to
Upper Norwood I had no knowledge of Dr. Famell, the Vjce-
Chancollor of Oxford University. Jle is quite a stranger to me.
By Mi' JCTHTIOU SIIKAUMAN I had never lienrd of any trouble
about Bywaters coming between Thompson and my daughter.
ERNEST FOHTM, examined by Mr TRAVBRS HUMPITIIEYS I am a
detective constable In the evening of dth October I went to Mr.
Graydon' house in Manor Park, and I there saw the prisoner
Bywaters. I said to him, " Wo aro police ofticerK Is your name
Frederick Bywators? " and hot stud, " Yes " I said, " I wish you to
accompany us to Ilford police station for (he purpose of being inter
viewed m connection with tho Ilford mimic i " Jfc made no reply,
and I convoyed him to Ilford police slation, when* he was detained.
Crosfl-examinfvl by Mr. CKCIL WTHTHLEY Sergeant Williams,
Mr. Graydon, and, I think, Mr* Newenham (jruydon were present in
the room when I said I wanted Bywate-n* to go to the Tlford police
station. It is possible that Bywaters may have said, " Certainly,"
but I did not hear him. I did not heai him way " Certainly, I will
do anything T ean to help you "
By Mr JDHTJU& SUKAUMAN At any rates he went quietly? Yes
Mrs. FANNY MAIITA LHKSTKII, examined by Mr. TRAVKBS ]IuMi*rmKTS
I live at 41 Kensington Gardens, Ilford. I lived at that house
before Mr. and Mi's. Thompson camo about two years ago. Mr.
Thompson bought the house, and I became their tenant of part of
the house, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson occupying the two rooms upstairo
and eo-me rooms downstaira. Both Mr. ami Mrs. Thompson used to
27
By waters and Thompson,
Mrs F&nny Majria Lester
go to their business in London, leaving about quarter-past eight in
the morning. Generally Mrs. Thompson came back to the house
first, about quarter to seven, or perhaps befoie that. Sometimes
Mr Thompson was veay late in getting home, about leu or eleven
I remember their going for a holiday to the Ile of Wight in Juno
of last year. When they came back from their holiday they brought
the prisoner Bywateru with them, and he remained foi some time,
but I could not ay whether it was as a paying guoKt. IJe left on
the Tuesday after the August Bank Holiday. Mr Thompson had
his breakfast in bed that, morning, and By waters and Mrs 'IhoinpHon
had their breakfast do\vnstairs Bywatere went away for good after
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had gone out. Airw. Thompson showed m
her arm; i1 -s\as black from the shoulder to the elbow. When &he
showed me her arm I asked her what wiw wrong, and who aid,
" Mr Thompson and Mr Uywators were having a few \vords and I
inteifercd, and hi pushed mo on one aide shovel mo up against 1ho
table." I think JJywatery left l,ho> house within n day or no after
that, and ho did iu>L come back again.
By Mr. JUSTICE SHKAUMAN lie came badk to the house once
again on a Saturday afternoon, but 1 could not say when, and he
saw both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.
Examination continued I would not say that Mr and Mr
Thompson were on veiy good terms at any time. I used to hoar
1hem having very high \\ords at tunes. 1 remember Saturday,
tfOth September Air. and AFiw Thompson went away togethoi
in the morning and Mrs Thompson returned about half -pant ten.
She Ktayed in for a time and then went" out again. Pho came back
in the middle of the day and cooked Mr. Thompson's dinner. Jlo
uamo homo to dinner. On Sunday, 1st October, Mrw. Tho-mpnon wan
in during the day and cooked their dinner. They w*nt out together
with some friends, I think, in the afternoon. Oil Monday morning,
2nd, they both went away the same a usual and they cumo back
about Htiveu o'clock On Tuesday they Ixitli went imiy art tiKual,
and (he nest time I saw Mrs. Thompson was when sho was brought
}>ack after midnight. When she was brought back who only naid
that they would not let her #o wjth him, or they would not lot her
bring him homei they liad tiikcm him away from Jer and if they
would let her go to him she would make him better. The Thomji-
fjons* i*oomK aro lighted l>y olcetnc light. r Hiey did nob koof> a
worvant; Mrs. ThompKon cooked the focxl. A wervant cnnitj on tlim
day, 4th October, for the first time.
Cross-examined by Mr CiscTr. WIIITMLEY I am quite clear Umt
Mm. r rhompaon cam** hack about twenty minutoH past kn o-n the
Saturday forenoon aft or having gone out with her husband- She
remained in the houao for about, twenty minutes and she -waft back
again at ono o'clock. From that time to the Monday morning *ho
and her IniHbuud wore together as far an I know.
Evidence for Prosecution.
Mrs Fanny Maria Lester
Cross-examined by Sir H. GURUS BENNETT Mrs. Thompson
complained to me that the housework was too much for her, and she
told me that she was going to get a servant The servant actually
arrived to take up her situation on the evening after the death of
Mr Thompson. When Mrs. Thompson was brought back to the
house in the early morning of 4th October she \\as in a very pros-
trate condition.
As far as you could form an opinion did you come to the
conclusion that she did not realise that her husband was dead?
Yes, she said so.
You did come to the conclusion that she did not realise that
her husband was dead 9 Yes The words she used were " They
have taken him away fiom mo; if they would let me go to him I
could mako him belter "
It looked clearly ns if she though I he was still alive 9 Yes. I
novel propaied any of the food for Mr and Mrs Thompson Mrs.
Thompson prepared all the meals tha.t they had at home.
EDWARD MYHJLL, examined by Mr. TRAVBBS HUMPHREYS
I am. employed as a cleik under tiio Board of Trade in the Geneial
Register of Shipping and Seamen, Towcrlull. I produce exhibit 32,
a certificate* relating to iho British ship " Orvieto," and exhibit 33,
a similar certificate relating to the Bnlinh ship " Moiea." Ex-
hibit 34 is a log of thin " Omtito " and exhibit 35 is, a certified ex-
tract showing the ports of call on the voyage. Exhibit 36 is a sj>ccial
log of tbo " Moron, " on a journey between 9th September, 1921,
and 20th October, 1921, and exhibit 37 is an extract showing the
ports of call Exhibits 38 and 39 are the log and extract showing
the ports of call on the voyage which started on llth November,
1921, and finished on 6th January, 1022. Exhibits 40 and 4.1 are
the log of tha '* Morca " and a certified extract showing tho ports
of call on the voyage which started on 20ih January, 1922, and
ended on l(>th March; exhibits 42 and 43 relate to a voyage of the
" Morea " beginning on 31st March and ending on 25th May, 1922;
exhibits 44 and 45 relate to a voyage of the same ship beginning on
9th June, 1922, and ending on 23rd September. Exhibit 46 shows
the beginning and end of these various voyages and also the rating
of the prisoner Bywators. On the iirst voyage he was rated as
mess room steward; on tho next a writer; the next a writer; and
the last a laundry 8 toward.
Cross-examined by Mr. CECIL WnrnsLET Bywaters was for three
fortnights in London this year. The records show ou each voyage his
ability and conduct as very good.
Mrs. MARIA FANNT LBSTBB, recalled, further cross-examined by
Sir H. Cram BBWNITO My husband died in the beginning of May
of this year. Up to (hat time I prepared porridge for my husband's
By waters and Thompson.
R&ro Fann* Maria Lester
breakfast, and Mr. Thompson used to take a plate oi 4 poniflg* out
of it as I made enough for two. Mr. Thompson had a gas lire put
in the drawing room.
Re-examined by Mi. CECEL TVHITBLBT Sometimes Mi,<.
son would have the porridge as -well as her husband.
ARTHUR NEWBUJIY, examined by Mr Tftw.siitf IJUMT inrush T
am chief clerk in the purneis' depart men f. of the P. & 0. Steamship
Company I have seen the piiKouer By wu tots After tlu arnval
of the steamship " AJorea " at Tilbury on 23rd February of uiu
year, he, as ship's writer, had to be in attendance during the uuy,
but he would not sleep on board while Iho ship TV as in dock ito
loft the ship on 28lh September and his leave started frrwii Jio
morning of the 2()th. lie was duo on board on 5th October, but
he \\ould not bo supposed to sleop on board uniil the nihl
tho ship Jeft duck. hJlie left, on K>th October
( I ARLTON, O'xaiiu'Jicd by Mr ROLAND OLIVER I carry
on business under tho name of Carlton & Prior a a wholesale iiiillniur
at 168 Aldersgate Street. The prisoner Mrs Thompson was in the
cniploymc'iit of my firm. I should think she has been with mo for
about -eight or ten years She acted as book-keeper and managcr'ws,
arid she was a very capable woman During tho timei h<' \\as with
ine> she was earning ,6 a week, and then I gave lior a boinw at
holiday and Christmas times, Jler hours \\oio from !) to 5, and on
Saturdays from 9 to 112 15 T have seen (he prisoner ]> t y\\a("<ra on
two occasions, tho iirwb time being when he was with Mr Thompson
in our showroom about eighteen month:-; ago The no\L time I saw
him was on tho Friday before the death of Mr. Thompson. I <*a\v
him in tho porchway of our house about, half-past four or quarter
to five. I was downstairs m the basement; Mrs Thompson c.alk'd
down about ten minuteM to five that she was leaving, and I allowed
her to go. I was aware Ihafc slirt was married and that her tiamo
was Mrs. Thompson, but in biiHinofw sho used lusr maiden nnmo 1 ,
MIMM Graydon. In fact, who ^as in our employ before she was married.
Sho did not come to work on Saturday, 30th So[iteml>or, as who had
asked for tho day off mid I jsfiive iti to her. She came on Monday,
2nd October, and Tuesday, flrd October, and left at the ordinary
time. I did not KCO her again until after she was in cunt,ody *I
havo seen one or two registered letters for Mrs. Thompson addressed
to my firm. I could not way whether they eame from abroad. I
handed them to hor I am quilo familiar with Mrs. ThompHon'M
handwriting, and I have had an opportunity of examining the original
exhibits in this caso. Exhibit G5 is a list of tho doownO'nfcB which
are in hor handwriting.
Crotss-oxaminefl by Sir H. CUHTUS BBNNKTT There WIN no
question at all of Mrs. Thozu[>Kon leaving my employment. Sho wa
30
Evidence for Prosecution.
Herbert Carlcon
die sort of lady who with her business capacity would probably be
able to get employment anywhere quite easily.
Mrs. LILIAN VALLEJSDEE, examined by Mr. ROLAND OLIVER I
work at Carlton Piior's and I know the prisoner, Mrs Thompson.
I also know the prisoner By waters. The tirst lime I met him was
at Shanklin in the Isle of Wight in June, 1921 He was staying
there with Mr and Mrs Thompson and Mrs Thompson's sister
The next time I saw him was last summei near our premises in
Aldersgate Street, about five o'clock in the evening I saw him
again that week in Aldei agate Street. I did not see him after that
until Monday, 20th September. Mrs. Thompson told me that he
was outside, and I went across the road to Fulleis' shop and had
coffee with him. This would be about live o'clock. Mrs. Thompson
came over afterwards and I left the two of them m Fullers I saw
him again on 29th September in Fullers, but Mrs Thompson was
not with him. When I came back to the office she was dressed
ready to leave
Second Day Thursday, 7th December, 1922.
EDITH ANNIE BROWN, examined by Mr. EOLAND OLIVER I am
employed at Fullers, Limited, confectioners, 42 Aldersgate Street,
which is just about opposite Carlton & Prior's. I know both the
prisoners by sight, and 1 have seen them together in our teashop.
On 29th September By waters caiuo to our shop alone, and was
joined by the wilutwB Mm Vallonder, and later by Mrs. Thompson
I next saw Bywaters at our shop on Monday, 2ud October; Mrs.
Thompson was not there on that day On Tuesday, 3rd, I saw
them both togufher in our shop. They left together about quarler-
pasfc five. One day a woman brought Bywaters a notc<; I think it
was on tho Friday, but I cnrmot be* certain.
Cross-examined by Mr CKUIL WHCTMLHT Thero used to bo two
employees at Fulleis' whop; now there ate three Tho buwiest time
is between twelve and two. Wo do not have very many customers
in af tea-time
AUGUSTA LBM, examined by Mr. ROLAND Orjvuu I am
a ^aitrustt at Iftillenj, in A {derogate Street. I remember tho
prisoner BywaLors, but not the female prisoner. I remember seeing
the male pintonct* in i,he tearoom dm ing a week in tho early part
of the your. I also saw him in tho tearoom on l-hc Friday previous
to the Ilfonl murdei. Ifo eawo into the hop alone, and then
later on lie was joined by Mm Vallender. 1 HU\V him again on
tho following Monday along with a lady I also KUW him on tho
Tuesday. After ho had been in for about un hour a lady came and
joined him not tho same hidy who had coffee with him on the Mon-
day. I should think that this would bo between four and fivft
o'clock. They wont out together.
UQSK ffAOOBH, examined by Mr. ROLAND OLIVER I am em-
ployed at Carlton & Prior's, in Alders^ato Street, and i know the
prisoner Mrs. Thompson. I also know tho prisoner Bywatora. I
hav seon hiui twice in our place afc Aldorsgato Street. (Being
referred to exhibit No. 0) Thai is a note written in my presence
by Mr. Thompson on tho firm's paper, " Come in for me in half
an hour. PoMi," Mrs. Thompson asked me to take that note over
to Bywafcers, who was sitting in Fullers' tearoom, and I did so.
As f*tr a I can reuunntar, this was between four and half-past
four o'clock, and it was on Friday, 29th September, although the
note is dated 30th September. After Mrs. Thompson was arreated
I found exhibit No. 11, a box, on her doak. It was locked when I
found it. It was opened by Inspector Hall in my presence, and it
contained some letters and cards which he took possession of*
Evidence for Prosecution.
Charles Higgins
CHARLES HIGGINS, examined by Mr ROLAND OLIVER I am a
porter employed by Carlton & Prior. (Shown exhibit No. 10
" Wait till one; he's come, Peidi ") I remember Mrs. Thompson,
on Monday, the day befoie the crime, asking me to take that note
to a man in a blue overcoat who would be outside Aldersgate Street
station There was another note about quaiter of an hour after-
wards.
Mis LILIAN BY WATERS, recalled, fuither ci oss-examined by Mr.
CECIL WHITELEY I leinember in August, 1921, my son coming home
and having a conversation with me about Mr. Thompson. He
told me that Mrs. Thompson led a very unhappy life with her
husband, and he asked me if I could tell him how she could get a
separation from her husband 1 said I could not tell him how to
get a separation, but that thei e was no law to< compel her to live
with a man if she was unhappy with him.
By the SOLICITOR-GENERAL I believe that was after my sou
had been living with Mr. and Mrs. Thompson
FRANK PAGE, examined by Mr. TRAVERS HUMPHREYS I am a
detective inspector at New Scotland Yard On 4th October I went
to 11 Westow Street, Norwood, the house of Mrs By waters, the
mother of the pusonor Bywateis I saw her in the evening, and in
her presence I searched the bedroom occupied by the prisoner By-
waters. In a case in the bedroom I found the two notes (exhibits
9 and 10) In a suitcase in the bedroom I found some letters from
Mrs. Thompson (exhibits 28, 47, 54, 58, and 60) I also found the
telegram (exhibit 58). Exhibit 59 appears to be the original tele-
gram of which 58 is a delivered copy.
Cross-examined by Mr. CECIL WIIITELEY I do not know how
many of Mrs Thompson's letters were found in the possession of
Bywaters
ALFRED SCHOLES, examined by Mr. TRAVERS HUMPHREYS I am
a detective inspector of police employed by the Port of London
Authority. On 12th October I went to the s.s. " Morea," which
was then lying at Tilbury Docks. 1 went into a cabin and took a
locked box (exhibit No. 8), which I eventually handed over to Ser-
geant James. That box was -opened in my presence It contained
a number of letters which were taken away by Sergeant James It
also contained a photograph of Mrs. Thompson
PERCY JAMES, examined by Mr. TRAVERS HUMPHREYS On 12th
October I received some keys from Inspector Hall. With ono of
those keys I opened the box which is exhibit 8, locked it again,
took it away, and handed it to Inspector Hall.
By waters and Thompson.
John Hancock
JOHN HANCOCK, examined by Mr TRAVBRS HUMPHREYS I ani
a detective constable. I leceived a number of letters from Inspector
Hall, which I examined and had copied There weie also a number
of newspaper cuttings in some of the letters On 9th October I
found a knife (exhibit No. 1) in a drain on the north side of
Seymour Gardens, Ilford, about 250 yards from Kensington Gar-
dens, Ilford. I handed it to Inspector Hall. I did not find any
sheath. It is an English knife I received three letters fiom
the witness Miss Jacobs (exhibits 14, 30, and 51) These letteis
are signed by By waters. I searched the house at 41 Kensington
Gardens, and I found a bottle (exhibit 61) in a small drawer in
Mr. and Mrs Thompson's bedroom It has a label, " Aromatic
tincture of opium." I handed the bottle to Mr. Webster, the
analyst.
Cross-examined by Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT Altogether I found
62 letters, including telegrams, and of these 32 have been put in
as exhibit* in this case In the different letters there were some
50 enclosures, cuttings from newspapeis, referring to a variety
of subjects. Of those cuttings about ten referred to cases which
were more or less in the public eye at 1lie time I have with me
a list of the names of the cuttings It includes the following :
The Poisoned Curate. Do Women Dislike the Truth .'
Curate's Household of Three. Does Courtship Cost too Much ?
Helping the Doctor. Do Women Fail as Friends ?
The Poisoned Curate. Advent of Loveless Women.
Women who Hate all Men. University Mystery.
Do Men like Bed Haired Women ? False Friendship
Drugs for Brother in Hospital. An Ideal Love Letter.
Event of the Season. Women on the Rack.
Two Women. Women who Always Act.
Battle of Calves and Ankles. Girl's Death Kiddle.
Patient killed by Over-dose. Men and Marriage.
Girl's Drug Injection. Masterful men.
Fuel Control and Love-making. Winning Her ; Winning Him.
Holiday Death Pact. Asking her twice.
My Sweet Offer. July Marriages.
Flat Mystery. The Wedding Season.
Their Married Life. Keeping Her.
Rather the Devil for a Father. What does She Do with Him ?
Defence in Disputed Baby Case. Do not Marry a Genius.
Grimes against Love. Dangerous Women.
Chicken Broth Death. Woman the Consoler.
Poisoned Chocolates. The Ideal Dance Partner.
The Best Wines that I have drunk.
The little bottle which has been produced, containing aromatic
tincture of opium, was found by me in the small drawer in the
chest of drawers in the bedroom which was occupied by both Mr,
34
Evidence for Prosecution.
John Hancock
and Mrs. Thompson I did not see any of Mr. Thompson's collars
and ties in that drawei It contained envelopes, notepaper,
photographs, and gloves I could not say whether it was his
drawer or her drawer.
RIOHAKD SBLLARS, examined by Mr TBAVERS HUMPHREYS I am
a divisional detective inspector of police, K Division At 11 a.m.
on 4th October I saw Mrs Thompson at her house, 41 Kensington
Gardens, Ilford I said to hei, "I am an inspector of police I
understand you were with your husband early this morning in
Belgrave Road. I am satisfied he was assaulted and stabbed several
times." She said, " We were coming along Belgrave Road, and
just past the coiner of Endsleigh Gaidens, when I heard him call
out, c Oh-er,' and he fell up against me. I put out my arms to
save him, and found blood, which I thought was coming from his
mouth I tried to help him up He staggeied for several yards
towards Kensington Gaidens, and then fell against the wall and
slid down ; he did not speak to me. I cannot say if I spoke to
him I felt him, and found his clothing wet wilh blood. He
never moved after he fell. We had no quairel on the way; we
were quite happy together Immediately I saw blood I ran across
the road to a doctor's. I appealed io a lady and gentleman who
were passing, and the gentleman also went to the doctor's. The
doctor came, and told me my husband was dead. Just before ho
fell down I was walking on his light-hand side, on the inside of
the pavement, nearest the wall We were side by side. I did not
see anybody about at the time. My husband and I were talking
about going to a dance " At that lime Mrs. Thompson was in an
agitated condition. About 7 p in. on the game day I saw the
prisoner By waters at the Ilford police station, and took possession
of the overcoat he was wearing, which is the one now produced. I
saw Mrs Thompson again a little later in the same evening, after
she had made her first statement to me, and I afterwards took her
to the Ilford police station. I spoke to her again on the next
day, 5th October, and asked her if she would give me any further
information regarding her husband's assailant. She said, " I will
toll you if I possibly can," and she made a voluntary statement
which was typewritten, read, and signed (exhibit No. 3). Tha*
statement is as follows :
EDITH JESSIE THOMPSON, 41 Kensington Gardens, Ilford, age 28,
married, states
My husband's name is Percy Thompson. He is a shipping clerk
employed by Messrs J Parker & Co , Peel House, Eastcheap, E C.
I am employed by Carlton & Prior, imllmery manufacturers, 168 Alders-
gate Street, E C , as a book-keeper. We have been married six years and
have no family. We wore married in the beginning of the year 1916. In that
year my husband joined the London Scottish Regiment, he was discharged!
35
By waters and Thompson.
Richara Sellars
as medically unfit a few months later and did no foreign service. I have
always been on affectionate terms with my husband I remember Tuesday,
3rd October, 1922 We both went to our respective businesses that day I
met my husband by appointment at a quarter to six, in Aldersgate Street;
that day, we went to the Criterion Theatre, we there met my uncle and
aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J Laxton, we left the Theatre about 11 p m , we
all four went to the Piccadilly Circus Tube, we there separated, my husband
and I went to Liverpool Street, and we caught the 11 30 tram to Ilford, we
arrived at Ilford about 12 o'clock, we then proceeded along York Road,
Belgrave Eoad and when we got between Be Vere and Endsleigh Gaidcns,
(we were walking on the right hand side) my husband suddenly went into
the roadway, I went aftei him, and he fell up against me, and called out
" oo-er " He was staggering, he was blooding, and I thought that tho
blood was coming fiom his mouth I cannot remember whether I saw
anyone else theie or not I know there was none there when he staggered
up against me I got hold of my husband with both hands and assisted
him to get up against the wall He stood there for about a minute or two
and then slid down on to the footway, he never spoke, I fell on the ground
with him I cannot remember if I shouted out or not I got up off the
ground and ran along to Courtland Avenue, with the intention of calling
Dr. Maudsley, but on the way I met a lady and a gentleman and I said to
them something to this effect, " Can I get a doctor or help me, my husband
is ill " The gentleman said, " I will go for the doctor " Dr Maudsley
arrived shoitly after, although it seemed a long time The doctor examined
my husband and said that he was dead An ambulance was sent for
and the body was removed I was accompanied to my home by two
Police Officers
I know Freddie Bywaters, I have known him for several years, we
were at school together, at least I wasn't but my two brothers were He
is residing with his widowed mother at 11 Westow St., Norwood Ho is a
ship's writer and periodically goes away to sea He has been for a very
long time on visiting terms with my family In June, 1921, Bywatow*
came to reside with my husbind and myself at No 41 Kensington Gardens,
He came as a paying guest I think he paid 25s or 27s 6d per week. He
was with us up to the beginning of August, 1921. I remember August
Bank Holiday, 1921. My husband and 1 quarrelled about something, he
struck me. I knocked a chair over. Freddie came in and interfered
on my behalf I left the room and I do not know what transpired between
thorn As far as my recollection goes, Freddie left on the following
Friday, but before he left my husband and he were friends again. We have
been in the habit of corresponding with one another His letters to me
and mine to him were couched in affectionate terms I am not in possession
of any letters he writes to me. I have destroyed all as is customary with
me with all my correspondence The letters shown to me by Inspector Halt
and addressed to Mr F Bywaters are some of the letters that I wrote to
Freddie, "and were written to him without my husband's consent. When
he was at home in England, we were in the habit of going out occasionally
together without my husband's knowledge
This statement has been read over to me It is voluntary and it is
true (Sgd.) EDITH THOMPSON,
'After making that statement, Mrs. Thompson and I left the
Evidence for Prosecution.
Richard SelWs
room ; I took her to the matron's room In doing so we passed
the library, where Bywateis was detained. She saw him as she
passed, and she said, " Oh, God; oh, God, what can I do? Why
did he do it? 1 did not want him to do it " She further said
almost immediately after, " I must tell the truth " She was a
little hysterical, and I said, "You lealise what you are saying;
what you might say may be used in evidence " She then proceeded
to make a statement, which again was written down and signed
(exhibit No 4) It is as follows :
When we got near Endsleigh Gardens a man rushed out fiom the
Gardens and knocked me away and pushed me away from my husband 1
was dazed for a moment When I recovered I saw my husband scuffling
with a man The man whom I know as Fioddie By waters was running
away He was wearing a bine overco.it and a grey hat I know it was
him although I did not see his face
After taking Bywaler^' coal from linn, it was examined bv Ih
Drought, and after be hud examined it I said to Bywaters, " We
shall detain you and retain possession of your overcoat " Tie
eaid, " Why, I know nothing about it " He commenced to speak
further, and I said, " If you wish to make a statement, it will bo
better to put it in writing " I cautioned him, and he made a
statement which he signed in my presence (exhibit No. fi).
4th October, 1922
FREDERICK EDWARD FR \NOIS BY\VATERK, 11 Westow Street, Uppei
Norwood, aged 20, Laundiy Stewaid, states
I have known Mr Percy Thompson for about four years and lus wife
Edith, for about 7 years Mr Thompson is a shipping clerk ; his wife is 11
a millinery business, and they reside at 41 Kensington Gardens, Ilford, 1
stayed with thorn from June 18th, 1921, to tho 1st August, 1921. Th<
first week that I was there, I was there as their guest and the remaining
weeks I paid 25s per week. The cause of my leaving was that Mr
Thompson quarrelled with Mrs. Thompson and threw her across the room
thought it was a very unmanly thing to do and I interfered We had ?
quarrel and he asked me to leave, and I left I had always been exceedingly
good friends with Mrs. Thompson. I was also on visiting terms with the
mother of Mrs Thompson, a Mrs Gray don, who resides with her husbanc
and family at 231 Shakespeare Crescent, Manor Park. After I left Mrs
Thompson I went back to reside with my mother at my present address
On the 7th September, 1921, I got a position as writer on board the s s
*' Morea " I sailed on the 9th September and returned to England th(
end of the following month Shortly after I came back from the voyage
called on Mr. and Mrs. Thompson at their address. Mrs Thompsoz
received me quite friendly, Mr. Thompson a little coldly, but we parted ai
friends. The same evening I called on Mrs. Graydon and I there agaii
saw Mr and Mrs. Thompson, who were visiting her have never calle<
upon Mr and Mrs. Thompson since that time I have met thorn once o
twice at Mrs Gray don's since, the last time being in June last Sine
87
Bywaters and Thompson.
Richard Sellars
that dale I have never seen Mr Thompson. I have met Mrs Thompson
on several occasions since and always by appointment. They were verbal
appointments. On Monday last I met her by appointment at 1230 at
Aldersgate Street We went to lunch at the Queen Anne's Restaurant,
Cheapside After lunch she returned to business and I have not seen
her since Mr Thompson was not aware of all our meetings, but
some of them he was I have known for a very long time past that she
had led a very unhappy life with him This is also known to members of:
Mrs. Thompson's family I have written to her on two occasions 1
signed the letters Freddie and I addre&sed her as " Bear Edie " On the
evening of Monday, 2nd Octobei , I called on Mis Graydon and stayed there
till about 10 o'clock I never mentioned the fact that I had lunched witli
Mrs Thompson that day, and as far as I know Mr Thompson was nob
a \vare of it I left my home yesterday morning about a quarter to twelve
I was dressed m the same clothes that I am now wearing I went up West
and remained there until the evening I was alone and never met anyone
that I knew I then went to Mrs Graydon's, arriving there about 7 1
left about 11 o'clock, my impression is that it had gone 11 Defore leaving
I remember Mrs Graydon 's daughter Avis saying that Percy (Mr Thompson)
had 'phoned her up, and I gathered from the observations she made that
he was taking his wife to a theatre that night and that there was other
members' of the family going When I left the house I went through
Browning Road, into Sibley Grove, to East Ham Railway Station 1
booked to Victoria which is my usual custom I caught a train at 11 30
p m and I arrived at Victoria about 12 30 a nj I then discovered that the
last train to Gypsy Hill had gone ; it leaves at 12 10 a m I had a few
pounds in money with me but I decided to walk I went by way of Vaux-
hall Road, and Vauxhull Biidge, Kenmngton, Brixton, turning to the left
into Dulwicli, and then on to the Crystal Palace, and from there to my
address at Upper Norwood, arriving there about 3am 1 never noticed
either 'bus or tram going m niy direction On arriving home I let myself
in with a latchkey and wont (straight to my bedroom. My mother called out
to me She said, " Is that you, Mick?" I replied, "Yes," and then
went to bed I got up about 9am and about 121 I left home with my
mother I left my mother in Paternoster Row about half past two. I
stayed m the City till about 5 I then went by train from Mark Lane to
East Ham, and from there went on to Mrs Graydon's, arriving there
about six. The first time that I learned that Mr Thompson had been
killed was when I bought a newspaper in Mark Lane before I got into the
train to go to Bast Ham. 1 am never m the habit oi carrying a knife.
In fact 1 have never had one I never met a single person that I knew from
the timo that I left Mrs Graydoii's house until I arrived home Mrs.
Thompson has written to me two or three tunes I might have received
one letter from her at home. The others I have received on board ship. 1
have destroyed these letters She used to address me as " Dear Freddie,"
dnd signed herseli " Peidi." I occupy the back bedroom on the top
floor at my address, and that is where I keep all my clothing. When I
said that I was dressed m precisely the same clothing yesterday as I am
to-day, 1 meant it to include my undergarments, with the exception of my
collar and handkerchief, which are at home.
This statement has been read over to me, is voluntary and is true.
(Sgd) FKEDERICK K F.
Evidence for Prosecution.
Richard Sellarc
Having made some further inquiries, I again saw Bywaters on
the evening of 6th October, and said to him, " I am going to
chaige you and Mrs Thompson with the wilful .murder of Percy
Thompson." He said, " Why her? Mrs Thompson was not aware
of my movements " I said, " If you wish to say anything, I will
take it down in wilting." I again cautioned him. He made a
statement, which I read to him, and which he signed It is exhibit
No 6, and it is dated 5th Octobei
FREDERICK B* WATERS states
I wish to make a voluntary statement Mrs Edith Thompson was
not, awa-re of my movements ou Tuesday night, 3rd October I left Manor
Park at 11 p m and proceeded to llford 1 waited for Mrs Thompson
ami her husband When near Endsleigh Gardens I pushed her to one side,
alio pushing him fmlhei ap the street T said to him, " You have got
to separate fiom your wife " He said, " No " I said, ** You will have
to " We struggled I took my knife from my pocket and we fought and
lie got the worst oE it Mrs Thompson must have been spellbound for 1
s.*w nothing of her during the fight I ran away through Endsleigh
Gardens, through \Vanstead, Leytonstone, Stratford , got a taxi at Stratford
to Aldgate, walked from there to Fenchurch Street, got another taxi to
Thornton Heath Then walked to Tipper Norwood, arriving home about
3am The reason I fought with Thompson was because he never acted
like a man to his wife He always seemed several degrees lower than a
etnakc I loved her and I could not go on seeing her leading that life 1
did not intend to kill him I only meant to injure him I gave him an
opportunity of standing up to me as a man but. he wouldn't I have had
the knife some tune ; it was a sheath knife I threw it down a dram when
I was running through "Endsleigh Gardens
Later the i\\o prisoners were charged with tho murdei of Percy
Thompson When the charge \\H made Thompson made no reply,
while- By\va1ers said, "It is nrong, it m wrong." On 12th October
I received a ditty box (eoclubit No H), from Sergeant James. The
prisoner By waters gn\<? me the k< y uliich opened the box. I received
from Juspectw Page, of Xo\\ Scotland Yaul, and also from Sergeant
Hancock a miniber t>t loltoiH limped or Hall also handed to me
three letters written by By waters. I have- ween Bywaters write,
and to the best of my belief exhibits Now. 14, 30, and *H aie in hia
1 land writing
Cross-examined by Mr <*B<IL WHITJUJLHY By \vatern was taken
to the llford police station on the- evening of 4th October
Were you in sole charge of this case, or was there any other
officer concerned? Supei intende-ut Wensley came down, but I waw
practically in sole charge of it fie was, not present with me at
every interview I had with Bywaters lie was present with me when
Bywaters gave the long statement (exhibit No. 5) lie was not
present when I took te (statement No. 6- When Bywaters wna
By waters and Thompson.
Richard Sellars
brought to the station in the evening of the 4th Superintendent Wensley
and I were theie, and we both saw him We wei in the company of
Bywaters that evening for about an hour and a half. Practically
the whole of that pe>iiod was occupied by the taking of the statement.
There was a typist present in the room
You do not suggest that this was a statement dictated by
Bywaters? Practically He \\isheil to make a statement, and I
said we would take it down in writing
No questions asked * Yes
Is it not clear from the statement itself that questions weie put
to him and his answers are incorporated in that statement? Not
wholly, practically Both Superintendent Wousley and I asked the
questions We left By waters about nine o'clock I do not think
either of us saw him again that evening; I do not remember seeing
him I believe he slept in the library that, e \eniug On the next
day, 5th October, about 3 p m , I took a statement from Mrs
Thompson (exhibit No 3). The second statement of Mrs Thompson
(exhibit No 4) was taken about half -past four or quaiter to five.
Was it before those two statements that Mrs Thompson saw
Bywaters and said, " Why did he do it; I did not want him to do
it '"' Yes, after she was returning from the room wluw she was
taken Superintendent Wensley was not present when who said
that No steps weie taken by the police to pn-vent Mrs Thompson
and Bywaters seeing euch otliei
It was after Mrs Thompson had seen By waters, and aftor she
had made the statement (exhibit No 4) that you went back into
Bywaters' room and the statement (oxhibit No. 6) was taken? Yes.
I wrote it down myself. Before that statement was taken I told him
that I was going to charge him and Mrs. Thompson with this crime.
By Mr JUSTICE SHEARMAN Did you know by that time that he
had seen that she was there too 2 Yes.
You told us that she caught sight of him, but nobody has told
us that he caught sight of her. DC*- you know if he did? I could
not say, because my attention was centred on her.
Cross-exflniinat ion* Continued I certainly think that Bywater**
did see Mrs Thompson, but I cannot say positively.
No doubt they had seen one another, aTid tht* very (irwl firing
he add, directly you ,aid that both of them wero going lo bo charged,
was, " Why her? Mrs Thompson was not aware of ray movA-
ments " ? Yes.
And when you charged them both together that evening Byvraters
said, " It is wrong ; it is wrong " V Yes
Cross-examined by Sir II. CURTIS BENNETT I tot of all aw
Mrs Thompson at 11 a.m. on 4th October, the morning that Mr.
Thompson died, and at that time she made a statement which I noted
in my notebook. At that time she had no knowledge, as far as I
know, that any inquiries were being made as i^egards Bywaters.
40
Evidence for Prosecution.
Richard Sellan
She did not say anything about anybody having knocked her or
pushed her aside. After making that statement I asked her to come
10 the police office, and she was kept there from twelve o'clock on the
4th until the aflernoon of the 5th, when I took from her the
long statement (exhibit No 3)
At that time, as. far as you know, &he had no knowledge that
Bywaters was at the station * I could not say, but 1 should no*
think so.
Nobody had told her as far as you knorv ? No, but I gleaned
that she did on account of the letters
What 9 I gleaned that she did on account of the letters The
letters were on the table where we took the statement, and she nuit
have known on account of Bywaters' letters
By Mr JUSTICE SHEARMAN She. identified her own letters t<>
Bywateis
Civ&s-e&ftnnnation continued She identified 1hcm in Iho state-
ment (exhibit No 3). That statement took about an hour and a halt'
After the statement was taken she had to pass the room whera
Bywaters was being detained in oider to get to the matron's loom
Directly she saw By waters theie she said tins, " Oh, God, oh,
God, what can I do? Why did he do it? 1 did not want him to
do it "; and then almost immediately afterwards, " I must toll the
truth"? Yea
And them it was that, having aid " I must tell the- titith,' 1
you cautioned her, and then she said, " When wo got near Eiulleigh
Gardens a man rushed out from the gardeus and knocked me away,
pushed me away, fioro my husband. When I recovered I saw my
husband scuffling with a man The man, who I know as Freddio
Bywaters, was running away He was wearing a blue overcoat and
a grey hat. I knew it was him, although I did not see his faco."
That is right? Correct
So that directly she had in fact seen Bywators was at the station
dho made this second statement? Yes.
LEONARD WILLIAMS, examined by Mr. ROLA\I> Ouviaii I am a
detective of K Division. On 6th October I took the prisoner Bywatera
and certain pioperty from Ilford to Stratford Police Court When
at the Court he said, pointing to the property, " Have you a knife
there? " I said, " No." He. fund, " Have they found it? " I said,
" I do not think so." He said, " I told them I ran up Endsleigli
Gardens, but coming to think of it after I did it I ran forward along
Belgrave Road towards Wanslead Park, turning up a road to the
right. I am not sure whether it was Kensington Gardens- where
they lived or the next road. I then crossed over to the left side of
the road, and just before I got to the top of Cranbrook Road end
I put the knife down a drain; it should be easily found."
41
Bywaters and Thompson.
Henry William Fonter
HENRY WILLIAM FORSTER, examined by Mr ROLAND OLIVER I
am a director of Osborne & Co , tool merchants, 165-166 Aldersgate
Street. (Shown knife, exhibit No. 1). We sell at our .shop knives
identical with that, the piice being 6s We call them hunting knives
and they are sold in leather sheaths
Cross-examined by Mr CECIL WIHTELEY We have curried on
business in Aldersgate Street for about seventeen years, and during
all that time we have been selling knives similar to thai
CHARLES CALDWELL TAYLOK, examined by Mr. Ror,AKD OLIVER
I am a detective sergeant of the Salford Police. I attended the
Manchester November Handicap on 26th November, 1951. A horse
called " Welsh Woman " was running on that date
WEBSTER, examined by Mr TRAVERS HUMPHKKYS I am
senior official analyst to the Home Office On lltli October I
received By waters' overcoat (exhibit No 20), and examined H fen
the presence of blood. I found a large number of stains of human
blood on the right and loft sleeves of the coat, I also examined tin*
knife (exhibit No 1), and found that there weixs several aieas which
gave reactions for blood both on the handle and on ihe blade. Tho
traces weie not sufficient for me to say whether it uns human blood
or not. On 4th November I iccehed from Dr Spilsbmy AJOIW*
bottles and jars containing some of the organs of the decease^
Mr. Thompson. In the live* and kidneys I found a small trace of
an alkaloid giving a leaction for morphine The bottle labelled
" aromatic tincture of opium " (exhibit No 61) contains morphine.
It would be used as a sedative for killing paiu, and it is a thing that
anybody might properly have in use. Assuming that the deceased
used it a day or two lief ore his death, it us possible that a minute*
trace would be found.
I want to ask you with regard to some matters which are
mentioned in the letters Is h^oscine a poison? Yes
Cocaine, potassium cyanide, sodium antimonyl tartaratc,
bichloride of mercury, and digitalin aie thea all poisons? Yes.
Cross-examined * by Sir II CURTIS BBNNEIT Aromatic tincture
of opium is quite an ordinary thing. t T p till twelve months ago it
could l>e purchased at any chemist's, but now it is necessary to have-
a medical prescription. *It is something akin to chlorodyiie If a
person suffered with the heart, chlorodyne or tinctuie of opium would
produce relief Chlorodyne contains traces of morphine
Dr BERNARD HENRY SPILSBURY, examined by the SOLICITOR -
GENERAL I am senior pathologist to the Home Office. I made a
post-mortem examination of the exhumed body of Percy Thompson
on 3rd November. Dr. Drought, a divisional police surgeon, was
present The body was that of a well-nourished man. I found cuts
42
Evidence for Prosecution.
Dr Bernard Henry Spilsbury
in the neck and in the throat The skull and the coverings of the
blood vessels were normal, but the heart was slightly enlarged So
far as I could tell at the time, the other organs of the body were
healthy.
By Mr JUSIICE, SEBABMAN The cuts which I found were stabs >
with the exception of one on the right arm, which was a cut.
Examination continued I did not find any signs of poisoning,
nor did I find any SCHJS in the intestines I am aware that glass
has been mentioned in this case and in the letters as possibly being
administered to Peicy Thompson. If glass had been administered I
would not necessanly expert to tind indications in the oigans. The
administration of glass, broken or ground, would produce different
results Laige fragments of glass if given might pioduce injury
by cutting the \\all of the gullet, 01 the stomach, or the intestines,
and if those injuries did not prove fatal a wear or scais might l>e
found on the ualls afterwaids. If given in a powdered form the
immediate effect, ot the powder would be to pioduce innumeiable
minute hi Junes to the delicate membranes lining the stomach and
intestines, in all probability setting up an acute illness; but if thai
did not occur, 01 if recovery followed, the glass would disappear
entirely from tluv system, ^ith I he possible exception of that ftzuall
portion known as the appendix m \\hich it might lodge and remain
for a long time
In this case did you find any indications of powdered glass in
the abdomen? No, there wore none. I found no indication of the
presence of glass either in large piuce& or in powdered particles.
Is the negative lesult of your examination consistent with glass
having been administered 2 Senna time previously, ye It is pos-
sible that glass in large pieces could have passed through the system
without such injury as to leave any signs behind It would pawi*
away in the food and in the excrement, What I found aw the
negative result, of my examination IB consistent also with particles
of glass having been passed through the system As to other poisons,
I would not expect necessarily to find indications of poisons if they
had been admhristei'ed some considerable time before. Some poisons
would leave no traces afc any time even if death occurred shortly
after administration. Others would produce effects which would
last for a few days, and in the case of a few poisons a few weeks,
but after tho end of that time there are very few poisons which
would leave any indications, awe-pi poisons which were
corrosive or which were markedly irritant poisons. Neither hyos-
cine or cocaine is markedly irritant. Cyanide of potassium is an
irritant; it would either kill quickly or recovery would occur withm
a short time Sodium antimonyl tart at ate is an irritant poiaoii,
and I think it probably would be difficult to detect any traces after
ten days or a fortnight Bichloride of mercury is an intense irri-
tant poison and it might show traces for a very long tirao; in
By waters and Thompson.
Dr Bernard Henry Spilebury
the kidneys and bowel there might be evidence of it after certainly
some weeks and possibly some months after its administration.
Digitalm has no irritant effect.
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEAHMAN Used in small quantities it is a
stimulant
Examination continued Morphine would not leave any traces.
Cross-examined by Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT Does it all come
to this that theie has been not trace whatever in the post-mortem of
any glass having been administered, either in laige pieces or pow-
dered? That is so.
And as far as poisons aie concerned, there is no trace what-
ever of any poison ever having been administered, except of mor-
phine, which I htivo dealt with? That is so
No trace of any poison being piescut and no changes suggestive
of previous attempts to poison? Quite Glass if taken would pass
through the gullet into the stomach, and then through the duodenum,
and so on through the intestines to the cteoum Off the caecum is
the appendix
On its journey through those parts of the body would not a
large piece of glass tend to cut 01 make a scar? It would tend to
cut or to pieice the wall The scar would come afterwards.
You would find a scar lemammg afterwards, would you not?
You might do so 1 made 1 a veiy careful examination to see if
there was any scar anywhere, and I could not find any. There is no
outlet from the appendix except the ono opening into the bowi*l
I made a caieful examination of the apjx?ndix and found no trace at
all of glass of any sort, powdered or otherwise. If any of the
poisons mentioned in my examination had been given in appreciable
doses, illness would have resulted, the degree of illness depending
upon the amount There are not many of the poisons which have
been put to me to-day which would leave any permanent effect at
all Some, of course, would leave a trace for a time.
At any rate there was no trace, either post-mortem or by
analysis, of any poison -ever having been given? No.
Mr TRAVERS HUMPHREYS I have been consulting my learned
friends in oider to see if they desire UK to call the remainder of the
witnesses, Edgar Edwards, Robert Gilham, William Mould, Henry-
Palmer and Detecti ve-Inspedot ftixon.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL That will be the case for the Crown.
[The letters, exhibits Now 49, 12, 62, 27, 13, 15, 16, UO, 50,
17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 51, 23, 66, 67, 68, 24, 58, 25, 69, 26, 52, 63,
54, 28, 55, 47, 48, 58, 59, 9, 60, 10, 64, 14, 30, 31 were read.]*
Sir H OTTRTIS BENsr&rr The jury, of course, will understand
that in addition to those letters there are 33 other ones on which
the prosecution do not rely and which are not put in.
* See Appendix.
44
Frederick
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters,
Evidence for the Prisoner Bywaters,
FBEDBBICK EDWARD FHANCLS BYWATEKS (prisoner on oath),
examined by Mr. CECIL WULTKLBY When I amved fiom my last
voyage I went to stay \ulli my moilioi ui, Vtesto\\ Street, NOMUJ-UJ
My mothei had been living there, about two and a half years, and
previous to that she was liwug in Manor Paik The Uiaydons \\cre
also living in Manor Park I met the. (Jniydu'ii boys at school and
got to know the family in that \\ay i liave been on good terms
ever since with the Graydon family Bui ween 2(>ih Febiuary ami
4th .June last year I ws away on a \oyage to Anstialia. I timvwl
at Tilbujy on 4th June, and I wont, I'm a holiday to the Isle of
Wight Mi and Mrs Thompson tind Avis (Jra-ydon were also- taking
a holiday there, and \\e met friends, Mr. and Mrs.. Vallender, who
has been a \\iincHH in this wise I v\as In iiio Lie of Wight for ono
week. On 1 8th Juno I went to stay wilh the Thompsons at 41
Kensington (Jardc-ns, on Mr Thompson's invitation, tind I stayed
with thorn in then houso urinl 5ih Autrusl
Uo\v did you come ten leave? Tiifiiv vvu . ;i tjuurrcl on I Hi
Axigust, tho Unnk Holiday, bo'lw(?i'ii Mr. Thoniption tuid his wif
over a very trivial ma(.f.f k r; it \\IIH a pin (.lial> caustnl j|u trouble
Mr. Thompson throw his wife ac<xsK <h'* morning KXMH smd on
paBKAge aci'ORM tlio room slu i ovcrluiiuMl n chair. I was
outside and hoard tho hang and ran inside.
By Mr. Jufmci? SHKAUMAN -Then you <hd not hiar I he <jimrr<I
I thought you WIN! von head llu^ quai rel >f -Tlu< (junn'el wiarte<l in
the gat don.
Sasatntna/wH rwittuuedMm, Thompson, who \\UK sewing,
said, " I want a pnu" ami f said, " I will go and got yoti one-."
I went iiiHide and got tho pin, arid when T came outside again into
the garden they \u*ro ar^ui'n^. Tho argument dropped for ihe> (.into
being and \ve went inside to tea. Thompson tuimo in anil Croats!
further trouble, arid then there WUH a Hf.tugglo.
Had you b^'n t,nl\ing Mrs. Thompson about? No.
You had bean out %vii,h her'/ \Vilh Mr. Thomfson. AB thw
result of the row I left at Mr. Thoinpson's rot] tut* I* and my own in-
clination I was ni London between 5th AugiiHt. and Oth September.
Just I ell us at. once, By waters, were* you taking Mr. Thompson
out during that times? { -wan mooting htr oecasionully.
What was the state of your iVelings to her and hers t.n you?
We were fn'otulR. T think her husbjind know that we, were HKvoting,
Hud you then fallen in love with her? [ was fond of hor. I
had never monticwiod it to her, though.
Whon was it first that you we.ro in lovo with ono anothor?-
Well, I Bupfiow* it wa just. ln*f(vro T won! away in S<pt< k mbor. 1
was away from 9<h H<fil<mb<T to 20t,h Octalxr, and during that
time I got letters from Mrs. Thompson JUK! I replied to them,
45
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
I do not want to go into any detail, but were you wilting *o
<me another love tetters* Yes When I came back on 29th October
I remained in London for just a foitnight, until llth November
During that time I saw Mrs Thompson practically eveiy day.
I ought to have asked you this before: before you left in
August did you have any conversation with Mr. Thompson ^n tlio
presence of Mrs Thompson as to separation or divorce 7 Yos, or*
this day of the trouble, 1st August, there was a conversation be-
tween the three of us about a separation. Mr Thompson said to
his wife, " We will come to an agreement and have a reparation,"
and she said, " Yes, I should like that, but you make a BiaUraenf,
and then whine back to me and retract that statement; you hav
done that before." When I came back in October Mrs. Thompson
and I spoke about the desirability of her getting a Reparation from
her husband I said to her, " Can you not come to any atmcahte
understanding on* agiecment with your husband to got a aepa ration,"
and she replied, " I keep on asking, but it seems no good at all/*
On that visit home in the end of October and the beginning of
November I went to Kensington Gardens on a Ratuiday tii'lmwxHi
and made a request to him that he should have a separation. J
had taken Mrs. Thompson out previously; apparently ho luxl Ixurt'
waiting at the station for her and he had seen the two of m \*>
get her. He made a statement to Mis. Thompson, " Jk k in not a
man or else he would ask my permission to take you out/* and ahu
repeated that statement to me the following day. In co?te<{m*nct*
of that I went and saw Mr Thompson, and as lu* had said Unit I
had^run away from him, I told him that I did not sue him at tin*
station. Mrs Thompson was present part of the time.
At that time was anything discussed between yr>n HIM] Mr.
Thompson about a separation 01 divorce? Ye, that, wiw tlui tlutnu*
of the conversation. I said, " Why do you not come 1o an ainfcabti
agreement; -either have a separation or you can get adivows" awl
he hummed and hawed about it TFo was undecided and mid.
" Yes No I don't se it conceras you." I said, " You ar<
making Edie's hfo a hell. You know aho js not happy with you/*
He replied, " Well, I have got her and 1 will keep hr." Kvt*ul-i:illy
I extracted a promise from him that he would not knock hw ultou'l
any more and that he would not beat her, but I could gdi, no iimler
standing with regard to a separation or divorce I mot him a^ah?
on Saturday evening at. the Craydons. I left with my nhip on
llth November and I was away until 7th January.
Look now at tho letter (exhibit 02) and at thin
All I could think about last night was that compact wo made. Shall
we have to carry it thro? Don't let us dai'lint.
What was the compact? Suicide
Who auggested that? Mrs. Thompson had suggested it.
41)
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywatera
Did you ever make any agreement that you should commit
suicide? Well, I suggested it as a way of calming her, hut I never
intended to carry it out.
Then the letter goes on
I'd like to live and be happy not fur a httio while, but for all
the while you still love me Death seemed homble 1,-tht niglit whon yon
think about it darling it does seem a horrible tlung to <he, wlion you have
nevei been happy really happy for one little minuto.
I am going to ask you at onco, Bywaterw, at, *iny Imio v\ts ihere
any agreement l)et\vecn you and Mrs. Thompson to poison her
husband 2 Ncvei , ilieie was never Mich an agreement
Was there ,iny agreement that any violence shoultl be used
against her husband? No, the gieatest -violc'iice was. separation.
As far as you could toll, icuthu^ these lulfcivu tin! jou ever
believe in your own mind that she hctrjulf lia<l evur &i\en any poiHon
to her husband? No, it never eniored my head al all. Sln had
been reading books
Had you some quinine on boa hi? \e,s, I ti^ed it m.Vttclf It
was in the form of 5 gram tabloids, \vhito
Did you ever give any of that quinnio to Mrn. ThompKOii? I
did
Apart; From that <|uinin<\ d<l you OUT ^ivtj her any <>lhT drug?
No, I did not.
Did you OVCT give lui any poison of any sort, <vr <lt t sci'iption?
No, nothing at all Tin* <|uiiiin<' IIJIK. u mosf lulloi tn tc, MVV un-
ploasant There won*' other two- lei tors which 1 #o< hoi'ou 1 i came
batik on 7ih .laiumry, wit* of them being i^bibit ^7, \\iil \\luch
Mrs Thom]>son onc.lowed a nuiuber of (iuttin^s TJmt, was a habit i>F
lierw inHloail of sontiin^ a nowspapur she would Keiul cuttings that
appeared to bo mlemstin^ The euiii
\v<-K! \\ith toward lo
of allorts which J was iiilo-rcsiod in reading I ot, hack fioni y
voyage on 7th .lanuary, and I WSK on Iea\< until the* ^Otli. Dutiit^
that fortnight I saw Mrs. Thompson frequently, and the question
of getting a separation or u divorce was. <liM*iiHHu<i between us. Sho
etill complained <rf being ill (rent til; sho Miid, u Things are just, the
same; they get no bettor." Sho nl that tlu oltanees of getting a
ftoparation wore v<y Htnall, that, Thoiupson would never agree to
it. I waw away again from tho 20<h January to 17th March. During
that time I got thu loiter (exhibit No. 15)
Darlint you must do Hom^tliitiff thin time -I'm not wully impatient
but opportunitifH conic and o by thy havo io--bucaiifie I'nj hi'lplwg and
I think aud think and think perhaps --it will never come again.
I hardly know what that rvfern to.
*' You mut <lo Homcthing." Wlmi* was it who had been wanting
you to do? Take her away.
47
Bywaters and Thompson.
Frederick . F Bywatere
It is suggested by the prosecution that that means that you
were going to do something in connection with her husband. Is
there* anything in that' It is entirely wrong.
Did she ask you more than once to take her away* Oh, yes
Tell us about it Was it a genuine demand by her or not?
Well, she appeared to want to go away, but she used to get very
hysterical. She was of a highly strung nature.
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Did she ask you to take her away
or not? Oh, yes
Examination continued When she said, " Tiy and help me,'*
in what \say was it she had asked you to help her? -In regard to
getting a separation.
On Uth March she writes you the letter (exhibit No. 20) in
which theie is the following passage.
I ant not going to talk to you any more I can't and I don't think FTC
shirked have I ? Except dailmt to ask you again to think out all the
plans and methods for me and wait and wait so anxiously now for the
time when we will be with each other even tho* it's only once
What weie the " plans and methods " \\hich she hud asked you to
think out? Going away together, or the separation.
Was there any discussion as to what she was to do abroad?
She would go abroad to a millinery business. My wages weio about
4 a week. I was visiting various countiies and various cities, and
Mrs. Thompson was writing to me at these various countries ami
various places I was to make inquiries as to the prospects of hor
obtaining situations in these places. Bombay was nwntioriofi, alno
Australia, where there might be an opening for her. he also
mentioned Marseilles to me I came back on 17th March, and \vw
at home for a fortnight. It would be at that time that I gave IV! rw.
Thompson the quinine. I was seeing her constantly then. Wlion i
went away on 31st March she wrote me the letter (exhibit .50) itt
which she said
This time really will bo the last you will go away like things aro won't
it? We said it before darlmt I know and we failed hut thmj will ho xm
failure this next time darlmt, there mustn't be
What " failure " had there been? The* failure to got a wpara
tion failure to- take her abioad.
" You will never leave me behind again, nover, unlws IhingH
are different." What docs that mean? That means unlcHH H!< could
get a separation I would not go to sea any more alone. I would not
leave her again unless I took her with me go wilh mo., you HIU*.
In Mrs. Thompson's letter, dated 1st April (exhibit 17), Im
talks about an electric light bulb. Did you pay any attention to that
at all? No. I think she was trying to put herwif in tluv nanio plan*
as Bella Donna in the book " Bella Donna "
48
Evidence for Prisoner By waters.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
Did you attach any importance to it at all? No, I thought it
was mere melodrama
Then in the letter of 24th April (exhibit 18) she says, " I
used the ' light bulb ' three times " Then look at the letter of 1st
May (exhibit 19), " We shall have to wait if we fail again " What
does that mean? Another attempt to get a separation.
Look at this passage
We'll wait eh darlint, and you'll try aud get some money and then we
can go away and not worry about anybody or anything You said it was
enough for an elephant. Perhaps it was But you don't allow for tUe
taste making only a small quantity to be taken. It sounded like a reproach
was it meant to be?
Just tell what the reference to the elephant and the quinine IK*
Thirty grains of quinmo taken by Mrs Thompnon. I iold her it
was enough for an elephant. I lined to tako 10 grains when I was
bad with malaria
Look now at tho letter of 18l,h May (oshibil 22), \vhi<'h starts
with a quotation from " Bella Donna " Did yon attach any im-
portance to that? That it camo fioni a book /that is all; it is a
quotation I arrived home on 2(>th May
After the dale of ariiving homo did you pay any attention at
all to what she had said in those loiters to you received on that voyage
between March and May? No, no-thing at all 1 was at home for
a fortnight between 26th May and Oth June, and I was setting Mr8.
Thompson constantly tlieu. We wore- always discussing the question
of a separation or divorce. I went away on S)th June, and did not
come back until 23rd September. During the whole of that time I
was getting the vanouw letters which have been producwl.
Did you correspond with her as much on thi voyage EH yon
had done previously? No, I did not,. Tho reason was I thought
that if I ceased to correspond with her her life would not be BO hard.
The references in the various lottery about my not writing to her
just refer to the fact that I had not written much from various ports.
The letters which I did write to Iwr were similar io tho thre# which
have been produced (exhibits 14, 30, and 31).
Did you ever write a letter wuggostiag violence or poison ? No,
never.
Look at Mrs. Thompson's letter of 23rd May (exhibit 2.3)
I'll try to be patient darling. You talk about that cage you are in
that's how I feel only worse if it can bo o.
Had you written to her tolling hor io b patient? Yea; oh, yea.
Look at the letter of 13t.li Juno (exhibit 24)
Darlingest Boy, I'm trying very hard very very hard to B,B.
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick . F. Bywaters
Does that mean " be brave " ? That means be brave. I had written
her a letter and told her to be brave.
Then it goes on
When he saw this had no effect on me he got up and stormed 1
fl&id exactly what you told me to and he replied that he knew that'*
what I wanted and he wasn't going to give it to mo it would make thingi
far too easy for both of you (meaning you and me) especially for you he
said.
What had you told her to tell him? A separation, and if she could
not get a separation suggest a divorce, and she would provide him
with the evidence she would go to that extent. I told her to say
that, and that is what she is referring to. In the letter of 20th
June (exhibit 25) she says, " I wish you had taken me with you,
darlint " There was a suggestion that we should go away the
following year, 1923, and I had partly made arrangements in
Australia. When she says, "When you are not near, darlint, I
wish we had taken the -easiest way," she is referring to suicide, as
that was the easiest way out of it. Later on in the letter she says,
" What an utterly absurd thing to say to me, ' Don't be loo dis-
appointed.' " I had written to her saying that I had started to
make arrangements in Australia, or that I was going to make, arrange-
ments, but she could not expect too much yet, and was not to be too
much disappointed.
Come now to the letter of 4th July (exhibit 26)-*-
In one part of it [she is referring to a letter to youj you Hay you are
going to still write to me because it will help, in another part you say-*
perhaps I shan't write to you from some ports because I want to help you.
You had written to her to that effect? Yes, that I was not going to
write.
Why arn't you sending me something! wanted you to you never do
what I ask you darlint you still have your own way alwaysIf I don't
mind the risk why should you? Whatever happens cannot be any more than
this existence looking forward to nothing and gaining only ashes and dust
and bitterness.
What was it she had asked you to send her? More letters.
Where did the risk come with regard to these letters ? The risk
was people seeing them; she did not want any one to see them; that
was all. There was always the difficulty as to where these letters
should be sent to.
Look at letter of 14th July (exhibit 52), where she says
You do say silly things to me ' try a little bit every day not to think
about me.'
Is that what you had been telling her to do? That is what I faid.
50
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywatera
Sometimes I think and think until my brain goes round and round
* Shall I always be able to keep you ' Eight years is such a long time.
What was she teferring to there? Her age and miue She was
eight years older than me, and she felt it,
Look at exhibit 63, -which was wntten on 28th August
Darhngeat boy, to-day is the 27th and it's on a Sunday, so I am writing
this in the bathroom, I always like to send you greetings on the daynot
the day before or the day after.
What was that the anniversary of? The 27th June, 1921, my birth-
day.
By Mr JUSTICE SHEAEMAN But this is August? Tes, it was
Eocamination continued I will read the rest of the letter
Fourteen whole months have gone by now, darluit, it's so terribly long
Was it the day in the month that it was an anniversary of?
5Tes, the 27th is the anniversary.
Neither you nor I thought wo should have io wait all that long time,
did we v Altho' I s<iid 1 would wait (ive yeo.r& and 1 will darhnt it f fl only
three years and ten months now.
What was the wailing five years? On 27th Juno, 1921, Mm
Thompson tolcl mo she wag unhappy, and I raid, " Let mo bo u
pal to you, let mo help you if T can " This was after we had
come back fiom the Isle of Wight, and while I was Htaying in
Thompson' house. Mrs. Thompson nnd I had been having an
argument, and ahe suddenly burst into loan;, and I advised her to
wait, not to give up hope, and not, commit, miicido.
But what was to happen at the end of the live years? Well,
there was hardly anything definite It w*u* JUKI an arrangement to
put off anything her committing suicide. I extracted a promise
from her lo wait five years, so that she should not commit suicide.
During that five yearn was there to bo any suggestion of a
separation or a divorce? Yes, fivo years fo try and get it.
And if theio was no divorce or separation in fivo years, what
then did she suggest 1 Either going away entirely, the two of us
going away, or suicide.
Look now at the letter of 12th September (exhibit 54). This is
one of the last letters oho wrote to you before you got home
I've got nothing to talk to you about t can't think about anything
at all I can't even look forward to seeing yoa. ... I don't hear from
you much You don't talk to mo by letter and help mo and 1 don't oven
know if I am going to see you
Will you tell us how she came to write that? I had coasod
(H
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F Bywrten
corresponding with her. I had said I would not see her when !
came to England, as it would not be so hard for her to bear ; her
life would be easier, perhaps, if I did not see her or coiiespond
with her. I was doing that for her sake, as I wanted to help her.
In the letter (exhibit 28), she says
You say * can we be pals only, Peidi, it will make it en&ier '
I had suggested that to her. Further on in the same letter she says
Have you lost heart and given up Lope? Toll me if you have darlint.
That was the result of the letter I had written. I arrived in this
country on 23rd September, and Mrs. Thompson wired to mo to
meet her.
At that date had there been any agreement that any act of
violence should be done to her husband either by her or by you?
No, nothing at all.
In these letters that have been read, was there anything which
incited you to do any act of violence to Mr. Thompson? Nothing
whatever.
Had it any effect on your mind at all, so far as Mr. Thompson
was concerned * No, I never considered them much.
The Court adjourned.
Third Day Friday, 8th December, 1922,
FREDERICK EDWARD FRANCIS BTWATERS, recalled, further
examined by Mr. CECIL WHITELET My ship arrived at (iravesend
on Saturday, 23rd September, and I went to my mother's that
evening, and continued to reside there I first mot Mrs. Thompson
after my return on Monday, tho 23th, I also met her on the
next three days at quarter to six in the evening at Fenohurch
Street station, and I left her at quarter 1o seven. Those were the
only times I was with her during those clays On Friday, 29th,
I met Mrs Thompson about mid-day and took her to lunch, and
then she went back to her business 1 wont to Fullers' toashop
between three and four that afternoon, and I got the letter which
Miss Jacobs handed io me I WUK in the tcushop when Mrs.
Vallender came in Latoi on Mis, Thompson came in. 1 left
her that evening in 11 ford about quarter to seven, and then 1 went
home to my mother's On tho Saturday morning, aboui, nine
o'clock, 1 took her foi u walk in Wtinstead Park, awl left her in
the park about one o'clock I went homo Io my mother's about
tea-time, and I stayed there for the icst of 1hc k day, and for tliu
whole of the Sunday until the Monday. On the Monday mottling
Mrs Thompson telephoned to me (\vhich was quite a wmal thing
when I was at home), and I took her for lunch After lunch aho
went back to her work, and in tho afiemoon I went to Fullers'
teashop. That was the day on which Higginy gave me exhibit 10,
"Wait till one, he's come. Peidi." Mrs. Thompwm came into
the teashop, and I left her at about quarter io seven, the usual
time. I then went to Mr. Graydun'fi, 231 Shakespeare Orescent,
Manor Park. I had been thoio on tho previous Monday with a
message from Mr (jraydon's won in Australia. I was on very
friendly terms with that family. On that Monday evening I
stayed with them up till about 10.30. Thul evening I asked Mr.
Graydon if he would get me some tobacco, and lie said that he would
Up to that time had there been any agreement between you
and Mrs Thompson with reference to her huaband in any way?
Only the usual agreement of trying to get a separation or divorce.
Had the position been changed in any way from what it had
been on your previous leave? No, nothing at all; if anything, we
were both trying to got more resigned to it.
Come now to Tuesday, 3rd Oulotar. llud you a knife 5u your
possession? Yes, I had a knife with a leathern Hhoath, which I
bought in November, 1921, and which I took wifh me when I went
abroad. I always carried it in my overcoat pocket, and it was in
my pocket on 3rd October, Mrs. Thompson telephoned to m aa
usual that morning, and I took her to lunch at the Queen Anno
53
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
Restaurant, Cheapside. After lunch she went back to her business,
and in the afternoon I went to Fullers' teashop. Mrs. Thompson
joined me there at about ten minutes past five; she came to the
door, and I got up and went outside with her, and left her at
Aldersgate Street station about half-past five The conversation I
had with her was making arrangements for the following day.
She asked me if I would be in town the following day as usual.
Was that the arrangement that was come to between you?
Yes. She said she was going to a theatre with Percy and her
uncle and aunt from Stamford Hill, and Miss Avis Graydon was
supposed to go too, and she added, " I wish I was going with you."
After leaving her at Aldersgate Street station I went to Mr. Gray-
don's house at Manor Park, and arrived there between six and
half -past six. I went there in order to get the tobacco that we
had spoken about, and I remained till eleven o'clock, sitting in
the same room all the time. Mr and Mrs. Graydon, Newenham
Graydon, and Avis were in the room with me at different times
I had a pouch with me which Mrs Thompson had given me as a
present on the Monday. Both Mrs. and Miss Graydon noticed it.
Mrs. Graydon said to me, " You have got a new pouch, Freddy.
Was it a present? " and I said, " Yes." She said, " From a
girl, I expect? " and I said, " Yes." She said, " I expect the
game girl gave you that as gave you the watch? " (I had got a
present of a, watch from Mrs Thompson two voyages previously.)
I said, " Yes, the same girl gave it me," and she saw, " I know
who it is, but I am not going to say. Never mind, we won't argue
abcir, it. She is one of the best." I said, " There is none tetter."
Bywaters, I know it is difficult, but I want you to tell us in
your own way what your feelings were towards Mrs. Thorn] wont
After that conversation, which happened just before I left, I was
naturally thinking of Mrs. Thompson. I was thinking how unhappy
she was, and I wished I could help her in some manner. That waft
the trend of my thoughts all the way to East Ham station. When
I arrived at East Ham station I thought, " I don't want to go homo;
I feel too miserable. I want to see Mrs. Thompson; I want to fieo
if I can help her." I turned round from East Ham station and
walked in the direction of Ilford. I knew Mr. and Mrs. Thompson
would be together, and I thought perhaps if I were to see them I
might be able to make things a bit better. I had spokon to Mr
Thompson about this on two previous occasions only, in August and
September of the previous year
What was your object in going to Ilford? I went to see
Thompson to come to an amicable understanding for a separation
or divorce.
Until that moment, had you had any intention of going to
Ilford at all that night? Oh, no. It kind of came across me all
of a sudden. I arrived at Ilford station and crossed over the
54
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frsdenck F. Bywatei~
railway bridge, turning down York Road into Belgrave Road
When I got into Belgrave Road I walked for some time, and some
distance ahead I saw Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, theii backs turned
to me. They were walking along Belgrave Road towards Kensing-
ton Gardens, and Mis. Thompson was on the inside of the pavement.
I overtook them, and pushed Mrs. Thompson with my right hand
like that (describing) With my loft hand I held Thompson, and
caught him by the back of his coat and pushed him along the street,
swinging him round After I swung him round I said to him,
" Why don't you get a divorce or separation, you cad? "
Where were youi hands when you said that 1 By my side ; I
had let go of him. JIo said, " I know that is what you want,
but I am not going to give it you , it would make it too pleasant
for both of you " I said, " You take a delight in making Edie's
life a hell." Then he said, " I've got her, HI keep her, and I'll
shoot you." As he said that he punched me in the chest with his
loft fist, and I said, "Oh, will you? " and drew a knife and put it
in his arm.
Did he do anything before you took the knife out? Yes, he
punched me with his left hand and said, " I'll shoot you," going
at the same time like that with his right hand (describing).
Why did you draw your knife? Because 1 thought 1 was going
to be killed. After I put my knife into his aim there waa i
struggle All the time struggling, I thought lie was going to kill
me. I thought he was going to shoot me if he had an opportunity,
and I tried to stop him.
We know of the wounds ho received Hav< you any recollection
at all as to how the wounds at the bade erf tho nock oecuried? I
have not any exact recollection, but all I oan say is I had the knifo
in my left hand, and they got there somehow,
During all this time aft or you had brushed MTH. Thompson ft way
did you see hor again? I did not Rho might have boon 10 milen
away for all I saw of her. After the struggle' I uppoe I ran away.
I don't remember it definitely, but that is what happened.
At that time did you realises that he was dead? No, ho wa
standing up when I left him I then made my way home* Next day
I did some shopping with my mother, and came to London with hor
In the afternoon I went to the oity, and afterward** I went to visit
Mr and Miss Avis Graydon at Manor Park, an there had lx?on an
arrangement made on the Tuesday thai sho should como out with
me that night.
With Mrs. Thompson? No, not with Mrs. Thompson. 1 bought,
a copy of the Ewtniny News at Mark Lane slat ion (tho station for
Manor Park), and I read there an account of what had happened.
Was that the first knowledge you had that Mr, Thompson was
dead? It was. I could hardly believo it then. 1 have lizard tho
evidence that Mr Graydon has given in this Court; it is quite true.
65
Bywaters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F, Bywaters
The police officers came and asked me to go to Ilford police station,
and I went. I saw Superintendent Wensley, Inspector Hall, and
a typist in the police station that evening, and I signed my first
statement (exhibit 5) in their presence.
Did you yourself dictate that statement' No, I did not; I was
asked to oblige Superintendent Wensley.
Was it done in the form of questions and answers ? Yes
You say nothing in that statement as to the meeting with Mis
Thompson by the wall? No.
That is right, is it not? That is correct. I did not know what
happened really. I knew Mrs. Thompson was in custody, and I
wanted to help her I was kept at the police station all mght, awl
the following evening I signed the statement (exhibit JNo 0)
Before signing that statement I had been taken to Mrs Thompson.
I was taken from the library to the C.I.D office.
You were taken past her? No, in her presence *
Where was it? -In the C I.D office 1 afterwards made the
statement (exhibit No. 6).
Did you hear what Mrs. Thompson said? No, 1 aw hei
statement.
By Mr JUSTICE SHEARMAN Do you mean her written wtate-
ment (exhibit No. 4)? Yes
Xseamwwitton continued I have no idea what happened tx> th
fiheath of my knife The kuife >vas found live dayw aftorwank.
Cross-examined by the SOMCITOH-GBNBRAL From February,
1921, to June, 1931, I was with the " Orvieto." From June until
September I was at home. When I came home in Juno, 1921, I was
eighteen years of age.
Had your acquaintance with Mrs. Thompson before that been
simply as a friend of her brother? I was a friend of Mrs*. Thompson
as well.
A friend of the family without any particular affection for her?
Oh, no, that is not so. Mrs. Thompson and I wcro alway very
good friends
Was it on the holiday which you spent with her and her husband
at Shankh'n when you first fell in love with her? No.
Did she declare any particular affection for you? Sho did not.
Nor you for her? No.
Are you sure of that? I am positive.
Did you and her husband remain perfectly good frienda during
that holiday? Tea.
* This is an example of the confusion arising from the bad acoustics of the
Central Criminal Court The witness 1 moaning aa to his seeing of Mrs. Thomp-
son was never made clear to the Court. .Ed.
56
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
When do you say you first felt or declared your affection for hert
I first told her just before I went away in J^ejjtombor, 1921. That
was after I had left her husband's house.
Do you suggest that that was tho iirst time you and she had
declared yourselves to each other? Yea, as mutual affection.
As being in love with each other * Yes
Did it go as far as that al that lime? Yes.
Look at Mrs Thompson's letter to you of *20th Juno, 1922
(exhibit No. 25), and turn to tho fourth paragraph. Was 2()th
June, 1921, spent with the. Thompsons at Shanklm? No We were
dot at Shankhn then. We weie at Kensington Gardens.
Look at the fourth paiagraph
It's Friday now darlint nearly time to go, I am wondering if you
remember what your an&wer WPS to mo in reply to my * What's the
matter ' to-night of labt year I remember quite well ' you know what's
the matter, I lovo yon * . . but you didn't then darlint, because you
do now and it's ditloront now, isn't it? From then onwards everything
has gone wrong with our Uvcfi don't mean to say it was right before at
least mine wasn't right but I was quite indifferent to it being cither right
or wrong and you darlint you hadn't any of the troubles -or the worries
you have now you wens quite fret* in mind and body
Was that a truo or an iwtiue .statement, that a year ago, in June,
1021, you and she had declared your love for each other'/ That is
not right
That is untrue? That i untrue
Can you Huggest bow Him vumiaii, \\bo- was in love with you,
had invented an imaginary lugiiming for thin, amassing pawtion?
I don't quite understand you
By Mr. Jutvnc'B SHWAWIAN To come* down to the simpler ques-
tion did you on that day way, " I lovo you "? No.
Grow-exawirMlfan continued Look at Mrs. Thompson's loiter
of llth August, 1821 (exhibit 49)
Darlmgcst, Will you ploaae take those letter*} back now? X have no-
where to keep them, except a small oa, r .h box, X have just bought and I want
that for my own letters only and I fool Beared to death in case anybody
else should road them. All tho wibh&s I can poHHibly iwiid for the very
best of lack to-day, from Veirli
That letter waa in fact written a. few days after you had loft their
houHe at Kensington Garden** f That in BO.
Does that satisfy you that your evidence w wrong us to tho date
you told her you loved her J &<>.
Then on 20th August, 3921 (exhibit 12), oho write*
Gome and #eo xncv Monday lunch time, please darlint. He auspeote,
Peidi.
67
Bywaters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywatera
Do you remember -when you met her? I suppose* I went on tho
Monday, but I don't remember.
Do you remember then as to whether you and Mrs Thompson
had conversations as to suspicions of her husband about you? ilo
was naturally jealous of Mrs. Thompson's friends.
Did you and Mrs. Thompson have conversations about the time,
or just after, you left her husband's house as to her husband being
suspicious of you? No.
Did you and Mrs. Thompson at that time desire that fche should
be separated from her husband? Oh, yes.
Was she anxious for it? Yes
I think in your evidence-in-chief you said that you and Mr. and
Mrs. Thompson discussed a separation? They discussed it; J
listened.
Were you involved in that conversation as. the lover of Mrw.
Thompson? No.
I may take it you did not declare yourself at any time in th
conversation? Oh, no.
Were you anxious to declare yourself, or were you anxious to
prevent the husband from being suspicious? I hatl not those* fueling*)
then.
Then I may take it that at that time you had no mlonlion of
taking Mrs. Thompson away with you, or no thought of it? I hail
thought of helping Mrs. Thompson; I should like to help her to lx>
more happy.
Had you any thought at that time of going away with hor,
taking her to live with you ? No.
Had you thought of that before you departed on your voyage in
September, 1921? Yes.
Had you suggested that to her? Not exactly that I had sug-
gested she should get a divorce or separation, and, failing that, wo
should go away together That was jusb a few days before- J loft in
September, 1921. I saw Mr. Thompson again after the* intorviw
at which he and his wife discussed separation I saw him while I
was in the house, and I saw him again when I camo home ia
November.
Up till that time in November, so far aa you know, had the
husband any suspicions of you? No.
Were you and he perfectly good friends? No, I cannot say that
we were good friends.
Were you on friendly terms? We were acquaint anceft.
When you met him in November did you meet as frirndH and
part as friends? As acquaintances. We shook hands when we went;
we were not bosom chums.
Did you mention the question of a separation to him again on
that occasion in November? Yes.
Was he angry about it? No, I cannot say he was
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
Was he pleased about it? Well, he was not exactly pleased.
Did he turn you out of the house? Oh, no.
He discussed it in an amicable way? Yes.
Did you then tell him that j r ou were in love with his wife? No
Did you suggest any grounds upon which either she or he wai:
to obtain a divoice? No.
Was divorce mentioned' Divorce or separation was mentioned
Were you not at this timo a( tempting to kt'ep back from him all
suspicion as to your lelatious with Mis. Thompson? No, I was
not attempting to keep it bade.
Did you ever tell him up io that time? No.
Had you and Mis. Thompson at that time spoken about suicide?
Yes
Do you remember when thai proposal ivas abandoned?
Abandoned ?
Yew. Was it abandoned? Yes, iho pant of suicide was
abandozicd.
It is referred to in exhibit No 02, tin* letter of 18th November,
1921
All I could think about last night was that, compact we made. Shall
we havo to <sarry it thro'!
Was that jwwt of suicNlo abandoned after that letter? I never
really cousideied it ttonouhly.
May wo lake it from thnt time forward ihere was no moro
thought of tiie suicide pad? Oh yes, there was; it was mentioned.
But not really ontoilaincul by you? No
Do you any from thai tum forward tho only id<a m your mind
oor hers was divousu or separation? Or suicide on her part.
But 1 ho suicides I put to you, aft*r that letter wns not seriously
entertained? Not by me, but by her it was.
Except for tho suiciido on IUT part you ay that you or sho
only contemplated separation or divorce? That i trns or im 1x>
take her away.
Was tho removal of her husband ever mentioned by hor to
you? No.
Never ? Never.
Did it over omir to you that tJkah was a way in which you and
she might como together? No
Did her letters auggosb it Io you? No.
Did you tell your learned counsel that you n*ail her lot tors as
melodrama ? -Rome,
What was it you understand as rnolodrama? She had a vivid
way of declaring horse-If ; sho would read a book and imagine her-
self as the charactor in the book,
Do you mean that you road her referenooK ix> poiHon OH
drama? Some as melodrama; some as general knowledge.
Bywaters and Thompson.
Frederick . F Bywaters
General knowledge? Yes.
I don't understand that What did you understand when she
mentioned a particular poison I To what are you referring?
Are you aware, or do you remember, that she mentioned several
times a poison in her letters ? Yes
Did that suggest to you a dose of poison might kill her hus-
band? No.
It did not occur to you? No.
Did you not read those letters as meaning that the idea was
in her mind? No.
Did she ever make an actual proposal to you that you and she
might go off liogether? Yes.
When did she 'first make it? I suppose it was about the Novem-
ber when I came home.
Did you agree to the proposal or did you reject it? I said,
" Wait and see what happens."
What were you going to wait for? To see if she could get a
separation or divorce.
And how long were you gomg to wait? A period of five years.
Did you ever mean to do anything to make a divorce possible?
No.
You had no intention of taking any action? No.
Wffl you turn to the letter of 1st April, exhibit No. 17. " I
thought a lot about what you said of Dan?" I had told Mrs.
Thompson about a friend of mine named Dan.
That is all you had told her? I told her of gome of his business
that he had told me I had not told him anything about myself
and Mrs. Thompson.
Then will you follow while I read
Darlint, don't trust him I don't mean don't tell him anything becaunc
I know you never wouldwhat I mean is don't let him bo suspicious of you
regarding that because if we were successful in the action darhnt cir-
cumstances may afterwards make us want many friends or helpers and we
must have no enemies or even people that know a little too much
Remember the saying 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.'
What was " the action " that she there refers to? Suicido, as far m
I remember.
But, Bywaters, read it again. What does " the action "
mean ? Mrs. Thompson had proposed to me that she did not want
ixx make my life as unhappy as hers. She said she would sooner
kill herself.
Do you really suggest that " the action " means suicide ? AH
far as I remember, yes, it means suicide.
Are you quite clear it does not mean crime? I am positive of
that.
I am coming back to that letter. Look now at exhibit No. SO.
60
Evidence for Prisoner By waters.
Frederick E. F. Bywaten
This is written before 31st Maich and you had been home for about
a fortnight at tlio end of January and again i'or a few days at the
end of March? Yes
Road what Mrs. Thompson says in that letter
This time really will be the last timo you will go awaylike things
are, won't it ? We said it before darhnt I know and wo failed but there
will be no failure this next time darhnt, there mustn't be.
Had there been a failure? Yes
What had you tried that, hivl fsulwl? Sepaiation or divorce
Does it occur to you what was tha beat way to get a divorce
if that was all you wanted 7 Yes, I know the Ixsit 'nay of getting a
divorce.
What wan the bst way of g^liu^ a* divorce for Mrs. Thompson
from her husband? To provide Air Thompson uilh the information
he needed.
Why<li<l you not. try? Because ho \\ould not nccopi.
Did you provide* him uiMi the- information? She h$uL
Had she pn>vnl<<] hint with the information io crmblu him to
get a divorce.? She saM she wouM provide him. with thft informa-
tion to got a divorco.
lfa<l she trml lo givo him the infoi million to gi*t a <livo.nseJ
She said Khc would do it.
My question WUH had she tried io get a divorce* from, hor hus-
band? Sho had HuggtMlud lo him h fc wanted a divorce*, and ahe
would provide him with the information ho required if he would
come to torm.
I suggest to you that " failure " tliurc* refers lo the am thing
as "action " in tlw other lottei that Mr Thompson hn<l tried to
poison hor husband a'ml had failed? And I nay that that is not true.
What you Hay 5 "that it ivfors to information or a Btatement
she had thought of making to hor husband io make him divorce*
her? Ye, or separation
Wore you and who really anxious that hi* should know that you
and Mrs. Thompson won* k>vo>rK? lie did know.
From what time did ho know? I <lo not know ho exactly knw
we wero lover. lie know wo wore fond of each other.
Did you not do your lnst to kc'ep it from him from start tx>
finish? Oh no.
Will you turn to the tottor of 3rd January, 3922, exhibit No.
13
Immediately 1 havo rocoivcd a Mt't'oiid IftUer, 1 have destroyed the first
and when I got the third 1 destroyed the ttoctmd and > oa, now the only
one I have is tho " Dear Kdio M no wntUfu to 41, which I'm 'oing to-
keep. It may bo useful, -who knows! *
(H
Bywaters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
Was that the letter of 1st December, exhibit 14, beginning
" Dear Edie " and signed " Yours very sincerely, Freddy '"/ Yes
Was that the customary way in which you wiote to Mrs Thomp-
son at that time? No.
Was that letter written in that form in ordor to disarm
suspicion ? No.
Did you understand from the passage I have just road from
the letter of 3rd January that she was going to use (hat letter to
disarm suspicion? No
Did you understand what was meant when she said " It may
be useful who knows *' ? I do not know.
Would the letter be any use to get a divorce or separation?
I think that she is referiing to tho latter
I lake it you would agree with me the lot (or would not, be useful
for that purpose? I do not agree with you. I uover said that.
You do not follow me. You agree wii.h ine that that letter
which says " Doar Edie," and finishes " You re very sincerely "
would be of no use to enable- either her or you (,o got a divorce?
That letter was not meant to be a means of got Ling a divorce. It
was a letter conveying Christmas greetings.
Did you xmderstand \vhat she meant when riio said " This letter
may be useful; I will keep it?" She may have kept this to how
to her sister Avis ; that was one of the reasons that I wrote it.
Then you did write it to blind somebody? Oh yes.
Did the subject of poisons ever occur in your conversations with
her when you wore afc home? Sometimes.
In what connection? General conversation; knowledge.
Who mentioned poisons? If sho had been reading anything
and poison was mentioned, and any matter that she would not under-
stand, she would ask me what it meant.
Did you know anything about poison? I did not know very
much.
Did she appear to be interested in poison? No, not particularly.
Did it ever strike you it occupied a prominent place in her
joind? No more than other things.
Did you take an interest in poison? I was fond of chemistry
when I was at school.
But chemistry and poison are two different lhing? Poisons
deal with chemistry. Poisons come in chemistry.
Did you take any interest in poisons as poisons? No.
Did you keep up your interest which you say you had in
chemistry? No, I did not. She knew of that interest, though;
her brother used to join me.
Do you suggest then that the mention of poison in your con*
versation and in your letlera was due to the fact that Kho knew you
were interested in chemistry? Is that your explanation?- No, my
Evidence for Prisoner By waters.
Frederick E F Bywaters
explanation is this : if she had been reading something and it occurred
to her, if I had been in her presence she would have asked m what
it was. If I was not there, she put it in wilting
Do you remember a document which you wrote out containing
the troy weights, exhibit 57? "60 milligrams = 1 grain, 18 grains =
1 gramme, 30 grammes=l oz." Is that your handwriting? Yes
When did you write it? I could not say.
Why did you keep it? Because it is useful m general know-
ledge
Had that any connection with the request she made to you to
experiment with pills? Oh no.
Turn back to the letter of 1st April, exhibit No. 17, and 3isl,en
to this paragraph
He was telling his Mother etc the circumstances of my * Sunday
morning escapade ' and he puts groat stress on ihe fact of the tea tasting
bitter ' as if something had been pnt in it ' ho says. Now 1 think what-
ever else 1 try it in again will still taste bittbr he will recognibe it and
be more suspicious still and if the quantity is still not successful it wiU
injure any chance I may have of trying when you come home Do you
understand?
What did you understand about that passage? That ehe had taken
the quinine and it tasted bitter.
Look at it again
He puts great stress on the fact of the tea tasting bitter * as if Rome-
thing had been put in it ' he says
To whom did it taste bitter? Mrs. Thompson
Do you suggest that, Bywaters? ! do.
Do you suggest that is how you underflow! the letter when you
received it? I do.
Now I think whatever else I try it in again will still taste bitter he
will recognise it and bo more suspicious still.
Do you still adhere to what you my, tlial he in speaking of
her taste? YCK
What did you understand him to be suspicious of? That she
was attempting to commit suicide.
Did you understand her to mean that ehe would toll him that
her tea tasted bitter and she was nbout to commit suicide?
Possibly she would*
Is that your understanding of that pawago? That i
Look atthelefcler of IR(. May (exhibit 19)
I don't think we're failure*) In other things and vrc mustn't be in
this.
Did you understand what thai, referred to? Tea,
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywalers
What? Well, if you read further, " We mustn't give up as
we said."
What was that? Give up trying for a separation or divorce.
We must learn to bo patient We must have each other darhnt It's
meant to be I know I feel it is because I love you such a lot such a love
was not meant to be m vam. It will come right I know one day, if not by
our efforts some other way We'll wait eh darlmt, and you'll try and got
some money and then we can go away and not woriy about anybody ui
anything You said it was enough for an clepliant
Do you remember saying that? Yes
Did you say that m writing or in speech? In speech.
Are you clear about that 9 Did you say it in a. letter or in a
conversation when you were at home? I really do not remember
whether it was in conversation or in a letter.
And what was it you said was enough for an elephant? The.
quinine I had given Mrs. Thompson.
For what had you given her quinine? She had been wanting
me to get her something with which to commit suicide, JIB aho did
not want to make my life as unhappy as hers. To satisfy her
craving I said I would get her something, and I gave her quinine.
It is your suggestion that in May, 1922, you were lending
your assistance to her desire to commit suicide? Her suggestion.
You say you gave her this quinine because sho wanted some-
thing with which to commit suicide. Is that right? Yes, that is
60.
Did you give her quinine with that object? I did.
Were you therefore willing to help her to commit suicide?
No, I knew she could not hurt herself with quinine.
You were playing with her ideas? I was pulling her leg.
You said it was enough for an elephant. Perhaps it wan. But you don't
allow for the taste making only a small quantity to be taken. It sounded
like a reproach was it meant to be 7
That is your explanation, thai you were playing a joke upon
her * - That is so.
She goes on
Darlint I tried hard you won't know how hard because you weren't
there to see and I can't tell you all but I did I do want you to believe
I did for both of us. . . I was buoyed up with the hope of the
1 light bulb ' and I used a lot.
Did you understand that as referring to a dose ehe herself
took of broken glass? Possibly, yes. She was trying to persuade
me to give her something with which to commit suicide, and I
refrained. I gave her this quinine so that she would not take
anything herself,
64
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywaterc
But in the next passage that I have called your attention to
she refers to another specific
I was buoyed up with the hope of the ' light bulb ' and I used a lot big
pieces too
Did you undei stand that to mean that she had taken glass?
I understood thai to l)e a he from hor to me.
You tindei stood, even if it was a he, that what it was a lie
about was what she had taken herself? Oh, yes.
By Mr JUSTICE SHEARMAN Look afc it. Was she lying about
what her husband had taken or what she had taken herself? I
say she was lying about what she hurl taken herself.
Cross-examination continued Look ut the next sentence
I quite expected to be able to bend that cable
Do you suggest that after she had taken the rlose that would kill
her she was expecting to send you that cable? No, I do not suggest
that.
What do you suggest? That she would have sent irie a cable if
she had been sxiccesst'ul in getting a divorce or an agreement, of
separation
By Mr JTJSTIOK SHEARMAN Elad you arranged with her if
anything happened she should cable you * Yes, if she was suceea-
ful in getting an agreement for separation.
Cross-exaitnnation\ continued
I quite expected to be able to send that cable but no nothing liar,
happened from it
That is the glass * No.
What was it? The approach of Thompson to get this separa-
tion.
Now your letter tells mo about the- bitter tmite again Oh darlmt, I do
feel so down and unhappy Wouldn't the stuff make small pilla coated
together with soap and dipped in liquorice powder liko Bcochams try
while you are away
Is that why you were interested in Troy weights ? No.
Our Boy had to have his thumb operate J on because ho had a piece
of glass in it that's what made me try that method again but I suppose
as you say be is not normal.
Who is " ho " 2 Read tho next sentence if you are in doubt
I know I feel I shall never get hin to take a sufficient quantity ot
anything bitter.
* 65
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E, F. Bywaters
Have you any doubt that you understood that to mean the husband ?
I did not understand that.
To whom did you understand it referred ? Perhaps she had
made a mistake in the words
And meant " me "* Yes
" I know I feel I shall never get c myself ' to take a sufficient
quantity of anything- bitter " Is that how you read it? That is
right; she did not like the taste of quinine
"Was there any reason why she should be concerned as to leaving
traces of what she was doing ? Read the next sentence
Darlint, two heads arc better than one is such a true saying You tell
me not to leave fiugei minks on the box do you know I did not think of the
box but I did think of the glass or cup whatever was uucd I wish I wish
oh I wish I could do something
You understood lhat to mean at the time, " I wish, I wish, oh, I
wish I could kill myself " Is that it* Yes
Turn now to the letter of 18th May, 1922 (exhibit No. 22),
the " Bella Donna " letter
' It must be remembered that digitalm is a cumulative poison, and that
the same dose harmless if taken once, yet frequently lepeatcd, bccoiucfi
deadly,* Darlmguat boy, Urn above passage I've just come aim*.) in .
book I am reading " Bella Donna " by Robert Hichens Is it any use 7
Did you answei her question? No, I did not answer it
Did you attach any importance to the question? I thought
it was another manner in which she was trying to ^et something
with which to commit suicide
You were devotedly attached to Mrs. Thompson at this time?
Yes.
Did it excite no apprehension in your mind when uhe made
these repeated proposals to you to commit suicide? I told her if
flhe really wanted it I would get it for her; I would jjefc hor some-
thing to 1 commit suicide.
Did you understand this was a proposal that (ligitulin should
help her to commit suicide? Yes, I understood her to mean that
would be more pleasant than quinine or the glass.
What was the object of having the cumulative poison if who
was going to commit suicide? I did not see tho object of having
a cumulative poison, but it was not unpleasant
Did she expect you to help her to commit suicide, do you know!
I do not know that she really did expect it, but she often
mentioned it.
In the long letter I have already referred you to (exhibit 19)
she i
Do experiment with the pills while you are away please darlint. No,
we twotwo halves have not come to the end of our tethor. Don't let us.
Do you still suggest that was suicide? Yes.
66
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywaters
Look at the letter of 4th July (exhibit No 26), " Have you
studied bichloride of mercuiy^ " Had you studied it? I had
not.
Did you study it* I did not.
Did the question surprise you? No.
Did you refer to it in your correspondence? I did not.
Did you connect it again with suicide ^ No.
What did you connect it vilh? A general or common or
garden question.
Did you still think at that tune that she was pretending or
contemplating to commit suicide? No, not appaiently then
Just follow. In May she was writing letters to you which you
say you nndci stood meant suicide 9 Yes
In July she was wilting to you about poison when you were in
Freeman lie, in Ausualia? Yes.
Did you understand her to have abandoned suicide or to be
etill thinking of it? I did not undcrtttand her to mean anything
except thnt was a question I expect sho had read lhat somewhere,
and did not know what it was, and asVed me if I know.
Did you ever rebuke her aixnih Hie suicide talk? Well, I tried
to pacify her.
When you were in Australia, did you tell her ihat you had
made arrangements, or had begun to make nnangomeniB, for living
in Au air alia with her? Yes.
That was at 1his time, on tin's trip? Yes.
Was it the arrangement which you began to make in Aus-
tralia with a view to her running away from her husband? YOB,
failing separation or divorce.
Look at Ihe letter of 24th 'April (exhibit No. 18\ which
apparently reached you at Aden on 7th May
I used the * light ball) ' throe times but tlie third time ho found a
pieceso I've given it up until you come home.
What did you understand by that passage? She had been
to me again
She had been what? Lying to me, lying.
What did you understand the lie was? It was melodrama ou
her part, trying to persuade me that whe had taken broken glass.
" I used the * light bulb ' three times but the third time- lio
found a piece." You understood she meant her husband had
detected her in an attempt 1o commit auicidol Yo
" So I have given it up until you come homo/' Do you sug-
gest that she was going to wait for your arrival homo in order
that you might co-operate with her in committing suicide? I might
give her something more, some quinine.
That would be a strange idea, to you, Bywatcrw, if that is right?
Yes; I do not know her idea.
67
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywatera
In any conversation, did you ever speak about the risks you
and she were running? Did she tell you she was running a
risk? Yes.
Can you tell me what risk she was running' Whenever she
mentioned to her husband separation 01 divorce theie was always
trouble.
What was the lisk? Of her being unhappy, her life being
made more unhappy
Did she say, " I am prepared to run a risk if you are "?
If I would let her, if I was agreeable.
The risk she was running? Of being knocked about.
Did she tell you in her letters that, so far as she could make her
husband believe it, her husband thought she was a happy womai)
again, or something of that sort 2 No, she told me in her letters
that was the only way she could obtain a little peace.
Now I come to September Were you anxious to break off or lo
alter the relations between you and Mrs Thompson? I thought ii
I did not see her, or did not correspond \\ith her, her life wouM
not seem so hard
You thought if you did not write to her it would make her life
easy? Yes
You got the letter (exhibit No 28) some time about September
Look at this, passage
Darlingest Boy,- I don't quite understand you about ' Pals ' You
say ' Can we he Pals only, Peidi, it will mako it easier '
Had you said that? Yes.
Meaning no longer lovers? If we could stifle our feelings would
it be -easier for her.
Da you mean for always 7 because if you do, No, no, a thousand times
We can't be ' pals ' only for always darlmt its impossible physically and
mentally. Last time we had a long talk I said ' Go away this time and
forget all about me, foiget you ever know me, it will be easier and better
for you * Do you remember and you refused, so now I'm refusing darlint-~
it must be still ' the hope of all ' or ' the finish of all '
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN You understand this lei (or as on-
treating you still to be her lover? No, it was not entreating; it was
stating facts; that was all.
Cross-examination continued
If you still only mean for a certain time and you think it best, darlint
it shall be so I don't see how it will be easier myself but it shall bo an
you say and wish, we won't be our natural selves tho' 1 know we'll bo
putting a kerb on ourselves the whole time like an iron band that won't
expand. Please don't let what I have written deter you from any
decision darlint I don't want to do that truly I'd like to do what you
think best I don't sleep much bettor now tbo nights scorn so long 1
Evidence for Prisoner By waters.
Frederick E. F. Bywatcrs
sleep for an hour and lie awake for 2 and go to sleep again for another
hour right, thro* the night. A doctor can't do me any good darlint
no good at all even the most clever in the land unless that doctor is you
and it can't be, so I'm not going to waste any more money on them I
want you for my doctor my pal my lover my everything just all and
the whole woild would bo changed
Then at the end of th-j letter
Yes, darlmt, you are jealous of him
vVho was " him"? Did you understand him ro be the- husband?
Yes. I understood the husband, but I made the statement firb
Mrs. Thompson related to me he had taken a laxly out to tea, and 1
made the remaik, " All people's tastus are ulike Do you think by
this ihat I am jealous of him 9 "
" Yes, darlint, you are- jealous of him '"' Yc,s.
** But I want you to be- he haw the rjght by law to all thai you
have the right to by nature and love yes darlint be jealous, so
much that you will do soui* HTI** ill* \\n rak 1 11<; - -3Jul i \\uj-i not jealous.
She was. appealing to you to be joaJous and do something
desperate? No. " Desperate " was to lako her away that is how
1 read it.
Why did you not take her away? Financial reasons
Had you at that time ovoi thought of nwrryiug her? No
Uad you ever asked her to go- with you? There hail been
(suggestions.
Did you ever ask h<?r as a man to a "woman to go away with you
and leave her husband * I don't know that I had asked; it was
more of a mutual kind of arrangement.
You had never made a definite kind of arrangement No, #he
would not take it; she \\ould prefer a divorce or KCparation.
Exhibit No. 55 is au undated letter
Darlint Pal, ploaso try and use pour moi, nnd don't buy a pouch,
je vais, pour vous one of those days.
Was that the note which was given to you when she gave you the
pouch? No.
Was the pouch given to ymi on 1st Octolxjr? Yes.
What does thiw letter refer (o? It reform to a pipe.
Was it written after you had gone homo? I had it when I was
in England, yes.
With it did the next document come, a cutting from the Dattt/
Sketch of 20th Sepl ember, 1922 " Chicken Broth Death. Ilat
poison consumed by fowl kills woman ' ' ? Yos,
At that time you were- able to read English newflpapom for
yourself? No, not when thin was written.
I thought you said it was given to you, or handed to you, afU-r
By waters and Thompson.
Frederick E. F. Bywatero
you reached England' I said I leceived it when I was in England.
I received it in Plymouth on my homeward journey When I reached
Tilbury I received the telegram of 25th September (exhibit &S),
" Must catch 5 49 Fenchurch reply if can manage "
You met Mrs. Thompson fiom time to time without her husband's
knowledge? Yes
Did you speak to her of the risk that you and she \rure running?
Not any risk that I was running.
Look at the letter vritten on 1st October (exhibit No CO) ab
the end
Don't forget what we talked in the Tea Room, I'll btill ntk and try
if you will we only have 3g years left dailmgest
What did you understand the lisk was that she was prepared to
run? The risk of being knocked about when she was asking for
separation or divorce
What was the risk that you \\ere to run, " I will fttill lisk and
try if you will "V" If you' will lot me "
How was she going to run the risk of being knocked about by
telling her husband ho was going with you^ No, by zxsHng for a
divorce or separation.
Then you did in fact meet her axul never went near her husband?
I kept away; I did not want further double.
You met her at Fullers in tho al'iernoon of 3rd October?- YH.
Did you have any conversation about her husband? No.
Did you not refer to him'' Only that she was going to the
theatre.
She did tell you that she was going to the theatre? Ye#.
And she told you which theatre? Yes.
After you loft her I understand you wont straight U> the
Graydons? Yes
Were you carrying your knife when you went there? I wa.
Did you carry that knife everywhere while in England? Yew
Did you ever use it for anything? Cutting string or cutting
things handy
Is that the propose for which you carried it? I lx>ught thai
it may be handy at any time.
A. knife of that size and characiter? Yes, handy at ao-a.
Handy at sea, but was it handy at home? Yes.
As you told us, you knew before you went to the Graydoim thai
they were going to the theatre? Yes.
When you made your statement of 4th October (exhibit 5) did
you say Ihtw
Before leaving, I remember Mrs. Gray don's daughter Avis saying that
Percy (Mr. Thompson) had phoned hor up, and I gathered from the
observations she made that he was taking his wife to a theatre that night,
and that there were other members of the family going.
70
Evidence for Prisoner By waters.
Ft ed wick . F. Bywalcro
You meant by that that -you had heard for flu* fiiPt time ihat at the
Graydons? I did not say that
Did you mean that ? No, 1 meant v/iiai, I suy.
Do you agree with mo tliai the i/it?aimi# of thai paragraph U
that you gathered it for the first ume fiom conversation? No. *
Just before that v**u way in your statement
1 left my home yosteidd,* inoi r ing about quarter to twcho 1 wa.
dressed in the same clothes that I am now ^eaaiijj I %*ent up west
and remained there till tiic ovoniw# I vvas a1ou i and uove/ mo* .*uy<ru
that I know
That was untrue * Thut was uutnw 1 ohjoded to a lot of Sup^rin
tendent Wesley's questions J rcseiriul hw questions
You mean by fcfc icsentcd his quest ions *' thai you told a uito
hood? Yea, I wanted (o liolp Mrs Thoni[)KOn.
Did you tell falsuhootls in onlwr U> shield youiwlf in that state
menfc ? No.
It was your one idea to whiold Mi >. Tlioiufjson^ r lliat IK so.
Why did you not stick Lo your first Ktuti'nicm ? Why did yo<i
altr your slatoment^ [ %va told AJrw. Tli<mi[sou would be release*!
if I made that Ktatemont.
And you made the second statomenl ? I did.
Was the second statement nny moni iru<. than I IH* first '> Yes.
Did you say <mylhmg JIN to your meet m# Mrs Thompson m your
aecond statement? I don't know. \VlwL <iul I my 9
" Mis. Kdilh Thoniipso.!! was not aware of my movements on
Tuesday night, tel October." At any rule, whether you inteudet!
it or riot, you did not correct ymr piuvioim ttlalomcut Ihat you ha/l
oot ween her on that day^ No.
Why did yoxi not put into, your Rttttomont of 5th October any*
thing about Iho incident of bhc* attack which you have* iolcl UH to-dny?
Had you forgotten that? No. When I sa\v Afro. ThompHoii h wa
60 ill I thought sho way going to die, and I thought the sooner that
I got it down the quicker who would be Mvast'd and could go homo
with her mother.
So you omitted thai part of your slwy which was concerned wil.U
the threat to shoot and tho utrugglo? I did. That was my main
object; I wanted to help her
Can you suggest how it helped her, to omit that important fact I
She would have been released, I did not trouble about details or
anything like that. I had questions put to mo and I said, " YOH,
you say it."
You said " Yea " to anything BUggoHfccdl Frantically anything,
Hay I say that that sialemeni thorn was no more true in sub-
stance than the other Hfcatomonfc wast, or that you did not cam
whether it was true? Oh, ye, it is truo; part of it I said myself.
71
Bywaters and Thompson.
jrrcdcricK , F. Byw&ters
Was it true, as you said in your statement, that you waited for
Mrs Thompson and her husband? No. That was untrue. I had
that put to me.
What you actually did was to catch them up? Yes, I overt i -jk
them.
Are you a right-handed or a left-handed man' Right.
Did you strike the first blow from behind? I struck thei
blow in front, his right arm,
Did the struggle take place at one spot, or -was he mo
forward? I could not say whether we moved, I do not imagine we
stood still.
Did you say you remembered striking one blow at his throat!
I did not say that
Do you remember striking a blow at his throat? I do not.
And you do not remember anything, do you say, after you pushed
Mrs Thompson away? I remember pushing Thompson up the street,
and the conversation between us, and the subsequent events
Did you not discuss in the tearoom that afternoon the possibility
of meeting them that night? We did not stay in the tearoom.
She did not come into the tearoom; I left it to join her.
Did you not discuss with her something ileHpornii 1 ''- 1 did not.
Did you not refer to her husband except in connwhon with th<
theatre party? That is the only way we lefwred to him.
Did he tell you she had abandoned all idea of suiculo? No.
Did she make any reference to poison, or force, or violence?
She did not
And your stoiy is that you went out from the Graydons never
intending to use violence to Mr Thompson? I nevoi* intended to
see them when I first went out *
You formed the idea on your way from the station at West I Jam?
East Ham.
7s this true in your second statement, " I only meant to injure
him "? It is hardly time. I meant to stop him from killing mo.
" I did not intend to kill him; I only meant to injure him.'*
Was that true, that you went there to injure him ? No, it is not.
" I gave him the opportunity of standing up to mo aw a man,
but lie would not." Was that true? When T said that I referred to
a back occasion, not to this occasion.
Did you on this occasion give him an opportunity of standing up
to you as a man? No, I did not suggest any violence or fiHticuffa a(
all.
Do you mean to suggest that he made the first assault upon yon ?
Yes, he did.
And that you then drew your knife? I did
* He had m fact arranged to go and got some ewurettw wlndi Mr. Uraydon
had promised to have ready for him on the evening of the 3rd. ]<l,
72
Edith Thompson
Evidence for Prisoner Bywaters.
Frederick E. F. Bywatert
Is it the fact that you never saw any revolver or any gun at
ihat moment? I never saw it, no.
Did you continue to stab him in the expectation of seeing one at
any moment ? I did not know I was stabbmg him I tried to stop
him from shooting mo; that is all.
Re-examined by Mr CECIL \VHITELET Although I never saw a
revolver I believed that he had one, otherwise I would not have diawn
my knife I was. in fear of my life
At any time have you had any intention to muider Mr
Thompson? I have not.
Your attention has been dhected to the fiist statement which
you made (exhibit 5) Did you ever suggest in this statement or any
other that the first time you heard about the theatre was at the
Oiaydons? No I did not suggest that I did not wish Superin-
tendent W&nsley In know that Mis Thompson and I \\ere meeting
each other.
Were you thinking of anybody else r,xi i tpt Mrs Thompson when
that statement (exhibit 5) was taken from you' Xo
Look at the letter of llth ^ugiinl (wdnhil 49), " Darlingest,
will you please take those letters bnok now? " 1 vnnt you to tell
the Court what those letters were? Those letters are now in the
possession of the police They are lotto rn written to me by a lady in
Australia which T had given to Mrs Thompson to read.
Are the tv*o loitciR written by you (exhibits iO and 31) in
similar terms to all the other letters which you wrote to MJH.
Thompson when you wore abroad? Not all the letteis some.
Love letters? Yes.
Did you -ever in any letter to Mrs. ThninpHon say anything with
regard to giving poison" to her husband, or anything* of that sort?
I did not
Mr. "WHTPHLKT ^hat is our cas-e
Evidence for the Prisoner Thompson.
Mrs. EDITH jEasrra THOMPSON (prisoner on oath), examined bj
Mr. WAI/TEH FRAMI M IW I was manied to Percy Thompson on 15th
February, 1915. At the time of tny marriage and for .some years
before I was employed by MeswrB. Onrlton k Prior, and I contmwxi
in that employment after my marriage-,
Was your marriage a happy one? "No, not pnrticularly ao. I
think I was never really happy with my husband, but for perhaps
Wo years it was better than it had been.
After a lapse of two years were there constant differences aucl
troubles between you? There were. My husband and I very often
73
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jaocie Thompson
discussed the question of separation, long before June of 1921. I had
known the family of Bywaters for some years before 1921 I cannot
say that my husband knew them well, but he knew them, he had
met them often In June, 1921, I went with my husband and some
friends to the Isle of Wight for a holiday The prisoner Bywatora
accompanied us, at the invitation of my husband. We lemained
there a week, and then we returned to our house in Ili'ord, along with
Bywaters, who remained there, living with my husband and myself,
until 5th August
During thafc holiday in the Isle of Wight, and while By waters
was at your house, had you conceived an aft'ection for him? No
The 1st of August of that year was a Monday. I had some trouble
with my husband that day; 1 think it originated over a pin, but
eventually it was brought to a head by my sister not appearing at
tea when she said she would I sauted to wait for hir, but my
husband objected, and said a lot of thixigH to me about my family
that I rcsG-iited. He then struck mo several times, and eventually
threw me across the room. Bywaters was in the garden at this timo,
and in the course of the disturbance- he came into the room and
stopped my husband Later on that day there was a discussion about
a Reparation I cannot remember exactly what was KiuM, except thai
I wanted a reparation, and Bywateir* en trailed my husband to
fiepaiate from me, but ho said what he usually said, that ho would not
At first he said lie would, and then I said to him, " You always toll
luo that when I mention the subject, and later, wlion it actually
<*<jmeu, you refuse to grant it to me." I do not rouicmbci any further
discussion wjlh my husband about separation between the Monday,
1st August, and the Friday, when Bywaters left. I occasionally saw
Bywaters after he left ihe house
Have you at any time from your marriage until the (loath of
your husband ever done anything to injure him physically? Never.
Have you e\-er been in possession of poison? Not. to my
knowledge
Have you ever administered any poiou to your Imwband? No*.
Have you ever given him ground glass in hi food or in any
form? Never.
Have you evei broken up an electric light bulb and given him
that? Never.
Come now to the letters Look first at Iho letter dated llth
August, 1921 (exhibit 49)
Darlingest, Will you please take these letters back now? I have
nowhere to keep them except a small cash box, I have just bought and I
want that for my own letters only and I feel scared to death in case anybody
eke should rend them.
"What were thotte letters? They wore letfrera written to him, I under-
stand, by a girl m Australia
74
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
What sort of letters were they that woie written by the lady in
Australia to Bywaters? Were they what would be called love let! GTS?
You would hardly call them lovo Ictt&iK personal letters They
were not letters of mine. I do not think I had corresponded with
Bywaters before this date, but I really cannot remember
The next letter I want you to look at is the one dated 20 oh
August, 1931 (exhibit 12)
Coraii and SPC me Monday lunch time, please darhnb lie suspects
What did you moan by *" ho svsucols "? T meani thai, my husband
Buspected I had seen Bywaters ; I think it T\ as on the Friday previous
to that date. I usually saw him on Fridays, ond I continued to see
him until he sailed on 9t,h September io oiuue hack in the ond of
October, and remained in this country imt.il llth jSTovcmbcr. After
he sailed I COT respoudud with lum, and aLon other letters I wrote
exhibit 62, which is undated.
All I could think about lust n^hi \\ai that amidol we made. Shalt
we have to carry it thro"' Don't lot iu> fl>rliul I'd like to live and be
happy not for a htllo while, but for all the while you *ti11 Jove mo.
Death seemed horrible lasl night whru you 1limk about it dm 3 int. it does
seem a horrible thnvj to dio, whfMi you iave ncvoi 'join happy feally
happy for one little inmute
What compact were you refoiTinpr to in lhat lottor l.o By waters 1
The compact of Huicido We hud diwnsjsoc] Ibo (jueHtion of suicide
flomo time previous lo tluj ^v riling of this luti.^r; 1 cannot state
when.
What waw said about it? That nothing %M \\orlh living for,
and that it would bo far oasior lo be dead.
Had you discussed any particular mcjin i of rommiMmp: wuicid 7
I believe we had
After By waters had ail<>4l on that voyage* did you wend him from
time to time cuttings out of the papers If I did. They wore generally
cutting^ of sensational matters appearing at tho time. Amongst the
cuttings that I sent tlteio was an account of an inquest upon a girl,
Freda Kempton, who had died through taking an ovordose of cocaine*.
In your letter of Hill March, 19*22 (exhibit 20), you say-
Enclosed are spine cuttings that may bo interesting. I think the ' reef
hair ' one is true in parts you toll me winch parts darlint The Kempton
cutting may be interesting if it's to be the saiuo method.
What were you leferring to there? Our compact of suicide.
Look at the letter (exhibit 27) whiro you say
I had the wrong I'orridgt* to-day, hnt 1 don't suppose it will mattflr,
I don't eeem to care much either way. You'll probably say I'm careless and
1 admit I am, but I don't care do you?
"What were you referring tol I really cannot explain.
By waters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
The suggestion here is that you had from time to time put
things into your husband's porridge, glass, for instance? I had
not done so
Can you give us any explanation of what you had in your
mind when you said you had the wrong porridge? Except we had
suggested or talked about that soit of thing and I had previously
said, " Oh yes, I will give him so.mothmg ono of these days "
By Mr JUSTICE SHEAUMAN Do you mean that you had talked
about poison? I did not mean anything in particular
Examination continued A\ T o had talked about making my hus-
baad ill.
How had you como to talk about making your liusband ill?
We were discussing my xmhappiness
Did that include your husband's treatment of you? Yes.
Now you say you probably said that you would give him some-
thing? I 'did.
Did you ever give him anylhizig? Nothing whatever. My
husband took porridge in the mornii'^x It was always pioparrd by
Mw. Lester, and never by mf.
Further on in that same letter (exhibit 27), you say
You know darlini I am beginning to think I h.iv gone wrong in
the way I manage this affair I think peihaps it would liavf* h<cii b< ttor
had I acquiesced in everything ho said and did or wanted to do At l<at
it would have disarmed any suspicion he might have and that would havo
been better if wo have to use drastic measures
What wore you meaning by the " diasljc measuies " you might,
have to UNO? Leaving England tMlli BywulorH
Look now at the lei lev of 3rd January, 1922 (exhibit 13), whero
you say
Immediately I have received a second letter, I have destroyed tho first
and when I got the third 1 destroyed the second and so on, now the only one
I have is the " Doar JEdie " one written io 41, which 1 am going to keep,
It may be useful, who knows?
Why were you keeping tlml letter? I smiled i.o show it 1o my people
if I were asked if I had heard from Mr Bywaters for Christmas.
It was a letter wishing me all good wishes for Christmas and rny
people were certain to ask if I had heard from him. Otherwise I
did not keep Bywaters' loiters, it being a habit of mine to cleatmy
letters that I had received.
You go on to say
Darlmt, I've surrendered to him unconditionally now do you under-
stand me? I think it the best way to disarm any suspicion, in fact he
has several times asked mp if I am happy now and I've said " Yes quite "
but you know that's not the truth, don't yon.
70
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jecde Thompson
What is the meaning of that paragraph? When I \vrote that letter
I was expecting Mr. Bywaters home in a few days, and I knew if
my husband had any suspicion he was coming home he would try
to prevent me from seeing him
Further on you say
Thanking you for tho&p greetings da^hnt, but, you won't always be * the
man with no light ' will you*
What does that refer to? I had hopes of obtaining a divorce fiom
my husband and thai By waters would marry me
Turn now to your letter of I Oth February (exhibit 15)
Darlint You mufct do somc'thmw this time I'm not really impatient
but opportunities come and go by they have to because I'm helpless
and I think nud think and think peihapfa ifc will nevei come again
What did you moan by '' You must do something this time "7 I
meant he must find me Nome sort of situation or take me away
altogether without one, J had discussed the question of Bywaters
finding mo a w'lusitiou and aln> I ho place \\hore he was to- look for
one for me it) Bombay, Ahusoilles, Australia in fact, really any-
where where he heard of anything
I want to toll you about thi. On Wednesday we had words in bed
Oh you know darlint over that minus old subject and he said it \\s all
through you I'd altered. 1 told him if he *vor again blamed you to mo
for any difference there might bo in HIP, I'd leave the house that minute
and this is not an idle, throat Ho wild loti> of other tliingH and I bit my
lip so that I shouldn't an&wer eventually went to sleep. About 2 a m.
he woke me np and asked for water as ho felt ill 1 got it for him arid
asked him what the matter was and this is what he told me whether it is
the truth I don't know or whether he did it to frighen mo, anyway it
didn't. He saidsome one he know in town (nut the man I previously
told you about) had given him a proscription for a draught for innomnia
and he'd had it made up and taken it and it nuide him ill. < Ho certainly
looked ill and his eyes wcto glassy. X'vo hunted for the aaid pi ascription
everywhere and can't find it and ar.ked him what he had done with it
and he said the chemist kept it
Is that a true account, of Noiiwllijng thnt happened to your husband?
Absolutely true, fie suffered from iriHomma and from his heart,
and he took medicines for both.
Were you in any wny responsible for that condition that you
describe m this letter? Nono whatever,
You go on
I told Avis about the incident only I told her as if it frightened and
worried me as I thought perhaps it might bo useful at some future time
that I had told somebody What do you think, darlint. His sister
Maggie came in last night and ho told her, so now there are two witnesses,
77
By waters and Thompson.
Eurth Jescje Thompson
allho* I wish he hadn't told her but left me to do it It would be so easy
darlijit if I had things I do hope 1 shall
What is the meaning of that paiagraph? I wrote that to let By-
rate/s think I was willing to do anything to help lum, l.o retain
Ms affections.
Look at your letter of 22nd February (exhibit 1C), where you
wrilo
I suppose it isn't possible for you to send it to me not at all possible,
I do w> chafo at wasting time darlmt.
What were you referring to therei when you wrote 1h;it$ Mr By-
waters had iold mo he was bringing me something and I suggested
to sand it to me, to allow him to think I was eager for him to aond
me something to do what was suggested. I wanted him to thnik T
wati eager to help him, to bind him closer 1o me, to retain his
affections I had no idea what " it " was.
This thing that I am going to do for both of us \.ill it c\vi <it all,
make any duTerence between us, darlmt, do you understand what I mean.
Will you ever think any the less of me not now, I know darlmt bH
later on perhaps some years hence do you think you will fool any
different because of this thing that 1 shall do Daiimt if I thought yon
would I'd not do it, no not even so that we could be happy for one day
even one hour, I'm not hesitating darlmt through fear of any conse-
quences of the action, don't think that but I'd sooner go on in the old way
for years and years and years and retain your love and respect. 1 would liU*
you to write me darlmt and talk to mo about this
What was the thing that you were going to do for both you and
Bywateis? I was to go away arid live with him without being
married to him.
Come now to exhibit 50
This time really will he the List you will go awaylike things are won't
It? We said it before darlint I know and we failed but there will bn no
failure this next time darlmt, there mustn't be I'm telling you- -if things
are the same again then I am going with youwherever it is if it IB to
sea I'm coining too and if it's to nowhere I'm also coming darlmt,
You'll never leave me behind again, never, unless things are different.
What is the meaning of that paragraph? That referred to my con-
stant requests to my husband for a divorce That is what I meant
when I said we had failed before. We had tried to get a divorce
or get him to accede to one, but I meant if I had not got his consent
the next time I was going away with Mr. Bywaters at whatever cost
and whatever it meant.
Do I understand the failure was a failure to induce your hue-
band to divorce you? That is so.
78
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
And if you were not able to persuade him to take the steps,
then you were going away, al whatever L(xsi, with Bywaters? That
is so.
The next letter I have to trouble you with IH the one dated 1st
April (exhibit 17)
He was telling his mother etc the circumstances of my ' Sunday
morrmig e&CrVAtle ' and liti pats great stress* on the ft,i't of the tt'a tasting
bitter
Was thoixs t'vei any tune uhui van* husband complained to his
mother about Iho tea tasting bit lor? Not 1o my knowledge.
Was this an imaginary inndi-iib Uien that you *.veic recording?
Yes My husband's mother IH still alive.
Now I think whatever else T try it in ,'\<ain will s-till tade bitter lie
will recognise it and bo IIIOTP Hiiflpicioub F.UI and if tV quantity is .still
not successful it will injurn iny (hruu'o 1 may Ju/o of trying vhe.i
come homo Do you
you al that time or U T , !me put anyihing into your husband's
tea? No
Had ho over til/ any iiiiic inadc complaint lhat his tou tasled
bitter? No.
I'm going to try the ylan *\<\<nn oorasinn.'tlly -\vh":i it is wife I've
got an electric light globn tlus
What did you nu'jm Bysvai.ors t.o undtM^iand by tiul? llmt I
willing to liclp him in ivhali'vor he \v*unU k d im* tf^ do or KU
should do or wo should do. Thoiv worr o!iMJnV ii^liis in tin*
Had you got an olocirio light bulb for uny [nirposo of thi
description? I had not.
Did you evw intend to uti iwicf--! did j1.
Did you OV<T at uny limo inui one? Novcr.
Look at your hitter of 7lh May, t-vhibil N r o. 18
Mother and Dad cutm* ovor to itio to diniici 1 - 1 had plenty to do On
Monday Mr and Mrn. Birna^e ca,tm to ti>a uurl wi> all went to the Hippo-
drome in tho ovoniug. Iy the way what itt " Aromatic tuusturc ^f
opium." Avis drew my attention to a hottlp of linn ncalorl in tho m^HciiK*
chest in your room. 1 took porou'ssion id it. iwui \v\wn h niiwcd it and asked
me for it I refused to ftive it him -!K r<*fufHfi to loll nw wlicro ho ^ot it a<l
for what reason ho wants it>'x> I shrill kccjj it till I hoar from you.
llad your sister Avis found I ho bottle of ororiuil.ic tincture of opium?
Yes. I had no idea it wa in the hoiwt* lioforo who fouiwl ifc. I
did not know whether my litwband wan iwiup: it or not. I had ^no
idea what it was, boycmd th uanio, aaid ia my letter f am asking
BywatorH what it is. My htmband mi8od il and asked mo about it.
I believe my sister Aviw took pOHflOHftiott of tlio boi.tlo and threw the
70
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
contents down the sink and then threw the bottle away. The bottle
which is now shown to me (exhibit 61) is similar, but I cannot say
whether it is the same
I used the c light bulb ' three times but the third time he found a
piece so I've given it up until you come home.
Is there any truth m that statement * None whatever
Did you at this time or any time use the light bulb 7 Never at
all,
Was there ever an occatiiou \\hen your husband found a piece of
glass in his food or anywhere? Never.
I see iu that lettei you go on to refer to, and give extracts from,
books you were reading. Were you m the habit of doing that?
Yes I described in detail the characters in novels I v,w reading
and I asked Bywateis his opinion and views upon these various
characters. Among other books I road " Mnria," " The Guarded
Flame," " The Common Law," " The Fruitful Vine," 4 ' Tho Busi-
ness of Life," " Bella Dcwina," and " The Way of this Woman."
Look now at your letter of 1st May (exhibit 19)
It will come right I know one clay, if not by our efforts some other way
We'll wait eh darlint, and you'll try and get some money and then we
can go away and not worry about anybody or anything. You said it i*as
enough, for an elephant Perhaps it was. But you don't allow for the
taste making only a small quantity to he taken It sounded like a reproach
was it meant to ho
What was it that you were tefemng to there as being enough for
an elephant? Some quinine that Mr Bywaters had given me in a
email bottle before he went on his voyage.
Had you given some of it to your husband? No
Did you at any time give anything out of the ordinary to your
husband? No, never.
In that paragraph you refer to the fact that you will wait until
he gets some money. Was the want of money a hindrance to you
both going away at that time? It was.
Further on in that letter you say
I was buoyed up with the hopp of the ' light bulb ' and I used a lol>
big pieces too not powdered and it haw no effoclr- 1 quite expected to be-
able to send that cable but no nothing has happened from it and now
your letter tolls me about the Litter taste again Oh darlint, I do foel so
down and unhappy.
Had you administered any glass fragments of light bulbs to your
husband, either in largo or small pieces? Never at all.
Had you arranged to send a cable to Bywaters about any-
thing? Yes, principally about if I was successful in getting a divorce-
from my husband.
80
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
When you say " Tour letter tells me about the bitter taste
again," what had that reference to? Something Mr Bywaters had
said to me about a bitter taste, I suppose.
Bitter taste of what? Of the stuff I had in the bottle.
Then you proceed
Wouldn't the stuff make small pills coated together with soap and
dipped m liquorice powder like Beechams try while you are away.
What did you wish Bywaters to understand by that? I wanted him
to understand that I was willing to do anything he expected me to
do or asked me to do to agree with him I wanted him to think I
would do anything for him to keep him to me.
Turn now to your letter of 18th May (exhibit 22). You com-
mence that letter with a quotation about digitalin and you say you
have taken the passage from a book by Robert Hichens that you
are reading Did you know what digitalin was? I had no idea.
Why did you write and ask Bywaters " Is it any use?"? For
the same reason; I wanted him to feel that I was willing to help
him, to keep him to me. I have never had digitahn in my possession
to my knowledge My first knowledge of the existence of such a
thing was from reading " Bella Donna." Further on in that letter,
when I say " Iluiry up and take me away to Egypt if you like,
but anywhere where it is warm," I just mean what I say I wanted
him to take mo away at any cost ; it woxild not matter what happened.
Was that the thought in your mind at this time, that you should
go away with him? Tho uppermost I have already explained that
I had been asking Bywaters to find a situation for me abroad, and in
one of my letters I had said that I was going whether I had a situation
or not. In my letter of 23rd May (exhibit 23) I say
Your news about from Bombay and waiting till next trip made ma
feel very sad and down-hearted it will be awful waiting all that time,
3 months will it be I caa't wait yes, I can I will, I must I'D, make
myself somehow I'll try to be patient darlint.
The news from Bombay that I was referring to there was that he
had tried to find me a position to go to and had failed.
In that letter you tell Bywaters that you would like him to
read " Bella Donna," as he might learn something from it to help
you. What were you referring to in " Bella Do-nna " which you
wished him to read which might help you both ? The book was really
about Egypt, and I thought he might learn something in it about
Egypt.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN I should like to clear this up. Is not the
main point of it that the lady killed her husband with slow poisoning?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL I was going to deal with it in cross-
examination.
o 81
Bywaters and Thompson,
Edith Jessie Thompson
Examination continued Do you recollect in that book any
particular part or character that you wished to call Bywaters'
attention to? No, not particularly.
Look at your letter of Hth July, 1922 (exhibit 52)
About Bella Donna no I don't agiee with you about her darlmt I
hate her hate to think of her I don't think other people made her what
she was that sensual pleasure loving greedy Bella I)onna was always
there. If she had originally been different a good man like Nigel would
have altered her darlmt she never knew what it was to be denied any-
thingshe never knew ' goodness ' as you and I know it she was never
interested in a good man or any man unless he could appease her sensual
nature. I don't think she could have been happy with nothing except
Baroudi on a desert island she liked no loved and lived for his money or
what it could give her the luxury of his yacht the secrecy with which she
acted all bought with his money that's what she liked. Yes she was
clever I admire the cleverness but she was cunning, there is a difference
darlmt, I don't admire that I certainly don't think she would ever have
killed Nigel with her hands she would have been found out &he didn't
like that did she 7 being found out it was that secret cunning in Baroudi
that she admired so much the cunning that matched her own If she had
loved Baroudi enough she could have gone to him but she liked the
security of being Nigel's wife for the monetary assets it held. She doesn't
seem a woman to me she seems abnormal a monster utterly selfish and
self-living. Darlint this is where we differ about women
Was that your true opinion about the character in that book you
were referring to? Absolutely
Turn now to your letter of 13th June (exhibit 24). Do you
remember the day of that month that Bywaters returned to sea? I
fancy it was the 9th.
You are writing on the Tuesday following his departure
I'm trying very hard very very hard to B B. I know my pal wants mo
to. On Thursday he was on the ottoman at the foot of the bed and said
he was dying and wanted to he had another heart attack thro me.
Darlint I had to laugh at this because I knew it couldn't be a heart
attack.
On that Thursday (the day before Bywaters sailed) had there been
a scene between you and your husband? Yes, in the evening. Mr.
Bywaters had taken me out to dinner. I arrived homo later than I
usually do, and my husband made a scene. He was on the ottoman.
Did he appear to have a heart attack? Not to me, because I
knew when he had a heart attack; it was entirely different. In the
course of that scene he said ho was dying and wanted to dio. That
scene which took place on the night before Bywalers sailed was
entirely due to the fact that I had been out that night and did not
return till late.
That is what you mean when you say " he had another heart
attack thro' me "1 Yes, he fiaid it was through me.
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Then you go on
When he saw this had no effect on me he got up 4oixd stormed I said
exactly what you told me to and he replied that ho knew that's what I
wanted and he was not going to give it to in it would make things far too
easy for both of you (meaning you and me) especially for you he said.
"What had you said to him -vihile this storm was going on? I asked
him to give me my freedom, and I even went so far as to tell him
I would give him the infoimation to get it
Look at your letter of Hth June (exhibit 53). You have told
us that you were asking Bywaters in your letters what was aromatic
tincture of opium and what was digitalm In this letter you ask
him
Darlmt, how can you get ptomaine poisoning from a tin of salmon?
One of our boys Mother has died with it after being ill only three days.
Had you anything sinister in your mind? It was partly curiosity,
and I was stating a fact about our boy's mother.
In your letter of 20th June (exhibit 25) you say
When you are not near darlint I wish we had taken the easiest way.
What was the " easiest way " that you were referring to there?
Suicide
Look now at your letter of 1th July (exhibit 26)
Why arnt you sending mo something I wanted you to you never do
what I ask you darlint you still luve your own way always if 1 don't
mind the risk why ehould you 7 Whatever happens can't be any more than
this existence looking forward to nothing and gaming only ashes and dufat
&nd bitterness
What were you wishing Bywaters to understand by that paragraph?
I was asking him io send instead of bring something as he
suggested
Had you any particular thing in your mind? Nothing at all.
In the postscript to that lottw you say, l{ Have you studied
bichloride of mercury? " What had you in your mind when you wrote
that? Some days pieviounly my husband had discussed with me a
conversation that ho had with his chemist friend about bichloride of
mercury. He told ine the chemist had given it to u girl in mistake,
and had made her ill Until my husband had discussed thi with
me I had never heard of bichloride of mercury, nor did I know any-
thing about it.
Tour husband having related this to you, you asked Bywatore
whether he had studied it? Out of curiosity I did. I nevei iiad any
bichloride of mercury in my possession to my knowledge.
By waters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Turn DOW to your letter of 28th August (exhibit 63)
Darlmgest boy, to-day is the 27th and it's on a Sunday, so I am writing*
this in the bathroom, I always like to send you greetings on the day not
the day before or the day after Fourteen whole months have gone by
now, darlint, it's so terribly long Neither you nor I thought we should
have to wait all that long tune did we? altho' I said I would wait 5 years
and I will darlint it's only 3 years and ten months now
What did you mean by that it is only three years and ten months
to what? To wait
For what' To live with Mr. Bywa,ters or go away with him, or
be with him only.
Had you made arrangement with Bywaters to wait for fivo years?
Yes.
What was to happen at the end of five years * If he was not in
a successful position to take me away or had not in the meantime
found me something to go to well, we should part.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN The other witness's story was that they
wanted to commit suicide, and h said, " Put it off five years,"
which seems to be the one sensible thing I have heard.
(To Witness) Was that discussed when you wanted to commit,
suicide together, that you should put it off and wait five years to
see how he was getting on? Wo might have discussed that, but I
do not remember about it.
lamination continued I was quite prepared to wait five years
Will you turn to exhibit 28, where you say
Yes, darlint you are jealous of him but I want you to be he has the
right hy law to all that you have the right to by nature and love yor.
darlint be jealous, so much that you will do something desperate.
What do you mean by doing something desperate? To lake me away
at any cost, to do anything to get me away from England
Look at exhibit 60. Do you remember the day on which you
wrote that letter? I think it was probably on the Monday, 2nd
October I saw Bywaters on the Monday, but I could not be certain
whether it was before or after the writing of the letter. On tho
Saturday I had told him of my engagement to go to the theatre on
the Tuesday. It is quite probable that that engagement was made
a fortnight before
In that letter you say
Darlint do something tomorrow night will you? something to make you
forget I'll be hurt I know, but I want you to hurt me I do reallythe
bargain now seems so one-sided so unfair but how can I alter it
" To-morrow night " was the night you were going to the theatre.
What had Bywaters to forget? That I was going somewhere with
my husband.
84
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson,
Edith Jessie Thompson
What was he to do to make him forget that? I wanted him to
take my sister Avis out.
You say, " I will be hurt, I know." What did that mean? I
should have been hurt by Bywaters being with a lady other than
myself.
In that letter you also say
Darlmgest find me a job abroad 1*11 go tomorrow and not say I was
going to a son! and not have one little regrot.
Did that really represent your feelings at that time, that you were
prepared to go abroad with him at once? Yes. We had discussed
it on the Saturday.
Look at the end of that letter
Don't forget what we talked in the Tea Boom, I'll still risk and try
if you will
What had you discussed in the tearoom * My f i eedom
Had you at any time from the month of June, 1921, to the
month of October of this year any desire for Bywaters to commit
any injury on your husband* None whatever By waters returned
from his last voyage on 23rd September, but I did not see him until
Monday, the 25th I eaw him again during that week and at nine
o'clock on Saturday, the 30th. I left him to do somo shopping,
and then I lejoined him, and was with him until mid-day. Wo spent
the morning in Wanstead Park, I did not see him again on the
Saturday or the Sunday. I saw him on Monday, 2nd October, 1
think at 2 15, outsido 168 AldcrHguta Street, and we lunched
together After lunch I returned i,o busmen. I saw him again in
Fullers about five o'clock that afternoon, and I beliovo I had a coffee
with him. I stayed with him until about quarter to woven, when I
returned home. I did not see him again that night..
During the time you were with By waters on the Saturday and
the Monday, apart from discussing a separation, clitl you discuss your
husband at all? No, I did not
Was there any mention or any indication of a possible assault
being committed on him? Nono whatever. On Tuesday, 3rd
October, I went to business as usual, and I saw Bywuters about
12.30, when we lunched together. I saw him again about quarter-past
five, and was with him for about quarter of an hour. After leaving
him I met my husband in Aldei*sgate Street, and wo went straight
west about quarter to six I think it was. We had a slight meal
together before going to the theatre.
Did you anticipate, or had you any reason to think, that you
would see Bywaters again that day or not ? None whatever. I had
made arrangements to see him on the following day at lunch time
at 168 Aldersgate Street.
85
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Did you know where he was go-ing to- spend the evening of?
Tuesday, the 3rd? Yes, with my people at Shakespeare Crescent,
Manor Park.
Was your husband going to do anything the next day, the 4th ?
Yes, we had arranged to meet a maid who was coming up from
St. Ives, at Paddington station That was a maid who was to come
to relieve me of domestic duties, because I was woikuig all day.
Had anything been said at all at your meetings with Bywaters on
the 3rd about seeing him again that nigh I? Nothing at all.
Had he made any reference to your husband at all ? None" at all.
I spent the evening at the theatre, and came away with my husband,
Leaving Ilford station with the 11.30 train from Liverpool Street,
we walked along Belgrave Road My husband and I were dincussing
going to a dance. I was trying to persuade him to take me to a
dance a fortnight hence. When we got to Endsleigh Gardens a man
rushed at me and knocked me aside. I was dazed. I do not remem-
ber anything about it, only being knocked aside. When I came tr>
my senses I looked round for my husband, and I saw him some
distance down the road. He seemed to be scuffling with soino 0110,
and he Ml up against me and said " Oo'or "
Did you take that to be an exclamation of pain from your
husband? I did. I helped him along by the side of the wall, and
I think he slid down the wall on to the pavement. I looked at him
and thought he was hurt.
Did you notice any blood coming from him? Yen, from his
mouth. I went to get a doctor, and going along the road 1 mot a
lady and gentleman coming towards me. I do not remember what
I said to them, but I know that we went to a doctor, and then I
came back to my husband with them. The doctor was a long time
in coming, an awful long time.
You mean it seemed a long time to you? It seemed a long
time to me. When tho doctor came I asked him if ho could pet my
husband home, and he said, " He is dead." I could not believe it,
and I still entreated him to lot me take him homo. T cannot
remember what else I said to him
He did not come home that night? No, they took him away.
We know from the evidence of Mrs. ] jester that you told h<r if
they would have let you go with him you could havo'heijKxl him?-
Yes.
Did you still think after you had gone homo that your husband
was alive? Yes, I could not realise he was dead.
Had you any idea at that time that your husband had boon
stabbed? None whatever.
And the doctor does not seem to have noticed that when ho came 1
He did not tell me anything except that he was dead.
Had Bywaters over at any time said anything to oven suggest
that he was likely to stab your husband? Never. 1 did not know
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
that he was possessed of a knife; I had never seen it until it was
produced in these proceedings. On the morning of 4th October I was
seen by Detective-Inspector Hawkins, first about eleven o'clock and
then about twelve o'clock I was aaked to go to the station, and I
went, and theie I made a statement, which is exhibit 3, as the result
of questions put to me and answeis given by me
Had you noticed the pievious night the person with whom your
husband was scuffling? No, I had not
After the scuffle did you see him running away? I saw some-
body running away, and I recognised the coat and hat.
Was that the coat and hat of the prisoner By waters? Mr.
Bywaters. In my first statement (exhibit 3) I made no reference
to Bywaters, be-cause I was not asked about him. I lemained at
Ilford police station throughout the day of the 4th and the night
My mother ^as with rno. On Thursday, 5th, I saw the prisoner
Bywaters there lie was brought into the C I D room where I was *
After that I made iny second statement
Why did you tell (he officer you had not se-en any one about
in Belgtave Boad? I \\as very agitated, and I did not want to say
anything against Mr. Bywatcis; I wanted to shield him.
Was it when you saw him at the police station that you detailed
the full story? No. I made my second statement, which is the
tiue statement (exhibit 4) after Inspect or Woiwley had said to me,
"It is no use your saying he did not do it; h has already told UN
ho has " Tlu Inspector thon said to me, ce Go back to tlie C.IJ>
room and think about it, and I will come for you in half an hour,"
When at the end of that half -hour Inspector Hall camo to me I made
my statement (exhibit 4)
You have told us when you \vero walking with your husband
a man rushed at you and pufihurl you awide. Did you fall t ail? I
think I must have done NO. I have n recollection of getting up when
I went to my husband I had a large bump on my head, ou the right
side of my ear. That bruise- WJIH Keen both by my mother and the
matron at the police station. My mother remained with me at the
police station until nine o'clock o-n the Thursday evening.
Had you the remotest ido-a that any attack was going to bo mado
on your husband that night? None whatever
Or at any time? Nover at any time.
Cross-examined by the SoLtorron-GfiNERAi, Have you any clear
recollection now of what happened wbon your husband was killed?
Except what I have Raid; I was dazed.
* As usual, there is considerable contradiction and obscurity at* to the exact
methods of the police and the circumstances in which these important wtate-
ments were obtained. Ed
87
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Is exhibit 4, the short statement, everything you remember, and
is it true? It is true.
Was the statement you made to the police, which I will read to
you, your recollection at the time, or was it deliberately untrue
We were coming along Belgrave Road and jnst past the corner of Ends-
leigh Gardens when I heard him call out ' Oo'er,' and he fell up against
me I put out my arm to save him and found blood which I thought was
coming from his mouth I tried to hold him up He staggeied for several
yards towards Kensington Gardens and then fell against the wall and slid
down. He did not speak to me I cannot say if I spoke to him. I
felt him and found his clothing wet with blood Ho never moved after
he fell. We had no quarrel on the way, we were quite happy together.
Immediately I saw the blood I ran across the road to a doctor's I
appealed to a lady and gentleman who were passing and the gentleman
also went to the doctor's The doctor came and told me my husband
was dead Just before he fell down J was walking on his right hand side
on the inside of the pavement nearest the wall We were side by side
I did not see anybody about at the time My husband and 1 wero talking
aboat going to a dance
Now, did you intend to tell an untruth then about the incident?
Was that to shield Bywaters? It was.
In your statement you say
We were coming along Belgrave Road and just past the corner of
Endsleigh Gardens when I heard him call out ' Oo'er ' and he fell up against
me.
Doe that not suggest that he was taken ill, and that nobody was
present? Yes.
Did you intend, when you said that, to tell an untruth 1 It was
an untruth.
And you intended it to be an untruth? I did, but I do not
mean it was an untruth that he said " Oo'er n and fell up against
me.
It is an untruth in so far as it suggests that that was the first
thing that happened? That is so
Was that again to shield Bywaters? It was.
At the time you made this statement to the police you know that
it was By waters who had done it? I did I do not know "what you
mean by " done it." I did not know then that anything was actually
done When I say I knew it was Bywaters, I mean that I recognised
his coat and his hat going a-way.
Then you left out the truth in order to shield Bywaters ? Yes,
that is so.
You knew if you told the truth Bywaters would be suspected? I
did.
88
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
In your statement (exhibit 4) you
I was dazed for a moment When I recovered I saw my husband
scuffling with a man.
Is that the truth? It is.
Then did you watch your husband and Bywate-rs scuffling
together? I did not watch them; I saw them. When I say
" scuffling " I mean that I saw my husband swaying, moving about.
And the man there with him? There was somebody with him;
they were some distance ahead of mo.
And the two were m contest or pushing? That is so.
Or -fighting? That is so.
Did you see them fighting? Scuffling. That is my explanation,
moving about
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Did you see either of them strike a
blow ? It was dark ; I could not.
Cross-examination continued Was it all over in a moment?
As far as I can recollect .
Then it would not be right io say that you watched them? Oh,
I did not. I mean that I saw the two men together, and it was over.
The next sentence in your statement (exhibit i) is
The man who I know as Freddy Bywatera was running away He
was wearing a blue overcoat and a grey hat I know it was him although
I did not see his face
Do you mean by that that you recogniNed this man whom you only
saw at a distance in the dark in front of you that you only recog-
nised him by his overcoat and his hat? I did, by hit* back.
Do you really suggest that? I do.
Did you not know at the beginning, as soon as something
happened, that it wan By waters? I had no idea.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN There is her statement to the doctor,
ehe said somebody had flashed by.
Sir H. Culms BENNETT It was to Miss Pittard and Mr. Clevely.
Mr. JUSTICE SHBAKMAN " Some ona flew past and when I went
to speak to my husband." " Some one flow past " was the expres-
sion, and Clevely ? 8 wordn were " some one flew past and he fell
down."
Cross-examinfttiowi continued Supposing these two "witnesses
are correctly repeating what you said to them, is that a correct
impression, that " somebody flew past "? I have no recollection of
saying that. I was in a <lazed condition.
Is that a correct impression on your mind, that some* one flew
past? No.
All you say is that when you recovered your senses and saw
some one in front of you you knew it was By waters? I did when
he started to move away.
89
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Had you any doubt when you were asked by the police about it
that it was Bywaters who was there and was the man? No, 1 had
not.
May I take it that when you made the long statement (exhibit
3) you left out Bywaters 7 name in order to shield him? I did so.
Did you also say this in the statement: " I have always been
on affectionate terms with my husband"? I cannot say that 1
actually said that. The statement was made as question and answer.
I think it was read over to you and you signed it? It might
have been, yes.
At any late, is the statement true or untrue? It is untrue.
If you left Bywaters out of that statement in order to shield
him, were you afiaid that if you brought his name into it he would
be suspected? I was not afraid of anything. I left it out entirely.
Why? What were you afraid of if you did not know your hus-
band had been stabbed? I was not afraid of anything.
What wero you going to shield him from? To have his namo
brought into it.
Were you not going to shield him from a charge of having
murdered your husband? I did not know my husband was mimleied
Did you not know that your husband had been aN&aultod and
murdered? The inspector told me, but I did not realism even at
that time that he was dead
Inspector Eall had told you then that your husband was dead ?
He had.
When you told thoso untruths and left out Bywaters, wore you
not attempting to shield him from a charge of having murdotud your
husband? I did not even know my husband had been murdered.
When I say that I did not know, I mean that I did not realise it.
I will ask you again, what were you attempting to ehiold By-
waters from? From being connected with me his uumis being
brought into anything.
Now, Mrs. Thompson, is it not the fact that you knew that
Bywaters was going to do something on this evening and that theK
two false statements were an attempt to prevent the police getting-
wind of it? That is not so.
Now I will go back to the early stages of your relationship with
Bywaters. Do you agree with me that it was in Juno of 1921 that
you first fell in love with Bywaters ? No, I did not.
Do you put it in November? September, I said.
Look at your letter of 28th August, 1922 (exhibit 63), whero
you say
Fourteen whole months have gone by now, darlinfc, it's so terribly long.
Neither you nor I thought wo should havo to wait all that long tima.
Does that not satisfy you that you and Bywaters declared love to
each other in June, 1921 ? Not at all.
90
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jeooie Thompson
You deny that? Yes.
When did you first begin to address him as your lover? It ie
just what you moan by " your lover."
The terms in which a woman doe not write to any man except
her husband? I cannot remember.
Did you fiom tho first time you realised you weie in love with
Bywaters take an aversion to your husband? For the first time,
did you say?
Did you ever take an aversion to your husband? I did
Can you tell me the date? I think it was in 1918
Then both before and after you and Bywaters fell in lovo with
each other you hated is that too strong a woid your hu&band?
It is too strong.
Did your aversion lo him become greater when you fell in love
with Bywaters? I think not.
Were you happy with him after you foil in love with By waters?
I never was happy witli him.
Did you behave lo him Jis if you were- happy? On tjc'a&ioua,
yes
Did your husband rojxiatcdly ask you if you weio happ*;? lie
did.
And did you It* 11 him you were happy? I did
Was that to deceive him? It \virn to Htititify luw woro than to
deceive him.
Did you seriously at that time intend to loave your hutjbund or
lo give him cause for divorce? I did.
Did you over toll him you had given him cause for divoirtM
I did.
When, for the first time? T cuimot remember,
Were you afraid your husband would find out anything between
you and Bywatern? What do- you mean by " anything "K
Were you frightened that your husband would iinrt out any-
thing between you and By waters? Except that wo were mooting
and he might come and prevent us meeting.
But if you had 1,<>11 your husband that you hnd given him
ground for divorce, what wore you afraid of beyond that ? I was
afraid of my luwband coming to my place- of business and making
scenes as he had threatened.
You had to-ld your hunband that you had been unfaithful to
him, or would be unfaithful to him, and given him grounda for
divorce? I did.
Had he mnde scenes at your business wlim you told him that 1
No, he did not, but ho had threatened to do so.
What was the risk you wore running, tho risk you so oftwn
mentioned to By water*? Look at your loiter of 4(h July (exhibit
26)*-
Why arnt you sending me something T wanted you to -you never
91
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
do what I ask you darhnt you still have your own way always If I
don't mind the risk why should you?
What risk? That was the risk of Mr. Bywaters sending me some-
thing instead of bringing {something
Why was that a risk? Well, it would be a risk for me to
receive anything.
Not a risk to leceive a letter? I did not say a letter.
What was it? Whatever Mr Bywatois suggested.
Why should you think there was a nsk in his sending you
something? I did not know that I should personally receive it.
Why should there be a risk in a friend or even a lover sending
you a letter or a present? I did not say it was a letter.
What was it? Something Mr. Bywaters suggested.
Did he suggest it was a dangerous thing? No.
Why did you think it was a dangerous tiling? I did not think
it was a dangeious thjng.
Why did you think thore was a risk? There was a risk to any-
thing he sent mei that did not come to my hands first
Did you think it was because somebody would think there was
a liaison going on between you and him? No, only you would not
like anything private being opened by somebody previous to yourself.
You were afraid somebody might have thought there were
improper relations between you and him. Is that what you are
referring to? No
I understand you did not mind your husband knowing you and
Mr. Bywators were lovers ? We wanted him to realise it.
The more it came to the knowledge of your husband tho more
likely you were to nchieve your design of divorce or separation; is
that the fact? No, that is not so. The more it came to his know*,
ledge the more he would refuse to gives it me ; he had told me that.
In the passage I have read you were asking Bywaters to send
something which he had said, according to you, he was going to
bring? That is so.
What was it? I have no idea,.
Have you no idea? Except what he told me.
WTKat did he tell you ? Ho would bring me something.
Did he not say what the something was ? No, he did not mention
anything.
What did he lead you to think it was? That it was something
for me to give my husband.
With a view to poisoning your husband? That was not the
idea, that was not what I expected.
Something to give your husband that would hurt him? To make
him ill.
And it was a risk for your lover to send, and for you to receive,
something of that sort? It was a risk for him to send me anything
he did not know carao to my hands first.
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
And a special risk to send you something to make your husband
ill. You appreciate that? Yes, I suppose it was.
You were urging By waters to send it instead of bringing it?
That is so.
Was that in order that it might be used more quickly? I wrote
that in order to make him think I was willing to do anything he
might suggest, to enable me to retain his affections.
Mrs. Thompson, is that quite a frank explanation of this urging
him to send instead of bring? It is, absolutely. I wanted him to
think I was eager to help him.
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAK Eager to do what ? Eager to help
him in doing anything he suggested
That does not answei the question, you know.
Cross-examination continued He suggested giving your husband
something to hurt him? He had given me something
Given you something to give your husband? That is so.
Did the suggestion then come from Bywaters? It did.
Did the suggestion come in a letter or in a conversation? I
cannot remember
Did you welcome it when it came? I read it.
What? I read it and I studied it.
Did you welcome the suggestion that something should be given
to your husband to make him ill ? I did not.
Did you object to it? I was astonished about it.
Did you object to it ? I did, at the time.
And although you objected to it you urged Bywaters to send it
more quickly than he intended? I objected at the time. Afterwards
I acquiesced.
From the time you acquiesced did you do all you could to
assist Bywaters to find something which would make your husband
ill? I did not.
Did you try to prevent him from finding something to make your
husband ill? I could not prevent him; he was not in England.
Did you try ? I do not see how I could have tried.
Did you discourage him? I did, at first.
And afterwards did you encourage him? No.
Look at your letter of 1st April (exhibit 17). What is the
meaning of the injunction in that letter, " Don't keep this piece "?
I cannot remember now.
Shall I help you to remember, if you read the next passage?
It may not have referred to that piece.
Look at the original letter. You see that that injunction ia
written on the top of a new page? Yes.
Did you intend Bywaters not to keep that piece of paper? No.
" Don't keep this piece " ? I think you will see there has been
something attached to that piece of paper. There are distinctly two
pin marks there.
By waters and Thompson.
Edith JesGie Thompson
You dispute my suggestion to you that " Don't keep this paper "
Defers to the piece on which the following is written ? I do.
Look at the nest paragraph It is about giving your husband
something bitter. I think you told your learned counsel that was
an imaginary incident? Yes.
Do you mean that you imagined it, or that your husband did?
I imagined it
Do you mean you invented the incident altogether for Bywaters*
information? I did.
Can you tell me what the object of that was? Still to make
him think I had done what he suggested.
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Had done what? Given your husband
something 1 Yes.
Cross-examination continued Was it with the same object that
you wrote the paragraph lower down, " Don't tell Dan." You say
What I mean is don't let him be suspicious of you regarding that
bocaugo if we wore successful in the action
Does that refer to the proposal that By waters had made, that you
should make your husband ill? I think not.
What do you think it refers lo? The action of my going away
to live with him unmarried
I'm going to try the glass again occasionally when it is safe. I've
got an electric light globe this time.
When was it likely to be safe? There was no queHlion of it being
safe; I was not going to tiy it.
Why did you tell By-waters you wore going to try it when it was
safe? Still to let him think I was willing to do what he wanted.
You are representing that this young man was seriously suggest-
ing to you that you should poison and kill your husband? I did
not suggest it.
I thought that was the suggestion ? I did not suggest that.
What was your suggestion? He said he would give him some-
thing.
By Mr JUSTICES SHEARMAN Give him something in his food;
you answered my question a little while ago that it was to give him
Komething to make him ill? That is what 1 Kurmiaed, lhat I ahould
give him something o that when he had a heart attack ho would
not be able to resist it.
You are suggcHtitig now that it was Bywuters who was suggesting
that to you? Yes.
And you did not do it? No, never
Gross-examinat'ion continued Why wore you urging Bywaters
to do something if the suggestion really came from him? In your
letter of 10th February (exhibit 15) your first sentence is, " You
94
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompra
must do something this time "? I was not referring to that at all.
I was referring to him getting me something to do 9 a position of some
sort abroad.
Let us see what the rest of the letter was. The fourth paragraph
is the one that relates to the incident of your husband waking up
and asking you for water as he was feeling ill Was that a true
incident ? Absolutely true.
Why did you hunt for the prescription' Was that to prevent a
similar incident ? Probably I did not think it was wise for him to
do those things
Was your anxiety so that you should get hold of the prescription
and a\ert tho> catastrophe of taking an overdose? Yes.
Do you mean you were really f lightened about your husband's
overdose? I was.
Then can you explain to me the meaning of the next sentence
I told Avis about the incident only 1 told her as if it frightened and
worried me as 1 thought perhaps it might be useful at some future tune
that I had told somebody
Was it true that you were f lightened and woiried, or was it acting?
No, that was true.
You were frightened and worried? 1 was.
Why did you take special painw to tell Avis as if you were
frightened and worried? I -was ^onied and frightened and told my
sister.
Why was it likely to be useful to pretend that you were
frightened and worried? If anything had happened to my husband
it would have been much better for somebody else to know besides
myself.
And you thought it would have been much better for you, if
you poisoned your husband, if you professed anxiety to Avis pre-
viously? I had no intention of ever poisoning- my husband.
Look at the next paragraph
What do you think, darlint. His &iter Maggie came in last, night and
he told her [I suppose " he " is your husband] so now there are two wit-
nesses, although 1 wish he hadn't told her but left me to do it
Now, that is to say you wanted again to create th impression that
you were frightened by your husband's attacks? I did not want to
create the impression. I waa frightened
It would be so easy darhnt if I had things I do hope I shall.
What would bo easy? I was asking or saying it would be bettor if
I had things as Mr. Bywaters suggested I should have.
What would be easy? To administer them as he suggested.
" I do hope I shall." Was that acting or was that real? That
was acting for him.
90
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
You were acting to Bywaters that you wished to destroy youi
husband's life? I was.
By Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN One moment, I do not want to b*
mistaken. Did I take you down rightly as saying, " I wanted him to
think I was willing to take my husband's life "? I wanted him to
think I was willing to do what he suggested.
That is to take your husband's life-? Not necessarily.
Cross-examination continued To injuie your husband nfc any
rate? To mako him ill.
What was the object of making him ill? I had not discussed
the special object.
What was in your heart the object of making him ill? So
that he should not recover from his heart attacks? Yes, that
certainly the impression, yes.
The Court adjourned.
Fourth Day Saturday, 9th December, 1922.
Mrs. EDITH JESSIE THOMPSON (prisoner on oath), recalled,
cross-exaimnation continued Be good enough to turn to your
letter of Uth March (exhibit 20), and look at this passage
The mail caine in 12 noon, and I thought I would be able to talk to
you after then but I don't think 1 can. Will you do all the thinking and
planning for me darlmt for this thingbe ready with every little detail
when I see you because you know more about this thing than I, and I am
relying on you for all plans and instructions only just the act I'm not
I'm wanting that man to lean on now darlmt, and I shall lean hard so be
prepared.
You told me yesterday that you were anxious to let Bywaters know
that you were prepared io do anything for him? Yes.
And that he was lymg to you, or you thought he \vas lying
to you, suggesting harming your husband? Yes
And you were wj itmg back to lum letting him think that you
agreed with him When you say in the letter, " Will you do all
the thinking and planning for me, dailmt for this thing," you
meant the poisoning which Bywaters had suggested ? I did not.
What was " this thing "' The thing I referred to was my
going away with him
Did " the act " that you refer to mean leaving your husband?
" The act " meant actually going with him. I wanted him to
make the arrangements regarding the passage, and all the details
that would be entailed in my leaving England.
At any rate, it does not mean suicide? No, it does not mean
that It means what I have just told you.
Further on you say, " Why not go to 231, darlmt? " That
is your old home? That is my mother's house.
I think you ought to go as usual, it would be suspicious later if you
stopped away without a reason known to thorn and there is not a reason is
there ?
Why would it be suspicious if he stayed away from your mother's
house? Because he was in the habit of going there when he came
home.
But if you were to leave your husband, discovery would be
inevitable? Discovery, not necessarily with him though to leave
my husband with him.
Do you mean you were going to leave your husband and try
and keep from your people and everybody else that you had gone
away with Bywaters? That was my intention; that ia what I
thought about
H 97
By waters and Thompson.
Edith Jesaie Thompson
Now, the next sentence but one
Darling about making money yes we must somehow, and what does it
matter how when we have accomplished that one thing.
What was c< that one thing ;J? To get uway fioni England.
At any rate, whatever " that ono thing " means, it had been a
subject of discussion between you and Bywaters ? Yes, my leaving
England.
You agree that you and he had discussed this c< one thing " ?
Yes.
That letter was written on 14th March, and addressed to Ply-
mouth. Bywaters arrived in England on 17th March? Yes.
Do you remember whether you discussed with him when he
came the same thing that that letter refers to? Probably I did. It
was the subject of discussion always
When he was at home, did that incident happen which you
epeak of as ** the Sunday morning escapade " in your letter of 1st
April (exhibit 17), written to Bywaters at Bombay? He had left
this country, if I may remind you, on 31st March, While he was
at homo, between 17th and 31st March, did that incident happen
-when your husband spoke about tea tasting bitter? My husband
never spoke of tea tasting bitter.
Do you adhere to your statement that this is an invention*
Absolutely.
Do you notice that you put it in inverted commas, " Sunday
morning escapade "? Yes.
Why did you put those words in inverted commas if Bywaiors
did not know what they meant? Well, that is what I called it that
is why I used inverted commas
Were you not referring in that paragraph to something which
you and Bywaters had discussed and which had happened while he
was at home? Nothing had happened.
At the end of the paragraph you ay
Now I think whatever else I tiy it in again will still taste bitter ho will
recognise it and be more suspicions still and if the quantity us fltill not
successful it will injure any chance 1 may have of trying when you come
home
Does that mean trying to poison your husband? That ift "what I
wanted him to infer.
You were wanting Lim to entertain the hope that when he next
came home you would try again to poiaon your husband? I wanted
to convoy that impression to hi mind by the letter, although I never
intended to do such a thing
Is it the fact that, whether that incident is an actxial incident
or not, what you were speaking of in that paragraph aa something
you were going to try had been discussed between you and him
when you were together? Yes.
98
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Turn to your letter of 1st May (exhibit 19), and look at this
sentence
Xou said it was enough for an elephant Perhaps it was But yon
don't allow for the taste making only a small quantity to be taken. It
sounded like a reproach ; was it meant to le V
Had he in his letter to which that was an answer again referred to
this plan of poisoning your husband ? lie piobably had. That was
In answer to his question
Had he also told you that you must be very careful in anything
you did not to lea\e any tiaccs, any linger maiks, on the boxes?
Yes, he did
Had ho also written to you again about the bitter taste? In a,
paragraph further down you say
Now your letter tells me about the bitter taste again.
That sentence speaks foi itself. Then lower down
Our Boy had to have his thumb operated on because he had a piece
of glass m it that's what made me try that method again but 1 suppose
as you say he is not normal
Was not this proposal of poisoning your husband mentioned m
every lettei that By waters wrote you * I think not.
In many letleis? I will not say how many; I don't remember
In some? Probably.
Was it not also mentioned between you and him whenever Se
came back to England? I cannot say that for certain; I don't
remember.
Do you not over remember that he spoke to you about it?
Perhaps on one occasion.
On several occasions? I cannot say how many.
Was it you who first mentioned the book " Bella Donna " to
Bywaters ? I had read that book, but I cannot say who mentioned
it first. We had discussed books we were going to lead and had
read.
Is the story of " Bella Donna " about a woman who married
her husband and went put to Egypt? Yes
When they were going out to Egypt on the ship, did they meet
a man called Baroudi? They did
Did the woman, Mrs. Chepstow, in that story feel attracted by
the comfort and the pleasures that Baron di could give her? I
believe she did.
Did she arrange a plot to poison her husband by slow doses,
in order that she might get away to Barondi? I cannot say if
she arranged it. There was a plot right at the end of the book.
There is a plot, which is really the plot of the story, to poison
her husband, without anybody finding out what she was
Bywaters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
It is a matter of opinion whether that is absolutely the plot, la
it not?
Anyway, that is an important incident in the book? At the
end, yes.
Did she almost accomplish that plot or design of poisoning hex
husband, until it was discovered at the end by an old friend? !
really cannot remember
At any rate, you do remember that it was an important inci-
dent in the book that Mrs Chepstow should get rid of her husband,
BO that she might go to another man 1 I do not know if it mentions
that she should get i id of him to go to another man. I do not
remember that being mentioned in the book
Look at your letter of 18th May (exhibit 22), wheio you write
this extract fiom " Bella Donna "
* It must be remembered that digiialin is a cumulative poison and that
the same dose harmless if taken once, yet frequently repeated, becomes
deadly.' The above passage I've just come across in a book I am reading
"Bella Donna " by Roheit Uichons. Is it any use ?
You agree with me lhat that WSIR ii tiiicgestion which you thought
of to make to Bywaters? I wanted him to think by that that !
was still agreeing to fall m with the plan which he suggested.
Were you going to undeceive Bywaters and let him roahae
tbat you were not anxious to poison your husband? I uo\ei WH
anxious to poison my husband.
When were you going to undeceive Bywaters? I never studied
it I nover thought about it.
Did you deceive Bywaters right up to his last visit to England?
I had never any intention whatever of poisoning my husband.
I will take that from you for the moment. What I was asking
you wa this: you told me that you deceived Bywaters because you
wanted to keep his love? That is so.
You deceived him into thinking that you wanted to poinon your
husband ' Yes.
Did you continue that deception right up to his visit to Eng-
land a few days before the murder? I had never told him.
Did you continue to let him think that you were prepared to
poison your husband? I never mentioned the subject. I suppose
he thought I was still wanting to do so.
Turn to your letter (exhibit 60) (about lal October), the last
sentence-
Don'! forget what we talked in the Tea Boom, I'll still risk and try
if you will
Was that in connection with the same matter, the idea of poisoning
your husband? No, thai was not. What we talked of in the tea-
room was getting me a post abroad.
100
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jesaie Thompson
Look at the sentence immediately above that where you say
"He's still well" Is "he" your husband? No. That refers
to a bronze monkey I have.
He's going to gaze all day long at you in your tempoiary home after
Wednesday
Wednesday was 4th October? Yes. The temporary home was a
sketch of the ship " Morea " which I was having framed
Thursday, 5th October, was the day when Bywaters' leave
ended? I do not know " After Wednesday " meant when I had
received the sketch of the " Morea " framed It was to be finished
on the Wednesday
At any rate I suggest to you that your statement, " I will still
risk and try if you will," refened to the same matter which you
had mentioned so often in the letters, the risk of using poison or
force to your husband? I had never mentioned force to my hus-
band
But you had mentioned it to Bywaters? Mentioned what?
Using force, something to hurt your husband? I never men-
tioned the word " force."
Did you not mention the subject to By waters? I do not under-
stand what you mean.
Did you never mention in conversation with Bywaters at these
tearoom visits, on 29th September, 2nd October, and 9th October,
the proposal of hurting your husband or of poisoning him? I had
not done so.
Did Bywaters never refer to all these letters that had passed
between you and him containing that proposal? I cannot say that
he did. He probably did not; we did not discuss the letters when
ho was at home.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL That is all I have to ask.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Do you cross-examino, Mr. Whiteley?
Mr. CECIL WHITELEY No, my lord, I ask no question.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN You know you have the right to cross-
examine
Mr CECIL WHITELEY Yes, my lord.
Re-examined by Sir HENRY CURTIS BENNETT The litti bronze
monkey stands on my desk and is referred to in several of my letters
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN " He's still well " means the monkey?
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT Yes.
(To Witness) " He's still well. lie is going to gaze all day
long at you in your temporary home " that is the picture of the
ship " Moren " which when framed was going to stand upon your
desk where the monkey was? Yes
You have been asked some questions about Roberb Hichens'
" Bella Donna." Was Baroudi in that book a wealthy man or a
poor man * A very wealthy man.
* * J
Bywaters and Thompson,
Edith Jessie Thompson
Was Nigel, the husband of Bella Donna, a wealthy man or *
poor man? I believe he was a wealthy man.
As far as you know had Bywators any money outside his pay? -
None at all.
Did you know how much that was? I had a rough idea about
200 a year, I think.
Was your husband a better off man than that? Not very much
better. I believe h got about ,6 a week.
Did you support yourself? I did, absolutely.
If you had run away with Bywaters would you have boon able
to remain at Cailton <fe Priors? Or was it your intention 1o get
employment elsewhere? Yes I had been for many years with
Carlton <fe Piiors and my remuneration was a substantial one c6
a week and bonuses.
That being the position of you, Bywaters, and your husband,
ns compared with Bella Donna, Baroudi and Mrs Chopstow's hus-
band, I again put to you your description of the woman Bella Donna
in your letter of 14th July (exhibit 52)
She doesn't acem a woman to mo slio seems abnotnial a rnonr.ior
utterly selfish and self-living.
Is that your true idea of that woman? Absolutely
So much for " Bella Donna." You have be*n asked ROIUO
questions as to a paragraph which appears in your letter of Htb
March (exhibit 20)
Why not go to 231 darlint, L think you ought to go as usual, it would
bo suspicious later if you stopped away without a Te?won known to them
and there is not a reason is there?
As far as you knew had your parents or family any suspicion that*
you were in love with Bywaters or he with you? Not as far aw 1
knew.
Until you iinally left with him, if you ever did run away with
him, did you want your parents to know of this affection or this love
between you? I did not want them to know.
So iu this loiter you are Idling him to koep visiting 231?
That is BO
You wore also asked some questions about a paragraph iu your'
letter of 10th February (exhibit 15), referring to an illni'HH of your
husband. You were asked whether you wore genuinely fngh toned
and worried about your husbandry illness, an<l you said that you
were. Apropos of that I want to ask you a quontion about the
aromatic tincture of opium. Who was it that found the bottle of
aromatic tmcturo of opium? My sister.
Were you present when that was destroyed? Yen.
Mr. JtrwrauH MHIAJUCAV She Raid yesterday thai who did not
know what had become of the bottle.
JLO'2
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
Sir H CURTIS BENNETT The contents were destroyed.
(To Witness) Was it with your concurrence that that was
destroyed? It was
When Bywaters was away from 9th June until 23rd September
of this year weie you getting as many letters from him as previously?
No.
What did you think from that? I thought ho was gradually
drifting away from me
Did you still love him very much? I did.
Where were the letters which you leceived from Bywaters
addressed to? 168 Aldersgate Street, my place of business.
For how long were they written there? Right up till tho be-
ginning of the last voyage, I think
Where elso were they written to? The G P.O in the name of
MJSS P Fisher
Why did you not want them written to your home address? I
did not want my husband to see them
Whenever Bywaters' name was mentioned, or whenever your
husband found lhafc you had been meeting Bywfiters, what happened
as far as he was concerned? There was usually a scone
And to prevent the risk of such a sceno the letters weio sent
to these other places? That is so
Now, one or two quewtii/ns about tho night of 3id October and
tho early morning of the 4th. You told try loainod friend that you
were pushed aside and you think you foil down? Yes
When you fell down did you receive any injury that you found
out afterwards? I had a large- bump on tho light-hand side of my
head.
That would bo the side where the wall was, where you were
walking? Yes.
Have you any idea how long you were upon the ground? Not
the faintest.
Then you told my learned friond that when you looked down
the street \some little distance you saw your husband pcuffling with
some one? That is no.
When you saw him scuffling with some ono ab that time did
you recognise who the other person was ? I did not.
Did you over on that night soe the face of the person who ^as
scuffling with your husband? Never
When was the 'first time that night that you saw something
about that person who had been scuffling with your husband which
made you think who it was? Ho was going away.
After he had separated from your husband? Yea
Ee was going away from your husband and away from you?
Yes It was the coat and hat that I recognised.
Had you any idea that night or -early morning that your hus
band had been stabbed? None at all.
103
By waters and Thompson.
Edith Jessie Thompson
As far as you could, from the moment you got up to your
husband, did you do everything you could for him? Everything I
possibly could.
Avis ETHEL GRAYDON, examined by Sir II CURTIS BENNETT I
am the sister of the prisoner Mrs. Thompson, and I live with my
parents at 231 Shakespeare Crescent, Manor Park. On Easter
Monday of this year we were knocking apart a grand piano case in
Mr. Thompson's garden Mr Thompson hit his first finger and
said to me, " WiU you go up to my room, to my medicine chest,
and get me a bottle of New Skin " I went up, and I saw something
in the medicine chest that attracted my attention a large bottle of
tincture of opium (Shown bottlo, exhibit 6L). It was a larger
bottle than that, about half a pint I did not touch il I came down
with the New Skin, and I went into the morning room and said to
my sistet, who was sitting by the fire, " There is a bottle of opium
in Percy's medicine chest. Nip up and get it " T ihcn went out and
put the New Skin on my brother-in-law's finger Ho told me to
take it back, which I did, and I then found that tho bottlo of opium
had gone I came downstahs again and asked my sutler, " I lave
you taken that bottle of opium as I asked you? " and she said
" Yes." I asked her where it was, and she suid, " On tho ido
there on tho sideboard." I said, " I will do away with this, HO
there can be no more trouble," and I took the bottle and went to
the scullery and poured the contents of the bottlo down the sink I
then put the bottle in tho fire in the morning room.
I want to draw your attention to a letter which has boon re-ad
Mrs. Thompson's letter of 13th June (exhibit 24)
I rang Avis yesterday and she said he came down there in * rage and
told Dad everything about all the rows wo have had ovor you but she
did not mention he said anything about the first real one on August let
so I suppose he kept that back to suit his own ends Dad said it wan a (lift*
graceful thing that you should come between husband and wife and I ought
to be ashamed Darlint I told you this is how they would look at it
they don't understand and they never will any of thorn Dad was going
to talk to me A\is said but I went down and nothing whatever was said
by any of thorn I told Avis I shd tell them off if they Mild anything to
mo I didn't go whining to my people when he did things 1 didrit approve
of, and I didn't expect him to but however nothing was juud at all.
Dad said to them ' What a scandal if it should get In tho papers ' w>
evidently kc suggested drastic measures to them.
Is there any truth in that at all? There ifl none whatever.
Did you ever tell her anything like that at all? I did not.
Did it evor happen? It did not
My Mr JUSTICES SHBAKMAN It followa therefore that your sister
invented tho whole of thinf Yes, it is pure imagination on rny
sister's part.
104
Mr, Cecil Whiteley
Evidence for Prisoner Thompson.
Avis Ethel Graydon
Examination continued I remember the evening of 3rd October,
the night when Mr. Thompson died. Mr. Bywafcers was at my
lather and mother's house that evening, and I was at home I should
think he left about ten minutes to eleven or eleven o'clock. I had
known Mr. By waters for roughly four years. As I was letting him
out of the door on that Tuesday night he said to me, " I will be down
to take you to the pictures to-morrow evening " That arrangement
was made by him just as I was letting him out of the door. My
brother-in-law told me that he and my sister were to meet their
maid from Cornwall at Paddington station at five o'clock on the
Wednesday evening, the next evening. The name of the maid was
Ethel Vernon, and in fact she arrived the next night.
Mrs ETHEL JESSIE GRAYDON, examined by Sir IT CUHTIS BENNETT
The prisoner Mrs. Thompson is my daughter I live at 231
Shakespeare Crescent, Manor Paifc During the ^hole of the day
of the 4th October I -\\as with iny daughter at tho police station. I
was also with her on 5th October until sho was charged. Sho coin-
plamed to me then, two or three times, about a bump on her head.
I put my hand over the place where whe told me it *\\as, and I felt
a bump there.
Sir H CURTIS BENNETT That is the case for Mi s Thompson.
Closing Speech for the Prisoner Bywatcrs.
Mr. CECIL WHITELBT May it please your lordship j Members of
the jury, the time has now arrived for me to perform, the last part of
tho duty that hna been aligned to rno in presenting to you the* defence
to this charge of wilful murder against Frederick Bywaters. Members
of the jury, I do RO with considerable and with deop-foit anxiety.
That anxiety is not caused from any feeling, nor have I any doubt,
that you and each one of you arc deter mined to see that, so far as
ho is concerned, so far as the other prisoner is concerned, justice will
bo done The anxie-ty arises rather from the unprecedented and
extraordinary way in which the case has been presented by the
prosecution, o that you must have, great difficulty, when you come
to consider tho whole of this caso, in dealing with the evidence that
the prosecution has seen fit to present to you.
There- is no dispute, and ever since the evening of 5th October
there has been no dispute, that Percy Thompson met his death owing
to a blow inflicted on him by Frederick Bywaters. That being the
case, and there having been the evidence with regard to the event on
that nigh I, it is one of those cases which, if brought under ordinary
circumstances, would have been loft to the hands of the junior counsel
for the prosecution, my learned friend, Mr Roland Oliver. The
case is straight and simple Tho facts of the death proved, the
105
Closing Speech for Bywaters.
Mr Cecil Whiteley
concerned, is that she was present when the alleged murder took
place, and that she aided, abetted, and assisted Bywaters m that
murder, and that she counselled, procured, and commanded him to
commit it. Of course, if they succeed in satisfying you, members of
the jury, on evidence that you can accept in law, then she is equally
responsible for the muider.
Members of the jury, the tragedy in this case, the poignant
tragedy so far as Bywaters is concerned, is that there is sittiri"
next to him in that box one who is charged jointly with him, one
who is deaiei to him than his own life. One would have thought
that the position of an accused man on a charge of muider wat,
quite difficult enough without it being thought necessary in the
interests of public justice that at the same time of his trial the
woman should have been chaiged with him. You may have noticed
that 1 asked no question of Mrs Thompson, although I was entitled
1 o do so Why did I not ? For this simple reason : my instruc-
tions, and those given to my learned f i icnd, were that neither by
word nor deed, in conducting this caso on behalf of this man,
should a woid bo said by us, or any action taken by us, which
would in any way hamper tho defence of Alr Thompson That
was the position when Byw.iton* was called into the witness-box
That being the state of his mind, it was tin anxiety that nothing
he should say should m any way hint Mrw Thompson Yet ho had
to go thiough the torture of being cross-examined, the whole object
being, in some way or other, to get evidence to connect these two
together before the fatal evening of 3rd October Happily for
Mrs Thompson, and it is a matter of satisfaction to Bywjiters, she
is in the able hands of my learned friend, Sir Henry Curtis Beiiru'H
I hope that nothing 1 say will hamper him in the way ho m
putting her case before you,
In my submission to you, tho first., an<l perhaps tho mowf ini
portant, question you have to decide is ihis was there or was there
not any agreement between Mrw, Thomjmon and Frederick Bywatere
to murder Percy Thompson on the evening of 3rd October ? Was it a
preconcerted mooting, or wan it not? 1 shall neyt ask yon to try
to eliminate from your mind& altogether the facts and the evidence
as to what happened that evening. The prosecution are asking yoti
to say that before these events there was a ciuel conspiracy between
these two persona for which they could have been prosecuted in
this Court What evidence is there of that agreement and con*
spiracy? What evidence is there that Bywaters was a party to any
such agreement?
Just consider tho difference between the personalities of these
two people Bitting in the box. On tho one hand you have Mrs,
Thompson, a woman who, at the time that ftho mot Bywators in
the Mo of Wight, lat June, had J>eon married for no less than
seven years an emotional, hysterical woman, a woman with a vivid
imagination, and one* who for some years hud been living very
107
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Cecil Whiteley
unhappily -with her husband. She becomes infatuated with a young
man no less than eight years her junior. On the other hand you
have a young man who at that time was nineteen years old, on the
threshold of a life that had every prospect of being successful
These two are drawn together. This man this boy full of life,
falls in love with the woman My ieained friend, the Sohcitor-
General, made uso of the expiession that there was a guilty passion
between these two persons. This is not a Court of morals, and
whatever view may bo taken of the relationship between them from
a sexual point of view is absolutely irrelevant. These two persons
fall in love und declare their love with one another. On the one
hand tlicie is a married woman, whose husband is unwilling to
divoice hei, and on the oihoi hand a young man whose duty takes
him to sea the giealor part of ihe year I do not suppose it will
be suggested that when he went away on 9!.h September, or again
on llth November, or in June, there was any conspiracy between
Hie two. I submit that Iho loiters between February und March
<lo not suggest that Bywatcrs was lending himself to any suggest ion
that Mrs. Thompson's husband should be injured in any way, or
poisoned Fortunately, two of Bvwaiora' lei tors have boon pre-
served, and you will assume that these letters are typical of those
ho had already written io Mrs Thompson. Tho prosc-cution may
argue that the destroying of Iho letters goes in their favour, but
you should remember that the destroying of the letters was iho only
thing that the woman would do in the circumstances who dost.royod
them because she did not want her husband to see them. I chal-
lenge tlio prosecution to show that in any of his letters By wafers
incited Mrs Thompson to any act against her husband.
Bywaters saw Mrs. Thompson constantly when at homo, and
he saw Mr. Thompson twice. But when ho realised that it was
hopeless, and that, there was no chance of Rfrs. Thompson having a
separation from her husband, the prosecution cannot suggest that
ho ever did anything el so. The prosecution are bound to prove
that when this boy WAR receiving these letters he wna making him-
self a party to what was contained in them TTow Iwvo tliay
attempted to do it? By putting in these hysterical, emotional
lctto'H of Mrs Thompson, written under all sorts of circumstances
I ask you to distinguish in the letters f,ic,t from fiction. Mrs.
Thompson wanted to roUin the affection of Bywnl.ers Her objtrt
in writing the letters was to show to Bywaters,' who mijrht l>o^oin<c
out of her lifo at any moment, that her affection for him wn KC>
great, her love for him so deep, that there was Tin-thing who would
stop at in order to freo herself and join him Tf that bo tho view
that yon take, is it unreasonable to suppose lhat that was ihe viaw
which Bywaters also took? I ask you to try, if you can, to take
ont of those letters what 38 fact and what is fiction, what i
imaginary and what 5s real The prosec/iition mush satisfy you that
108
Closing Speech for Bywaters.
Mr Cecil Whiteley
Bywateis was agieeing to it all. We now know that although theie
have been only thirty-two letters produced, there were in fact found
in the possession of Bywaters no fewer than sixty-five. As I say,
the letters simply conveyed to Bywaters the impiession that Mrs.
Thompson was extremely anxious to retain his affection Where
IH the evidence that Bywaters really entered into any conspiracy?
What did Bywaters do when he came koine? Those letteis had
been written for some weeks, but when he leturned he did nothing.
He took Mrs Thompson out, as he had done on former occasions.
He was on friendly terms with the family of Mrs Thompson He
showed no hostility or violence towards Mrs. Thompson's husband.
Bywaters had been away fioni this country after 13th June for a
period of thieo months, and it was fully four months emce he
received these letters upon which the prosecution rely Far from
theie being any conspiracy or intention in Bywaters' mind from
6th June onwaids to injure Mrs Thompson's husband, you can
see clearly from every page in those letters of hers that he was
trying to bieak away fiom the entanglement, and there had not
been a great deal of enjoyment in it for Bywaters except when ho
was at home on leave. He saw the impossibility of the situation,
and he was gradually trying to break away; but, unfortunately
for him, Mrs Thompaon was determined that it should not be
so, and so she wrote those letters complaining of hei life, and
always holding out tho hope that they might bo ablo to join each
other. The letters should be read from the point of view of the
recipient, and not of the writer, and in that light yoxi must come
to the conclusion that, whatever her intentions may have been,
whatever, in fact, she may have been doing, Frederick Bywaters
was no party to it I go on to inquire if Bywaters became a
party to any such agreement after 23rd September. I contend
that the whole case for the prosecution shows that he did not,
I should refer in a word or two to the excellent record of
Bywaters. We do not have in the dock here a man who has been
charged over and over again with crimes of violence, or a man of
evil reputation. We have a man of spotless reputation and good
character, and yet it is suggested that he made himself a party
to a conspiracy to murder the husband. Bywaters' case to-day IK
that it was not until he left the Graydon's house about eleven
o'clock on 3rd October that he had any intention of seeing Mrs.
Thompson again that night or of interviewing her husband. If
you come to the conclusion, as I submit you must, that Bywaters
up to that evening had never any intention whatsoever to injure
Mrs Thompson's husband, and that he, on his side, had never
agreed with Mrs. Thompson that any violence or anything else
should b done to Thompson, then your verdict, so far an Mrs
Thompson is concerned, is " Not Guilty," and you will have to-
deal with the case as it affects Bywaters.
109
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Cecil Whiteley
I proceed now to deal with what Is the real issue for you, and
I shall detail the events of 3rd October. Bywaters has said that
he left the house on the evening of 3rd October feeling very miser-
able. He was thinking of Mrs. Thompson, and of the complaints
made to him when he came from abroad Ue says that an irre-
sistible impulse came over him that he must see her, that he must
try to help her, and the only way of helping her was to see again
whether ho could not come to some arrangement with regard to
lior. She is miserable, tins cannot go on: he will sw owo moi.-
if he cannot do something. That impulse coming over him, hi*
walked quietly towards Belgiavo Iload. As to the details of whi,t
happened, the only evidence you have is that of Bywaters himself.
His lordship will dnect you with regard to tho law concerning
the various possible verdicts.
Mr. JUSTICE SnoABMAN You \vanl me to leave these questions
to tho jury (1) Justifiable homicide; (2) manslaughter ; (3)
murder?
Mr WniTiSLur Yes I road the report of Bywatrs' evidc-nct*
of what happened when Thompson met his. death [Roada report of
evidence.] How did tho kiiil'o como to be in Bywatois 1 possession '/
It has been said, and tlioro isi evidutico to mippoit it, that li bought.
tho knife in Aldorsgato Snoct in November of last, jour It is noi
a strange tiling that By \\atcnt should purchase such a knifu, a sua-
faring man, vimting seaports m foroign countries Ho IIUH told us
that ho was accustomed to carry it in his greatcoat pocket. Thwv
are few sailors* who do not possess a knife. If you accept that, away
goes the case for the prowcutio-n that it was purchawMl for tho
ttxprospj purpose of commit Ling a dastardly murder If you accept
Bywators* oviduuce, then you should comt- to the following eon-
v hi si OTIS:
Thai the object Bywnteru laid in going to inco-t the TliompHoiiH
on that, night was in order to make* some arrangement wil.li him, and
not in order to kill him.
That whew ho arrived at Belgrave Jload lie luul nr> intention
of utiiu tho knife.
That Thompson struck him a blow on tho chest and wiM, " I
\\ill whoot you," at UK- same time j mi ting his right hand into bin
hip pocket. What was it that would jlash through tho mind of a man
accustomed to visiting foreign countries when he hoard th^ threat " I
will shoot you " and saw a hand turned to I he hip pocket ? II <l<x*s
not matter, I submit, whether there \\as a revolver or not. Th<*
question for tho jury is, " What did this man beluwi at that time '"I
If you como to the oonclumon (hat By waters thought thai ThompKon
intended lo slxoot him and had a revolver at the time, and that in
* Bywaters wa not a *' sailor" in tho technical sense. FJe was a olcrk on
board a ship, and had more use for a fount/urn pen than for a krufo -~Kkl.
110
Closing Speech for Bywaters.
Mr Cecil Whiteley
self-defence he took out his knife and stabbed him, having reasonable
apprehension t.iat his life was in immediate danger, then the only
verdict is one of Not Guilty, as being excusable homicide.
With regard to the second verdict if you come to the conclusion
that Bywaters did not stait the fight with the intention of using his
knife, and that he used it m the heat of passion in consequence of an
attack made on him by Thompson, you are entitled to reduce this
crime from murder to manslaughter.
Or, again, if you are satisfied that Thompson shuck him a blow
on the chest, followed by the words *" I will shoot you," and by a
movement of his hand to his pocket, then there would be such provoca-
tion as would enable you to reduce the crime from murder to
manslaughtei .
In consuleiing the statement made by Bywaters I think it is
necessary for you to realise that from beginning to end in this case
the one thing' always in By^ateis' mind was the- position of Mrs
Thompson and how she was suffering. When he left the scene that
night he did not know that Thompson was dead He did not discover
it until the next day, when he bought a newspaper. The tune ha
come when there should bo some altciation in the way in \vhich
persons are- dealt with at police stations 1 am not blaming the police-
Superintendent Wensley is one of the most efhcient officials there
have ever been at Scotland Yard, and it was his duty to ascertain
who committed the crime and to make- all necessary inquii ies. What
I am complaining of is that when a statement was taken in the
circumstances in which it was it should be solemnly produced in this
Court as if it were a voluntary statement to be used in evidence
against Bywaters. The thoughts of Bywaters when he made the
first voluntary statement were concerned as to what had happened to
Mrs. Thompson. I ask you to put aside altogether the statements,
having regard to the circumstances in which they were made, and
deal with the evidence of Bywaters as he has given it.
All the time that I have been addressing you I have been
conscious of a feeling that, whatever arguments" I may use, the
Solicitor-General has the right to the final address. It is a curious
position. In an ordinary case in this Court where a prisoner give*?
evidence and calls no other evidence as to facts, his counsel has the
right of addressing the last word to tho jury. Owing to the fact that
a law officer of the Crown has been engaged to prosecute in this
case, I am deprived of that privilege. Apparently the privilege
was considered o important by those conducting the prosecution
that tho services of the Solicitor-General were engaged. So long
ago as thirty years, defending in a criminal case, ono of the mosl
famous advocates, still alive, commented on this curious and
anomalous privilege, remarking, " I hope an Attoruey-Gknieral may
be found some day, unless the law is altered as it should be, to
abandon the exercise of a right which does not appear to mo to bo-
111
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Cecil Whiteley
defensible." Of course, I know that the Solicitor-General
endeavour to be as fair in his reply as he was in his opening of the
case, but I am conscious that the interests of Bywaters may suffer
from the fact that the Crown has the last word.
I again challenge the prosecution to point to one stable piece-
of evidence, to any evidence, on which you can icly, on which you
can say that that man had agieed with Mrs. Thompson lo do somo
harm or some violence to Percy Thompson Judge tin < young man
as you yourselves would bo judged One life has already l>een sacri-
ficed in this soi did and hornble drama Is thoie to bo yet another?
Frederick Bywatera makes his last appeal to you through nu\ and
he says to you, " It is true, only too true, that I have boon weak,
extremely weak It is true, only too true, that I allowed myself to
drift into this dishonourable entanglement and intrigue with a
married woman living with her husband. It is true that I had not,
the moral courage to cut myself axlufl from it and end it all. II
is true, only too true, that she confided in me, thai I was flaMcm!
that she should come to mo, a young man of nineteen, and confide in
me. It is true that I pitied her, and thnt my pity turned to Jove,
I did not realise, I did not know, 1 had not enough experience in
this life to know, that tiuo love- must mean solf-aenfico All thin
is true," he says, " but I ask you to believe, and by your verdict
to proclaim to the whole world that hi all this history I anx not art
assassin I aru no murderer."
Closing Speech for the Prisoner Thompson.
Sir HENRY Cuims BENNETT May it please your lordwhip, mem
bers of the jury at last I have an opportunity of putting Mrs
Thompson's oase to you It wjis. only at the end of four days, and
near the end of the case, that the defence hud an opportunity oi
showing to you the other side of the picture already put before you
by the prosecution. It is important that you Nhriuld roiliHo whai
you are trymg You arc*, trying one of two indictment B. The proHocu
tion have chosen to pioceed upon the first, -which charges, the prisoner,,
with murder There was another indiolmont which might be* tried
by you or some* oilier jury against both the priKOiiera, and it, iV
itriportant that you should know what, that, second iudiistmcnt wtt.
It contained five counts. It charged them with on divero dates
between 20th August, 1921, and 2nd October of this your conspiring
together io murder Percy Thompson;
That between 10th February of this year and l,t October Mr*.
Thompson did solicit, endeavour to persuade, and propone to
to murder Thompson;
That between the same dates ho did unlawfully Holicit and i
Bywaters to conspire with her to murder Thompson ;
112
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett, K.C.
Closing Speech for Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
That on 26th March (I don't know why that date was chosen)
she administered and caused to be taken by Thompson certain poisons
or other destructive things with intent to murder; and
That on 20th April she did administer and cause to be Lakrti
ly Thompson a certain destructive thing, namely, broken glass.
It is quite clear from the sections of the Act of Parliament in
question (Offences Against the Person Act) what the law is in
relation to the second indictment Any person who shall confederate
or agree to minder any peison whomsoever, or shall solicit,
encourage, pomuule or endeavour to persuade, or shall piopose to
any poison to murder any other peisou that person shall be guilt}
of misdemeanour, and, if convicted thereof, shall be liable to ptaml
servitude for ten years. The first three allegations, in thai indiel-
mont are under that section of the Act of Parliament. It is. .not
murder, but an offence Tihuxcby they can receive a substantial term
of penal servitude. Tho last t\\o cliargoy of the indictment aio
framed under another station of the samo Act, under which a porsou
administeiing or causing to be admin i stored to any oilier peiNon,
or to bo taken by him, ceitain poiwous, shall be guiiiy of felony,
and liable to penal servitude.
For some reason you, members of (lie jury, may possibly
understand the reason, I don't picfcntl io hhc proswution hero havo
elected to put theso two people into <he dock logetlier and charge
them with murder. As far na T know, (here IR no other case in which
a jury have boon empanelled to try either man or woman with
murder where it could not bo alleged by 1lie prosecution ihat that
person did any act when il< muidor, if it wore murder, wim com-
mitted.* By the prosecution it IN siated that Mrs, Thompson wan,
what is known m ihe law as a principal iu ihc Hcrond degree*, namely,
a person who " aids, abetw, or asuists a murderer when he ia com
mitting a murder."
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN That is not exclusive. Tf iwo people
contrive a murder they are. guilty of murder, oven though one was
not there.
Sir JI CURTIS BBNHHTT Yes, ho in an awt'SHory.
Mr. JUHTICB SHEARMAN Yon way ho IK not giJili.y of muixler if
he did not actually take part in it
Sir II. CURTIS BBNNHTT I am not going to shirk any iHftti<*
It is no good when representing somebody to 1,17 and put beforo th
jury some story which docs not moot the case at all. Tfc raimot Ina
alleged that anything further might bo charged against hw.
Mr JTusTiCB SHEARMAN Of course n p*mm might bo r<gar<l^i
as an accessory before the fact
Sir II. CURTIS BENNBTT If the case as guggeeUxl by the prose-
cution wore ihal Mrs. Thompson know what was going to happen
* Of. " The Trial of the Soddoiw " Notable British Trials Ed.
x
Bywaters and Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
that night, and that she took the person who was to be murdered
to the spot where he was murdered, then I would welcome thot
case The jury would see that the whole of the evidence was to the
contrary in such a case If you come to the conclusion that sho
conspired with Bywaters to murder her husband ou that night, then
you will convict her on that indictment if you come to the conclusion
that she was urging on Byv\aters At this moment, however, sho
aits in the dock charged with being a murderess on the night of
3id October, and it is for the prosecution to satisfy you that she is
guilty. I suppose that the case for the prosecution is founded upon
nothing but those letteis. wiitton over a period oi* time, and fount lei i,
outside that, on nothing but guesswork, contradicted when you
come to* test it. I suppose the case is that there was an arrange-
ment upon that night that Thompson should be murdered, that
Mrs Thompson was a party to it, and that Mis Thompson knew
quite well as she was walking down the road near her home that
at any moment her husband was going to be taken from her side
and murdered in cold blood I contend that every single action of
Mrs. Thompson upon the night when the killing took place shows
that she knew nothing of what was going to happen
You have got to get into the atmosphere of this case. This is
no ordinary case you are trying. These are not ordinary yjeopir
that you are trying. This is not an ordinary charge of murder
This is not an ordinary charge against ordinal y people. It is very
difficult to get into the atmosphere of a play or opera, but you have
to do it in this case Am I right or wrong in saying that this woman
is one of the most extraordinary personalities that you or I have ever
met? Bywaters truly described her, did he not, as a woman who
lived a sort of life I don't suppose any of you live in an extraordinary
life of make-believe, and in an atmosphere which was created by
something which had left its impression on her brain. She reads
a book and then imagines herself one of the characters of the book.
She is always living an extraordinary life of novels. She reads a
book, and although the man to whom she is writing is at the other
end of the wide world in Bombay, Australia, the Suez Canal she-
wants his views regarding the characters in the books she has just
read You have read her letters. Have you ever read, mixed up
with criticisms of books, mixed up with all sorts of references with
which I shall have to deal, more beautiful language of love? Such
things have been very seldom put by pen upon paper. This is the
woman you have to deal with, not some ordinary woman. She is
one of those striking personalities met with from timo to time
who stand out for some reason or another.
I desire to point out now that the only thing you are trying on
this indictment as to the actual alleged murder is whether the
prosecution have proved that Mrs. Thompson was in fact taking a
real part in what happened on the night of 3rd * October. As the
114
Closing Speech for Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
Tacts have come out in the case, as. fax as Mns Thompson is con-
cemed there are two verdicts on the indictment that you can find
/igamst her. She is either guilty of inuider or she is not guilty 1
ask you again to get into the atmosphere of the life of Mrs. Thomp-
son. I do not care whether it is described as an " amazmg passion,"
to use the expression of the Solicitor-General, or as an adulterous
intercom se Thank God, this is not a Court of morals, because if
everybody immoral was brought here I would never be out of it,
uor would you Whatever name is given to it, it was certainly a
groat love that existed between these two people We read about
lo\e at first sight. Bub, after all, we aie men and women of the
world here Don't you think it was a gradual pio-cess as regards
these two people friendship first of all, gradually leading into love?
There han been much questioning by the prosecution as to the esaet
time of the two declaring each other's love, but that is beside the
point 1 wuggusb that the time was August Bank Holiday last year,
on 1st August when an incident arose out of absolutely nothing
" sending for a piu " and Mi Thompson last his temper find throw
his wife across the room There \vas uziliappinosu, and the comforter
was at hand The man was ready to take her purl-, und he became
from the friend the lover. You will remember 1he> evidence as to
tho husband flaying to the wife, "1 am not going |r> give you up.
You are iny wife You are mine 1 am not *oinj> 1o M you go."
Full of human nature, is it not? The two lovers Agreed to wait for
live yean*. Can you ^ay that, uuch a wait is 1he ananom<*nl of
murderers, of people v>]\<* hav made up their mimls tiptm a certain
dale or dates t.o mm dor a man? Thoi very hisl. loiter, which wna
made so much of by the prosecution, stated, " Thom arc only three
and three-quarters years left." Yet it is wairl that the person who
was writing fchnt loiter on 1st or 2nd Ontolxir was a murderess, l>y
inference, not because sbo struck any blow an a murderess, but be-
came* she" was planning murder the" vory next night
Dealing wiih tho lettera, I ask you not to forgot that although
they have bwn ornnbod and oonrnbwl to find nriytliing tx> sttggORt that
Mrw. Thompson is a mmxleress, 33 out of 05 have not been put
"boforft vmi In ono of tho letters ther^ is this phrase " All I could
think about last niglit wa that coui]mc(< we madd ... it awns
so homhlo to-<lny." Ts it not palpable that tho explanation they
'have givon is the* tnio ones that Iho-y had e-ntcretl into some foolish
compact to commit. Huicirlo, and not that iluy had contrived totnimln*
the woman's huftband? Shot lalka <ho.r <-f death for herself and nf,
for nny other person 'Ilioii* is nothing in the lotdorH to show any
thing but 11 mi Mrs, ThoinpHcm was desii'ons of improving on By
Traters thftt, who wa prepared to go any length lo- re-tain his affection
It is HO easy to tako bits out. of letters in opciiing a easo arid to put
them bo-fore tho jury without their context and without tho mentality
115
By waters and Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
of the prisoner being put before the jury, aud way, '* What does that
meanf ' and to take the next reference and say again, ft Oh ' there
is this, too." 1 1 is scarcely i'air. If you take the letters aud read
them through, as I was BO anxious you .should do, v\hat does it come
to? At the most it might possibly make that woman guilty of one
of the charges in the second indictment They certainly do riot
make her a principal in the killing of Thompson on tho night of &<l
October. In her letter of December, 1921 (exhibit 27), she says
' l It is the man who has no right, who generally comforts the womtij*
who has wrongs . . You will havo the right soon, won 1 !,
you? Say yes." That is put before you, picked out a,-* some evi-
dence of murder in their minds. Is it not absolutely consistent witli
innocence ^ We all know if a thing is equally co'i IMS tent wiih inno-
cence then you will find it of an innocent description What it means
is this " Thank goodness I shall be taken away ami live with yoti
either as your wife, if I am divorced, or as your xnuftrctw, if ilioro is,
no divorce. You will then have the light " lief wring to the poi-
ndge incident, I again quote the passage which 1ms boon read b^foro
" I had the wrong porridge to-day, but I do not suppose it will
matter, I do not &eom to care much either way 5Tou will pwbabl.v
say I am careless and I admit I am, but I do not caixs, do you!' 1
You will remember that the evidence waw that tho porridge- \\JIK jrt
pared by Mrs. Lester, and that Mrs Thompson occasionally had it.,
but her husband more often took it One would have thought (hero
was nothing m the reference to the wrong porridge, but in tho wit-
ness-box yesterday when asked about it Mrs Thompson mud, " I
put that in with an object." Now this is the firwt timo in thin
correspondence that you come to this extraordinary way of trying
to keep the love of a man and trying to impress iqx>n him thai it
is a love which will not die It was an extraordinary way of N!OV,
ing, " I am prepared to go to any Gcctrumo to keep your lovo."
The prosecution thought that the only way for 'them to prove
whether those statements in the letters were true or untruo was. 1<>
have the body of Thompson exhumed. What did they find ? They
found 110 possible trace of any sort or kind of poison. They found
no trace of glass having been administered in thafc body. They
found just what I hope they will find in my body and yours if ewr wo
are exhumed. And having found that the result of ihe post-mortem
examination was consistent with thei suggestion am n<w patting
before you, that the statements were absolutely untruo that she had
administered anything, I do complain that the prosecution are not
generous enough to say, " We will lot you have the whole benefit/ of
that It is time there is no sort of corroboration that you e.vor gavi
poison or glass to your husband." What would you think if you
were sitting in the dock instead of in the jury box if nothing haJ
been found that was not consistent with your innocence? When I)r,
Spilsbury was in the witness-boa: the prosecution got him fco
116
Closing Speech for Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
an answer to a question which was obvious to all before he said it.
*' Oh, of course, it may be that poison was given and disappeared
There aie certain poisons that do not leave any trace " How is one
going to deal with a case if it is going to be put in that sort of way?
The real truth about Mrs Thompson, as borne out by her
letters, was that she was a woman who would go on telling any lies
FO long as she could keep her lover Bywatos. You aro men of the
world and you must know that whcie there is a liaiwn which in-
cludes some one who is married, it will be pat of the dcwiro of that;
person to keep secret the relations from the other partner. It 3R
not the sort of thing that they would bring to the knowledge of thoir
partner for life Happily, membeis of the jury, your body includes
a member of the other sex, so that you /.ill l>o ublo to d'ec'ZArf the*
matter from both points of viow,
I come now to bhe " You must do something 1 this time " letfr :
The prosecution start with the idea that a man has been murdt'iort,
and then going back uevcn or eight months they find that wntten
in a letter and they siiftgost that it ivfoi's to numioring a man. But
is not a passage like thai exactly what you would expect 10 find
written from one lover to another when it \>as a can* of a woman
going away and living with him? As to ih dumping dr.mghl ilhu'Ms,
there is not the slightest suggestion that Mr. Thompson was poixoruyl.
Tho woman who is supposed to be wishing for her husband's death
searched amongst Ins belongings for ilie nuduunu and deutroytKl it.
A.S his lordship has said, it IK a very long cry from u foiling wmielKxly
js dead to Incoming a murderoHN. This woman was eight yoarw
older than the ma.ii, and sho realised that she might bo losing the
man Listen to the> following scut CHU^ which sho writes " 1 1. wa
<i lie I would toll heaps and heaps to help you, but tlailing do you
tMnk I like telling them?" T ask you whether in that pa.ssa#o you
do not get to the real heart of the woman. Again I read another
sentence" This thing I am goin^ to <lo for both of us will it make
a difference?" Is not that, exactly tho sort of Hung you read in a
divorce coxirt comwporidontx'i? Although through tliis woman*** great
love for the man she was prepared to leave her husband and rifik
everything, still at tlie name time, at t.h liuok of her in hid and in
her heart of hearts she felt will tlto iinio ever como when ho will
l>ring it up against mo and twit me with it, saying, " Well, you
ran away to live with a man " J Is not, thai what llui letter meana?
I submit that thoBe tliingw we-rct not t'ndeavourmg to pcrwuule to
Tatirder, but won* a thonsarwl milos from it.
Dealing with Ihc* correwjKmdenco up to l^farch, I ask, would you
convict anybody of cvwi HOIUO wnall offonct 1 " on that evidence?
Would you not. ay that tho evidence was nmrb moro (tormiHtont up
to then with inn<jc(*nee Hum with guilt. * You would not wend any
one to prinon for a month cm that ovi donee. With regard to tho
giving of quinine to Mis. Thompson, it may IK> thai Dywatorft
117
Bywaters and Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
thought she was a woman to be pandered to He knew the sort of
woman she was, and he has described her to you as living in books
and melodiamatic It is suggested that in the letters there are
references to the death of Mr. Thompson Unfortunately, there
is a lot of loose talk amongst us all. We often hear the expression,
" He should be shot," or " I would like to poison him," even in
ordinary conveisation. This was loose talk by Bywaters, and it
was the sort of language a man who had an intrigue with a married
woman might use He may have said of the husband, " I wish
he would die," but he did not mean it. Mrs Thompson, wishing
to show him that she would back him up, because she loved him, so
wrote the letters that she did write If you get a woman like Mrs
Thompson, she may easily say, " I will back him up " You can
test whether she was putting on paper facts or fiction by the evi-
dence of Dr Spilsbury and Mr Webster, which was to the effect
that she was not giving her husband poison or glass.
You will remember the references to "Bella Donna" in tho
letters I hope that most of you gentlemen of the jury who haver
read the book have seen- the play
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Are you going to put in the book? If
you do, the jury will have to read the whole of it
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT I do not wish to do that I think
your lordship gave a. description of the book I will if noeeasaiy
put in the book.
Mr JUSTICE SHEARMAN Surely not, I don't thiuk that i
necessary. I hope not I hope you will not put it in. You nan
deal with anything that has been given in, evidence about it
Sir H CURTIS BENNETT It has been suggested that the whole
theme of the book is the slow poisoning of a husband in order that
the wife may live with a wealthy man. Fortunately we have Mrs.
Thompson's view of " Bella Donna." If it is to be suggested that
the reference to digitalis means., "Is it any use for poigouixig her
husband," then you must look at her view of the woman in the
book She has described her as a monster Is it suggested that
Mrs. Thompson was slowly poisoning her husband? There is no
evidence of it Is it suggested that any one at her instigation wafc
doing it, so that she might go off with Bywaters * There is no
evidence of it With regard to the phrase, ee You will never leave
me behind again unless things are different," I submit that moanft
that, unless the next time Bywaters comes home she has got a
separation or divorce unless she ia his, and can bo left behind as
his wife or mistress she will not be left at homo at all; they will
go away, they will take the risk, and she will go anywhere. With
regard to the passage, * e I am not going to try it any more until
you come back," and the reference to " tho tea lasting bitter "
it is suggested that those statements mean, " Murder him." Our
answer is that it is " fiction," just as much fiction as " Bella
118
Closing Speech for Thompson.
Sir Henry Curbs Bennett
Donna." Turning to the subject of the aromatic tincture of opium
found at Thompson's house, it is an amazing thing if this woman
was desirous of her husband dying that when he was found in
possession of something it was taken away from him and she
refused to return it
I again read the phrase, " The third time he found a piece,
in reference to the alleged administration of glass, and I ask you
to imagine what effect such a piece of glass would have in passing
through the intestines Did she ever use it three times? The evi-
dence is that there is no trace of anybody ovei having administered
anything of the sort to Mr. Thompson,
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Before the Court rises for the day I
wish to offer you, membeis of the juiy, this advice Of course, you
will not make up your minds unl il you have heard the whole case.
The only other thing is, having regard to the nuzrouxuiinga for so
many days, by all moans look nl the atmosphere and try to under-
stand what the letters moan, but you should not foi^ret that you aro
in a Court of justice trymp; a vulgar and common crime You aro
not listening to a play from the stalls of a theatres When yoii aro
thinking it over, you should think it over in that way
The Court adjourned
119
Fifth Day-Monday, llth December, 1922.
Closing Speech for the Prisoner Thompson (continued).
Sir H CURTIS BENNETT When we adjourned on Saturday I
had almost finished dealing with the letters I wish to refer now
to the letter of 28th August (exhibit 63), which contains this
passage
Fourteen whole months have gone by now, darlint, it's so terribly long
Neither you nor I thought we should have to wait all that long time did
we? altho* I said I would wait 5 years and I will darlint it's only 3 years
and ten months now
That letter, I submit, is a very important one indeed, because ; i
shows what the mind of Mrs. Thompson was upon that date, 28th
August, She was then saying to her lover, " We ananged five
years; I am piepared to wait five years, and there are only three
years and ten months to pass "
I next deal with the letter written on 12th September, in which
Mrs Thompson refers to the fact that By waters is noarmg England,
and expresses the view that
This time everything seems different. I don't hcni from you much
you don't talk to me by letter and help me and T don't even know if 1 am
going to see you
Does that not show, what I have been putting before you, that on
12th September Mrs Thompson had in hei mind that Uywaters was
not so fond of her as he had been, and she was anxious to show him
that she would go to any extreme to keep his lovo? Look now at the
letter of 20th September (exhibit 28)
You say 'Can we be Pals only, Peidi, it will make it easier.' Do you
mean for always? because if you do, No, No a thousand times "Wo can't
be ' pals ' only for always darlint it's impossible physically and mentally
... If you still only mean for a certain time and you think it best,
darlint it shall be so . . . We won't be our natural selves tho' I know
we'll be putting a curb on ourselves the whole time like an iron bund that
won't expand
That is the woman writing on 20th September a letter which, of
course, she had no idea would ever be used against her in this light,
writing what she is really feeling a fortnight before the tragedy. It
is suggested by the prosecution that there was not only a conspiracy,
but that she was a principal in the tragedy which took place on the
night of 3rd October. I submit that these laL letters, one after
another, show quite clearly that this charge which has been made
120
Closing Speech for Thompson.
Sir Henry Gurus Bennett
is ill-founded. Of course, the letters aie prejudicial to the writer,
All of them, but you have to be very careful that you do not allow
prejudice to be turned into proof These last letfei* do not prove
at all ^hat the pzosecutiou seek to wake them prove In fact,
they show that the submission 1 a~m making is the liue one. In the
same letter of 20th September theie is this passage
You are jealous of htm Juit 1 wnt you to li he hris Hit* nj;ht by law
to all that you have the right to l>y nature cind lo\o yos dnilmt be jealoui>,
so much that you will do something desperate
Start at the end of thestoiy wjlh iho death and woik back to that,
;ind you can make what i*s an absolutely innocent expression in a
letter appear to be a guilty one* Wok bark, as the piosccution
have done, from the tragedy, und (oric to a lut/er writlen a fort-
night before, and, because in thah let,Ur thoio is this pliiaso, ** do
Romethmg desperate,'* that wean* (hit the woman was trying to
make tho man return to Kn^lnnd to ,umr<if>i lii husband Surely,
if you look at the loiters and all these references, tiny aio absolutely
consistent with tho story Ihut both M"rs Tlwnjwrn aiil Bywatois
have told They mo consiRiont wilb, " Tal\o mo nwny, 1 'are ncit
where J> Aie you, bomuae of (he pTcjurlico croafo'l by the reading
of the extracts fiom thopo letters, ioin<j; to say 1h<t< IH imy ovidonco
from thorn that, thm woman was a principal a forlniflit aft(*rwar<]R
jn the murder of hor husband? 1 nnno now to the- li-ll,oi (exhibit
<>0) which is said to have boon written by Mrs Thompson <m 2nd
October. Thai lettor iw oru of the Htron^ost docinuent-K that you
coTild have against tho mif^oKtion tltat tlioso iwo potKozm iiiado a
prior ap;ieoment before 3rd Ootober (bat, Thompson nhoulfl IK*
murdorod It is of t-ho ^rcatewt iniporiaiino to KM what- it was
that was being written by Mrs. Thompson to TJywalfTH on the very
day beforo the tragedy took pin re
Darhngost lovor of nntio, tlmik -yrMi. tlumle yon, oh thank you a
thousand times for Friday it was lovely itV nlwoyi; lovely fo ;;o out with
yon. And then Kftturtluy- yr>it T dsd f<cl h,i|py -T rtidu't think a topny
tat about anything m thlr. world, except buini; \\iih yon ;itul nil Safuvduy
evening I was thinking about yoti .... 1 trii'tl MI hard tu find u way out
of to-night dorlmgofft but h< wm; nrpi(i<iU8 IK! still IH I tmppnwo wo mm.*
make a ptudy of thitt deceit for wm* tune lotigur. I l^uto it. 1 hato
very lio I have to toll to KIO you -WaiihO livs M< i m wifh iull moan
things . Thoro would b<> sronou and ho would corno to L68 nnd intor-
fere and I couldn't boar tliafc . . . Until wo have funds vte run do
nothing.
Do the proswition Kay that this IcMor, writ.lon on 2nd Octohor, i
evidence that thwo two jtooplo wero hit<Mri<Hn tnurdcr next day,
or the day after, or the week after? Thi* woman IK Haying on SJn<l
October, " Jt i i'undH wo want, and utit.il we have fumln wo can
do nothing/' They did not want funds for murder, but it waw
Bywaters and Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
essential that they should have funds for the purpose of living
together. Mrs. Thompson said that if she were to run away with
Bywaters, as she wanted to do, she would have to leave her business
i( Darlingest, find me a job abroad." " Murderess' " say the
prosecution. " I will go to-morrow if you will find me a job,
and shall not have one little regret . Help me to forget "
And then the last letter written before- the crime was committed
I should like to draw your attention to what was said by the
Solicitor-General in cross-examining Mrs Thompson on this letter
on Saturday morning I do not wish to make any remark which
in any way can be considered to be improper about the cross-
examination, because my learned friend was absolutely fair in
dealing with both of the accused persons in the witness-box, but
when the prosecution have to come down to a suggestion such as
was made upon the last two paragraphs of that letter on Saturday
morning, it is for you to say whether you think they have got u
case which can be relied upon 01 not The Solicitor -General put
this passage to Mrs Thompson, "He is still well, he is going to
gaze all day long at you in your temporary home after Wednes-
day " The suggestion behind that, of course, was that Thompson
was still well. Does that not show the danger of guesswork when
people's letters are being looked at* When we come to see what
the passage really meant, we find that it meant that the pathetic
little bronze monkey was still sitting upon her desk, and that
opposite was the photograph of tho ship lhat Bywaters had boon on
The next passage in the letter is, " Don't forget what we talked
m the tearoom, I'll still risk and try if you will " The suggestion
of the prosecution and they have no evidence at all of il is that
in that tearoom in Aldersgate Street these two people were plotting
murder. There is not one scrap of evidence. But having put all
those letters before you, and having created the prejudice those
letters must create when first read without an explanation, the
prosecution then say, " The night of 3rd October Thompson dies:
and ' Don't forget what we talked about in the tearoom * " and
you, members of the jury, are urged to believe that they were
talking about murder Both the prisoners have been in the witneRR-
box and have told you how the conversation was the same old story
as to taking Mrs. 'Thompson away, as to her leaving her husband
and risking all her future with Bywaters Ts it not shown that
that is the way to look at the sentence when the last words of the
letter read, " We only have three and three-quarter years left,
dajiingesifc; try and help Poidi "? It is almost inconceivable that
it can be suggested on that letter, or to think that seriously the
prosecution can say, that it shows that these two people were plot/Hug
murder. The words show quite the contrary. Do you imagine
that a woman who at that time, according to the prosecution, had
got to the degree of having incited this man to the extent that the
murder is imminent, would be writing, " We have only three and
122
Closing Speech for Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
three-quarter years left"? If the ktoiy put before you by the
prosecution bo true, do you not think thufc you would iin<l in these
letters some lol'eiences egging on, inciting, soliciting Bywateis to
commit this murdoi f Yot you find, in my submission, exactly the
opposite There i& not one icferenee in these leilcis winch any one
in this countiy dare say shows that the suggestion .uuule by the
prosecution is true
I proceed now to deal with the night of the murder, and I contend
that everything points to the- kiJhng oi Thompson bemg an unpre-
ineditated act. by .By waters It was. an act by By waters, committed
according (o his own story because he was in fear of his own life
an act which he had not tho slightest intention of committing one
minute befoio it was commit U-d The letters provide the only
evidence upon which the charge of murder is framed against Mis,
Thompson Everything that was done and said by her ou that night
shows as strongly as it nm that, not only did she not know the Tuunlor
was going to be committed, but that slit* was hornlied when she found
her husband was killed On .'Srd Ociobor (hero, \\a<* a family theatre
party. The evidonro is tiat Mr and Mr Tho-mprion weio at fho
Criterion Theatre with Mr. and Mrs Lax! on, and, according to Mr
Laxton, \verci happy and not trial Do you believe that that uomau
could have sat with her hnsband and I ho Ln storm the whole ct erring,
happy and in normal condition, if there \\as to her knowledge going
to happen the tragedy which did happen to lier luitthand? I mippoho
the suggestion of the prosecution is that on the. journey home Mrs.
Thompson knew thai at some spot her husband was. to bo attacked
and murdered I mut deal in tho most serious \\ay with wieh a wig
gestion. I venture to f/oinl tmt that (h^ro is not a bit of o\i<lmv to
fthow that sho kni'W anything of tho wort. Tho I'viilwieu IH. that hv
had made an arrangennMit to go with her huwband tho next night to
meet her maid at. Paddiaglon TM that true or not true? Tent it
The maid did arrive tho m\t night, and did go to the house Do
you think this woman, if she \VIIH doing what the prosecution migWHt,
would have made that arrangement 7 The prorteeut ion <UolartMi thai
the tragedy took placo at a <lark Bpot ; but. as a matter of fad tho
wpot was similarly lightcvl to tho neighbourhood arotnid. It vra tho
proper and the best way homo that the Thomps<wH took after coming
from the theatre. Sho did not hiro her httKband into HOtnu dark
by-way where a xminior eould bo oonmtilled. I ak you to consider
Bywaters* position. Was he going out to murder? JFo wan at th<i
Oraydons for the pnriwwo of getting hm tol)iuco, and tho last tiling
lie did was to make an arrangC'mf'iil with Misa Graydon to iako her to
the pictures on tho next night. Aro you gfwug to <mi thoc>i faet
aside and say that thoy aroof no import auco, and that there arc* 1how*
" awful letters "! Whoro IH tho evidence that rhw wan tb<> rewilt, of
a conspiracy between the two, and that Klie waw. a party that* night to
what happened, or in leading her lnwband to tho Hpot,' knowing what,
was going to happen? I auggeat that. Ityvatam iruido tij \m mind
Bywaters and Thompson.
Sir Henry Curtis Bennett
suddenly to see Thompson and settle the question of his leaving his
wife You all know how matters of that sort suddenly btrike people ;
there is nothing extraordinary about it. Mrs Thompson's, story that
she was pushed aside and stunned is cotroborated by her mother, who
hail felt the bruise.
Members of the jury, every step in this case, when you really
uome to look at it in the light of the evidence, is. only consistent with
the story of the defence being the true one. If Bywaters was acting
in self-defence, then you need not consider the "case against Mrs
Thompson. If you even come to the conclusion that he is guilty of
manslaughter, you need not consider the case against Mrs. Thompson
It is only if you come to the conclusion, and a-ie satiwtied of it upoi>
the evidence, that Bywaters is guilty of murder, that you have to
consider whether Mr& Thompson was a party to thai minder The
piteous plea of Mrs. Thompson, " Don't, don't"; her ciy to tho
doctor, ' k Why did you not come sooner and save him? " and hei
statement to Mrs. Letter, " If they allow him to come home I will
make him better," are all consistent with the story of the defence-.
Evroiy act of Mrs Thompson on that occasion was not only consistent
with her story that she did not know that the murder was going to
i)o committed, but that. slic \vns 1iomiJH<l when nlie foiuul that, her
husband had been killed Test the -evidence; don't be satisfied with
guesswork It is quite clear that in her fiist statement to the police
Mra Thompson did conceal Bywaten*' name, but I would remind yon
that you have to deal with human nature. One is apt to be high-
minded in a Court of justice; but we have, after all, to deal with
human nature. Mrs Thompson knew that her lovor had attacks I
her husband She did not know he had killed him, and in my sub-
mission, although it might be improper, any one of us would, if m
the same position, do what has- been done h^re Of com 86, By waters
protected Mrs Thompson, and, of course, Mrs. Thompson protected
Bywaters. Of course, one should always tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth; but when in a murder eafle two
people are sitting in the dock awaiting your verdict, is there anything
in the fact that both keep from the police until a certain moment
information about the other? Bywaters would not have been a man
if he had not tried to shield the woman. Mrs Thompson would not
have been a woman if she had not tried to shield her lover
Mrs. Thompson was taken to the police station and another Ktate-
ment was taken fi-om her A statement was taken from Bywaterw,
and next day, the 5th, a statement in writing Still a denial by
Bywaters of Mrs Thompson, and still a denial by Mrs. Thompson that
Bywaters was the man, and by an extraordinary chance, if tho story
of the prosecution is to be believed, when Mrs. Thompson was being
taken back to the C I D room she hapj>ened to pass the very room
where Bywaters was standing, and ahe saw him. That is one story.
The other story is that Mrs. Thompson was actually taken into the
room where Bywaters was, and they w^re confronted with one another.
124
Closing Speech for Thompson .
Sir Henry Curtis Bemsetl
;The woman said, " Oh God, oh God, what can I do? Why did you,
doit? I did not want him to do it. I must tell the truth/' Is that '
the statement" of a woman who was a party to. the killing, or is it the
statement of a woman who had protected her lover as far as she could
from the police the statement of an innocent person, who, having
protected her lover, realised that the time for protection had passed,
and that she must tell the truth 2 The statement that Mrs. Thompson
then made to the police was exactly what she states to-day. A
little later both these persons' 1 were charged. By waters, when,
charged, mid, <( Why her? She was not aware of my movements."
And where 'is the evidence in the case that she did know his move-
ments on that night? It is all founded upo-n the suggestion that
they had tea together, and that they may have there discussed, the
murder. All the evidence is to the contrary that she did not know
he was coming back that night. The statement of By waters himself
was " I made up my mind at the last moment. 7 '
It will be for you to say whether the arguments I have put
forward for your consideration are well founded or not. It will
be for you to say, when you have heard the* Solicitor-General address.
you again on behalf of the Crown, whether the prosecution have
proved that either of these people is guilty of murder. I am only
concerned with Mrs.. Thompson. It will be for you to say whether*
she is guilty of murder, or whether all the prosecution have don is-
to show you a cloud of prejudice, and whether it may or may not be
that upon some other indictment she may be found guilty. I have'
submitted as plainly as I can that upon- this indictment, not only have
the prosecutioa not proved she is guilty, but if you go through these
letters and discuss them you will see they are quite consistent with
the view I have put before you, and much more consistent, because,
there are many more references to running away and spending time'
together in, the future, and waiting those three or five years ; that all
these letters are consistent with the innocence of both the people in
this trial. ' As far &$ Mrs. Thompson is concerned, you do not have-
to consider the case against her until you are satisfied beyond all
reasonable doubt that By waters ia guilty of murder, a decision which,
in my submission to you, you will never corxie to when you consider
your verdict. I am loath to leave this discussion, because I am
anxious to feel and know that I have dealt with the whole case as it is ;
put against Mrs. Thompson. I know I have risked your displeasure**
in taking up your time at such length, but you do not grudge*
a few hours one way or the other spent on 'something which metes-
eternity. Of course, I cannot see what is in your minds, because I
cannot tell whether the matters I have been discussing are
that you don't want to discus because you have made up your
But in asking this question I know one thing ; I shall get
'and the answer to the question I have put is the answer
'; Thompson is not guilty.
Bywaters and Thompson.
Closing Speech for the Prosecution.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL Members of the jury, you have listened
to impressive and powerful appeals fiom my learned friends. Every-
thing that devotion to the interests of thear clients con suggest and
every argument or plea that skilled advocacy can think of have been
used, and I know that you will consider them with care and weigh
evciy argument that has been put forward. I do not ask you to
close your hearts to a single plea. But it is my duty to consider
the case less passionately than the way my learned friends put it
to you It is no part of my duty to use a sangle word or to turn a
single phrase that would divert your attention from the real facts of
the case or to attempt to wrest your veidict by the interpretation or
misinterpretation of a single letter or incident But my learned
fnendsi have gone a little beyond an appeal to you which it is their
duty to make. They have criticised and reproached me and my
learned fnends for our conduct or presentation of the case They
have suggested that counsel for the Crown, to use Mi. Whiteley'si
phrase, have laid before you a mas.s of irrelevant evidence, and pre-
sented it in an unprecedented and extraordinary way Perhaps the
first obseivation I should make is that, from some points of vkw,
this is an unprecedented case; from others it is a very ordinary case.
I think the real comment on their criticism is this they have been
good enough to say that we have laid the case before you fairly, and
they have not taken a single objection either to the substance or tho
form of a single question we have asked. Their criticism is of tho
interpretation which we have thought it our duty lo nuggost is. tho
light on of the letters. That is a matter so entirely for you that I
shall say no more about it now Mr. Whitcley also referred to my
right of addressing you last. Was he afraid that his eloquence would
be submerged by mine? If so, he may put his anxiety away, fo^
after everything I have to say there will be tho cooling influence of
my lord.
I ask you to treat the case as an ordinary one It is indisput-
able that Mr Thompson was killed that night by Bywaters, that
Bywaters chose a spot a great distance from his own homo, and went
there deliberately. It was not an accidental meeting He chofte an
hour after midnight, which was about the most unsuitable hour
anybody could have selected for a discussion, as he suggested it was
his desire to have, with Mr. Thompson Bywaters chose a place
which in itself was a suitable one for such a crime, in the sonso that
there would not likely be many persons about. The whole of the
circumstances in which he attacked Thompson suggest, at first flight,
a case of deliberate murder. It will be for you to consider whether
any of the arguments that have been put before you justify you in
finding a* less verdict than murder It is said that Bywaters was
120
Closing Speech for Prosecution.
Solicitor-General
icting, not in pursuance of any intention to kill, that he had no
notive which would move him to do that, and that, therefore, the
verdict of the jury ought to be one of manslaughter. Ifc is sug-
gested to us still further that thisi is a ease of justifiable homicide
>n the part of Bywaters, which means that he acted m self-defence.
That suggestion was made by Bywaters in the witness-box, but it
loes not appear in either of his statements. It is a suggestion that
equires for foundation the sort of evidence ho gave in the witnew*-
x>z as to the apprehension ho felt that Thompson was about to produce
i revolver, and it must occur to you that if that was Bywaters' real
lef ence, then it would have appeared long before the hour at which ho
produced it or suggested it in the witness-box. I ask you, is theio
my evidence upon which you can reasonably or possibly come to the
jonolusion that he was acting in self-defence* when ho killer! Thomp-
son? In his own statement Bywntera drwis not even loll the truth
lef erring to the actual struggle he says
The reason I fought that night was because lie never acted like a mitn
to his wife; he always seemed several degrees lower than a .snal-e I IOVH!
her and I could not go on seeing her living that hfo I dul not intend to
kill him, but only to injure him I gave him an opportunity of standing
up to me as a man but he would not*
I suggest to you that thoio can only bo a verdict of murder in this
case. At least four or five deep and probably fatal blows were in-
flicted. One of the blows was delivered 14 feet from the place* where
the attack began Piobably any onb of thum would havo disabled
Thompson. They were delivered with a weapon which could hardly
be used by a violent mail without running Iho grievous risk of
immediate death on the part of Ilia other man, and tlu*y were de-
livered with a force \\hicli was quite inconsistent \\ith any othiT
action than the intention to kill i/he man against whom I bey weir
delivered
How does the case stand against Mrs. Thompson? I suggest
I hat if she and Bywaters agrct'd tot kill Air. Thompson, and tin*
husband was killed in pursuance of that agreement, then tliero must
bo a verdict of murder against Mrs Thompson as well as against*
Bywaters. Again, if Mrs Thompson incited Jtywatora to murder
Thompson, and if, m consequence of that incitement, Bywaters did
murder Thompson, similarly Mrs. Thompson is guilty of immler.
I contend that if you find that in consequence of (lie instigation or
even command of Mrs. Thompson the murder was committed, then
sho is guilty.
Mi 1 . JUSTICE SHEARMAN It is necessary, of course, to bo care-
ful of words, and I do not feel inclined to take the matter at largo.
The SOMOITOR-CJKNNR.AL I am not going to tmggest to the jury
that merely because some foolish or wild expressions were used in
letters it is sufficient for you to say that in consequence of ilmt the
By waters and Thompson.
Solicitor-General
murder was committed and Mis. Thompson ib guilty I agree with
my leamed friends for the defence, that m order I'oi you to aiiivo
at a veidict of murder against Mrs Thompson you must be satisfied
that the persuasion lasted right up to not the moment oi' the murder,
but substantially right up to the murder, and was the continuing
cause in consequence of which the murder was committed by By-
waters. If you think that the persuasion had no loal connection
with the murder, and that the expressions, however cummal and
foolish, were nob really the cause of the murder, then oi' couiso it is
not a case of murder against Mrs Thompson. What I ask you to
consider is the progress of the idea found in the letters, and to soc liov
it wasi pressed by Mrsi Thompson on Bywaters, and how the idett
continued light up to tho voiy last moment. When you get to
the time at which the two accused were in the teaioom together on
3rd October one would no longer expect to find correspondence pass-
ing between them, and if you find from the correspondence that tho
direction was continuing substantially up to the time of tho murder,
it is my duty to submit to you that that amounts to murdtr It
is suggested that the letters are consistent with something different,
from murder. Bywatera in the witnos^-box suggested over and over
again that the statements in the letters all refericd to a proposal
to commit suicide, I do not suppose you will have much difficulty
in dismissing that suggestion. My learned Mend, Sir IJenry Cuitis
Bennett, suggested over and over again that what was passing in
the minds of those two persons was di voice or separation in order
that she might go with Bywaters, and that all tho other expressions
were hysterical and extravagant utterances on tho part, of tins woman
The view I suggest that you should consider is that there is IH>
determination on tho part of Mrs Thompson to leave her husband
or give him cause for divorce. For some reason or other they both
ftocm to havc> put that out of the lange of possibility. It may bo thai
that was not a thing that Mrs Thompson or By waters could con-
template, because if she loft her husband she would not be able to
continue in her employment, and neither she nor Bywaters had ineann
Mrs. Thompson seems from first to last to have done all she could
to keep her connection with Bywaters from her husband. I do hod.
find in the letters, when they are properly read, any real foundation
for the suggestion that she was repeatedly trying to get her husband
to divorce her, and did everything she could to convince him that
it would be the best thing to got rid of her. That suggestion, liko
the suicide suggestion, does not seem to have been present in their
minds. Right up to the very end the proposal in the letters is that
her husband should bo removed by poison You will remember that
in her examination-in-chief Mrs. Thompson did not disguise that a
certain expression did refer to a proposal, either made in a moment
of hysteria or perhaps almost as a joke, that her husband nhould be
poisoned At any rale the reference was to poison, however it began ,
In her letter she says, " I acquiesced in everything lie said or did or
128
Closing Speech for Prosecution.
Solicitor-General
wants to do. At least it will disarm any suspicion he might have
if we have to take any drastic measures. 7 ' It has been suggested
that the drastic measures meant leaving her husband, but you,
gentlemen, must be the judges of that
It is important to remember the viaits home of Bywater,
because you have only her letters; Bywaters.' letters have all been
destroyed, and the correspondence was interrupted by his visits
home, and what happened when he was at home you can only judge
from the correspondence subsequently resumed. The lirst letter
after he left home was that of 10th February, Tvlueh you will remem-
ber begins " You must do something this time- " That letter was
written to Aden, and Bywaters received it somewhere about March.
If it is suggested that " You must do something this, time " referred
to the making of plans for running away with her, it is curious that
the next paragraph refers to something not connected with divorce
It is the paragraph in which she i elates her attempt to discover the
prescription " I told Avis about, the incident only 1 told her as
if it frightened and woriied me " That can only mean that she-
wanted to create evidence at that time which might be useful m the*
case of something happening which might throw .suspicion on wome
body as having poisoned hoi* husband. That part of tho letter shout*
that Mrs Thompson was interested m disarming suspicion, but if
you have any doubt it will be dispelled after leading the last ja*t
" It would be so easy darlint if I had thmgw J do hopo 1 shall.
How about cigarettes ?" To suggest that all those passages are u
question of hysteria or fun is a suggestion that you can exclude.
If it is not all hysteria or fun, then you must come to the- conclusion
that she was proposing to him arising, perhaps, out of a proposal
from him that poison should be administered In a later letter
there is a definite suggestion of some diug, medicine, or something.
" I suppose it is< not possible, for you to send it to nit* not. at. all
possible I do so chafe at wasting timo " That word " it " un-
doubtedly refers to something which was to injure her husband'**
health On 14th March, as liywaters was approaching this country,
she wrote, " I don't think I have whirkofl, have* 11 Except, dnrlinl,
to ask you ugam to think out all tin* plans and methods for me."
Shirked what, if not the enterprise they had mtorod into to poison
her husband? Then she writes, " TLi will bo Ilie last time you will
go away unlrss things are different There will be* no failure thw
time If things are the same again I am going with yon if it is to
sea I am coming too and if it IK to nowhere I am coming." You
must consider whether that passage throws any light on who.thor
there had been any discussion between Bywaters and Mrs. Thorn] son
as to what was going to happen belwjou herself and her husbnnd,
and if you think it does throw any light then you will giw it, its
proper weight
Then there is the letter containing the phrase, cc Don't keep
this piece." It is suggested that that was because it might come
K 120
By waters and Thompson.
Solicitor-General
into her husUind's possession. I am bound to say to you that this
letter of 1st April is one that de-als entirely with this idea now
occupying so much of her attention, that her husband must be got
rid of. The passage is full of curne There is no other interpieta-
tion which can faiily by placed upon it It is inconsistent with any
other view than that she \vas proposing at this time an injury to
her husband, not only to make him ill but eventually to make- him so
ill that, as she putsi it herself, after he had a heart attack he would
die under it I suggest that these letters were being destroyed
because his, like hers, lef erred to the subject of poisoning. In the
nest letter she has given up something (t till you come home " I
suggest that this was the idea of administering something to her
husband. In her letter of 28th April she \\ntes, " I used the light
bulb three times " Sir Henry Curtis Bennett has poured ridicule
on that and has said that it must be the imagination of a hysterical
woman, because the use of glass would have left indications, on iho
gullet or organs of the body It was exactly with reference to that
that Dr. Spilsbury was called. I called him as much to assist the
defence as the Ciown. It is complained that it was elicited that
the administration of glass, even in large pieces, would not neces-
sarily have left an indication in the organs of the body. I venture
to say that that was a piece of evidence that the jury will think it
desirable Dr. Spilsbury should have given It may not carry the
case any further, but it would have been wrong to have left you with
the impression that an injury must necessarily have- been found if
glass was used.
Next comes the lettei of 1st May (exhibit 19) It is quite
plain that Bywaters had been writing, and, I submit, making obser-
vations to her about some drug which he had sent or suggested.
Bywaters said it refezred to quinine which he knew could not hurt,
and which he had sent to pacify her in connection with the suicide
proposal. There is a significant passage in the middle of the letter.
" I quite expected to be able to send that cable but no -nothing
has happened. ... I do feel so down and unhappy." Sir
Hemy Curtis Bennett said that this referred to a divorce or to
adultery, but I submit that that lefater is full of proposals as to the
method in which her husband might be harmed
The next letter, 18th May (exhibit 22), sets out an extract
from " Bella Donna " referring to the administration of cumulative
poisom and asks, " Is it any use?" That was a very important
question for Bywaters to consider. Then she says, " Everything is
destroyed I don't even wait for the next arrival now " So dread-
ful were the suggestions! contained in these lettei s, whatever they
referred to, that she no longer thought it safe to keep any of them.
They cannot have referred to their guilty relationship because it is
their own case that they wore repeatedly impressing on the husband
that he should divorce her for adultery I suggest that these letter**
130
Closing Speech for Prosecution.
Solicitor-General
tvere being destroyed because his, like heis, lef erred to the subject
of poisoning. Then there is the letter m which Mis Thompson
alludes to some -weakness on her husband *,$ part Thompson fell ill
on the ottoman at the foot of the bud and (staled that he had another
attack Mrs Thompson says, k ' 1 had to laugh at this, because I
knew it could not be a heait attack " How could she know that?
Oil 23rd May Mrs Thompson sends Bywateis. a book, " Bella
Donna," saying in her leltei, " You may learn something fiom it
to help us." She would not send tho book io Plymouth merely to
give him something to lead
By waters wont to sea again on 6 Hi Juno It is at this lime that
he starts having her letters sent to the General Post Office in the
name of Miss Fisher On 4th July she writes fco Bywaters " Why
.are not you sending me something ... if [ don't mind the
risk why should you 9 " Mis Thompson admitted to mo in cross-
oxammatioai that " something " was something io injure her hus-
band she was it'ferimg to something ^Inch By waters had suggested
to her to which who first objected and m vshieh hho afterwards
acquiesced It is a seiiouB piece of evidence against Bywaters if her
statement is accepted, because she seems to have thought that the
only way in winch she could keop the- lovo of By\vaters was by falling
in with those suggestions that poison should be a< Inn rust ared to her
husband. Why did sh-e think that this would keep Bywaterx* lovo?
Was it not because Bywaters \\as proposing this to her as the only
way in which she could be hiw wife or live wilh him? From what-
ever point of view il is awarded this is a matter of the utmost
importance If tho suggestion to give her husband something to
make him ill came from Bywatcrs, she- nob only responded to his
suggestion and dotted the T's and crossed 1he T's of the idea ho had
mentioned, but she condmled *i letter which F must dwcrihe as being
of the utmost importance with tlu^ sfaiUing postscript, " IFuve you
studied bichlonde- of mercury?" I)or<s a laundry steward in a fillip,
even one interest ed hi chemistry, study bichloritl'* of wroiuyf What
did she mean? I suggest that fhnt passage throws a liUlo light tipon
the suggestion of Mrs Thompson, that all dial sho \\JIH doing was
to humour tho whims of lior lover.
I would remind you that the letter of 2()th Rt^>lc i mber (exhibit
28), in which she- flays, " Bo j(*-alous so much that you will do some-
thing desperate," met, Bywaters when he landed at, Plymouth. As
soon as he landed she lelegiaplu'd to him and got, into touch with
him on every occasion that shoi could ri^ht up 1o 3rd October, On
2nd October sho writes 1o hint, awl at the oiul of tho lottcr thero
appears a sentonoo which repented a jihrase that hnd nlrsady nj)fKnre<l
and which Mrs. Thompson ndmiited in 1ho wilnm box meant \vhat
ha bceti suggested it ^ did " Don't forgH, what wo talked in Iho
tearoom, I will still risk and try if you will wo liawi only |hrc*o
and three-qnnrtor ycara left darlinpoHt." Whon you review those
Bywaters and Thompson.
Solicitor-General
letters you are driven to the conclusion that right up to the end
she was acquiescing in Bywaters' suggestions She allowed him to
think that she was prepared to co-opeiate with him in poisoning her
husband right up to the end. She never undeceived him In tiying
to reconstruct the conversation between Bywaters and Mrs Thompson,
you can only draw inferences which can fairly be drawn by giving
Mrs Thompson and Bywaters the benefit of any doubt there may be
Nothing I have said should give you reason to think that I wish to
impress a single phrase, a single letter, beyond its pioper import-
ance. But when Mrs. Thompson says she left Bywaters under the
impression that she. acquiesced in giving her husband something to
make him ill, it is veiy significant. Is. it possible that the anxiety
Bywaters had evinced would evaporate when she came in fresh contact
with her lover? Is it possible that the proposal to poison her
husband was not discussed? I suggest that if the anxiety to injure/
her husband evaporated with the last letter Mrs. Thompson wrote to
Bywaters on his homeward journey, it will be your duty to say thai,
Mrs. Thompson is not guilty. These matters, however, are for the-
jury to decide My duty is to suggest that on a fair reading of the
letteis aud a fair construction of the meetings it is only possible to
come to a conclusion that the same idea was present in their minds,
that the same question was discussed then, and I am going to ask
you to say that the discussions resulted in an agreement, the conao
quence of which was that Mr. Thompson was lulled.
Let us come to the day of the crime itself. I do not think it is
relevant to consider what arrangements had been made by the. Thoiup
sons for 4th August. Of course, Mr Thompson would not know
that he was going to be assaulted, and so would not break an engage-
ment to meet the maid at Paddmgton. Nor does it throw much light
on the matter that Bywaters made arrangements to take Mrs.. Thomp-
son's sister to the pictures. He would not expos his guilt ; ho
would be more likely to cover his guilt. It is rather inconsistent
with his story that he had in his pocket that dreadful weapon with
which the crime was committed. You have seen it, and you can say
whether it was a handy or convenient thing to carry about. Not a
single witness! has been called to say that Bywaters was in the habit
of carrying it It is difficult to imagine that it would not have been
the subject of jocular conversation if he had I suggest that
Bywaters' story about the knife has not been corroborated. Mrs
Thompson has said in a statement that she knows nothing about the
actual killing except that she was pushed aside. Her evidence now
is not altogether inconsistent with the second statement she made to
the police, but certainly it is not consistent with her first statement
Nor is the evidence given by Bywaters consistent with any of hia
statements.
The case for the Crown is that theie was an agreement between
these two persons to get rid of Mr. Thompson, or that, if there wad
132
The Hon. Justice Shearman
(JWoto,
Closing Speech for Prosecution.
Sohcitor-General
not an actual agreement in terms, there was an instigation by Mrs.
Thompson to get nd of him, on which By-waters acted so as to kill
him Bywaters' case should be considered apart from the letters.
Consider, fiist of all, whether he went there to kill Mr. Thompson,
in which case ib is murder Then you will consider Mrs. Thompson's
position Take her admissions as to what she intended, what she
proposed to Bywaters, her acquiescence in Bywatera' suggestion, and
weighing eveiything carefully, as you will do on behalf of tho
prisoner, say whether she is not guilty of murder. You have aa
anxious task. The prosecution are under no duty to press anything
beyond its fair value, but it is my duty to ask you not to shiik for
one moment to give a reasonable construction of those letters and to
every incident in the case, even though it results in your returning
a verdict of guilty of wilful murder oftaiiiKt the womnn n woU ,IR flic*
man
Charge to the Jury.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Members of the jury, there are several
indictments in this case, only one of which has been presented,
only one of which is before you; and that is the indictment of this
man and this woman for wilful mm dor. The* iirut CUBO which you
have to consider is as to the man, and I will coimi to I hat before I
ask you to consider the case of the woman The CHKOI presented is
that these two by aiiangemcnt between each other agreed to murder
this man, and the murder was effected by the man. Unless you are
watisfied of that, namely, that they did it by ariiutg-ement in tho way
I ahall explain 1o you, there would bo no case against the woman.
But with regard to tho man, if you ara satisfied that, without any
arrangement with the woman, he intended to murder, thm, of course,
you can 'find him guilty of that, and that is why I am asking you
to consider the case of tho man first. But before I do that there
are one or two observations I wish to make tut 1o your duty. Of
course, when a jury are Rummo-nod to try a case for muider, it is
always an anxious time; it is as anxious for tho judge aw it ia for
the jury. But, whether it be a case of murder, or whether it be
a case of petty theft, your duty ia the Kume>, and I want to explain
to you what it in. In a phrase, you aro there to convict the guilty
and acquit the innocent. That means that you have two duties;
you have got to look very carefully, patiently and sensibly, and
acquit unlosH you are satisfied that the case is proved ^ On the
other hand, if you are satiHficMl that the CJINO IH proved, it ia just as
much your duty, and an equally important duty, to convict; because
if crime is not detected Jind conviction doew not follow detection,
crime flourishes. You have two duties ; ono IR to protect the public
by always convicting if you are natiHfied that fch<jro is crime, and
the other is to protect the accused by always acquitting if you think
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
the evidence la unsatisfactory. I have only one -word winch L
hope you will excuse me saying, it may be quite unnecessary perhaps
there are two things I jahould say to you. Of couiso we all of us
in the last three or four days have been carrying on ihis work in a
rather unnatural and unreal atmosphere. We are in a Couit of
justice, and Courts of justice in this country very propeily are open
to the public; it is the right of the public to come to a Court of justice
and listen to the proceedings Cases do arise where laigo num)>ors
of the public want to come in, and they do come It is. inevitable
that you should havo been surrounded by a dilTei-eut atmosphere
from that which prevails in the ordinary humdrum of the Courts,
and you must throw that aside, try to escape from that, because this
charge really is I am not saying whether it is proved a common
or ordinary charge of a wife and an adulterer murdering the husband.
That is the chaigo; I am not saying for a moment it is proveil
We heard of Mights of imagination m Lhis case, and there was one
that I cannot help alluding to The whole of this case has v< ty
properly been conducted with studious moderation by the prosecution,
which is quite usual and proper, and more fervently by the COUP HO]
for the defence, and that again, is quite usual and pioper. When
one heard the statement made thai never before in the history of
crime had anybody over been charged with a murder when it wan not
suggested that that perron had taken a hand in actually inflicting
the blow, I sat amazed. These cases are not uncommon ; J am not,
saying they are common cases. If the learned counsel who said so
had been m this Court a few monthw ago he would have eon me
sitting and trying one
I do not say that cases like Ihis are veiy usual, but there am
cases of husbands who, in order to marry somebody else, want, to
get rid of a wife, and of wives who want to get rid of the husband.
Let us say in the interest of the fair sex that they are more often on
the other side, but such things are known and they are not umiHiial.
Now, I have only one other obaervation about Sir Henry Curtix
Bennett; he said, and, indeed, I am afraid it has become; now a
precedent m these Courts, that he " thanked God thut you had to
decide and he had not." If that remark is intended to frighten you
I hope it will not We are dealing with law and justice here and T
do not like invocations to the Deity This c.ise, wo have no doubt,
is as anxious a case as otner murder casas.. You will apply the
ordinary principles of common sense, and I will tell you exactly whon
there is any law. You may take it from me, that unless T mention
there is any law, you will understand that I am talking men'ely about
facts.
There ie only one other observation I am going to make, and
it has nothing whatever to do with counsel. You are told that
this is a ca&e of a " great love " , I am only using it as a phrase.
Take one of the letters as a test We havo had for days an atmos-
phere, both in speeches* and in questions, of this kind. Just at iho
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
end of a letter I shall have to allude to again comes this; " He has
the right by law to all that you have the right to by nature and love."
Gentlemen, if that nonsense means anything it means that the love
of a husband for his wife is something impioper because man j age is
acknowledged by the law, and that the love of a woman for her lover,
illicit and clandestine, is something groat and noble I am contain
that you, like any other right-minded persons, will be filled with
disgust at such a notion Let us get rid of ail that atmosphere, and
try this case in an ordinary common sense way
Now, what is murdei 2 You will take the law from me. Murder
is the intentional killing of a human being You sometimes hear
the words " malice aforethought " That does not mean it need be
premeditated over a long time; all it means is ihai it is intentional
Did the person charged intentionally kilP In one of the statements
made by the male prisoner he said, " I only intended to injure him
and not to kill lain " This much, hwvevoi , is okar and this you may
take from mo; I do not think it will arise bocaiihe fchw case made is
that he went out to kill him, not to injure bun. The law is clear
that if a person goes out to injure anybody else wilh a deadly weapon
(you have seen the kmfo) which any teasonable man would know
might kill, the>n ho is lespomsiblei for inurdiT whet-hot it was in his
mmd actually to kill or not, because, a person IK tnkon to know the
reasonable consequences of his own ,ictions That is all you have
got to know about the law upon thai, I shall say KOTiicthiiJ<jr inor
to you whon I am dealing with the case of the woman, whidi you
have got to take into consideiation as a question of Lw, but. I will
deal with that presently because F am asking you now to deal with the
case of the man. I am not going to deal at length witli the letters,
and I have only one other point of law to put to you, Gentlemen,
you know the facts of Ihm case are extremely short and simple, 1he
only length m the* matter comes from the letters. Aw I i,old you,
you will remombor, in ihe case of statements made in tbei Icttcra or
the statements made by one not in the presence of the other, which
they had nothing to do with, they are not evidence at all against (hu
other person, and the statements by the lady in her letters that who
administered glass or something are not evidence against him. But
when people go into the witness-box and admit, that they received
letters and answored them, anything said by tho man IB evidence
against the woman, and anything s-aid by the woman is evidence
against the man, because they are repwaentcfl by separate counsel
who could have cross-examined them. You have noticed, I dnrosay,
in the course of the case that where tho woman made statements they
are mostly something excusing her and implicating the man, but in
some of them, when the man is making statements, thoy are always
exculpating the woman. It is said that is chivalry and that iw why
he is doing it. What cither of them says on oath is evidence againat
the other, but apart from that I am going to say very little about
these matters, except that there are certain thing* that one haft to
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
take with regard to him (and you are now considering the case of the
man alone). The man admits he gave her something; he says it was
quinine; and the woman says in the witness-box " Ho gave me
something, and I do not know what it was." Certainly the woman
says that the man wrote to her saying that it was " enough to give
to an elephant," and the woman says yes, she did give something to
the man. If that meant to poison him or to make him die because
he was unable to resist it in a heart attack, it is common sense to
eay that would be murder, just as much as the longest and strongest
dose of poison. It is useless to say that because he has got a weak
heart I can give him a smaller dose and then it will be partly fiom
his heart and partly from the dose A man with a weak heart is
entitled to be protected from poison as well as anybody else She
does say that he had given her something to give to the man and
ehe admits, although I do not know that he does I have not got it
in my note she admits that he did write to her saying, " Be care-
ful not to leave any marks on the glass."
Now, what were the relations between the parties at that time?
Let us go back and think of it again with plain common sense. The
Thompsons had been married for some years, and in June of 1921
thi young lad went with them to the Isle of Wight. I think it was
attempted to be suggested to you that the man was merely friendly
with the woman, that there was no love between them Tn one of
the letters she sent to him (I think it is- on 14th June, 1921),
she says that she is writing this on this day because one year ago
they had their first kiss when they were on a charabanc ride m the
Isle of Wight, so it is pretty obvious that there were relations
between them then There is another one in which she said flho had
had a quarrel with her husband over the old subject; te ho was
jealous of you " One thing, I think, is perfectly clear, at any rate,
from the moment when he left the houso, as he says, by his own
wish, as well as with the wish of the huwbancl, their relations were
affectionate; and they were clandestine from beginning to end, if
one looks at the correspondence The first letter you have IB
exhibit 12, " Come and see me lunch time, please darlint, he
suspect " ; that is in August The next, the telegram, exhibit 10,
" Wait till one, he's come," which is a note The husband is hero-
so you must wait. There is a letter, the last letter of all, I think,
which is written one or two days before this man met hw death,
exhibit 60, " I tried so hard to find a way out to-night darlingest,
but he was suspicious and still is I suppose we must make a study
of this deceit, for some time longer." Now, gentlemen, the first thing
you have got to make up your mind about because this ha a direct
bearing upon the case put by him as well as by the woman if it
was clandestine how can you believe evidence that they were nlwaya
talking to him and saving, " Give her up," and ho said, " No, I
will not give her up " ? I think that being the relation between the
parties you will have to ask yourselves what it means and why it
136
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
was clandestine. It is said, you know, all they were writing about
and a good many of the things they were saying were merely about
going off together. Nothing pi -events nowadays in this countiy a
woman going away with another man except the divorce Court, and
what else? The trouble, as is said in one of the letters, of ways and
means. Thisi man was in a lespectable occupation, the woman was
in a respectable occupation; if they weie going oft' \\ith one another,
even if they stayed in the same place, it might end in theii losing
thcar positions and having nothing to live upon. If it does not lead
to that, it means it leads to scandal It is part of the case that
both >said, " Wo are going to keep tins quiet because we cannot
afford lo iisk our positions and our place in society; wo must keep it
daik," and the whole of the evidence is. that from the moment he
came back they saw each other every day except ^hcn the husband
vras at home, and it would have been suspicious* if she had gone out
Those being the general circumstance's of the case you will, of course,
bear in mind whether you should buliuvo the evidence, particularly
the evidence this man has given, that slio was always asking
Thompson to giant a divoice and let them go off
He comes home from his last voyage and, as I Ray, every day,
except when it is impossible without the husband knowing, they mcofc
one another. Of course, as I have said before, these letters do shovr
on the face of them and you will hear more of that later that
whether be thought it melodrama or not-, the lady was writing sug-
gesting that she was poisoning her husband On this pattioulur day,
by an anangement mado with her lmband and other people, she
goes to the theatre She sees By waters Tho two moot at 5,30
At six o'clock she tells us she had got to meet hor husband and HO
goes off. At about seven o'clock ho proKentu himself nt RhakesjKjaro
Crescent, about two miles from the sce-rie of where this unfortunate
man met his death. He lias a knifo in his pocket; ywi imiat take
the knife and see it. It would bo in a leather sheath, which han
disappeared; I do not know what has become of it, but, aa you kno\i ,
his evidence was that he always carried it about with him It is a
little difficult to put into nny kind of pocket, except Ihe ido pocket.
He said he always carried it in hi& overcoat pocket. It is pointed
out that no other person had seen it It is uggeR(,ed by the prosecu-
tion that when he arrived, as ho undoubtedly did there in no dispute
about that at Shakespeare Crescent, two mile <xff the scone of the
crime (if it was a crime) the scene of this death he had got this
in his overcoat pocket It. is not suggested he showed it. 1x> any-
body. There was possibly no reason he should if ha had got it. It
is suggested by the prosecution that the only reasonable inference ia
that he put it in his pocket for the purpose he had in view. Ho
was there till eleven o'clock, or after cloven. I will read you
presently his own statement, you know practically what it i; ho
was suddenly seized with an impure to talk to this husband because
he was so miserable about the wife : to talk to him about a separa-
137
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
tion or a divorce sudden impulse. It is said by ill prosecution,
nothing of the sort ; he went out to lie in wait for the husband, and
knew TV here lie was coming. You have his own statement which 1
will read to you at length eventually But what did happen, or
evidence which is not contradicted, was this It is a quiet load at
half-past twelve at night, the husband and wifo are coming do\vn,
she IB next to the wall, her husband outside coming down on th<
pavement In one of his statements Bywaters said he waited for
them, in his sworn evidence he said he came up from behind, fou
will consider \\Len coming up behind at that hour of night, if ho
were coming up I nm putting plain common sense considerations
before you-do you think they would have heard him before ho came
up to thorn or do you think the blows were struck before they hoard
him? "Which evei it was, the man is struck, as one scos from the
bloodstains, and struck again, piobably in the front, because (hero
is more blood thoie but he ha gone a certain numhoi of feel down
the road; it is obvious he has got into the road then, where Ihero
is a lot of blood, which spurts out ; lie goes* back and staggers and
wobbles towards the wall and sinks down -\\ith 1m back against 1ht
wall. 17o went 46 or 47 feet in all, judging? by the spots, of bloo'l;
that is thu way of it
What is found on his body? There is found one blow, a wound
which comes m behind the nock; administered, it is Niiggested, by
this weapon, and is driven with such foice into him lliat it cones
out into his mouth. There is another one, driven with such forc<
into the back that it reaches down to the spine Theie is a, third
wound It is suggested by counsel for the defence that it was
inflicted from the front ; but there it is, it might bo, and very likely
it was, inflicted from behind, and it cuts not slashes, you recollect,
but stabs the gullet and cuts the carotid artery on the right side.
From that blood gushes out with enormous force and renders death
inevitable in a few mmutes. I am putting aside the evidence of the
man and the woman because you may think the whole of it is made
up. I do not say you will think it is made up, but, you might. All
human evidence., particularly of people who are defending thomwelvi'H,
is liable, if they have an interest, to be uncertain, ^o thai' the
evidence of Anybody who has an interest is to be scrutinised, and the
evidence of the bloodstains cannot be disputed
Now, what happens afterwards? I am not going into the
woman's case at all, except to the fact of her interest in the husband.
I will deal with her evidence m detail later The man goes away
The man who was killed sinks down, and c-ven the doctor who comes
up is under the impression I will say something about it presently
that he has not been stabbed but it was a broken blood vesflol or
something of thai sort, blood welling out from his mouth; it was
an illness. Eventually the police come up and when the body is
taken away the wounds are discovered What does the man do?
His. evidence is that he ran away A, number of people come up
138
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
and all their evidencu duals ontiiely with tho woman, wo I aua noi,
saying a ivord about lhat with icgaid lo the man, becauwj, a#am,
statements nudo in end-mice by olh^r p-upU with regaid 10 th<
woman do not ail'oct the man. So far tho husband i* killoil,
admittedly; and now thw only two people present, ilio Avii'j uiid tin-
lover, give evidonoe to show whether one or the otliei had inliicleJ
the blo-w, or some thud person 01 some entiicjly lUilojiOTulun!. pi-inon
had mliieted tho blow. Tho police come upon thd scene and those
aie his statements. The fast one is admittedly now a tissue of lies
The police get tho ledtoiri and have a suspicion -f him and they get
him to make a statement/: " 1 have known Mi Pon'y Thompson i'oi
about four years," &c (Roads, slat eniunt, exhibit 5, pago 37.)
" After lunch sho i (.turned to business and f have not seen hor
since " That is to &ay, it WLS a concealment of facts " Mr.
Thompson wa^ not a \vaio of Jill our meeting,, bal iiouie of them ho
was " Do you think that is candid? <l I have known for a very
long time pabt that she had led a u-iy unhappy life with him Thw
is also kno\\n to inimberw of Mr 'I'Siompso-n's funi'ly 71 That dot's
not s-oera to be accurate. ee I have, \\ri1tcn io hor on (\vo occasions,
I signed the Jailers Freddie and I addrcHWjd her as ' Di^r Edio ' "
I think it. is obviow;, is WUH su^t-st.'fl by Sir Jlenry dud is Jionnott
or Mr Wluteloy, thai tliat took Ihii for'rn of qiica/ion and answer
Then he goo^on, " On tho evoning of Monday, 2nd October, I callwi
on Mrs. (!raydon. M (CuuiiiiiHs n'luhi'fr ) " Itei'on l>nvii)^ I re-
member Mrs Gruydcm'tt duuj.'.liioi, A MS, saying llitil Pt-ruy (Mr,
Thompson) had 'phoned lh*r u[i, and I gathered from llu% oluwvu-
tions she maclo that ho was. taking his wife to a. ilicuiro that night
and that there were other member** of ihe family ^ohi#." You
notice thut he had heard the same evening from Mr. r l 1 h>mpson
" Whon I left tho house I went, tlirougli J{i<j\\ning Road, into Sibloy
Grove, to East I Jam Hail way Slatiou " (ConlmueK reading.)
"This statement has boon rcml over t,o nu\ is voluntary arul i
true." It is not HUggOH.!e<l that this wa anything O!H<> Inti an
intention to <loceivi!> iho imlic't" Lato-r on lio fhwls out who m th(M*<\
whether actually they ar<< !><>th logothvr o f he wi'ew her then* I d*>
not kno\\ there aeoms to bo a conllict. of ovidenuo about tliat: it
does not Sioem to me to mako any difference. Thc^n ho wiyn,
wish to make a voluntary Ktatoment " thai is. on tho Hlh
the ne-xt day (lloada stateme-nt, exhibit 6, ]>ftRo M.) " f lovinl
her arid I couldn't go on seeing her leading that. life. I did not
intend to kill him. I only mo-ant lo injure him " I have-
already commented on that; if ho Hltibhwl him without any <IMIN"
or provocation ihon lit* iw guilty. " I gave him an oppoitunity of
standing xip to mo as a man but he wouldn't." In other wordw, ho
declined to light. Hi statement wan i(> may not l>o i,nn or parts
of it he would not fight, " I gavo him an'opfiortunity of
ing up to mo an a mau but h<? woul<lu'l, Y havo had tlic* kuifo
139
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
-time; it was a sheath knife. I threw it down a dram when I was
running through Endsleigh Gardens." Then I think there is only
one other statement of any importance, to Detective Williams,
on 6th October He asked Williams. " Have you a knife there?
Have they found it? I told them I ran up Endsleigh Gardens, but
Doming to Ihiuk of it, after I did it I ran forward towards the
Wanstead Park along Belgrave Road, tinned up a road to the right
I am not sure whether it was Kensington Gardens (where they lived)
or the next road. I then ciossed over to the left side of the road,
and just before I got to the top of the Cranbrook Road end I pui-
fche knife down a drain It should eas-ily be found '' Tho import-
ance of it is that he is admitting that his was the knife, and not
the woman's, that did it He again uses the expression, <k When
I did it."
Now, let us come to his evidence in the witness-box. It is fair,
T think, that I should read it to you The part I am going to read
to you there is no dispute about There are several meetings I pass
by altogether, but Mr. White-ley did read it to you quite properly,
but as that was last week I had better read it to you again. He
says he bought the knife in November, 1921 As I say, gentlemen,
all this as to the knife is entirely a question for you. It is pointed
out that a sailor may have a knife of this sort ; it is suggested that
no reasonable man living m London carries a knife like that about
in his pocket, and it is suggested that the mere presence of the knife
is very strong evidence of his intention, a knife- of that description ;
I think you haver seen it, but you may as well tako it. ITe says, " I
'bought that in November, 1921; it had a leather shealh; *I took
it when I went abroad; I earned it in my inside right-hand
overcoat pocket which I was wearing during October." She tele-
phoned him on the morning of 3rd October, they went to Queen
Anne's Restaurant to lunch and he met her at Fuller's shop at five
o'clock. " I parted with her at Aldersgate Street Station at 5.30.
I then went to Mrs Graydon's at Manor Park and I got there at
half-past fix to seven I was in the same room all tho time till I
left about eleven o'clock. There were four members of the Graydon
family there. I had a pouch with me which was a present from Mrs
Thompson " Then there is a long discussion ; I do not. think I need
read it to you. And then he goes on suggesting that Mrs. Graydon
knew the pouch had been given him by Mrs. Thompson, and Mrs
Graydon said, " We won't argue about it; she's one of the best,"
and* he replied, " There is none better " That was introduced a
showing that they were talking about Mrs. Thompson. " After that
I was naturally thinking of Mrs Thompson, I was thinking she was
unhappy; I wished I could help her." (Continues reading evidence
of Bywaters, page 54.)
Now, gentlemen, that is his case and that is the ^ whole of the
evidence with regard to it Nobody questions that he inflicted those
wounds, and now I think with regard to him you will have quite a
140
Charge to the Jury.
Mar Justice Sheet man
simple task to arrive at your decision Fust of all, it is the law
that if you intentionally kill intentional Jy you are guilty of
murder, but if you lull a peison in legitimate self-defence, that is
what is called " justifiable homicide " It is said by the prosecution
that this story, that Thompson attempted to shoot Bywaters., ia
quite untrue. As a matter of fact, the policeman Geal said there
was no weapon or pistol of any kind on the husband when his body
was brought in All of them say all of the witnesses ^ho wore
called that, except for the stabs and the cutw there ^cre no stgius
of a struggle on Mr. Thompson's clothing. It is said on behalf of
the prosecution, this story of the leas^on foi their meeting and of Iho
threat of the pistol is just a tale like other tales that aie put up by
prisoners in any crime The prosecution say it is a story -which no
reasonable juiy would think of believing; it is contiadicted by the
facts of the wounds themselves; it never appears at all till he is put
in the witness-box, and it is such a story that you are entitled to
reject entirely If you think that is the truth you arc entitled to
acquit him altogether Ue say that Thompson hit him and, if you
believe that Thompson made an unprovoked attack upon him, ;tnd
he only inflicted these stabs in self -defence, you will acquit him alto-
gether. If you think it is a fabrication from beginning to end you
will reject it. I will not say anything moro about it
There is something which icquires a little consideration I am
telling you the law, you may take* it from mo. 1 am not speaking"
of facts, that is for yon to decide arid not for me It is the law,
that if a man, although intentionally, in the heat of blood kills
somebody when- he has had provocation, then the jury may, if
they think that this provocation was the only thing that started the
murderous impulse, reduce it to manslaughter. A man may Hog
you with a whip and, if you happen to have a pistol, and you take
it out and shoot him, the jury may say the provocation was made;
you never intended to shoot him But that is a matter which you
have to regard with great consideration First of all, it is incon-
ceivable that it would be any provocation for a man to say, *' I will
not allow you to run away with my ^ifo." Provocation menus
blows or violence. But, then, in the middle of this story, ho says,
he hit me on the chest and th-en ho put his hand behind;
he provoked me." I have dealt with the question of
self-defence, but was there a blow at all? Is there any
injury to this man or to his clothing? IHs own story is, "I
wanted to fight him, T waited for him " ht haw got a knife, as we
know, in his pocket " I waited for him and he would not fight " ;
and then, in hit* second statement, where ho sayw he looked upon
him as a snako " The reason why I fought with Thompson waw
because he never acted like a man to: MB wife. Ifo always filmed
several degrees lower than a snako-, I lovod her and I could not,
go on seeing her leading that life." Now, gentlemen, what IB said
by the prosecution is that there never was any provocation at, all,
141
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
it is said that the true story is that he came at him from behind,
whether he waited for him 01 whether he caught him
up from behind. As regards Mis Thompson's story, you
are entitled to take that into consideration; it does not
help him very much And there is one other thing that
I also wish to mention to you as regards him Mrs Thompson
says she was pushed aside and fainted and became senseless. I am
going to deal with that when I deal with her, but she says when
she did recover she saw a scuffle going on, ^hich is equally consistent
with a man who was defending himself I mean if the story is truo
at all She does not say in the least that there was any conversa-
tion. Here, again, in Fact, her evidence that she was pushed
violently aside does not look lib* what Bywators- said, that he went
up there to have an amicable discussion with him about divorce
It is very odd, if they were to have an amicable discussion, that he
pushed the lady BO violently asi to knock her head against the wall
and lender her, according to hei view, senseless There is, T
think, only one other person who can throw any light on the
matter and he is a man who was called, and he lived at a house
somewhere opposite, and it was five minutes before ho came out,
and he he-aid Mis. Thompson in a piteous tone say, " Oh, don't,
oh, don't " We will deal with that when we come to Mis Thomp-
son's case. It seems to me, one cannot help saying, rather to
contiadict the story. Mis Thompson was rather contradicting Ihe
story that she did not see what was going on. But, if you believe
it, and if Mrs Thompson was looking on, it does not help the
prisoner, and you may think it lathei points to her seeing the
murder That 'is the story for the prosecution, but it is entirely
for you ; and that is the whole of the evidence.
'Now, may I just add thin- if vou think that ho leally did this
because he quite innocently had the knife and iwvor thought of
doing anything until he got there,, or he <h<l it. because of this story
which appeal^ in the wilnoas-box, he thought he was going to bn
shot and he did it in reasonable self -protection and ho inflicted
those slabs if you think that then you will acquit him altogether
You will considei this matter very carefully if you think it wam an
intentional murder If you think there- is any foundation whatever
for the stoiy that there was an assault and provocation, that, is, a
blow at ruck by the husband not in self-defence of himsolf, and that,
there was provocation in that way, you might find a \onlicfc of man-
slaughter, but if you think that is a mere detailed put. up in order
to eftcapd retribution for what he had done and dismNs that story,
then you will find him guilty of murder
T have only one other matter to say to you with regard to this
and, of course, it is my duty to Ray so at some time, and T will say
it now. Of course, yon know this is a man of good character.
Sometimes evidence of this sort, is put up T am saying it. quite
142
Charge to the Jury,
Mr Justice Shearman
frankly because it is said " .here is a young man-; we are- sorry for
him; let us do something for IiiiB. ?J Gentlemen, you know per-
fectly -'well, 'if you find him guilty of murder,, what sentence I must
pronounc> } I never keep it back from the jury. You know as well as
I do that the prerogative of mercy, which. is in other hands, does not
'rest with me nor with you, and, even- if you really think him a young
and ;honst person, and that he lost his head altogether,' if you think
that he was inflamed by sexual impulses and that the real truth of
the matter is that he went out with the knife, put it in his pocket ;
in order to kill this man went out and did kill this, man and struck
him from behind, as said by the prosecution, 'without any provocation
whatever if you are satisfied of it, then, however unpleasant your
duty is, you must give effect to it. That is the/ only way I can
help you with regard to him, and, after the adjournment, I will
deal with the case of the female prisoner.
.Adjourned for a short time (Bailiffs being sworn), ' . '""
Mr. JUSTICE SHMAUMAN Gentlemen., I now turn to the case of
Mrs. Thompson, a case which 1 have uo doubt you will carefully
and conscientiously consider, being de-si ro-UR of doing real justice.
Of course, if you should find that this was not a murder at all,
there IB an end of the mat tor. If there never was any intention by
the man to do it or if he never premeditated it, in the sense that
be only did it because ho was provoked by a blow if you believe
the story that he was. struck by a blow and that BO excited him
that he did something that he had no thought of doing before and
did riot come there to do in fact, it is a manslaughter, not murder,
&nd there is an end of the* matter, because the lady cannot be con-
victed of doing something which wan done under provocation and
never designed. If you think it is a murder, then cornea the question,
is this lady a party to it?
Now, 1 am going to ask you to consider only one question in
yoiir deliberations, and that in, was it an a-iranged thing between the
woman and the man? 1 quite accept the law of the learned Solicitor-
(reneral that if you hire aa aKHassin tind Ray, " Here is money,'* and
there is a bargain between them that the assassin shall go out and
murder the man wh-en he can, the pernon who hires the aBsas^in is
guilty of the murder it is plain common sense. I also accept the
proposition that if a woman says to a man, " 1 want this man
murdered; you promise me to do it,*' and h then promisee her (she
believing that h is going to keep his protniHO aa soon as he gets an
opportunity) and goes out and murders some one, then he alo is
guilty of murder. She is just as much guilty of murder if she sets
loose an assnflflin aa if he fires an. arrow at a distance which pi&rces
somebody's heart. But 1 do not think that i quite the ca#e you
have got to consider here. At half-paat five she leaves him, telling
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Juatice Shearman
him where she is going, and that she is coming back with her husband
in the evening. If you think it was no surpiise to her when she saw
him that evening, and if you think that when she saw him there
that evening he came there under her direction, under her informa-
tion that she would be there about that time, and that he was waiting
there for their ariival under her direction and information that she
had given him as to where she would be about that time if you
think she knew peifectly well as soon as she sot eyes on him ho wa-i
there to murder, she is guilty of the murder Loo, because he wa.- 1
<loing it under hei direction with the hand that she was guiding
If you think he had that knife in his pocket intending to murder
of course, this question only arises if you think ho had that knift-
in his pocket, intending to murder that man that evening and if you
think she knew that he had it, I think it necessarily follows she-
would know that he was going to do it that evening That is what
I submit to you. Therefore, 1 think the only case I am going to ask
you to consider is this, was she a paity ahoady to the murder m that
sense, that she was aiding and abetting it? The words aie pretty
plain. " Aiding and abetting " means giving a help to the
murderer, if it actually took place.
And hero it is that what I may call the uecewsary absence of
evidence makes these letters of so much importance Oi 1 courno, you
will understand that, if two people agree to murder anybody, they do
not make that agreement when anybody is listening If they agre<>
to murder, the crime will not take place if there is anybody looking
on, and therefoie it follows that when it is committed if you think
it has been committed there should be no witnesses present It
necessarily further follows that in every case of uch a description
you have to infer from what is called circumstantial evidence, and
you cannot have anything else It rarely happens by accident except
by a fortunate accident in the course of justice that a murder is
committed when anybody is there to aoo it, and you have to gather
from the evidence and the short case for the prosecution is this it
really is a short case : tliat for months these people had been corres-
ponding, and for months this lady we are only couftidormg her caso
had been writing to this man, inciting him to murder. I will deal
with the letters, and deal with her explanation later on It waft sug-
gested that she was always writing to him, and when he came back,
the moment he came back, there were these frequent clandestine meet-
ings I am not going to remind you of whnt I said about these meet-
ings being clandestine meetings, it is. for you to judge, but T have-
given you a view which you may or may not accept, but, I repeat, and 1
must repeat in legard to hci explanation, that she- had been frequently
talking to him about separation or divorce If you think these
letters are genuine, they mean that she is involved in a continual
practice of deceit; concealing the fact of Jier connection with
Bywaters, and not reiterating it with requests for her husband to*
144
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
let her go That is for you, and not for me. I must also repe.it
what I say about the surrounding circumstance Probably you will
think that it is the fact that if she ran away with By waters she
thought she might lose her position, and, having lost her position,
there was nothing to live upon. The only question is, was that what
they were talking about in these letters* It is clear that if
Providence should have removed the husband by a heart attack then
they could have married and they could have kept their positions, and
the way was clear Tho prosecution say that that was of enormoas
weight and one of the things that they were from time to time
discussing, and it is said that they discussed it backwards and
forwaids in their letters. I am just going to lefer you to some of
those letieirs in which they discussed it. If you think that it is
certain that they discussed it when he came back, and talked of
what they would do in the future, it is said those letters not only
throw a light upon the motive of the man and upon the motive of
the woman, but they also throw a light upon the intention of their
actions on the particular day, and particularly the intention of her
actions
Now, let us turn to the letteis Again, I am sure you will not
think that I am taking any side in this matter; if you think I am
taking any side in this matter, as I said, you know as \iell as I do
you can disagree with me without giving offence to me or anybody
else; it is entirely a matter for you I am anxious not 1o take a
side, but if you think any of my opinions jump out, in anything that
I say, you will be perfectly at liberty to disregard them, because it
is for you to decide it, because you are much bettor judges than I
am. I do not want you to think, if I go into portions of the lettern,
that I am asking you to disregard the explanation of the lettera. You
will consider them very carefully. You will not consider that I am
giving all the arguments on one side or the other.
I am going to read you certain extracts from the letters. All
his letters the letters from him only breathe this insensate silly
affection; they do not eoenx to help us very much that way. Wo
are not now considering his case, but all these letters are written by
her, and therefore they are evidence against her. It is said by the
prosecution that from beginning to end of these letters she is
seriously considering and inciting the man to assist her to poison
her husband, and if she did that, and if you find that within a woek
or two after he came back tho poisoning is considered no longer
possible, he has no longer studied or haw uot stxidied bichloride of
mercury, but has. read " Bella Donna " without weeing how " Bella
Donna " can be of any us to him, they would naturally turn to
some other moans of effecting their object , and ib is said to you they
naturally would, when you find them meeting day after day, parting
at half-past five, meeting the husband at six, and ho telling him
where they were going, and lie immediately, as soon as he gats ai?
L 145
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
opportunity, if you believe he waited for them coming back, and
knew they were there gentlemen, you may say here are circum-
stances following the long-studied incitement for him to help her
to poison. He walks with he* to the station and parts with her
half an hour before she meets her husband, and she then goes oft
with her husband. He clearly was waiting for the 11 30 train to
Ilford that is not disputed. He is there looking for them, knowing
when they are coming The evidence, so far as it goes as to what
was said at the house, is that they were out at the theatre, and no
more. He knew what train they were coming down by, although
it is probably the natural train for anybody going to the theatre
and retaining to Ilford, and it is suggested when you find that is
followed by a meeting within five or six hours of their parting, and
the man, if you behove it, assassinated then you are entitled to
assume that she sped him on his errand, that when she saw him at
any rate she knew he was coming and knew what he was after; that
she, as soon as it was done it is said by the prosecution steadily
told lies and concealed the whole of the facts. It is on that you are
asked to draw the conclusion that she was a party to the act of
Bywaters in killing her husband at that time and place. You will
not draw it unless you are satisfied, and if you are satisfied you will
draw it; and there is the whole matter
Now, let us look at the letters I am sure you knofw them and
you recollect the whole of them In exhibit 62 you find this,
" Yesterday I met a woman who had lost three husbands in elovon
years, and not through the war; two were drowned and one com-
mitted suicide and some people I know cannot lose one. flow
unfair everything is." And then she breaks off. In exhibit 27
I am not going to comment, I am only going to call your attention
to the facts; " I had the wrong porridge to-day but I don't suppose
it will matter, I don't seem to care much either way. You'll pro-
bably say I am careless and I admit I am, but I don't care, do you.
I gave way this week to him " Of course, you know these letters,
as was quite properly pointed out, are full of the outpourings of a
silly but, at the samo time, wicked affection There aie all sorts
of things, in the letters other than alluding to poison and many
other things which I am not going to refer to, but mostly cases of
affection and love or other matters that I have already commented
on which I believe to bo matters, of that description. In the samo
letter (exhibit 27) there is: "You know darlint I am beginning
to think I have gone wrong in the way I manage this, affair. I
think perhaps it would have been better had I acquiesced in every-
thing he said and did or wanted to do. At least it would have
disarmed any suspicion he might have and that would have been
better if we have to use drastic measures dailint understand ?
Anyway so much for him. I'll talk about some one else." Iw
that talking about divorce or is that talking about drastic measures
measures for removing him?
146
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
Then in exhibit 15 theie is this incident about his taking too
much of some medicine. " Some one he knows m town (not the
man I previously told you about) had given him, a prescription for
a draught for insomnia and he'd had it made up and taken it and
it made him ill. He certainly looked ill and his eyes were glassy
I've hunted for the said preemption eveiywhere and can't iind it
and asked him what he had done with it and he said the chemist
kept it" Of com so, it is suggested she wanted to get hold of the
prescription " I told Avis about the incident only I told her "
(look at thcsie words) " as if it f lightened and worried me "
not that it had frightened her, but she pretended it to convey that ,
and you will have to consider in a good many of these things whether
ehe was genuine or acting " I told Avis about the incident, only
I told her as if it frightened and worried mo as I thought perhaps
it might be useful at some future time that I had told somebody."
It is said she is 1 already preparing for witnesses in case there should
be a murder case; that is what is said Then " It would be so
easy darhnt if I had things I do hope I shall How about
cigarettes?" Then the next is an extract: " Death from hyoscine
poisoning, but how it was- administered there is no sufficient evidence
to show." Then there is another extract: " Ground glass in box "
I only allude to it because some-body else alluded to it.
Exhibit 16 " However for that glorious stale of existence I
suppose we must wait for another three or four months. Darhnt, I
am glad you succeeded, oh so glad I can't explain, when your noto
came I didn't know how to woik at all all I kept thinking of was
your success and my ultimate success I hope I suppose it isn't
possible for you to send it to me not at all possible " Now, it is
suggested he had written to her, you know at any rate she under-
stood he had written to her saying, " I have got something thai
would poison him or make him ill." " I suppose it is impossible'
for you' to send it to me." She in her answer, you will recollect,
says: " He was Lo send something to make him ill, and I
never intended to do it, although I said that to him." Ho said
in his answer it meant " letters." Then she continues: " Darlingest
boy, this thing that I am going to do for both of u will it evor
at all, make any difference between us, darlint, do you understand
what I mean. Will you ever think any the less of me, not now, I
know darlint but later on perhaps somo y^ars hence do you
think you will feel any different because of this 1hing that I shall
do." The meaning of that is for you to jiulgo; you will fully
understand it is not for me to tall you what the letters moan; you
are the judges of that, not I ; there IH no law about it whatever. It
is said the meaning of thai is, " If I poison him is it going to nrnko
any difference to you afterwards "; that is what is suggested is the
plain meaning of the words.
Exhibit 20 " Why do you say to me * never run away, face
U7
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
things and argue and beat everybody ' Do I ever run away? Have
I ever run away? and do you think I should be likely to now? That's
twice this trip, something you have said has hurt. You will have 10
kiss all that hurt away 'cos it does really hurt it's not sham
darlint I'm not going to talk to you any more I can't and I
don't think I have shirked have I? except darlint to ask you again
to think out all the plans and methods for me and wait and wait
so anxiously now for the time when we'll be with -each other
even tho' it's only once for * one little houi,' our kind of hour,
not the song kind And just to tell you Peidi loves you always."
Then sihe is referring to a lot of books you will see in the list: " I
think the ' red hair ' one is true m parts you tell me which parts
darlint. The Kempton cutting may be interesting if it is to be the
same method." Then, " Will you be ready with every little detail
when I see you because you know more about this thing than I,
and I am relying on you for all plans and instructions only just
the act I am not. . . . Why not go to 231 darlint, I think
you ought to go as usual, it would be suspicious later if you stopped
away without a reason known to them, and there is not a reason is
there? You have not fallen out with Bill have you? What about
Dr. Wallis's case, you said it was interesting but you did not discuss
it with me Darlint, about making money yes we must somehow,
and what does it matter how, when we have accomplished that one
thing we are going to live entirely for ourselves and not study any
one except ourselves."
Exhibit 50 " This time really will be the last you will go
away like things are, won't it? We said it before darlint I know
and we failed but there will be no failure this next time darlint,
there mustn't be I'm telling you wherever it is if it's to sea
I'm coming too, and if it's to nowhere I'm also coining darlint
You'll never leave me behind again, never, unless things are
different." Now, it is said that the meaning of that is, "If we
get married you can go on your voyage and leave me behind, but if
he is still alive I am coming away with you.'*
Exhibit 17 " Don't keep this piece " that is at the top
" About the marcomigram, do you mean one saying Yes or No,
because I shan't send it darlint I'm not govny to try any more
until you come back." What does that mean? " I made up my
mind about this last Thursday. He was telling his mother &c.,
the circumstances of my ' Sunday morning escapade ' and he puts
great stress on the fact of the tea tasting bitter, ' as if some-
thing had been put in it ' he says. Now I think whatever else I
try it in again will still tasto bitter he will recognise ifc and be
more suspicious still and if the quantity is still not successful it
will injure any chance I may have of trying when you come home."
The date of that letter, if you look at it again, fe April. Bywatera
says: " At some time in March I gave her " something which he says
148
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
was quinine, and she says she does not know what it was. It is
suggested the plain meaning of that is she tried that and failed. He
says whatever ]t was it was only quinine but she does not know
vhat it was-.
Exhibit 18 " I used the light bulb three times, but the third
time he found a piece so I have given it up until you come home."
Of course, you know her explanation is that this was merely
I don't know what woid to call :t swank to show what a heroic
person she was; that she was prepared to do all sorts of things
which she was not in fact doing, and his explanation was always to
exculpate her, and to say she was a melodramatic being. You will
give what weight you think to it Whether she gave all she said
she did, or whether she only gave some of what she said she did, or
gave nothing at all his explanation was to exculpate her. Her
explanation as given by the Solicitor-General this morning is that,
" II did send things which I was to give to my husband to make
him ill, but I did not do it "; in other words she said, " Ho was
expecting me to; I wa not inciting him." Gentlemen, in this case
we are only judging her, her case. I am saying you, may diregard
her or you may think it tiue, but, of course, you will boar in mind
that in that she is exculpating herself and saying the man is the
wicked person: " He sent me these things, and I did not pay any
attention to him When I wrote to him ho thought I was trying
to poison my husband," because to give him something when he has
a bad heart is to poison him, and she sayK, te I kept it up and never
undeceived him "
Exhibit 19 " I don't think we are failures m other things.,
and we mustn't be in this We mustn't give up as we said. No,
we shall have to wait if wo fail again Darlmt, Fate cannot always
turn against us and if it is we must fight it you and I arc strong
now, we must be stronger. We must learn to bo patient. We
must have each other darlint. It's meant io bo, I know I feel it
is because I love you such a lot such a love was not meant to
be in vain. It will come right I know one day, if not by our
efforts some other way. We'll wait oh darlint, and you'll try
and get some money and then we can go away and not worry
about anybody or anything. You said it was enough for an
elephant," and he admits you know he did say either in letters or
by words that 30 grains of quinine w-cro enough for an elephant
why an elephant should want 30 grains of quinine I do not know,
or whether his explanation is true, or what she was writing that
she had not succeeded " perhaps it was, but you don't allow for
the taste making only a small quantity Io be taken. It sounded
like a reproach; was 'it meant to be." Then further on, "I wa
buoyed up with the hope of the * light bulb ' and I used a lot big
pieces too not powdered and it has no effect I quite expected to
be able to send that cable but no nothing has happened from it."
149
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
Now, what is the cable? She says the cable was a cable stating
she was going to get a divorce. It is not for me to say anything
to you, but it is suggested that the cable was his death. " And
now your letter tells me about the bitter taste agam. Oh darlint,
I do feel so down and unhappy " Then she says, kff Wouldn't the
stuff make .small pills coated together with soap and dipped
in liquorice powder like Beecham's. Tiy while you're away." It
is said that is asking him there to produce some poison with which
they could poison this man without being discovered. " Our boy
had to have his thumb opeiated on because he had a piece of glass in
it that's what made me try that method again but I suppose as you
say lie is not normal I know I feel I shall never got him to take
a sufficient quantity of anything bitter " Then she saysi: " No I
haven't forgotten the key I told you before " Then further on
" Tou tell me not to leavo finger marks on the box do you know
I did not think of the box but I did think of the glass or cup
whatever was used." She says it is true ho did write to her and
ask h-er not to put finger marks on the bos. Why finger marks?
It is suggested by the prosiecutiou thaf if thisi man is poisoned,
and there is, a trial, finger matks would display on the bos who has
handled the poison " Do experiment with the pills, while you aro
away "
Exhibit 22 " It must be remembered ihat digitalin is a cumu-
lative poison, and that llie same close harmless if taken once, yet
frequently repeated, becomes deadly " I should not think you
should bother much about what is in the book called " Bella
Donna " The only point about it is, it is the case of a woman-
nobody suggested who was like this woman, or the man wa&
like this man. It is the case, admitted on oath by herself, that
there is at the end of the book somebody poisoning her husband,
or trying to poison her husband. " It must be remembered that
digitalin is a cumulative poison, and that the dose harmless if
taken onco, yet frequently repeated, becomes deadly " And there
is this remarkable statement " Hie above passage I have just
come across in a book I am reading, ' Bella Donna,' by Ro-bert
Hichens Is it any use? . . . I'd like you to read ' Bella
Donna' first, you will learn something from it to help us; then
you can read the e Fruitful Vine.' " No doubt the letter about
the "Fruitful Vine" was something similar; they write chiefly
about so-called heroes and heroines, probably wicked people, which
no doubt accounts! for a great many of these tragedies.
Exhibit 26 " Why aren't you sending me something 1 wanted
you to you never do what I ask you durlint you still have your
own. way always If I don't mind the risk why should you? "
After the rest comes this " Have you stxidiod bichloride of
mercury? " In answer to my question we were told it. is what is
called a corrosive sublimate, a poison with which those who unfortu-
nately have to come to these Courts have to deal with.
150
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
Then we come to thisi last letter at the end of September,
exhibit 60. It is quite obvious that that bit refeis to a meeting,
and, of course, quite properly, the Solicitor-General asked a question
which was fully answered, and much point was made of it. It is no
point in the case now " Do not forget what we talked of in the
Tea Room; I will still risk and try if you will," and it is said it is
poison or it is the dagger <k We have got many things, to consider;
shall we run away if we can get the money, or shall w try poison?
We will talk it over "
I think there is one other letter which I might lefer you to,
exhibit 64, although the date we do not know. " I know whab
you say is really true, but darlmt it does feel sometimes ill at we
are drifting Don't you e^cr fool like that and it hurts so ever so
much. Yes, we are both going to fight until w win rlailmt, fight
hard, in real earnest you ai o going to help me first and then I am
going to help you and when you have done your share and I have
done mine we shall have given to each other what wo both ' dcsiro
most in this world ' ourselves, isn't this light, but darhnfc don't
fail in your share of the bargain because I am helpless without your
help you understand." That is certainly earlier in the ye-ar, some
time before this took place, but there it is
I .should be wanting in my duty if I did not plainly e^jdum 1c>
you that the meaning of these Ictteis is entirely for you, and you
have to ask yourselves, do they form a very strong case; and is slu 1
asking him cleaily fo-r his assislaucc to iwnovo and murder IKT
husband by the administration of poison? With i-egard to some of
the statements, if they are accurate, they show thut she admmisteied
it, but the important part of it is that they were plotting
and planning, and you have heard her explanation, that
she did it because it was to please him, to show how devoted sho
was to him. Hisi story was: " I thought ftho advised me to do it,
suggested I should do it, but I thought it was all vapour melo-
drama " You bear in mind the force of those explanations; but
it is a strong case for your consideration lhat on each of thoo
voyages while he was away they aro discussing the removal of her
husband by poison, and it isi said again, and I do not like to repeat
myself, that that throws light, not only on the motive of what ho
did, but it throwsi light on their intentions and their actions- in
what happened
The rest is short. You will consider, in saying whether you are
satisfied, what was done before; they met frequently They met,
aa you know, and only parted at about half -past five that afternoon,
and at half-past twelve thai, night Thompson is lying (lend, and
killed by the dagger of somebody. You have seon the weapon; I
call it a dagger; it is a weapon that has to be seized with the
fist it is a stabbing weapon you have seen it, and you have
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
got it. Where is it done? Is It by accident that he comes up to
her? All we know about that is that they were- talking about a
dance, and she was next to the wall I am not dealing with his
case; I have done with it. It certainly is in a lonely road which
is obviously the direct way home, but it is in a road with no houses
on one side except the house of one of the witnesses! to whom I am
going to call attention, and the back of other houses, and you have
the circumstances of the killing which I mentioned to you when I
wasi dealing with the other case. That is all we know It is sug-
gested by the prosecution that the moment she saw him there she
expected him, and they ask you to be satisfied, they ask you to
believe, that she saw it done What evidence is there of that?
She denies it Of course, there is no other evidence
There is one other very curious piece of evidence to which 1
want to call your attention, and that is the evidence of Mr. Webber
He says he heard a noise, and these are his words; he heard those
words " Oh, don't, oh, don't " in piteous tones. You know he is
some way off; I ain not saying it is true; it is for you to say whether
it is accurate, or whether it is imaginary, or whether ho has made
a mistake; but there is the evidence The voice was Mrs
Thompson's. " It was three or five minutes before I came out, and
then I heard the doctor ask had he been ill " Now, of course, again
it is for you to say, if you believe that, what the words, moan, " Oh,
don't, oh, don't," in piteous tones, and il is made use of by her
counsel as showing that she objected to the murder and was saying
" Don't " Well, a remark of force, but it is a double-edged weapon,
this evidence, if you think it is accurate, because if you think it
means that when she saw him being stabbed or saw one of the stabs,
she said " Don't, don't," it means that she waa looking on, and she
saw it all. The evidence is incompatible with the story that she
was senseless and only recovered you know her story, I need not
go into that matter again if she was pushed aside and damaged by
a fall (and there is independent evidence she had a bruiso). That
does not prove how the bruise was given, but her story is that she
knew nothing of it She saw so-me scuffling a little way down, and she
saw the back of the man running away, knowing who- he was. Of
course, if that is so, it is impossible that she could be saying, " Don't,
don't," and she saw the blows struck. I think it is entirely for you
I will not argue that Of course, you will bear in mind that, if you
think that is true, the fact that she was saying, " Don't, don't," at
the end of it, would not protect her if she had summoned the man
there and was only horrified when ho saw the deed, and that ho
had compassed it These are things that will appeal to you or
anybody else; you will weigh them. Bui if you believe them you are
in this difficulty, that ib makes you disbelieve at once the whole of
her evidence that she did not see it, and, indeed, if you think,
knowing what these wounds are like and what happened, it is almost
152
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
incredible that she should not have seen what happened It is a
remarkable story for you to believe : that the sudden push against
the wall rendered her senseless and stupefied That is the story.
It is always relevant to see what is done before' and after the
deed. It is said by the prosecution that it was arranged he should
run away, and she should go to the doctor It is .said that their
letters are suggesting they were arranging how to avoid suspicion
when it was done, and the letters bear that out. Now T\ere they;
do they bear that out?
I am going to read to you the evidence of the witnesses, which
prove what Mrs. Thompson said after the act was done All the
witnesses say she was very agitated ; some of the witnesses flay she
did not know what she was saying The witness Dona Pittard is
called, and she says this " I saw the woman running, and she
met me and said, ' Oh, my God, will you help me, my husband is
ill, he is bleeding ' 1 asked when it happened, and she said, * I
cannot tell you, when I turned to speak to him blood was pouring
out of liis mouth ' " That is the account of Doris PitUrd. Not a
word of anything more: "He is ill." You have got to consider
whether this was genuine, or acting a part of tho prearranged
plan; whether it was out of control. All the witnesses agree thai
she was in a state of great agitation. Give \*lial weight you think
to that Percy Clevely saysi she said her husband had fallen down
In cross-examination of Doris Pittard she said Mrs Thompson -was
running hard, she wanted help for her husband. Percy Clevely said
she said her husband had fallen down, and \vantoil help; he was ill;
" I want to find a doctor." " I asked her how it had happened.
She said some thing brushed past and he fell down "; not a word
about another man. She asked for help, and she ran on in front, and
eh was agitated. John Webber says this; I have read part of it,
and I will read it again, because I want you to have the whole of it.
"I heard these words, 'Oh, don't, don't, ' in piteous tones,"
and then I asked the distance off and il was the corner house, the
next corner of the road. " The voice was Mrs Thompson's." Dr.
Maudsley says, " I asked the woman whether tho man had been
ill, and she said no I said, ' He in dead ' She said, * Why didn't
you come sooner and save him ' I aaid, * Has ho been under any
medical man? ' She said, * No, he often complained, but did not
have one.' " He said ho did not see the wounds in other words,
if you think that she had seen the stabbing, she is leaving the doctor
in ignorance and under the impression that her husband was ill.
Those are the only four strangers who saw her. The rest are
police officers. The first is Waller Mew TTo Kaid, " I went with her
to her home. On the way she said, * Will ho com back? ' I
said, ' Yes.' She said, ' They will blame me for this./ " There is
no cross-exammalion about her statement. Then there is Police
Constable Waller Grimes. He said, " I asked her, ' Arc you in the
153
Bywaters and Thompson.
Mr Justice Shearman
habit of carrying a knife? ' She said, ' No ' She said, ' I cannot
explain what happened ; I do not know ; I only know he dropped down
and said, ' Oh ' I mean groaned or made an exclamation of pain.' "
Then the next peison that same night, you know, or soon afterwards,
is his brother, Richard Halliday Thompson He said, " She was
very agitated. I knew he was dead. I said, ' What has happened? '
She said, ' He was walking along and he suddenly became queer and
said, ' Oo-er ' " that is how they wiote it down " She said he
complained of pains in his leg on the way to the station She said
she went for a doctoi, and the doctor said he died from haemoirliage."
I think that is the last. These- are all the statements I think until we
come to the statements she makes to the police
Now, gentlemen, you will doubtless bear in mind this, that all
the witnesses say she is agitated; it is perfectly clear that she is
concealing the ti uth on her own showing, if she knew that the man
was there Everybody, the strangers, thought that he was ill, and
sho keeps them in that opinion everybody sho meets from the
time she starts to the doctor to the time she comes back. There is
a series of deceptions as to the real facts of the case, if she knew
them. It is said by the prosecution you cannot call witnesses to
show what they did and what they were planning beforehand; but
you can show from beginning to end that the woman is. telling what
is not true. It is said on the other side she said that because she was
wanting to shield the man. You will give what weight you think to
it; there it is Was she really out of her mind, or had she sufficient
sense to know, whether agitalod or not I can well imagine that
she was carefully concealing what had happened? It is not decisive,
but you are entitled to weigh that as a fact with all the other
circumstances of the case.
Now we coma to the statements. The important evidence i&
that of Inspector Sellars, and this is the gist of his evidence. At
11am. the next morning he said he told her who he was, and he
said, " I understand you were with your husband early this, morning
in Be-lgiave Road ; I am satisfied that he was assaulted and stabbed
several times. She said, ' We were coming,' " &c. (reading state-
ment of Mrs Thompson, p 35). That is her statement. That is
at 11 a.m on the next day, and she is. obviously concealing a great
deal of what she knew. She is taken through a room, and she sees
that they have arrested Bywaters, or, at any rate, thai Bywaters is
in the police station As soon as she sees him at the window she
said, " Oh, God I oh, God! what can I do? Why did he do it? I
did not want him to do it." Now there, again, look at these stato-
monts. I do not want to, and you must not, use that against
Bywaters; it has nothing to do with him. But again it is notice*
able that she is throwing the blame on him, " Why did he do it? "
and she is excusing herself Then she makes certain statements.
Now these statements) are reduced into writing; there are two of
154
Charge to the Jury.
Mr Justice Shearman
them. Before I come to them there is one other "witness, Mrs.
Lester. Mrs. Lester says that that morning the prisoner said to
her, " They have taken him away fiom me If they would allow
m to go to him I coidd make him better " quite incomprehensible,
you know, and carrying out the fact of the notion that she did not
know he was 1 dead Do you think that she did not know ho wasi
dead or what had happened? At any rate, you have that; that is
the statement she made. Then the first statement, tlie liist long
statement they took from her runs as follows: (reads statement).
Then she is obviously questioned; you know by this time
they had got some of these letters before them Then she sees.
Bywaters there, and she says what I have read to you " My God,
my God, what can I do' Why did lie do it? I did not \\ant him,
to do it," and then she makes another statement. She sayw, ** I
will tell you the truth " ; it does not necessarily follow that she
tolls you the truth when she says she is going to tell you the truth,
and then she makes a second statement " When T\O got near to
Endsleigh Gardens a man rushed out from the gardens and knocked
me away fiom my husband. I was dazed for a moment When I
recovered I saw my husband souiHing with a man Tho man I know
as Freddie Bywaters was running uway He was wearing a blue
overcoat and a grey hat. 1 know it wasi him, although I did not
see his face." Now, when they are both chaiged By waters &ay
he is not guilty, and she says nothing.
Gentlemen, that is roaJJy the whole of the cao. I ask your
earnest consideration of it. I am not going 1o any another word io
you about the case of tho man, only to repeat lhat if you find the
man guilty of murder, then you have got to consider, was this woman
an active party to it; did she direct him to go; did ulie know he was
coming; and are you satisfied that she was implicated directly in it?
Her story is that she know nothing about it; il wan a surprise; in
fact, she was pushed aside, and she. immediately fainted. She <lid
not sec what was going on; when a man pushed her against tlio wnll
she did not look tip to seo what happened, sho swoonwl away, and
then at the end she sees Bywaters going a, way You know exactly
what was done before the act; you know the fact of all the let I ITS,
and you know what she did after, and you know thai, Iur ovi<Iwe
is now that she knew nothing about it. In tho letlerN he ^as merely
saying she was poisoning her husband in order to make an apfxuiranoo
before Bywaters Her whole case is, sho wayw slid is quite innocent
of this matter, and that she i shocked at everything that lias
happened, and had nothing to do with it. You will not convict her
unless you are satisfied that she and ho agreed that this man tdiould
be murdered when he could be, and she know ho was going to do it,
and directed him to do it., and by airangoment behsoon them he* wan
doing it. If you are not Hatified of that yon will acquit her; if
you are -satisfied of that it will be your duty to convict lior. Will
you please retire and consider your verdict.
155
Bywaters and Thompson.
Is there anything you want, gentlemen ?
The FOREMAN OP THE JURY I think there is, my lord, the
prisoner's overcoat you wished us to have as well as the knife.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Yes, you have the knife. In that bundle
you will find copies of the signed statements which they made.
(Bundle handed to jury )
Verdict.
[The jury retired at 3.32, bailiffs being sworn to take them irfe
charge, and returned mto Court at 5.43 ]
The CLERK OF TEB COURT Members of the jury, have you agreed
upon your verdict?
The FOREMAN OF THE JURY We have.
The CLERK OP THE COURT Do you find the prisoner, Frederick
Edward Francis Bywaters, guilty or not guilty of the murder of
Percy Thompson?
The FOREMAN Guilty, sir.
The CLERK OF THE COURT Do you find Ihe prisoner, Edith Jessie
Thompson, guilty or not guilty of the murder of Percy Thompson ?
The FOREMAN Guilty.
The CLERK OF THE COURT You say they are severally guilty,
and that is the verdict of you all Frederick Bywaters and Edith
Thompson, you severally stand convicted of murder; have you, or
either of you, anything to say why the Coiirt should not give you
judgment of death according to law?
Prisoner BYWATERS I say the verdict of the jury is wrong.
Edith Thompson is not guilty I am no murderer, I am not am
assassin.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Is there any question of law, Sir Henry,
as to the sentence I have to pronounce?
Prisoner THOMPSON I am not guilty.
Sir H. CURTIS BENNETT No, my lord.
Sentence.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Frederick Edward Francis Bywatera,
the sentence of the Court upon you is that you be taken from this
place to a lawful prison, &c.
Formal sentence of death was tlien passed on Frederick
Bywaters.
156
Sentence.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Edith Jessie Thompson, Ihe sentence of
the Court upon you is that you be taken from this place to a lawful
prison, &c.
Formal sentence of death was then passed on Edith
Thompson.
The CLERK OP TEH COUBT Edith Jessie Thompson, have you any-
thing to say in stay of execution?
Prisoner THOMPSON I am not guilty; oh, God, I am not guilty!
The prisoners were then removed.
Mr. JUSTICE SHEARMAN Gentlemen, I thank you for your patient
attention to a long and difficult case.
157
APPENDICES.
*%
*) r i*
Edith Thompson
APPEJNDIX I,
Letters from Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters
la Evidence at the Trial.
INDEX TO
jSXHIIilTS.
Ex'nbil
Date
9
30th MepUMibei, 1W22,
.
19
No tUile,
.
1J
20th August, 1021, -
1J
old Ji.iH'itXiy, 10-2,
.
11
1st JTtennnliei, r>21, -
15
15.1
10th Feinnaty, 1022,
9thFebiu t ny, l')-2, .
titU J<\>bi u,ii j, 192',
.
l?c
5ili Febmaiy, li^, -
-
15d
Oth ifobiUtiiy, 11*22,
-
10
22nd Foum.ny, 1022, -
-
17
18
24Lli A pi il l')^2,
.
10
l^t May, 1922,
20
MlhiVLorli, L022,
.
MOl
lUtli JNlAich, 1')'22,
.
21
15th AItU 192 \
.
SlA
13th M.ty, 1922,
j>2
18th May, 10'i l 2,
.
22a
l()th May, 1022,
.
221)
6th Miiv, l')22,
2"
2ut(lMiiV, 192*2,
21
13th June, 10212,
.
25
20th June, 1<)22,
27
No date,* "-'
23
30
19th September, 191i2,
No date,
31
No date, -
.
47 and 18
19
22nd September, 1922,
11th August, 1922, .
.
59
No date,
.
51
No d,ite,
.
52
53
14th July, 1022,
14th June, 1922,
, *
51
12th September 1922,
.
50
No date,
v
58 and 69
20th September, 1022,
25th Kupteiuber, 1922,
'
00
No date,
n
62
No dtte,
u
63
28tli Atumst, 1922, .
64
No date,
,
06
6th JUUP, 1922,
f
07
68
69
7lh Juu, 1022,
9th June, 1922,
3Cth Juno, 1922,
m "
213
215
102
168
210
170
171
172
1VJ
179
184
1*0
171
ITS
TO
r>j
101
105
li)5
196
190
>02
205
106
210
217
217
213
161
178
195
207
200
209
212
213
213
214
21C
198
198
19S
205
Exhibit 49,
August, llth, 1921.
Darlingest, Will you please take those letters back now 1 I have
nowhere to keep them, except a small cash box, 1 have just bought and I
want that for my own letter n only and I feel scared to death in case anybody
else should read them All the wishes 1 can possibly send for the very
best of luck to-day, From PEXDI.
M 161
Bywaters and Thompson.
Exhibit 12
Envelope Mi F Bywaters, 11 Westow Street, Upper Norwood.
[Postmark nford, 8 15, 20 Aug , 21 ]
Come and see me Monday lunch time, please darlint Ho susi
Exhibit 62
Envelope Pour Vous
Darlint, Its Friday today that loose end sort of day (without you)
preceding the inevitable week end [ dont know what to do to just stop
thinking, thinking very very sad thoughts darlint, they will come, I try to
stifle them, but its no use
Last night I lay awake all night thinking of you and of everything
connected with you and me
Darlint I think you got into Marseilles last night did you 7 anyway 1
felt you did perhaps you got my first letter, the other one you will get
today
All I could think about last night was that compact we made Shall
we have to carry it thro' ? dont let us darlint Id hko to live and be happy
not for a little while, but for all the while you still love me Death
seemed horrible last night when you think about it darlint, it does seem a
hornblo thing to die, when you have never been happy ically hrippy for
one little minute
I'll be feeling awfully miserable tonight darlint, I know you will be too,
because you've only been gone one week out of 8 and even after 7 more
have gone I cant look forward can you ? Will you ever bo able to teach
me to swim and play tennis and everything else we thought of, on the sands
in Cornwall? you remember that wonderful holiday we weic going to
have ia 22, and that little flat m Chelsea that you were coming home to
every time and that ' Tumble down, nook ' you were going to buy for me, one
day. They all seem myths new
Last night I booked seats for the Hippodrome the show was good not
a variety, but a sort of pieirot entertainment and 2 men opened the show
with singing " Feather your nest " I wished we could just you and I but we
will yes, somehow we must 1 enjoyed the show immensely you under-
stand me don't you darlint. I was dancing the hours, 1 was forgetting, but
by my&elf in bed I was* remembering
Altho its Friday Im not going anywhere, I havn't been asked Darlint
Ye&terday I met a woman who had lost 3 husbands in eleven years
and not thro the war, 2 were drowned and one committed suicide and some
people I know cant lose one How unfair everything IH. Boss and Reg
are coming to dinner Sunday.
Today is the Derby Cup and I have some money on ' Front Lino ' 1
dont suppose it will win, Im never lucky not in anything darlint, except in
knowing you.
I dont think 111 bo able to buy that watch for you by Xmas, darlint,
Id like to ever so much, but as things are, Im afraid I cant afford to,
Appendix I.
but the will and the wish to give is there and I know youU like that just
as well
A man on the stage said this last night " Marriage is the inclination
of a ciazy man to board a lazy woman, for the rest of his natural life"
Rather cutting I think, but there it came from, a man
Au revoir darhnt, until Monday, I'll write some more then and hope
I'll be able to talk with you as well.
Altho' I said Au revoir until Monday Darlmt its only Saturday now
We are opening Sats always now. I don't like it a bit because Im think
ing of that Sat about the 14th when you will be home but perhaps I'll
manage to get that one off He's grumbling feai fully about it ' No
home comfort whatever, you'll have to stop at home,' no other man's wife
wants to gad the town every day ' They all find enough interest in their
home ' Its his Saty off today
When I looked at you to si.y " good morning " an irresistable feeling
overcame me, to put my fingers thro your hair and I couldnt I love doing
that darlmt, it feels so lovely you don't mind do you 7 most men dont
like it, m fact they hate it, usually, but I know youre different from most
men. When I got to 231 last night only Avis was in. Mother and Dad had
gone to Highbury to see Grandma, I believe she is sinking fast Avis said at
the class Mel mentioned he had seen me " with a friend of yours " he said to
Avis, but when Avis was telling me this she said " I asked him who it was
and he wouldn't tell me " She didnt actually a&k me to tell her, so of course
I didnt mention you, but she knows I am sure.
On the Friday you left, Mel rang mo twice and both times I was out, ho
hasnt rung again
Yesterday I lunched opposite a Major and his typist Id love you to
have been there The conversation consisted of " How extraordinary,"
** really " and giggles She did manage to &ay lather loudly too ** I do
wish I'd come into my money soon, Im tired of being poor." I'm sure
they would have amused you, it reminded me of what you said Molly'p
stock of conversation consisted of.
People tell me I have got fatter m the face this la&t fortnight, darlint
do you put on flesh when your heart is aching, I suppose you must if I am
fatter because my heart aches such a lot When I lay awake at nights
and think, the small ray of hope seems so frail, so futile, that I can haidly
make myself keep it alive Its 12 noon now and I am going to get ready
to go no not home, but to 4i to got dinner ready, first and then do shop-
ping and clem the bedroom and dust the other room and do God knows
how ni.my moie jobs, but I suppose thuy will all help to pass the time
away If I could only go to sleep to light and wake up tomorrow and find
it was the 7 1 22 But I -cant I know nothing ever comes right in this
world, not right as we want it to be. Its an awful sort of state to get
into, this morbid feeling and I hope I shant give it to you, darlmt when
youre reading this Perhaps I ought not to write at all when I feel like
this, perhaps I'll feel better on Monday, anyway I'll put this away until
then
I've had a funny sort of week end darlmt I want to toll you all
about it and I dont know how* I am staying in this lunch time, especially
163
By waters and Thompson.
to write to you First of all on Sat. at tea, we had words over getting a
maid He wants one, but wont have Ethel ' because my people wont like
it ' he said I was fearfully stiung up and feeling very moi-bzd so you may
guess this didnt improve things. However at night in bed the subject-
or the object the usual one came up and T resisted, because I didnt want
him to touch me for & month from Nov 3rd do you undei stand me darhnt*
He asked me why 1 wasnt happy now what caused the unhappmcss and I
said I didnt feel unhappy just indifferent, and he said I used to feel happy
once Well, I suppose I did, T suppose even I would have called it happi-
neub, bocaufce I was content to let things just jog along, and not think, but
that was- before 1 knew what real happiness could be like, before I loved
you darlmt Of course I did not, tell him that but I did tell him I didnt
lovo him and he seemed astounded He wants me Lo forgive and forget
anything he has said or done in the past and start fresh and try and bo
happy again and want just him He wants me to try as well and so that
when another year has passed meaning the year that ends on January
15/1922, wo shall be just as happy and contented as we were on that day
7 yeais ago These are his words I ajn quoting I told him I didnt love
him but that I would do my share to try and make him happy and con-
tented. It was an easy waj- ont of a lot of things to promise this darlmt
I hope you can understand I was feeling awful I could have so easily
died and I still feel awful today, how 1 wish you weio hero, I think only
you caa make mo hope on a Lttle longer I got 2 letters in separate
envelopes and 2 letters in 1 long envelope today darlmt, but I didnt like
the E on the long envelope, oven to curb other peopled curiosity dont put
that again darlmt It w.is lovely to be able to talk to you. I didnt feel
any happier after doing so, but darlmt you and 1 wont over feel really
happy until we have each oHier do you think ?
The first page of your firwt letter a/mi'Fcd me immensely J oan imagine the
bugler also the -condition of the other boys
I think I did toll you darlint I had 1 letter from Tilbury on Friday
night and 1 long envelope from Tilbury Sat morning and 1 letter from
Dover Monday morning.
Darlmt I dont like you to say and think those hard thimjh about
yourself and I certainly dont like that sentence oi yours ' I've run away
and deft you ' Dont please think them or about them Truly darlmt, I
dont, I know whatever you say that its Fate its no more your fault than
it is mine that things arc still as they are, in fact perhaps I really know,
deep down in my heart, fcliat it is more mine, but I try to stifle those
thoughts, I only keep thorn locked up in my heait and I say to myself
* He wont oven let it be my Fault this next time ' Am I right darlmt?
its the only thought that makes me want to Lve on Darlmt, you say do I
remember? that Monday Oct 31 I'll never never forgot it, 1 felt oh I
dout know how, just that I didnt really know what I was doing, it seemed
so grand to seo you again, so grand to just feel you hold my shoulders,
while you kissed me, so grand to hear you say just 3 ordinary commonplace
words " How are you " Yes I did feel happy then
I am glad you liked " Maria " I thought it was lovely and yet I didnt
expect you to agree with me about the ending I am glad you do darlint.
That's just what I thought it was a real live book, so sad tho' I suppose
thats what made it real I'll never forgot how I felt when reading it and I
criedoh such a lot. Perhaps you do know how she felt darlint, I'm
not sure, you know a man never feels like a woman about anything, but
104
Appendix I.
perhaps you know a little how she felt, because youre different yourself,
anyway I know and I could feel for her.
Darlint 3 years, 6 years, no I'm not going to imagine, Im just not
going to, 3 months from now is absolutely the longest I am even going
to try and imagine Im not going to look any farther forward and youre
not either yet.
I'm sorry you asked me about a photogiaph, really sorry, because I
never make a good one, darlint, not even a natural one, when I pose, and
I dont know that 1 will have one taken, even to please you darlint you
said " Yes," I didnt and why did you answer your own question for me
because you knew I would say ' No ' However I'll think about it You
know Im teally a coward Im afraid you wonb like itor perhaps see things
in it you wont like You remember what you told me you thought of and
felt about a photograph you had seat you on the ' Orvieto ' Thats why Im
afraid
I will do as you say about when I want you, I'll even bruise myself,
as you used and then take myself to Court foi cruolty to myself, eh darlmt ?
I've thought about the hair tortmo dnd Im fceljii^ quite pieparcd to
undergo it now 1 dont vouch foi how I shall feel %vhcn the time comes,
so be prepared for a stand up fiqht it'll bo lather fun
I did laugh about the cnclo&ed greeting card and Im sorry Im going
lo have another one of them, even to show other people L dont think I like
it connected wjth you, but darlmt I know its only tlic outside shell and its
not the wish the leal wish 1 shall get for my&elf for only mo to see
About books I have abeady sent out and obtained the ' Tiuil of 98*
and am going Lo start it pcihaps tonight no not tonight I think because
Avus just phoned me and a*kod to j'o and soe Grandma as Im the only one
she has not seen and &hc keeps asking for me I suppose I shall have to
go altho I dont like it much, I'd far rather remember her as I saw her
m the Summer They say she looks terrible now
I think the Guarded Flame is difficult to read and I dont know whether
you will like it W B. Maxwell writes very strange books some arc very
sensualbut in a learned kind of way I cant explain any botter than that.
Why dont you want your mother to ring me darlmt ? I should like to
know about that seal on my letters darlmt ? break it if you want to, if you
dont well dont, but I am &orry you dont remember things I ask you about,
things I want you to talk to me about Youll have to cultivate a better
memory for some future date darlmt, I shanl be so lenient then. I shant
mind a bit darlmt about the typed envelope, as long as its not addressed
as the one I rcccivod today \\as. Yes, I think I do feel a bit no not
cro&o but what shall I call it -disappointed about the lady and the mail
bag For a start 1 dont like the expression about the coffee and milk
coming from you to me from you to anyone else perhaps yes and after
all is she any woise for being a native perhaps she IB and perhaps she
is not anyway I dont know and I dont think you do and then you say c If
it had been one of the malo soar ' Why * it ' davhnt, I thought you were
beginning to think just a little more of u& than you used
Thank you for giving mo something at some future date, when both
you and I are ready.
I'm glad you told me you wouldn't worry about me darlint, Yes of
course I will tell you everything, whon the time comes, but you wont worry
about it, will you darlmt, whatever it is, because I dont and wont.
IC5
Bywaters and Thompson.
In that last note of yours you said ' you had been pu&hed to blazes for
the last 3 hours ' Do you know Darlmt I can just hear you saying that,
yes hear you really its so like you
Yes, darlint, I shall say it and I mean it you've not to feel like it,
I wont have it, (I've stamped my foot here) so just forget and obey
PJEIDI
Exhibit 27
[Copy ]
Envelope Unaddressed
Have told you before I put 10/- eh way on ( Welsh Woman ' for the
M'chester Cup, just because you liked it I expect you know the result
The favourite won and it (the favounte) was the only horse I really fancied,
but as it was only 5 to 2 starting price, I didn't think it was worth the
risk and then the dashed thing won.
Darhnb, its a good job you aro winning some money at cards, for J
can't win any at horses.
I have won 14/9 on one race since you have been gone, I've forgotten
which one it was,
I've enclosed you several cuttings, please road them darlmt, and tell
me what you think of them The one I've marked with a cross I think
very true indeed, but I'd like to know what you think about it.
The part about ' a man to loan on ' is especially true Dai lint, it was
that about you that first made me think of you, m the way I do now.
I feel always thai/ were I m any difficulty, I could roly and loan on you
I like to feel that I have you to loan on, of couise I ciunt want to really
but its nice to know I can, if I want to Do you understand v Note the
part, ' always think of her first, always be patient and kind, always help
her in every way ho can, he will have gone a long way to making her love
him*
Such things as wiping up, getting pins for me etc, all counted, darlint.
Do you remember the pin incident, on Aug 1, darlint and the subsequent
remark from him ' You like to have someone always tacked on to you to
run all your little errands and obey all your little requests ' That was it,
darlint, that counted, obeying little requests such as getting a pin, it was
a novelty he*d never done that. .
' It is the man who has no right), who generally comforts the woman
who has wrongs ' This is also light darlint isnt it 7 as t Jungs are, but
darlint, its not always going to be is it? You will have the right soon
wont you? Say Yes.
The * husband and dance partners ' article also amused me, especially as
things are I think I told you about him wanting to learn
Last Tuesday when Avis came acioss he asked her to teach him and
she is coming across next Tuesday to give him his first lesson He wanted
me to teach him, but I said I hadnt the patience, my days of dragging
round beginners were over. Of course this conversation led to us discussing
dancing rather a lot and we talked about the nonstop We wore talking
of going as a set with our own partners and Avis detailed them all until she
came to me and hesitated so I filled m the gap by saying ' Bill/ I felt
166
Appendix I.
like telling him who it really was and perhaps had Avis not been there I
should have done, but I didnt want to endure any more scenes especially
in front of her You will find the photos with this letter, I havent looked at
them and I hope they are so lotten you'll send them all back Is it horrid
of me to feel like this 7 I suppose it is, but darhnt I want bucking up
today Ive made a bruise on each side of my left wrist, with my right
thumb and finger, but it doesnt do any good, it doesnt feel like you.
We went to Stamford Hill to dinner on Sunday and had a very good
time, and were given an invitation to dinner on January 7th to Highbury
We accepted but all the time I was wishing and hoping (probably against
hope) that circumstances would not allow me to go, do you understand 7 but
I suppose I shall go
The last 2 Fiidays I have been to the Waldorf and on the first occasion
it was very foggy all the trains were lato, so had a taxi right to the
avenue and got to Mother's at 10 20. He wasnt coming for me so I didnt
matter much but I expect tlioy wonder what I do I have promised to go
to the ' Cafe Marguerite ' to dinner tonight Can you guess with whom?
God knows why I said Id go, I dont want to a bit especially with him,
but it will help to pass some time away, it goes slowly enough in all con-
science I dont seem to care who spends the money, as long as il helps
me to dance through the hours I had the wiong Porridge today, but I
dont suppose it will matter, I dont &cem to cave much eithei way You'll
probably say I'm careless and I admit I am, but I dont care do you? I
gave way this week (to him 1 me*in,) its the fust time since you have been
gone. Why do I tell you this' I dont really know myself, I didnt when
you were away before, but it seems different this time, then I was looking
f 01 ward but now well I can only go from day to day and week to week
until Jan 7th then thoughts and n,ll things stop How have you got on
with ' The Guarded Flame ' I expect by now you have it interesting . I
have persevered with ' Felix ' and have nearly finished it Its weird
horrible and filthy yet I am very interested You'll have to road it after
I have finished I believe if I read this letter through before I scaled it
you'd not receive it darlmt, I feel that Id tear it up, it doesn't seem to me
that Ive been talking to you at all just writing to you, but I feel like
that today, and I know its rotten because you get this letter for Xmas
and it wont be a very nice present will it darlmt,, but its the best I can do.
Perhaps I'll leave this letter open and see how I feel by Wednesday, the
last day for posting it
Darlmt, Monday I reed greetings from you and a note ' I cant write
to you ' and Ivo been expecting to talk to you for a long time I wanted to
I wanted you to cheer mo up I feel awful but I know dailmt if you cant
well you cant that's all to be said about it, but I always feel I cant talk
to you when I start, but 1 just say to myself he's here with me, looking
at me and listening to what I am saying and it seems to help darlint,
couldnt you try and do this, I feel awfully sad and lonely and think how
much you would be cheering me up but peihaps you'll think I'm selfish
about it all and I suppose I am, but remember when you are thinking badly
or hardly of me your letteis are the only thing I have in the world and
darlint, I havnt even all those
We had was it a row anyway a very heated argument again last
night (Sunday). It started through the usual source, I resisted and he
167
By waters and Thompson.
wanted to know why since you wont m August I was different ' had I
transferred my affections from him to you ' Darlmt its a great temptation
to say * Yes ' but I did not He said wo wero cunning, the pair of us
and lots of other things that I forgot, also that I told lies about not knowing
you were coming on that S.it. He said ' Has he wntton to you since ho
has been away,' and when I said ' No ' he said ' That's another lie ' Oi
course he cant know for certain, but he surmises you do and Im afraid
he'll ring up and ask them to stop anything that comes for me so I must
get Jim on my side You know darlmt I am beginning to think I have
gone wrong in the way I manage this affair I think perhaps it would have
been better had I acquiesced m everything he said and did or wanted to do
At least it would have disarmed any suspicion ho might havo and that would
have been better if we have to use drastic measures daihnt understand *
Anyway so much for him 111 talk about someone oL e. Havo you guessed
with whom I went to the Cafo Margueiito* If not you \ull by the follow-
ing ' Isnt your sister jealous of you '
Me My "aster why should she bo ?
He It seoms to mo you {,ee moiO of her fianco than &ho does herself.
Me Hows that and what do you know about it anyway
He Well I saw you going down Ilford LCiJl the other evening and he
was holding your arm did you go to a dance together.
Mo Oh shut up and talk about son-iothm^ oli<e
But darlmt ho wouldn't ho kept on coming b:ck to you and I'd gone
there to forget and instead of forgetting 1 wns remembering all the time.
I went to lunch with Mr Bunago today. At the next table 2 girls
were di&cussmg Mcmwqs Oh a jolly finp plnco I think Good food, a nice
band, and plenty to drink The other one Yet* I like the placo very much
but my boy wonldnt bo scon inside it It reminded mo of you with a glass
of bass was it? and Avis with a glass of water
Goodbye for now darlmt, I'U try and be moio cheerful when I write to
Marseilles. You say ' Dont worry 'just dance If I only could.
Exhibit 13.
Envelope Mr F. Bywaters, P.O EM.S. "JMorea," Plymouth
[Postmark London, 3 Jan 22.]
Darliiit, I've felt the beastliest most selfish little wretch that is alive.
Here have I been slating you all this trip for not talking to me and I get
all those letters from Marseilles darlmt, I love them and don't take any
notice of me, I know I am selfish and you ought to know by now, I told
you haven't I ? heaps of times Now what have I got to talk to you about,
heaps of things I believe but the most important thing is, that I love
you and am feeling so happy that you are coming back to England, even
tho perhaps T am not going to soo you you know best about that darlint,
and I am going to leave everything to you only I would like to help you,
can't I Of course he knows you are due in on the 7th and will be very
suspicious of mo from then, so I suppose I won't bo ablo to see you will
1? You know darlint, don't have the slightest worrying thoughts about
letters as " to be careful I've been cruel " to myself I mean.
168
Appendix I.
Immediately I have received a second letter, I have destroyed the first
and when I got the third I destroyed the second and so on, now the only
one I have is the " Dear Edie " one written to 41, which I am going to
keep It may be useful, who knows ? By the way I had a New Year's
card, addressed to me only from " Osborne House, Shankhn,"
About the 15th darlmt, which will be the 14th us that is the Sat : I am
going as far as I know, I have to book the seals this week
Darhnt, I've suriendered to him unconditionally now do you under-
stand mo? I think it the best way to disarm any suspicion, in fact he has
several times asked me if I am happy now and I've said " Yes quite " but
you know that's not the truth, dont you
About the photos darhnt, I have not seen them, so I don't understand
about " waiting for you " please tlestioy all you don't want and when you
come to England, show me what I look like, will you yes, I was glad you
promised for me, darlmt, as I most certainly should liavo refused myself and
I should have hated myself For refusing all the time Darlmt, I never
want to refuse you pnythmg, ite lovely for me to feel like that about you,
I think by this you cau understand how much I 3ove you
The French phraso tlarlmt, if I can lemcmber rightly was *' I cant wait
so long, I want time to i'af.f.ei "
You used iron and I used my heel and its tuch a long time ago, or
seems so, since I asked a question, to winch your " 1 did that " is the answer,
that, I have forgotten what my question was. Yes, dailmt I did wonder
about you and the " dtle " and was auisinj, all to myself quite an aggrieved
feeling against you for not telling mo, but your letter explained. I feel
glad you didn't transfer, dailmt Ive got no hperifl reason lor feeling
glad but I am About tho fortune toller you hi wo never mentioned
" March " before darlmt, you've said " Early in the Now Year," aro you
gradually sliding up the year to keep my spirits up 7 darlmt, I hope not
I'd sooner bo sad for evei and know tho truth, tlitin have that expectant
feelmoj of buoyancy for a myth
Darlmt 111 do and say all and everything you tell me to, about friend,
only remember not to do anything that will leave mo behind by niynelf*
About the SlewarrlcsH, Im glad you went to the cabin with her, what
is it I feel and think about you ? I have mniton?, to lean on if I need
anyone, and she had too darlmt, ha-d'nt sho ? someone to lean on mul help
her, evon against her own inclinations
I know I am right* Darlmt, I didnt think it fair about the fight altho
most people are disgusted with boxing (\voinen 1 mean) I always triad to
look upon it as something strong and bi<^ i,ml when you told me about
that I thought If amateurs e\en do that sort of thing, then professionals
must and I folt disappointed.
Thanking you for those greetings darhnt, but you wont always be
" The man with no right " will you tell me you wont shout afc memake
mo hear and behove darlint, about that " Do you " I believe- I JeJt about
the worst I have ever folt when thnt. happened 1 Hunk wlion I noticed wlmt
I had done 1 had a conscience prick arid felt " I dont caro what happens
and I dont suppose he does really " but you would caro wouldnt you darhnt?
tell me yes, if I ically thought you wonldnt durlinl I shouldut want to die,
I just want to go mad
* I have no explanation to oflVr of this Meiitmeo - Kd.
169
By waters and Thompson.
Why have you never told me what you thought of your own photos
darhnt, you are a bad had correspondent really darlmt I absolutely lefuse
to talk to you at all next trip, if you dont mend your ways Darlmt, are
you frightened at this just laugh at me
I think you misunderstand me when you think I thought you weie cioss
with rne for going out No, darlmt, I didnt think you were cross for that,
but cross becaube something happened or might have happened to me, thdt
would happen to any girl who took the risks I take sometimes
Yes, I enjoyed John Chilcote ever so much, I admire the force in the
man that made him tackle such a position against such odds
The man Lacosta in the " Trail of 98," I didnt give a thought to, ho
was so vile I didnt think of him at all, and Id lather not now darlmt
I urn reading a book that I think ^ou will like daihnt " The Common
Law " by R W Chambers We were at 231 for the coming of the New
Year dailmt I wondered if you wore wondering the same as I What
will the Now Year give to two halvefa to you and I Last night 23 J. all
came ovei to mo and did not go until gone 1 and then I had the clearing up
to do and consequently am feeling a bit tired today
If I only had you here to put my head on your shoulder and just sleep
and dream and forgot Darlmt come to me soon, I want you so badly
more and more.
Your cable has just come in, thank you dailmb and I think you might
get to Plymouth earlier than expected, so am wishing this off.
Goodbye and good luck darlmt from
I feel quite big, being a member of the Morea darlmt
Exhibit 15
Envelope Mr. F. Bywators, P & U M S. '" Moron," Aden
[Postmark London, 10th Feb 22, 2 30 p m.]
Darlmt You must do something this time I'm not really im-
patient but opportunities come and go by they have to because I'm
helpless and I think and think and tlank perhaps it will never come
again.
I want to toll you about this On Wednesday wo hud words in bed
Oh you know darlmt over that same old subject and ho said it was
all through you I'd altoiod,
I told him if he over a#nn blamed you to me for any difference there
might bo in mo, I'd leave the house that minute and this is not an idle
thre.tt.
Ho said lots of other things arid 1 bit my lip so thdt I shouldn't
answer eventually went to sleep About 2 am. he woke me up and
asked for wator as he felt ill I got it for him and asked him what the
matter was and this is what he told me whether its tho truth I dont
know or whether he clid it to fnejhtcn mo, anyway it didnt lie said
someone he knows in town (not the roan I previously told you about) had
given him a proscription for a draught for insomnia and he'd had it made
up and taken it and it made him ill. Ho certainly lookod ill and his eyes
170
Appendix L
were glassy. I've hunted for the said prescription everywhere and cant
find it and asked him what he had done with it and he said the chemist
kept it
I told Avis about the incident only I told her as if it frightened and
worried me as I thought perhaps it might be useful at some future time
that I had told somebody
What do you think, darhnt His sister Maggie came in last night
and he told her, so now there are two witnesses, altho' I wish he hadn't
told her but left me to do it
It would be so easy darhnt if I had things 1 do hope I shall
How about cigarettes 7
Have enclosed cuttings of Dr Walhs's case It might prove interesting
darlmt, I want to have you only I love you so much try and help me PEIDI
Exhibit 15a.
Extract from Daily Sketch, 9th February, 1922, page 2, column 1.
With headnote.
" Cm ale's Household of Three
" Mystery of his Death still unsolved.
"Wife and Doctor
" Woman asked to leave the Court during man's evidence.' 1
" Death from hyoscine poisoning, but how it was administered there-
is not sufficient evidence to show."
This was the verdict last night at an Inquest at Lingfield after remark-
able evidence and searching cross-examination
The three pimcipal figures in the case arc
The Rev Hoi ace George Holding (39), curate of Lmgfiold (Surrey) Parish
Church, found dead on his bed in his dressing-gown ofl January 4 Described
by parishioners as " Happy, jovial, one of the best of good fellows, and a
regular sport "
Mrs Bolding, about 35, the widow, who was in London with the only
child, a boy, at Ihe time of her husband's death.
Dr. Preston Walhs, a ship's surgeon, who, separated from his wife,
had stayed some time with the Holdings, and who was called to the bedroom
and found the curate dead
On page 15, column 3, the report is concluded with the following head-
note :
" Helping the Doctor.
" Why Curate's wife- often went about in hi Chair
"Practice that dwindled "
171
By waters and Thompson.
Exhibit 15b.
Extract from Datly Sfatth, 8Lh February, 1922, page 2, column 1
With headnote
"Poisoned Curate
" Besomed Inquest to-day following Analyst's Investigation "
Then follows a short paragraph referring to the inquest on Mr Boldmg
io be held on the 8th February, and referred to in Exhibit 15a.
15c
Extract from Sunday Pictorial, 5th February, 1922, page 2, column. 1.
With headnote
" Poison Chocolates for University Chief
"Deadly Powder posted to Oxfoid Chancellor
" Ground Glass m Box
" Scotland Yard called m to probe * Serious Outrage * "
Then follows a paragraph dealing with chocolates sent anonymously to
Dr. Farnell, the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, which wore 07fimmed
by an analyst, resulting m the discovery that sonic of the sweets had been
borod underneath and filled with giound glass and what is believed to be
an insidious form of Indian poison
Exhibit 15d
Extract from The Daily Mirror, 6th February, 1922, page 3, column 4.
With heddnole
" University Mystery of Poisoned Sweets
" Oxford Vice-Chancellor on Deadly Gift
"Postmark Clue
" Powder containing Indian Drug in Police hands.'*
Here follow somo details which refer to the same matter as is reported
on Exhibit 15c.
Exhibit 16
Envelope Mr, F By waters, T & R.MS. " Morea,'* -Port Raid.
iPoHtmavk London, February 22, 1922, 5 p.m.]
Darlint, I've betiu beastly ill again this week only with a cold tho, but
it wafr a pretty rotten one, pains all over me I caught it from him, I asked
1752
Appendix I.
him when he had his if he would sleep in the little room and he said " No,
you never catch my colds, I always catch yours " so wo remained as we
were and I caught it badly
Darlmt ui a hundred years you'd never guess what happened on Sunday
I'll tell you, but you mustn't laugh I WTJ given my breakfast in bed, I
think he was feeling soriy about not sleeping alone when I asked him, so
did that
Darhngest boy, it is four whole weeks today since you went and there is
still another four more to go I wish 1 could go to sleep for all that time and
wake up just in time to dress and sit by the fire, -waiting for you to come
in on March 18, I dont think Id coire to meet you darlmt it always seems
so ordinary and casual for mo to see you after such a long time in the
street, I shall always want you to come straight to our home and take me
in both your arms and hold me for hours and you can't do that in the
street or a station win you dnrlint I think Bill is> leaving Bombay today I
wonder if you have played any matches and I wonder and want to know
eo much who has won
Darlmt, did anything happen 111 Bombay or did any kind of con-
versation happen whatever referring to mo at all. I felt terribly lonely all
tJno week, darlin/, a kind of " dont care, cant bother to fight " sort of
a feeling.
Im just waiting for a gorgeous long letter fiom you when will it come,
I suppose not for a long time yet, I do ,so want you to talk to me today, I
keep on looking at you to make you talk, but no words & not even thoughts
will come
I am looking now darlmt, hard at you and I can hear you tay " dont
worry Chore " to Peidi.
Darhnt, pleased, happy, hopeful and yet sorry thats how I feel, can
you understand? Sony tliaf. Tvc got to remain inactive for more than
another whole month, and I had thought by that time I should be seeing
you for just as long and every tune you wanted me However, for that
glorious state of existence I suppose we must wait for another three or four
months Darlmt, 1 am glad you succeeded Oh so glad I cant explain,
when your note came I didxi't know how to work at all all I kept thinkhg
of was your success and my ultimate success 1 hope.
I suppose it isnt possible for you to send it to me not at all possible,
I do so chafe at wasting time darlmt He Lad a cold last week and didnt
go in, but came up to meet me about 5 Of course I didnt know he was
coming and it was funny our Monkey was on my desk which must have
been and Im confident was noticed
Mies Prior told him we had not worked after 5 since last year and
he mentioned this to mo as muoh as to say *' How do you account for
saying you worked late some weeks ago " I didnt offer any explanations.
On the evening that I told you we had words about you he asked
me for your address which I gave him and which lie wrote in his note
book, he also asked mo what had happened to the Xnuis greeting letter
you sent and when I said I kept it he said " Why, you never do keep
letters from people " so 1 answered " I kept it for bravado, 1 knew youd
miss it and know I had kept it nnd one of these days ask me for it."
He also caid '* Have you anything whatever belonging to him any-
thing mind you " (I knew he meant our monkey) " I have nothing what-
ever belonging to him " I said darlmt it wasn't a lie was it, because the-
173
Bywaters and Thompson.
monkey belongs to us doesn't it and aot to you or to me, and if it was a
lie I dont care, I'd tell heaps and heaps and heaps to help you even tho
I know you don't like them
Darlmt that reminds me you said in one of your letters " It was a he
and Peidi I hate them/' abort something I had or had not told you and
I forget which, but I am suro I told it to help us both
That hurt ever such a lot when I read it darlmt, it hurts so much
that I couldn't talk to you about it fit the time
Darlmt, do you think I like telling them, do you think I don't hate it,
daiimt I do hate this life I lead hate the lies hate everything and I tell
fio many thais what hurts it hits home so hard if only I could make an
absolutely clean fresh start it would all be so different Id be so different
too daiimt and we're going to start a new fresh clean life together soon
cUrlmt, arent we tell me we are, toll me you aie confident positive we are,
I want telling all the time to make me hope on
Darlmgest boy, this thing that I am going to do for both of us will
it ever at all, make any r.ifferenoe between us, darlmt, do you understand
what I mean Will you ever think any the less of me not now, I know
darlmt but later on poihaps some years hence do you think you will
feel any different because of Lhis thing that I shall do
Darlmtr if I thought you would Id not do it, no not even so that we
could be happy for one day even one hour, Im not hesitating darlmt through
fear of any consequences of the action, dont think that but I'd sooner go
on in the old way for years and years and years and retain your love and
respect. I would like you to write to me diirlmt and talk to me about
this
Exhibit 20
EnvelopeMr. F. Bywatets, 1> & B M 8. " Korea," Plymouth
[PobLmark London, E.G., 14 Mar. 1922,]
Don't yon think this is funny darlmt ? Mr. Lester, the old man, is
failing fast, and hardly knows anyone now
He doesn't know me Avis was over to tea tho other day, and was
toasting s-omc Sally Lnris in front of their fire, and he said to her " I don't
know who tho lady of this house is, but she is a beautiful woman, and such
a good woman to her husband " I don't know whothei I feel honoured or
otherwise
11 > is moving to new offices in Eastchrap next week, and henceiOcjard
will use Fcnchinch Street Station More bad luck darlmt, wo never seeltrx
to have any good, do wo ? I've got 10/- each way on a horse to-day, it's
supposed to be a coit, but I don't ovpect it will win, bocauHe I've backed it.
Before I forget can you let me know about what tiino yon will urn vet in
London on 18th Wo are going to a party at Mrs Ihrna^es on that day,
and if you wore in early I might squeeze an hour to be with you.
On Sunday tho 19th wo and Avis wo going to Stamford IlilJ to dinner
we shall arrive at I/pool St at 12.22 and catch tho 1037 or 11.7 p.m
back from Liverpool St. it night Dailmgest boy, when you do got to
London if I don't soo you until you want to $00 we you won't do as you
did before, will you? please, pour znoi. We'll want all the spare money you
17 1
Appendix I.
have to "celebrate" at least I'm hoping we will. You're not going to
do anything this time, without me are you? You can't Imagine how I'm
looking forward to . the first time we not, quarrel, hut are cross with one
another then ' the making up.'
You are going to love me always aren't you even when you're cross
with me, and when you are I'll ruffle all your hair lots of times until you
have to melt and smile at me then you'll take me in both your arms and
hold me so tight I can't breathe, and kiss me all over until I have to say
t( Stop, stop at once."
Why do you say to me " Never run away, face things and argue and
beat everybody," Do I ever run away? Have I ever run away? and do
you think I should be likely to now? That's twice this trip, something
you have said has hurt. You will have to kiss all that hurt away 'cos it
does really hurt it's not sham darlint.
I'm not going to talk to you any more I can't and I don't think I've
shirked have I? except darlint to ask you again to think out all the plans
and methods for me and wait and wait so anxiously now for the time when
we'll be with each other even tho' it's only once for " one little hour "
our kind of hour, not the song kind.
and Just to tell you
(PEIBI) Loves you always.
Since finishing my letter to you I have a confession to make.
To-day I've been into the liolborn Restaurant no don't be cross dar-
Hnt, not to lunch
I got off the 'Bus at Southampton .Bow to go and pay the piano account
and ran into Mr. Derry outside the Holboro. Best. Do you know whom I
mean? The *' White Horse " man.
He wanted me very much to have lunch with him there, and I only got
out of doing so by saying I had mine. However I consented to go into the
buffet with him and had a guinness with a port in it, and two ports after-
wards so with nothing to eat since 9 p.m. last night you may guess how I
felt when I got back here, oh I forgot to say I had a Ib. of French almonds
as well he knows from previous experience that I don't like chocolates.
You're not cross are you darlint? No, yon xnusn't be, not with Peidi.
A note from you this morning darlint, it bucked rne up ever so, I
can't say for certain that I shall be at 168 any time after 5.30. It depends
on how busy we are. If you wire me '* Yes " I will go to Fenchurch Street
and wait until you come. If you wire " No " I'll wait until I hear further
from you perhaps you could 'phone me Bill got home at 3 p.m. perhaps
you will too I'm impatient now if only I could shut my eyes and then
open them, and find it was Friday night.
I have sent off to you to-day two parcels one small and ^ne large per
pels, post, Let me know if you receive them, I wasn't expecting you to
get in early or 1 could have posted them, a day before.
Oh darlint, even the looking forward hurts- does it you? every time I
think of Friday ' and onwards my inside k^eps turning over and over
all my nerves seems like wires 'continually quivering.
175
By waters and Thompson.
The " non-stop " for Thursday is off Thank God or anybody Reg
has ^one to Derbyshire and Avis's partner is down with the 'flu, 1 am
glad even so at any rate I slum't be tired to death when I soe you all
Wednesday all Thursday and all Friday and then The Fates our luck
will decide
Remember how I've been looking forward and when you remember
you'll be able to wait just a little longer, eh darlint?
This is Friday and on Monday I'm expecting a huge mail from you
you'll have hid all my letters and if you are not able to talk to mo
darlmt, at least you'll be able to answer all my questions now just keep
up to scratch or I'll be cross, no I won't, I don't think I could be somehow
*' ci-oss " wouldn't be tho right word ib would moie often be " hurt "
Whon we were at Mrs Manning's her sister asked him to go over there
the following Sat. and when &he asked me I hesitated, so she said I've
already asked Peicy, and he said " Yes," so of course I did I've mentioned
this to him in front of all at 231, and he didn't question it, but a few days
later said " he wasn't going " he wouldn't havo me making arrangements to
go anywheie without first consulting him, and obtaining his consent The
nest morning I sent Beatty a card saying it was impossible to keep our
promise to see her on Sat In the afternoon I went home and had a general
clean up everywhere The sun was shining in the windows beautifully
it was a typically English spimg day and I did &o want to bo in the park
with you darlmt He didn't come home till 5 30 p m darlmt I do hope
you don't mind me relating to you all these trivial little incidents that
happen I always feel I wanted to talk to you about them
Gordon was staying m Ilford last week end, and was on my tiain
oil Monday morning His greeting was " I never got that cigarette case-
you promised me at Xmas "and my reply was c< I did not have a new one
then, and haven't still but when I do you shall have tho blue one " I
have heard darlmt that the Stoll film Syndicate have secured the rights to
show " Way down East " in Suburbia so we may be able to see it together
after all We're going to Bessie's to dinner this Sunday and then follows
Monday, when I shall hear from you, such a big budget I hope. I'll write
again after the week end darlmt
Au Revoir
PEIDI.
I saw Bill on Friday darlmt He looks very thin I think m the face.
Bombay and you were not mentioned at allthat horse I backed lost of
course. Will you tell me how many letters you have got at Marseilles.
Wod. the last day for posting WPS fearful here gales and snow storms,
and I believe the next day no Channel boats ran at all I hope nothing
wont astray I wrote tliree letters and one greeting, posted separately
Enclosed are some cuttings that may bo interesting I think the " red
hair " one is true m parts you tell me which parts darlmt Tho Kempton
cutting may be interesting if it's to be the same method Altho* it's Monday
darlmt, the mail from Marseilles is not yet m, I'm expecting it every
moment, I wish it would hurry up and come I will put this away now until
you have talked to mo, and then I will be able to talk to you for another
long time.
170
Appendix I.
The mail came in 12 noon, and I thought I would be able to talk to you
after. 'then^-but I don't think I can. Will you do all the thinking and
planning for me darlint for this thing be ready with every little detail
when I see yon because' you know more about this thing than I, and I am
relying on you for all plans and instructions only just the act I'm not. Pm
wanting that man to lean on now darlint, and I shall lean hard so be
prepared.
In this case I shan't be able to rely wholly on myself, and I know you
won't fail me. I can't remember if I only sent one letter to Port Said, if it
was a very long one perhaps there only was one, but even if there wasn't
it doesn't matter much, does it? There would be no identification marks in it
either for you. or me, and the loss of one letter seems such a small thing
when you and I are looking forward to such big things darlint, this time!
Yes! . About " The Slave." I didn't know what to make of that girl yes
I think she is possible perhaps and apart from being happy with her body
he was quite happy seeing her with those jewels. They were 2 similar
natures -what pleased him pleased her not English at all, either of them.
She stooped low to get back that Emerald but darlint wouldn't all of us
stoop low to regain something we have loved and lost. I know hers was
without life, but that was because she had never lived herself and she
didn't live did she? not in the world as we know living she just existed
in her casket of *' live things," as she knew them. I don't know if you will
understand this, it seems a bit of a rigmarole even to me. I asked you
in one of my letters it seems ages ago, whether 1 should send you a book
to Norwood, or keep it for you you never told me. .-When you read my
letters do you make a mental note of all the questions I ask >ou. I <!o*rt
think you -do, because I seem to have asked you heaps and heaps of things
that you never mention. Darlingest boy, when you get my letters and have
read them are you satisfied? Do you feel that I come up to all your
expectations? Do I write enough? Just don't forget to answer this and
also don't forget I won't, I won't, I won't let you bully me,
Why not go to 231 darlint, I think you ought to go as usual, it would be
suspicious later if you stopped away without a reason known to them and
there is not a reason is there ? You haven't fallen out with Bill have you ?
What about Dr. Walis's case . . you said it was interesting but you
didn't discuss it with me. Darlint, about making money yes we must
somehow, and what does it matter how when, we have accomplished that
one thing we are going to live entirely for ourselves and riot study any
one except ourselves? Of course I'd not like to sacrifice any one that has
been or ever still is dear to me but I've no other scruples darlint except
actually robbing my own flesh and blood and perhaps on or two persons
that are even dearer to me than my own flesh and blood. Yes. It must be
done we must get up high darlint not sink lower or even stop where we
are I'd like to see you at the top feel that I'd helped you there perhaps
darlint in my heart right deep down I don't want to stop in a hat shop
always -if things are different. If they were to remain as they are now-~r-
ye I should it takes me out of myself but when we are together -I'll
never want to be taken out of myself because myself will be you as well
and we can't ever be parted can we ? If we have to be in person we shan't
be in mind and thought. About that flat I'm afraid its going to, be
difficult to get one tmfumished~~they ,all seem to be furnished I've been
looking for a long time now*, Darlint could I get a furnished one at " first
'
By waters and Thompson.
until you come home noxl time and look for an nnfuinished ono in the mean-
time. I don't want to fuinish it all by myself 1 want >ou to be with me,
everything wo <lo must be together in future and you seo diirlmt it \ould
have in it everything I like and perhaps lots of things you don't like TJut
musn't be If I want something I like and you don't then ior that one
thing . . you must have something that you like and I clou 'I This is
right, isn't it? It must always be " give and tnko " beUceu us, no mis-
understandings about trivial things darlmt plain words perhaps hard ones
hut nevertheless plain ones they're always the easiest 1o light stud then
we're pals again
(Part of letter apparently naisbing here continue^! not over the object
" jewels " but over other things . take for instance Ambition Kioci.il
and otherwise Yes, I can imagine her real but Aubrey I could shake
him no go no initiative of Ins own just standing and looking on til other
people calmly taking what could have been his, away in front of his eyea
oh nn asr, nothing more I agree with you over Amoau lie could have
had her with jewelsrbut ho didn't read her quick enough when Lo did,
it was too late I think Sir Reuben you &eem hard on him Xor his spite
on Gary 11 over his first wife but I suppose its natural duvlint 1 suppose
all of us right down deep would like to hurt someone when we have been
hint.
Exhibit 20a
Extract from Tho Dutty Mail, 10th Mdrch, 1922, page 7, column 7
With headnote
"Girl's Death Riddle.
" Tales of London Night Life
" Beautiful Dancer Drugged.
" Visit to a Chinese Restaurant "
Then follows a report of the inquest held on the 9th of March in the
course of which Mr Oswald, the West London Coroner, addressing the
jury on the opening of the inquest oaid, that it was suspected Miss Kempton
died from cocaine poisoning, and he had been also told there was a suspicion
of cyanide of potassium
The inquiry was adjourned till 17th April for an examination of the
ronteiits of the stomach to be made by Dr. Spilsbury
Exhibit 50.
Darlingest Boy, This will be the last letter to England I do wish it
wasn't, I wish you were never going away any more, never going to leave
meI want you always to be with me
Darlint, about the doubt no I've never really doubted but I do like
to hear you reassure me ... I like you to write it . . so that I can
see it in black and white and I always want you to say, " Please do believe
darliot that I don't -really doubt ... its just a vain feeling I have
io hear you say things to me . nice things things that you mean
178
Appendix I.
. which most people don't 1 wonder i you understand Ihe Seeling
perhaps you don't but 1 rlway& say and think , nd Relieve nobody on this
earth is sincere . except i/ic one uari tJic o-i<- \ 1*0 i^ run"
Pride of possession ib a nice f tiding oon't yoa thiiik dsirlint Mion, it
exists between you and mo.
I sent you the books darlint, ail I fell neri v.oxtli vending ... I
hope you'll thmk of mo when you're reading tLem and 1 hope >ou'll talk lo
mo about them.
After tonight I am gums to die not i'<Mlly kill put on the
mask again dtuhnt unlil the 26th M.Mydocvri't il neeni ye,'i\ .iml year**
away'' It does to me id I'll hopu and hope all the tiiiw im 1 ^ Hi ii-Air
have to wear tho mask any more a ft or tbib usi'e Will you hope aril v.5*h
and wish too dailint pour moi
This tuiio rotilly will bo tho u, t you v/ilJ -jjo wy . . like thii^ti :HV,
won't it 7 Wo said it bofoio dailrit I know t nd \\o failed . bri thorn
wiU bo no failure Lhib next lime (laliiiL, tlu i re luu^tnU be . . I'hi lolling
you . . ii tilings arts tho H.iiie a#in tilth -'ia goin4 vith you .
wherever it is . . if its to fit v a I'm cuimt^ too ;ind ti n. f.o
nowhereI'm aluo coining darlinL You'll n^ver luivo me behind u^am,
ncvtr, uuleas tilings arc different
I've sealed up your cnvc'Iopas aud pui* them avay f <lid not 1'Mik at
them except at a fimall blip of pnp<ir I found in one of the ^ninll pm'kut:;.
I did read that -and then put it with tln^ other. did you know if WUM
thoro darlmt it w,is j^bout a oh.'isc a paporohcUf 1 think ianl a roijuut
not to bo wakened early.
I'm bojjinuuifj to think I'm rallur silly In have jirtlcd you fr lli*m
because you do Jove me- -I know thal-Oo you think I .mi wily*
1 slepl. on your letter last nitfht dailirtb urw>|uwd I had IM> rlifii(M to
road it but got up -it r]ii.i,rU>r to /-it thin morning *<> tlo W). I).irhnt you
can't imagine what a plcaMjrc il. is for um to mt<i Hmirlhmg ihrit you have
written. 1 ca.n't dcM-nlx^ n, Laii nt^ht dailiut 1 di'hft thiuk of you
(Ijccauso you otu;e told mo n</t to) but I hope >iu vvt-ji* thinking of nic,
Its much luudiT to bear when you're in Kii^lund Lh.m when you'i-o .iwriy.
This must bo au revou* now d.trhnf/ in tho iU'.'li tit all cvrulH not in tho
spirit Eh ! Wo are never apart in that
Hore'ti Luck to you in uvt'iy thing I't.peeiaily 111 t!u> )hitt^
two halves -one oi whom if!
1 always do and alwiyw will lovo you uh.it ever
JBxhibit 17
Envelope - Mr. K DywAiorn, 1*. & U.M.H " Morwu" H<mihy.
[Pobliiuirk -London, K.(J M I Apl M M, .;-50 pm.)
I beliovo I iiiMiflicivntly Hl.'irnped the fiwb Afarwiilli* letter J tient. if \
did darlint I over *n sorry. 1 halo dohi|{ nnyt/lnng Hkf^ that. You know
dont you.
1 think Thurndny wsm tho womb day uud ni;;ht I ever remember. All
day Jong F waH thinking of tho pi'ovioun Thursday, ami c.oiiti'i^iiifi^ my
foclingu, one day with tho other * tho fouling of inten;^ ;e,Ufment and
17U
By waters and Thompson.
those of deep depression, and then when night came it was worse it was
awful. I was fighting all night long to keep your thoughts with mo darlint
I felt all the tune that you were not with me didnt want to bo Just
had withdrawn yourself, and try as I would I couldn't bring you back
Darlint, tell me what was happening on Thursday 1 cried and cvicd and
cried, until I eventually went to sleep, but 1 had heard the cluck strike five
before I did so, and then Friday morning 1 saw your sister and she just gave
me one of those looks that are supposed to wither some people and then I
felt that the whole world was up against me and it wasn't rciilly much
good living Still, that fit of depression IB on me and I cant shako it off
Perhaps on Monday when the mail is in I shall feel bucked up a bit ; also
I got your complaint badly since Thursday all my teeth ache and my head
and neck Is yours better now darlint 7 I hope it is Lily had a dream
the other day that the Birnagos came to 168 to warn me that ho was going
to murder me as he had found out I had been away from homo for a night
with a fair man (her expression).
Sho didnt know auy more than this as she woke up On Wednesday
I met Harry Renton and he told me he was giving up him flat and going to
live at Woodford did I know any one that wanted it
Darlint it is just the thing we wanted I do wish 1 had boon able 1o
take it just three rooms unfurnished 35s. per week including electric light,
in Moscow Court, Kensington. Its a very nice one I practically chose it for
him myself two years ago That boy's fearfully ill really The Doctor
has ordered him to live in the country else consumption through his shoulder
wound, will take hold of him We went to lunch at " Manchester," but I
only had one hour darlint, and a wretched man sat near me who abso-
lutely reeked of scent It was overpowering I can understand a woman
using such -a lot, but a man oh ' its beastly To-day I'm going homo to
entertain Dad He is coming to dinner and to help him with a job after
and Mother and Avis are coming up to tea Darlint, this writing is awful
I know I hope you will understand it I know you'll under Bland me, and
how I'm feelmg Ive goc to get thro that weekend again.
Au revoir until Monday darlint I wish you could say *' I love you
chene "
Thank you 20 tunes darlint the mail is in and I've got such a budget.
I wish we weren't quite so busy Its Easter week and usually the busie&t
week in all the year and it seems as ii its going to live past its reputation
this year
Before 1 talk to you about your letters darlint, I want to say one or
two things that I forgot last week, When Avis came over on Wed. although
it was 11-30 before she went he insisted on seeing her to the tram and
when I offered to come with him he was most emphatic in his " No." 1
expect he wanted to ask her about you had she seen you? Did she know
if I had etc? I didnt ask her anything about it and she volunteered no
information Also, you remember her telling me you had a diamond ring
on she added " on his engagement finger." I said, Why, is he engaged?
and she said " Probably. He was always knocking about with some girl
or other before he knew me, and now be doesn't see me and he probably
does the same."
I do laugh at some of the things that are said. A thought has just
struck me may I ask you? Yes, of course I may. Darlint, has your
180
Appendix I.
head " turned again to its proper place "? I thought of the expression
"she has absolutely turned your head," and really dailmt I can't possibly
imagine anyone " turning your head " if you didn't want it to be turned
let alone metherefore the only conclusion I have come to is that, if it is
turned, you wanted me to turn it and only I can turn it back again. Bo
yon want it turned back again'
I saw Molly this morning darhnt if you taw her you say at once the
same as you did about the girl in the *' Strand '* Do you romembor?
What is she doing to herself 7 She looked awfull her face and lips arc
rouged terribly and thick black lines pencilled under her eyes and lit**
face is fearfully thin fallen in under the chock buncs Verhapb its working
in the West end She certainly looks years older than her yeai* and I
shouldn't say she was pretty now Oh d.u ( liut 1 do think it is a shame
don't you?
Darlmgest boy, I'm so sorcy you thought 1 \vas silly about those Ihin^M
from Australia dailmt although 3 kn<rv 1 feel I niuI didn't want you
to thmk so but you do and I fool \v oi-.se I fed .small and petty and truly
darhnt I did not want them from any feelings of joalonsy Unit \ mi^hl
entertain
I'm not jealous certainly nut of her dzirlinl--l thought perhap* you
wouldn't givo thorn to me 1 thought you might wy No T won't givo them
to you but I will destroy thorn" add when you did give ihem to rue 1
loved you such a lot mmo arid more and more every turns I though I about
it.
About thai Thnuday had there been ariywheto to stop m Llford-- 1
should have said, "Take mo there, / won't go homo" and you would have
said, "Yea 1 will*' hut darlini before* wo had arrival at, tho Hole], I
should have thonglit about ihhigH and io would you and 1 ran hear you *aj
just when we re,ach tho door " f'oidi, you'ro going homo " pour moi ju-t
this onco dtirlmt and 1 should huvo gone*.
Darlint you'ro not and novor will bo satisfied with half and I doti't
ever want to givo half -ill every ouneo of m<* that lives 1o you.
You say you're sorry for oruft thmg i,hai hapjioncd* YOH ! I suppose
I am in a. way but dariuii, 1 feel I don't do enough. I want to &how yon
how large my love is and when it ifi something you want ami yon do want
it just at that moment don't you -I want to givo it you ~i want to
all my own feolinga for you.
Darhngest boy you said to ino " Hay wo IVidi, ay No M on
didn't you but at that rfty moment yon didn't wish me to *-ay " No *'
did you ? Yon folt you wanted all me in cxc.hangu for all you. I kru.w
this felt this and wouldn't sny *' No " foj' tbat very yoason.
Half an hour afterwards or perhapH even ten minutes aftorwardn you'd
rcaUy have wanted me to nay " No " hut not ai that eHpCiciuH niomont.
Darlini i fool that I never want to withhold anything from you* if
you really want it and one of tlxjHo ilayH you re going to teach mo to give all
and everything quite voluntarily urent you 7 IMeaKo darlint,
Barlitit I do know how much you do love wo- -how much I love, you and
I'm pleased too because its a lot for mo and a lot for you. Its such a lot it
hurts terribly haid fiometiraow just when think and think and hope
without much thought of that hope ever being realised.
181
Bywaters and Thompson.
About the watch I'm so so glad it keeps pood timp and Uiot you always
wear it I always want you togo to sleep on il, darlint, please pom' nioi I
always wear something you gave me now both by day and wt night What
IP it* do you know I svpposo in a way the bfu'be:* wut ri^ht darhnt
lie does know you better than I do ihnt part of you fchat lives on ships-
but I know you the inside part that nobody else .set's- 01* know** and I
dont want them to yet awhile at any rate
I do hope youre feeling better now dai'lmt, in one of you* letter* you
say you have had a tongh fever oh darlint dont go and get ill it will worry
me such a lot because L cjul be with you Do try and not [^ ill |X>ur
nioi dai'hngest bo\
\vhen i market HIP pruc^raph about photos in bVliy, I (wlamly wa&
thinking of my photo dont be cross altho you say you lilro them darlint
I dont really especially that one that I look MO fat in Tear it, up please
To please me and then tell me you have done so. You can keep one
I dont mmd that one &o much but I dont really like it and 1 lull' the other
one Of course by now you will h&ve finished Felix Vou wont like Mrr.
Ismay, although you wiid previously that you thought you would You ateo
say she wants to tell Felix she takes drugs but hasn't the cournjje Lo You
will also have found out by now that tins is wrong That is the l,it thing
on earth she wants to tell anyone
boy no\er mind about the news being Mii-iuuy It is you
talking to me and that is all I want and if it is ordmury it Is inter;. pen*c<i
with little bits that are'nt ordinary that arc for TMO only Hitc'Ii bilH si"
" I love you " always Chere " and " I'm always with you in thought
Chere " that shows darlint that cvt.'i 1 hough you write uboufc ordinary
things you are thinking of extraordinary thingb My letters imst alwnyti
appear ordinary to you in most parts it you think like that, but I have to
toll you everything that happens I fceJ I must. 1 always want to and
those things are always ordinary to inc. Things arc filways th<i wmc- tlio
same old round unless you are in England and thon itw a difi'emif world -
a joyous world that hurts at the same time
You bay you thought you were going to baar nothing from we oxcopt
that first letter, and you felt that is all you deserved Darliut, to mo Much
a thing is never a thought really Whatever I feel about not hearing from
you at any time, I think would never influence me to not write you. All
I think and fcol if I want to and darlint I always want to 1 know I
said once that " I'd nover talk to you again " but darlint you really dont
think I mean it do you because I dont. If I didnt hoar from you for a
whole trip unless you told me not toI should still talk to you and try
to do my sharo il I felt I v anted to
Darhut if you don* deww a thing (and I dont think that will really
over be) you will always know that because you dont deserve it -you will
always got it Does this sound contrary? Mother wasnt cross a bit about
the Cigarettes in fact she laughed it olf as a huge joke and said I had three
yesterday and they didnt hurt me. Yes darlint about tho writer and K 5,
1 did laugh to myself thats why 1 told you but ] dont like laughing by
myself. I want you to be there to laugh with mo.
Just those little jokes all to ourselves
Appendix I.
Yes, you are a bully but wrnietimtr only sometimes I like it.
111 r being told to do thn, by yon I fliilnt Ife you lo bully me about a
ft" toiler tho',
I read iue copy lo yorr MolLcr aid thought when ! vrp* riding it
*' Vi ! v*t { pcde&L, 1 ,!. Jie it* on when h" i 1 * 1 wiitin;? lhir< find I tin tlic only oil'
thai c n feich hn/ down hpt when T cmui 1 to Hie hsfc tv,o fiarn^raphs I
tin* ^i., *'tli', . . i*i/ li'i" I ho boj, I know- -ii'ji lib* the *,hell " 1 in gl.l
you JH, {'toned t * bit
I have returned copy thrnl: yon darnnl TN jjirt th.'t liiirt imftb
\vj',i " that womriii "
I could Lear ihe tone in which it \vas MIJJ! {rl M hurt", nirh u lot -1
luii ix> cry i ? tho I UKM] rfm to ".li> didiiH ^ou i P mo 1.!at 011
Tljuraday? there \vonir; havt boeii Lim' tlicn fo y<ju to L 1 - ?11 t l i it hurt
aw^y <%iid now T *h:,ll retain t iin'il you fin> biul: n^tiri
You didn't Fiuitioi] unytliin^ ,tl>l A. hat J wolf i'c^a^ljp'; you/ fiiBt*"
Why not'
Ooi'lm^i'ul l>^- Jb .slio your Motlicr ony iul^i of ' lu-thfr * Tm uo
good," and iT tlio IK IIPI, jho PPV nphl lo jt'd^i* nu Wl p'li* r jiho or ;IM>-
<mo I knew v.rv ^oocl < l>i(i I ' iiouMn'l j.i'i^ {'rn
Darlmt T love you u'ch loi j lunl lul 1 . ard tin* tmiil to d.iy nitd<' ! nu^i 1
by that mail 1 ki'ov/ ;<MI !o\d JIM* pion 1 -^* f iiMvn* t'r ^ou dn*
It mutt ho uu lovoir urtil Aden iiuv -!< tuu. fi lit'* t v<*j h, *. In w*,l
such a lonf^ time to ti,lk with it hut (Tnrhud i airj ahvayu \ f l!i 5011 \vMidi" 1
iiv; wlifit you ^ro doin JIPU lu'hn^ j,i.! luvi. L* jdii cvt'y nj^.iuU* of aUvft).
'lillM
Oont keep UIIK |IIM.
Alioul Uio Mjirjiipi^nini- rJ you itii'.'iu one Maying Yci, ( No, IJMWUV
I Junt wid it drrhuL I'm nou ^oiu;; to lr> nwy IHOIV until \ou toiru' hnr-1
I undo up my nuini alunit. thh lurt, 'Shuniiluy
if k was tcllui^ his Muther of<\ th tMrruniit.'iii' t f'M />f nn, u % 'iin<l./
ettctipndc " and hu puks .^iiMt ttreiw <>u Uw fact <f tli* tt'.i Ini.fiuit
* aw if MhudJiin^ had been put in if ' In* r.ayn Now i thinl' \\liJ
cvt'f clso I try it in a^.un will still tn^lc hitter IK* will recount' c it and lv
inoro sunpinour r,tiil and if the quontily ia uttl! Tiot muruwful - it will
any chance 1 may l!iv ot tryjti;; \\h^u you <oiii i homo
l>o you understand ''
1 thought a lot about whut you uiid of i'an.
Oarlml, don'L l.ru,-t him I don't muin don't frit him anything
1 LIIOW you never would -\Vhnt I inin is don't !H him hu suHpiciout* of
you regarding that -because if we \vm nuceu'-'ful in the action- d.irlini
circomutancc^ may afterward i niaiu* us want many friondn- or hulporw arid
wo must have* no oneruinH- '* V* I M pe<p{( that know a little too much.
Uomcmbor tbo ayin^, " A littlo knowledge i.< a daii^roun Uiing. M
Darliiit we'll hsivo no rw to hi'lp h in tho world now aud wo
maUt- enemies uiinccosanly.
lit) wayw to h'H jtcoplc he r,,u^hf, ;nid fought with hmiKclf i<
rx>mcipiifi <( I'll never die, fxropf naturally -I'm like A out with itim-
ho BaiU find dutaile<l to them :ni <ic(;isiott whon he was youn^ and nra
auffocatod by ^H funteA.
I wish we had not not oWlrio light- it would be <afiy.
I'm tfoing tx try the tfly.sfi again oi'cji^sionally when it is mtV
got ai? electric light* globe thin time.
iiC
By waters and Thompson.
Exhibit 18
Envelope Mr. F Bywaters, P. & 0. E.M.S " Morea," Aden
[Postmarks London, E C , Apr. 24, 1922, 5.30 p.m ; Aden, 7 May, 1922.]
I think I'll tell you about the holidays darlint just what I did
do you want to know ? or will you say its all ordinary common place talk
I suppose it is- but after I have discussed the ordinary things, I may be
able to really talk to you On Thursday we left at 1 and I went to the
Waldorf to lunch and stayed on until the dance tea I only danced once
a fox trot I don't feel a bit like dancing darlint I think I must be
waiting for you. We left the Waldorf at 6.20 and met Avis at 6 30 and
went with her to buy a costume getting home about 9.
On Friday I worked hard all day starting that " Good Old fashioned
English housewife's occupation of spring cleaning," not because I liked doing
iir or believe in it, but because I had nothing else to do and it helped to
pass the time away. I started about 9-30 and went to wash and dress
about 20 to 6
Dad took us to the E H. Palace to the Sunday League Concert in the
evening and we stopped the night at 231
In return for this I booked for us all at Ilford Hippodrome on Satur-
day The show was good and a girl in nurses uniform appearing with
Tom Edwards sang " He makes me all fussed up "
Of course Avis remarked about you and the song also Molly was sitting
behind us with another girl and a boy is she affected in her conversation?
She was very much on Saturday and I wondered if it was put on for my
special benefit
Avis came back to stay the rest of the holiday with us Bye the way,
we, (she and I) had a cup of tea in bed on Sunday we always do when she is
stopping with us
Mother and Dad came over to me to dinner I had plenty to do. On
Monday Mr. and Mrs Birnage came to tea and we all wont to tho Hippo-
drome m the evening Bye the way what is " Aromatic Tincture of
Opium " Avis drew my attention to a bottle of this sealed in tho medicine
chest in your room.*
I took possession of it and when he missed it and asked mo for it I
refused to give it him he refuses to tell me where he got it and for what
reason he wants it so I shall keep it till I hear from you.
I used the " light bulb " three times but the third time ho found a
piece so I've given it up until you come homo
Do you remember asking me to get a duplicate of something I have
done so now
On Sunday we were arguing about the price of " Cuticura " Avis 10
quite certain when she bought it, not for herself, (her own words) it was
10^, Mother said when ehe bought it for you it was I/- and I said the
same
The remark was passed " you all in turn seemed to have taught it
for him "
I had another mysterious parcel this Easter a large gold foil egg
filled with chocolate about 2 Ibs by the weight still with no word or
Tho loom Bywaters had occupied when he lodged with tta Thompsons. Kd>
184
Appendix L
even a name attached, posted m the City E.C 2. to 168 I suppose it's from
the same source as the Xmas parcel but I haven't and shan't acknowledge
it. What did you think of Edwma's Shoes " *
Darhnt, do you like this term of endearment I shan't tell you why I
ask, but you'll probably notice it one of these days, " Carissima."
Thank you for sending back the time table, ddrlint, but why do yon
think I might want it when you are away you know very well I shant
why did you say that? I understand the wire now but I certainly didn't
read it like that at the time, won't the Tost Office put m a full stop marl.
then*
I had a funny dream the other night. daiiinc you luiU taMm m on 1 ,
somewhere and saw mo home and persisted m coming m.
Eventually you and I slept m your little bed in the morning T woko
earty and went into the big room and found Harold was sleeping wiOt him
you were unbolting the front door in your pyjami to got out quickly when
ho came do-vm the stairs, so you went into Airs Lester's ruoij>. Sho didn't
like it a bit and you thought you bad better mako a clean bn>'ist of it. and
came up to him fund told linn what had hiippunofl Uioivi ..<.) .1 fi'^Ht !
don't remember how it wont in Dad and Wot her were thote with Inm ami
they had been discussing things and wouldn't lot xno slop ihn* I <)ou't
know what became of mv or of you
I've been reading a very very mU'roKlmi; book, darlint, 1 v,,ait you it
read it after rue ii<u <{iv* mo your opinion not jjht ,i fow limss and i,h i n
"Dismissed" bnt >our ronl opinion of (wcry oiut of tiulo in Urn book,
Road and remember it carefully will ymi v pour 11101.
It's called " Tlu> Fruitful Vim* " liy lloboi't lliicliroiii, and it's vory very
nice and the subject is interns! ui^ -not lovely like Hit* "Common Law"
or " The Business of Life " u/'ii loo uwsual for Uml but *' th OIIA Ml fl
in the book would load to hours and hoiira of diKcutiMion <wcu now I havo
finished it I am not. Miro wliothcr hh( du! ri#ht or wron^ and I r;m not
sure which man I really hKorl one man waa calm Mining ,)d 4han- not
sensual at all but Holtish, vwy, swirl Uic* othr was alHr>hi(My
sensual, a IOVIT in every aoiiHO of the word and yH 1 liked him it
liked heaps of Uiirigti about him and crmrioctod with Iiiui-lofH of hit*
speeches actionr.
You must toil mt ovtny tiling ym think about if-, il/n rather lon;^ 500
pages nd thoro aro ,s(jvoral pasfia^os that T have marked noiim / have
quorio*! for you to onswor nthora I have just mark***! bocnusc* thny liavo
struck ww as being mtoroMmg to ua, or to mo, I'm ury anxioun to know
what you think of it, what .shall 1 do wit.h tho booh - worn! it to you?
f think T liavo ncvor found it HO difficult to talk to jou lu-forp all
the timos you have boon away 1 am juht driccJ up waiting to u you an<l
feol you holding mo
It is Friday now and altho 1 had a mail in from you- about 11 M-
1 still don'fc fool like talking darlinfc, I'm not disappointed -not a IiUlo bit-
in fact I'm ploa.sod ovor so plousod -at i.ho difforenco whan I read alJ you
say to mo I fool you are with mejimi* looking at me and tolling m all
those UiiiiKH about yotirmlf and it foul* lovoly diurliulr-no dijfrmii from
before nnd T wonder if iln wun<r to lni or rhjill I liave \Mw from
IH5
By waters and Thompson.
Plymouth saying "I'm not going to answer your questions Peidi and I
don't mind if you are cross about it " Youro not going to say that any
more are you ? darhnt plca.se don't, I said I wouldn't ask again didn't I,
but Tm doing soyou see, I don't mind what you think all I know and
feel is that I love you so much T must go on asking tind asking not.
minding whether my pride is huri> always asking until you consent,
Darlmt do you remember being very proud once? I ioiiie;mbei % and I
gave way first write a,nd toll me if you rui<pi>jber the incident and what
it was
Its not going to happen again tho' ir. il v Mr Garlton said to me fit
11 30 to-day 4 * I have news from your brother for you "-I wasn't thinking
of the mail being in and biid " Plow have you got news* " and he just
gave me your envelope. I thought the reiiuuk rather stiango and can't
quite make out if ho really thought il was from my brother or was bein,^
sarcastic. Yon get into Bombay to-day ju&t 5 more weeks I wish thoyM
fly.
1 had a doctor's bill in ye&terday I took j(* in mjsjU as it happened
so of course 1 kept and shall pay it myself -without Baying it is even in
and then there can be no question oC who's to pay it can thorc
You want me to pay it, don't you darhnt I shall do so
"Why that pa&sage m your last letter The last time wo met, we weio
pals, weren't \\e Chore', why tho quwiioi darlinl if you li.id wanted U>
write il, you should have wt <l it a>' a iavl
Of course wo wuo pus, wo always arc and always will bo, while this
life lasts whatever else happens nnel alters our lives for bettor or for worse
-for either or for both of us wo shall flw^fi remain that darlint doriM
ask me the question aginn it hurts
On Saturday -RC wont to the dinner party at tho Biinago's it was a
very posh affair foi a private house full course dinner and she cooked
everything herself 1 think sho is awfully clever
Yesterday I thought I should have gone mad \viUi ftiwivclic 1 look 24
Asparms in 6 lots of 4 during the day and made a pillow of thormo/{eno at
night I didn't got a scrap oi sleep tho'
Has your pain gone darhnt? I think you must ha\o left it with mo,
I thought I might got a letter from Suez to-day otherwise 1 wouldn't have
come up to town to-day.
1 tmnk I want you here to take care of mo it &OOIIM tuou i-hui over
before shall be so glad when we get nearer tho 26th May, just tlint durlint
nothing more
1C vlnl.it ID
Envelope Mi If Bywaters, V. liM.S " Moiui," ToH Said
[Postmark London, E , May 1, J922, 6J5 p.Tn. |
Darlingest Boy I know,
If yon were to hear me talk now you would laugh, I'm quite positive
and I should bo angry -I've got practically no voice at all just a little
very high up, squeak.
It started with a very sore throat and then my voice wont it doesn*fc
hurt now the throat is better but it sounds so funny. I fool like laughing
186
Appendix I.
myself but altho you'd laugh darlint you'd be very kind wouldn't you? "and
just take care of me. I know you would without asking or you answering
but you can answer because 1 like to hear you say it.
About those fainting fits darlint, I don't really know what to say to you,
I'm beginning to think its the same as before they always happen 1st
"thing in the morning- when I'm getting' up and I wasn't ill as I should have
been last time, altho' I was a little but not as usual.
What shall I do about it darlint, if it is the same this month please
1 write and tell me I want to do just what you would like.
; M still have the herbs. . ,
"I like her she doesn't swear." , 5
This is what you write do you like her because she doesn't swear or
was that bit an afterthought. I'm wondering what you really think o a
girl any girl even me who says damn and a few stronger words sometimes
or don't these words constitute swearing as you hear it.
Of course 1 was glad you did as you did with her. 1 should never
be glad at any other way darlint , whatever the object or the end in view.
Talking about cc Felix " darlint can't say 1 was disappointed in the end
because 1 didn't expect very much of him. You say you expected him to do
a lot for Valevia I didn't he was too ordinary too prosaic to do any-
thing sensational he'd do anything in the world for her if it hadn't caused
comment but when it did he finished. Do you remember the railway station
scene when her husband appeared, and took command of the proceedings.
Felix was nowhere and lie allowed himself not only to go home, but to be
ordered to go home "by Mr. Isniay. What were your feelings for Mr. Ismay
did you like him? About the word you starred I can't say I actually
know the meaning of the word only of course I guess but you can tell me
darlint I certainly shan't ask anyone else.
Darlint isn't this a mistake " Jc wnis gache,, ma pauvrc petite amie."
Thi0 is how you wrote it.
1 was glad you think and feel the same way as 1 do about the " New
Forest." I don't think we're failures in other things and we musn't be in
this. We musn't give up as we said. No, we shall have to wait if we fail
again, Darlint, Fate can't always turn against us and if it is we must
fight it You and 1 are strong now We must be stronger. We must learn
to be patient. We must have each other darlint. Its meant to be 1 know I
feel it is because I love you such a lot- such a love was not meant to be in
vain. It will come right 1 know one day, if not by out efforts some othor
way. We'll wait eh darlint ? and yen' 11 try and get some money and then
we can go away and not worry about anybody or anything. You said it
w&n enough for an elephant. Perhaps it was. Bat you don't allow for the
taste making only a small, quantity to be taken. It sounded like a reproach
was it meant to be?
Darlint I tried hard you won't know how hard because you weren't
there to see and 1 can't tell you all -but 1 did- 1 do want you to believe I
did for both of us*
Yon will see by my last letter to you I twvn't forgotten the key and 1
didn't want reminding-! didn't forget that -altho' I did forget something
laefc time didn't 1 altho it was only" small.
Wo have changed our plane about Llandudno it is too expensive we
going to Bournemouth July 8th, a/0d while Avis was over last night lie
her to come with OB. The suggestion waa nothing to do with me
187
Bywaters and Thompson,
it was his entirely and altho' I wouldn't have suggested such a thing lor
the world I'm, glad because if things are still the same and we do go
& third party helps to make you forget that you always lead the existence
.we do.. . . .. : .
Au revoir for the week end darlint.
The mail was in this morning and I read your letter darlint, I cried
1 couldn't help it such a lot it sounded so sad I cried for you I coulcl
exactly feel how you were feeling I've felt like that so often and I know.
I was buoyed up with the hope of the " light bulb" and I used a
lotbig pieces toonot powdered and it has no effect I quite expected
to be able to send that cable but no nothing has happened from it and
now your letter tells me about the bitter taste again. Oh darlint, I do feel
so down and unhappy.
Wouldn't the stuff make small pills coated together with soap and
clipped in liquorice powder like Beechams try while you're away. Our
Boy had to have his thumb operated on because he had a piece of glass in
it that's what made me try that method again but I suppose as you say
he is not normal, I know I feel I shall never get him to take a sufficient
quantity of anything bitter. No I haven't forgotten the key I told you
before.
Darlint two heads are better than one is such a true saying. You
tell me not to leave finger marks on the box do you know I did not think of
the box but I did think of the glass or cup whatever was used. 1 wish
I wish oh I wish I could do something.
Darlint, think for me, do. I do want to help. If you only knew how
helpless and selfish I feel letting you do such a lot for me and I doing nothing
for you. If ever we are lucky enough to be happy darling I'll love you such,
a lot. I always 1 show you how much I love you for all you do for me.
Its a terrible feeling darlint to want really want to give all and everything,
and not be able to give a tiny little thing just thro' circumstances.
You asked me if Deborah described her feelings rightly when shd was
talking about Kullett making love to her.
Darlingest, boy, I don't think all the feelings can be put on paper
because there axe not words to describe them. The feeling is one of repug-
nance, loathing not only of the person but of yourself and darlint when you
think of a man ana a woman jointly wrote that book it's oot feasible that
the words used would be bad enough to express the feelings. The man
Author wouldn't allow the woman Author to talk too badly of Kullettr do
you think? I stili think that nobody can express the feelings I'm sure
I couldn't but they are there, deeply rooted and can never be plucked
out as circumstances now are unless they (the circumstances) change.
Did you notice any similarity in 2 girls names in two books that yon
recently read and the utter ^dissimilarity in their natures (I don't think I
Bpelt that word rightly) I didn't know that you would be in London a
month this time altho I had a little idea.
That month I can't bear to think of it a whole four weeks and things
itihe same as they are now. All those days to live thro for just on Ixcmt
AH that lying and scheniing and subterfuge to obtain one littld
izj each day' when by right of nature and our love we should be
for all the 24 in every day.
188
Appendix I.
Darlmt don't let it be I can't bear it all thia timethe pain gets too
heavy to bear heavier each day but if things were different what a grand
Ufa we should start together. Perhaps we could have that one week I
could be ill from shock More lies but the last. Eh clurlmt
Do experiment with the pills while you are away please darlmt.
No we two two halves have not yet come to the end of our tether."
Don't let us.
I'm sorry I've had to uso this piece of paper but tho pad was empty
I ent the boy for a fresh one and they will have none in until tomoi row.
We have started on the 5th week of your abscncu now each week seem?
longer than the last and each day tho length of two
Do you know dm lint that the Suturdtiy I usually have off when you
aro homo is Whit Saturday and I shan't bo able to see you nor on the
Monday following
Three whole days and you *,o noar and yet .so far it musn't be
darlmt we musn't let it somehow.
Good byo now darlmt 1 can't write any more Yoti uaid you have a
lump so have 1 in fact its more than a lump now
Good bye until Marseilles next week. I do always lov* you arid think
of you I'Eiitf.
WrJiiWt 21
ttuvolopo Mr l f By water*, 1*. & It M K. Moroa, Minullcr., franco,
f Postmark London, KC 15 M.iy, '22, 530 p.m.]
!tfy very own darlingcnd !x>y,
1 received tlio mail thus moming- hut am not Kowg to un.w-r it yct
I've |ot flov*ial other thinqp 1 w.itit Lo tell you, ant] i.'ilk to you IK \\vll.
I had no time to re.id your letter a lours, ,M> what do you think 1 dul darhnt.
I got on the top of a butt bnck scat by uryHclf and wont to Hyde Park
Corner m my lunch hour and read it, I couldn't Hi op in in tho Innrh
hour it was Mich a glorious day in fact it liu,s btvn a b<>mitifiil wru*L ortd
warm and sunny --qui to warm enough if> wear very thin 4'l<>iln find not
fool cold I do lovo this watlirr it'n not tor> hot yi l t--ht c\e?i when it is
I'm not going to grumble this \vjnh*r hu.s hocn dumbly lonj; n<l <ohl t <nnl
Londy. Bo you know darlmt I won 30/- on Pa i agon in tho City and Nub.
incJ lost 20/- in oacli of tho 2000 gn.v 1000 gnit. and tho Juhih;^ Monuy
*rao never made 1o stop with ui<.
When you'vo been in Kri#hind ]i;ivo you over wen " LOH Kou^eh et
NIoirs." They arc nil ex-HtddiMra -riinmtitf a concert ptuiy iiko tho (Jo
jpiiniists and imporotiaiiug girk m well UH men.
Men usually drewit'd n.s wotnen esp((!ia!1y in evening drOHs- jook
'idiculous but theao were flplondid very clever anil vc'ry funny- 1 did
uugh such a lot it was really duiicmr; through tho hoin-H, We went
firith Mr. and Mrs Biniagu. IU* has made him. ;m n^ent for the Stin Lifo
jriv.itoly and now drawu cnttiruitufiou on any policuew ho ^ciw it hn heeti
iboul 750 promiunm up to now and ho driiwB lo/ on iftome and I*/, on
others Misw I'nor'ti MHtcr lof.t her husband (juilu suddenly and ?J,M 1 luipjK'u
o bo her Htamp Miht* Prior nnk<ul ruo to #o up w^*t .and buy f.ome inouru*
ng for hor a coBtumc~-a hide frock ami a < i Jotl> frock" -jtunpcr- hliot'B ?,tock
ng and glovoa It wag a nice job, uad when J ffoL back- -thoro worw somo
189
By waters and Thompson.
widows hat* with veils ut the back aud nobody iucli7t 7 'ii Mi,s ivior had the
pluok to try them onthey all say it is unlucky so because of it being
unlucky to them I thought it might bo lucky to mo and Intd them all on.
I think they all think terrible things are going to happen to me now-
but darlint I am laughing I wonder vlio will bo right, they or i ? Talking
about bad luck Mother came over to hang some clean cuUains for :no
and in moving the dreeing table the cheval glass cnmu oil the pivot and
smashed the glass in a thousand piece" This is .suppose! to mean bad luck
for 7 years I am wondering if its for ut, (you .arid 1) us* her. \V3iat do you
think about it? Dailmt I've bought ?, shut cream gabardine pleated to
wear with a spoitu co.it It W lovely uro you pltastd''
Do you know the skirts are goiag to be v.oru longer v
I shall have to wear mine a wee bit longer it' I don't wuut^to IKJ
hopelessly old fut-hionod but it won't be very much, will you mind 9 On
Friday Mr Eirnage came up and took rne out to lunch again. 1 IP It liun
at 2 and was astonished when at 4 p ru tliuy said a gentlutnan \vai(od to
see me upstaira and on going up found it was him waiting to tal;o PIO
out to tea i vent but I didn't jenlly want to I shan't go too oCfi'n
darlint You &*ud you were home tor a Toonih this time doe? that luoiin
that you are going to sail on the 23rd June
Darlint I hope not I do so want to be with yon even if its only for a
little while on June 27th 1922 Our lirnt real birthday Are you ^tlting
in on the Friday again thus tune?
You mentioned about a boy and a girl and a chocolate incident in one
of your letters you said " I smiled and thought a. Jot '* what did yo7*
think you didn't tell me and 1 want to know
Darlingest boyI like Montehmont as well as Turkish Delight ** Cup
board Love " did you say ? I am glad you didn't like Waring 1 thought
perhaps you might just a little I didn't a bit i was cross with Drliornh
several times darlint especially for tending him away that first tunu but
I admired so much the will power she had to do so didn't you* You wy
" Deborah " was more natural than " Maria " No 1 don't think m> -
they were two very different types but both were absolutely natural accord-
ing to their mode of living, Deborah was primitive Mana crvilfccd more
but both natural darlint don't give " Maria's " place in you to anyone
else Admire others #& //wcA but not mare t four moi 1 loved Maria ajaJ
I admired Deborah
I don't know whether Avis liked the books or not- but if you asked
her why she did or did not she couldn't say, could she do you think- ~he
couldn't discuss? each character as we do she wouldn't remember enough
about them she would only remember the general theme of tuo book
so why ask? Ye* I like Desboro (m the Business of Life) mostly -why
should we not agree about him darlmt I should like to argue with you
over himshall we 1 * Yes and when?
In a book I have just read which 1 am going to load you t'jore are
two characters whom you and I must copy only if tilings are never got to
be right darlint if they are always as they arc now J want you to
remember what I have written. I shall bo like and do what DoloroB does
and you must do what Ccsare docsOf course what I do will be from a
different motive from Dolores and you must fight like Ctaaebo* darlint
190
Bywaters and Thompson.
widows hatb with veils at the bjck and nobody iiickulni^ Mivs 1-Vior had the
pluck to try them on they all say it id unlucky ao because of it being
unlucky to them I thought it might be lucky to mo and tried them all on
I think they all think terrible things are going to happen to me novr
but darbnt I am laughing 1 wonder who will he light, they or I Talking
about bad luck Mother camo over to Long some dean cui tains bu lie
and in moving the dressing table the cheval *]au came oil' tlio pivot and
smashed the glass in a thousand pieces This is . uppoo-d to mean bad luck
for 7 years I am wondeung 11 its far at (you and 1) or her. What do you
think about it ? Darlwit I've bought ft iiku't crtam gabuidinepleaLod to
wear with a sports coit It IOOK, lovely a M you pleased''
Do you know the skirls are going to be worn longer''
I shall have to wear mmo a woe bit IOUJJCT n I don't \vmt to is
hopelessly old fashioned but it won't bo very much, will you mind' On
Friday Mr. Binugo wime up and took me out to lunch a^am. 1 Ju"t him
at 2 and was astonished when at 4 p m. thuy said a gentleman wanted to
see me upstairs and on going up fonad it was him waiting to titLo me
out to tea 1 ventbut 1 didn't really want to J shan't go too oRrn
darlmt. You scud you were home ior a mouth ihia timo does that .ui'tin
that you are going to sail on the 23rd June.
Darlmt I hope not I do so want to bo with you even if its only for u.
little while on Ouiie 27th 1922 Our iirut real birthday .Are you getting
in on the Fnday again this time If
You mentioned about a boy and a girl and a chocolate incident m one
of your letters yon said *' I smiled and thought a lot '* what did you
think you didn't tell me and 1 want to know
Darlingest boy I like Montelimont ,s well as Turkish Delight u Cup
board Love " did you say 7 I um glatl you didn't like Waring- I thonqlit
perhaps you mightjust a little I didn't a bit, 1 was t'ross with but torn h
several times darlmt especially for sending him away that first t.mo Imt
I admired so much the will power she had to do so didn't you? You wy
" Deborah " was iuoro natural than " ivlaria." No 1 don't think o- -
they were two very different types but both were absolutely natural HCVOH!-
mg to then- mode of living Deborah was primitive Maria civiluod more
but both natural darlmt don't give *' IMana's " place m you io uuywui
else Admire others as much but not inorc t pom* mm I loved M,\riA ahd
J admired Deborah
I don't know whether Avis liked the booka or not but if you asked
her why sho did or did not she couldn't say, could she do you think ho
couldn't discuss each character as we do &he wouldn't remember enough
about them she would only remember the general theme of the book-
so why ask? Yet, I like Desboro (in the Business of JUfo) mostly why
should we not agree about him darlmt I should hko to arcuo with you
over him shall we ? Yes and when?
In a book I have just read which 1 am going to lewl you there are
two characters whom you and I must copy-only if things arc never got to
be right darlmt if they are always as they arc now I want you to
remember what I have written I shall be like and do what Dolores does
and you must do what Ocsare does-Of courao what I do will bo from a
different motive from Dolores and you must fight like Cesare but darlfat
190
Appendix L
don't over let go keep tight hold bring up and take care of pour moi
and then it won't matter much what happens. 1 shall' have given you
something for you only my all.
You will probably wonder what I am rambling about I shan't tell
you 1 ishall wait until, you read the book and then you. will find out lor
yourself. To-day its 3 weeks before you'i 1 ia England I'm trying to get
thro the time without letting it feel too hard only I hope you will hurry
to England and PBIDI.
Exhibit 21a.
Extract from Daily Sketch, 13th May, 1922, columns I arid 2..
With headnote .
" Holiday Then Death Pact.
" Passionate Farewell Letters in Seaside Drama.
" Women's Sacrifice.' 9
The newspaper reports proceedings at an inquest held on George William
Hibbert who was found dead in a gas-filled room at Brighton and by his
side lay Maud Hibbert, wife of hie youngest brother, unconscious.
Exhibit 22.
Envelope Mr. F. Bywaters> P. & 0. R.M.8. " Morea," Marseilles, France.
[Postmark London, E.G., 18 May, '22, 2.30 p.m.]
*It must be remembered that cligitaKu la a cumulative poison, and that
the same dose harmless if taken once, yefc frequently repeated, becomes
deadly.'
Darlingest Boy,
The above passage I've just come across in a book I am reading ** Bella
Donna " by Robert Hicheiis. Is it any use. In your letter from Bombay
you say you asked a lot of questions from Marseilles. 1 hope 1 answered
them all satisfactory Darlint. I want to. I want to do always whut
will please you. I can't remember all you asked, I have nothing to refer
to everything is destroyed I don't even wait for the next arrival now.
About the Co-Optlmkts, 1 remember the song quite well and daiiint, if you
can only be practically true to me I'd rather not have you at all and I
won't have you. Whats more now I'm the bully aren't 1? but it's only,
fun darlint laugh. Yes a lot pour. moi. I've heard nothing at all from
your Mother I've seen your sister several times. Darlingest boy you must
never question me being still here. However hard (even the hardest you'
can possibly imagine) things are, while you still say " B B Peidi " I shall,
hang on just, because you want me to and tell sue to. Don't ever ques-
tion me again. You have often $aid a thing as & question when you
known it is a fact. Why is that Barlint? Don't ever doubt* I'll
love you too much perhaps but always, and while you say stay I shall
191 '
By waters and Thompson.
I shall ask you about the laugh in the Buffet, but when shall V I'm
not clear about what you write Do you mean me to ask you when I see
you this time or to wait until things are perhaps different. You say
"I'm not bullying I'm deciding for you Chere " Darlint, that's what I
like. Not that hard tone ' You must, you shall ' But the softer tone I
know you can use especially to me Yes, I like you deciding things for
me. I've done it *o long for myself. Its lovely to be able to leave it all to
someone I know will not go wrong will do the light thing pour moi always.
You will wont you darlmt I lean on you not on myself when you are
here Now I'll talk a bit about the books " Beyond the Shadow " I
did like very much, only it was hardly a possible story do you think.
Marian was an ideal woman and under her circumstances too ideal too un-
natural too careful of olhei peoples' opinions It reminded mo of the
book yoa lent me "The Way of these Women." Do you remember the
man and the woman who didn't take their fate into their own hands
although they could have done so easily Too careful of the opinions of
their so called friends and the world When Geoffrey remembered he
should have taken her away mastered all hor protests and carried her of!
They were mado for each other, ho was married to another through, no fault
of /m own He had plenty of the most necessary thing money and he
just drifted Darlmgest, Betty wasn't a little fool she loved as much as her
nature allowed and it wasnt her fault but fate, that Geoifrcy didn't love
her and because he didn't (and he knew himself ho didn't) why did he
marry her For sensual reasons lhats all tt> gratify hmibelf lie knew she
worshipped him and he was flattered I didn't like him very much Marian
was lovely. The few moments of! joy sho had with him befoie she died
could never compensate her for her life utterly spoiled, but darlmt " It IP
better to have krved and lost than never to have loved at all " Marian
would not have liked any to have told Geoffrey of tho incident before the
accident He would have asked her to marry him again, and fehe would
have felt ho was only doing it from duty and thats not a nice feeling to
have darlint for life, is it v I agree with you about Chambers endings
darlmt but the endings are not the story The end is written to plciuso
nine out of ten people who road his books. You and I aro iho tenth and
he doesn't cater for us darlint, we are so few Do as I do Forget the
end* lose yourself in the characters and the story and, in your own mind
mako your own end. Its lovely to do that darlint -try it, and you must not
be scathing aboub a particular author that I like. I wont have it you
hoar me I'm bullying you now. I'll ruffle all your hair darlmt until
you're really cross. Will you be with me about anything over?
Yes! wo will be cross with each other and then mako it up it will
be lovoly. I shall have to stop for a little while now darlint. I liavo a
ton of work to do. I do hope we are not quite so busy when you nrc
homo Au revon for now darlmt
Ono more day has goiio by -I'm counting the days now clurjirit. What
are you doing now, I wonder its Thursday about 12 noon and I've Mjtioossed
10 minutes to talk to you. Today is fearfully cold again and very windy
I hate wind. For the lat 4 days it has been 82 shade and 112 sun and
today shade temp is down to 52 what a country to live in hnrry up and
take me away to Egypt if you like but anywhero whoro its warm.
The book I'm reading " Bella Donna " is about EgyptI'd think
192
Frederick Bywaters
Appendix I.
you'd be interested in it although 1 donM think you would like the book-
at least I hope you wouldn't I don't
Do you remember telling me to do the " Scamp " for the Derby?
Well I was rather hard up that week so only put on 5/- each way I got
20 to 1 price
Yesterday was tho first time the " Scamp " came out nnd it failed
miserably at a mile the papers say it if a non-slayer and made a very poor
show and the pi ice to-day is 33 to 1 What luck
I dont think I previously told you thai olrl Mr. Lester - foil in tin*
fire and ga&hed his head
He was taken to Hospital and is still there that is 10 days ago
Reports at first wild lie wouldn't live throagh each night but ho hizuj
recovered aflcr all Don't some people* exaggerate*
Darlint, 1 do fool so miserable to-day 1 think iln the weather it has
bee"i so bright and Muiny and makes you feel quite ohe<'iful and today u
col'i and dull and I feel cold too noL in tho flesh m "the body inside I
mean -thai sort of feeling that only one person in tho world ran alter for
me why aion't you here to do it v 1 waul/ you *><> badly to lean on and to
take eare of me to bo kind and ujentlo and love mo as only you <san
Goodbye darlmge&l boy I'll write iiftum before tho mail clot>c for
Supposing I wuio to meet your mother in Ihcs .street darlint, what
should I do v What would you want me to do?
Answer this, please, particularly I'KIDT.
When I abked you lh,"t (juchlion d<irliitf I had already seen your
Mother but I jmlly u anted to know what vou would like imi to havu
done
As il \vaf 1 lumlly knew what. fo do -I <*oul<lnt p,j."i her unrecog-
nised without being abholtili'ly rude HO I jut.l said (( Lot me wneli, how arc
you? " and parsed on, 1 didn't fttop to shake handy. She hud a largo bunch
of red roses in her arms and tiho had that lull tmat with her--! for>;t)t IUH
name
Seeing l\w with rod rose* reminded m\\ <A you dtiHiiit, you Jiko rod
ouew donl you? you told rno m owe w> d< f, hul not JIH iniuih a ow
flower theyre all linuslicd now mat il a slianif Ive taken tho tiiHHoro to
bo made up darlint and was told that it was thti bo.sl quality they have
ever handled. Ive HJHO IKK! a now navy costume made. L dont think
yon will like il becunso its a Ion?: eoat - hut i bought a cream gabardine*
skirt (not serge) to please, you darling HO L thought 1 could please myself
this time. Am 1 right v 1 wonder if J shall wear tho tufctsoro cofitumu
WJth you darlint 1 donl muan once or twice but nlwuy. J donl know 1
doat feel oven optimistic about things 1 cunt durlintf-- not hlco I did before.
That hand of fate is always held up at mo bloukiitg out the future. If I
could only be certain? J)arliugenl boy pour moi bo very very careful coming
in thia tinio. Things and people have become much more vigilant Under-
stand 7 I dout want to loso any tiny minute of you, they will probably
be o few, but even a few IB BO much better than none* at ail rcmienibur that
darlint. Im very very anxious to know if you are Dotting in on tbo Jfrlday. 1
cant powsibly wait ovej the week end- -do lot mo know AH HOOTI iiA you can
find out yourself. liill got in on JKViday darlint about 3 p.m. liorne and
camt> up to tea yesterday. We had it out iu tho garden. II o started tho
193
By waters and Thompson.
conversation about - and said if he knew where to pUsit, 11 he vould git
soiio and we talked a lot about it. I wanted to chap 30 the conversation
quickly but he would continue. On Saturday dailint I did something
which you would have said made me look oldgardening nil day It passes
tho time away. Old Mr. Lester died last night All theu* bule of the
house the blinds are drawn I havnt drawn mme and i:n noL goin,", to I
think they think Im a heathen ' Will jt bo undc. Ilia ye.w ' ,vou ,jt\y
I wish I codld be certain. feel -certain but i cjvt (Lvluit. 1 k< op on
saying to myself ' Yes ! Yes f It must, it shall bo ' Yes,' and I hare biiat
feeling deep down all tho time that ib vvjll be ' No ' Your Ictt'T lodcy
made me feel miserable darlint, I felt hew much I wanted to bo v/ilh yiu,
so that I could love you that ' Moblieiing feeling ' came over me Vou
dont know what its like I do love you so much more than anyone cnn
know la that how you feel? By now dtirlmt you will have heard from
me several times. Yesteiday you passed Suez and got my J*ovi, Said lefctou
Im so sorry its a long time from Marseilles to Bombay, when you IK-NT
from me, but I cant do anything to help it can I darlint ? You'll b: pbio
to talk to me a long time this week to post at Marseilles because youll hirvcs
all my letters to answer Yes darlint, I want you and love you such a
lot just as> much as you do I want you to hold me and kiss ii'o Yes
always When you do see me darhnt you will, you must, darluit It
docsnt matter where we meet, perhaps a Buffet but it musn't matter, vie
musu't think of oilier people being there we must ju>t live for each other m
that first minute Dont forget darlint Dont jusL *ay how :ire you
'* Chore/* It so prosaic and were not are we ?
I dont know whether Im sorry or pleased about you sailing on the
9th Its so hard to say now. If things are the same as now perhaps I
shall be pleased If wo are successful I shall probably bo sorry 1 shall
want you so much through that time I think It will bo awful to think
of you miles away Darlmgcst boy, get that ankle well quickly I do want
to play tennis with you some time this year dont bother about the blcnsed
old football it always makes it give out and isnt ankle spoil with r * K '
it looks so funny with a * c.'
All June all July all August you'll bt home agam Sept 9. I
wonder if we shall have that weok together darluit, by Iho sea 'j,*j)t
isnt too late is it?
Ive got a real longing for you to take me to Tmibi ulgo Well.* j,'v
only been there once and I did like it so much.
Could you take me darlint for a week-end- -or even fo' n day?
In one of your letters you say ' and you are mnio Puidi, cirent you?
I shall always try to kuep you,* darlmgcst boy what do you iiiona by l.h<*t*
especially the last part, I dont understand it, will yon tell me v
Of course Im yours you know that, without tho ? mark and why \(ll
you say these things in the form of a question wlieu you LPOW ihoy .jr* ,
fact it hurts darhnt.
Dont forget bo toll me what you mcd-n by tho lust pjui. 1 really want
to know.
Goodbye darlmgeot boyfor now and MiuM'iIlw -tli< next IcttiT to
England Hoorah ! I do love you so much and in ISM you inouo than you
can ever kxow-* its the whole of mo all my life jiwt ail I live for now.
194
Appendix L
Exhibit 22u.
JExlru't from Daily Sketch, lOlli May, 11)22, jvno o, column 3.
Witu lieadnote
" Girl's Drug injections.
" Mysterious Death after Doses of Cocaine and Morphia."
Then follows a report of an inquest, on Lilian May Dn/vis, when evidence
was given that she took injections of cocaine in the daytime and morphia at
night for sleeplessness. Dr. Spilsbury gave evidence that IIL inado a post-
mortem examination and could not assign the cause of death.
Exhibit 22b.
Extract from Daily S/c fitch, 6th May ? 1022, page 15, column 5.
With, headnoto
** Patient Killed by an Overdose.
* c Woman Dispenser's Error of Calculation.
** Ten Times too Strong, Multiplied by ;i Hundred instead o by
Ten."
The report refers to an inquest on Arthur Kcjnp, who died 'from an
overdose oi" sodium uniiit'ioity tfu'toiito, prepared by <i woman dinponsor.
Exhibit 51.
Envelope Mr. F, Bywators, P. & (). ft.M.S. " Morea."
[Poatmark London, 1922 (romaimtar
The mail is in darlint, but 1 havont had an opportunity to read it yet,
Ixa fearfully busy* Miss Prior IB in Furls and Ivo Ions to do, but, clarfint
when Ivo read it I will answer ifc, ovtsn If 1 have to give it to you by
hand Im sure I ghanb have time to do it to day and 1 do want you to get
something from me at Plymouth ovon if Its only a few Hncts. Friday ^ 111
see you shall It Today to Friday four more dayfl to Hv-Htio not live
kt thro. You are getting in Fridny aront you darlint? do say ' Ys, ?
Ar0 yon going to answer my lot/torn to you at Marseilles please do dnrlint.
I dont want yon to say what you did last trip. Yon wont dnrlint b^cjatwe
Ive asked you not to. On Saturday Mr. CarH<on took me homo by road, it
waittt his car but a friend of his. A real posh car yowd liavo liked it, I'm
afraid if Miss Prior knew slio might want to give mo the sack. However
1 shanfc toll lier and Irn sure ho won't. Also BOHR and Beg came down
<jmte unexpecte'dly OB Sunday and we went for a ride from about 3 till 9-30
Bess asked aftey you. Darltnt 1 had a terrible shock when the Egypt
went down. Nobody aid the name of the boat they just said a big P. and
0* linor. Imagine what I felt em yotit 1 have sent you a parcel to
Plymouth containing 2 books 'The Fruitful, Vine* and 'Bella Domuu'
Bead 4 Bella Donna * first will you please whilst yon arc w England If
By waters and Thompson,
possible and keep c The Fruitful Vine ' until we are parted again Also
in the parcel is something I forgot last time I dont suppose you really
want it but because I promised and forgot I got it this time. Forgive me
for forgetting. You have, havnt you darlint 9 And there is a pricket oi
Toblorone. I bought two. Sent you one and kept the other myselJ Will
you eat it Thursday and I will mine Darhngest boy will ;yon send the
enclosed P C. as instructions attached in your name I have sent one m
mine or rather m my * used to name * that sounds funny doesiit it After
all whats in a name Nothing at all except * Peidi ' I saw your Mother
again last Wednesday. I was with Harry Penton and behind hoi- and pur-
posely kept so
It has been frightfully hot this weekend. The sun has been fierce
and I dont want a neck like I had at Shanklin I shall have to get a
sunshade. What about Whit Saturday 7 We shan't be able to be together
He doesnt go in I thought of asking foi a day oft, say Wed the 31st
what do you think ? Bill brought Miss Ashley home. Did you know? He
says she is very mean I saw Carpentior on the afteinoon of his fight he
was over the road at Pagets The Police had to guard his car He looks
very lined and old for his age Young Mr Paget (you remember me telling
you about him) says the fight was a frosfc and very unfair Garpentier took
an unfair advantage while the Eeferees were mteivenmg You wouldnt
like me a bit today darlint * Why ' did you say ? Because Ive got my
foulard frock on Its so hot, and that reminds me the black frock with
the while beads that I always wear when you take me out I thought 1
would wear it out for every clay this Summer Its loo conspicuous to keep
for next winter and when I've got some spa-io cash III buy another frock
for you to take me to dmnei in, but I wont wear tho blk and white until
you say I may, so write and tell mo what you think also darhnl, lot mo
know about Wed 31st because I must give thorn a httlo notice as we
3i6 so busy On Sunday I cooked a chicken my voiy fiist attempt at
poultry It was all very nice I think btuilmg tirid bread sniicc etc. and
then a gooseberry pie I thought about you the wliole time and wished I
had cooked it for you. Dont bo too disappointed with this letter daiimt,
I havnt time to really talk to you, bub 1 will and give it you when I soo
you Its been a fearful rush to get oven Liu* in, *ind I do hate to rush
when I'm talking to you, Au revoir darling for 4 more duyb I lovo you
such a lot just as much no more than you lovo PEJDI
Written on buck of envelope*
Did you receive a pencil slip in letter to
Exhibit 23
Envelope Mr F By waters, P.O. 11 M.S, * Mnroa,' I'lyiuotitli
[Postmark London, & C., Ma> 23, 1022, 3 p.m. |
So it wasnt G.M.M.C.* it wa* O.A M C this tinio darliut, 1 wag nr
* " Good morning, ma Chore," &e.
196
Appendix I,
prised I got it at 4 20 p in , Monday Also I managed to read your letters
. I dont know how tho* . you are wrong about tho scent quite . .
try and guess again I dont uso scent at home . . other people
smell it
Darlmt, one day last week I went to Frascjtti to lunch and took one
hour and 10 minutes . . it was a fearful riish it was a man that I
have known for years by sight but never better until a lew woks ago . .
the usual type of man darlmt that expects some return for. ,i lunch.
However, that doesut mattei, this is what I wanted to tell you . . he
wanted to buy a. box of chocolates and I said * I'd rat Lor you thdnt lliank
you '
He ' Now what earthly difference is there in you accepting from me a
box of chocolates to a lunch.
I ' Oh its not that its just that 1 dont Ii2;o chocolates '
He * Good God, you'ie the Jirt,t gu*l 3T\e c\or heard rofube chocolates
that she clidut have to pa.\ ior Arc you sure you donu liko them or is a
pose? '
Darlingesfc boy, what do you think of tluif 9 Can jou iiuagme mo
poking especially ovci choooLnos J]ovr\<j lio ( rj<lc<l i,p iii buying me a pound
of ' Marion.s Glace ' JLL'wo you GUT 1ml Lhuai, they are cilirotiiutH 111 fcyrnp, I
really did enjoy them
Now about your letters 1 cant say it you arc rij^hb or wrong
about Molly . I dont know her sufficiently to bay and 1 do hate to
judge other people by appearances I'd niucli i other dismiss thn from
my thoughts altogether 1 h.i<1 nhoady sont you 2 books to Plymouth
darlmt, the only two 1 have ic.id since you've l)con a-way . . I'd like you
to read *' Bella Donna " first you miy Icain somHJnng from it to help us,
then you can road '" Tho fruitful Vine '* \\hon yon are away. You say
you think, I think, you dont talk enough about hooks ,iml things to mo.
Darlmgost boy I'm not goiiitf to say aiiytlun/; ut all about anything I'm
just going to be thankful for what I do receive . . think to myself
, " I must not bo impatient peril ups Lhoy wont always bo crumbs."
You havnt read a book with the torm " GaribHiimt " in . . at lonst not
the book I have read it in. 1 do M> much wonder if you will like " The
Fruitful Vine," and who you will liko m it HH quite different from anything
I have over road before Uarlingi'wt, you really muht ttll me 1J and every-
thing you think about the book Mid the ciuii'acieis and ospocially the
motive . 1 do w*wit t-o know KO much. Your nows al)ouU-from Bombay
and waiting till ue\t trip, iimclw mu iVol vwy sad and downhearted it will
be awful waiting all that time, 3 months will it Us I oant wait . . . Yes,
1 can . , I will, 1 mui)t , * I'll uiako myaolf aoiiiohow . . I'll try
io bo pationt darling. You talk ahout tliat cago jou aro in . . that's
2iow 1 feol . . only worse if it win bo so . . because mine i a real
live cage with a keeper as wolf . . to whom 1 have to account ovory
day, every hour, ovory xiunnto newly.
* c Tlie fate of every wan liuvo wo bound about his neck " (I dont know
if I've got it quite right you rnn toll mo later on . . but the inoariirig is
right)
Have we clarhnt? have wo tho fata of one or wo two halves I dont
know* I darent think . . its like making sand pies at tho sca-sido . .
they always topplo over* Wo havnt fixed tip anything about Bournemouth
yet . . they aro too expensive for Avis and him . . I dont care par-
197
By waters and Thompson.
somlly , . I'd sooner nut have a holiday . . I leally looking foiward
with dread, nob pleasure . . I'll always bo thinking ii'st oi Shanklin
and then of our tumble down nook.
I'm going to post this now and risk whether it gels to you in time,
wire jne how many letters you receive thoro should be two then I should
have answered all yours darlmt and shant horve to give you anything by
hand. I didnt like the idea, . but thought that it would bo force of
circumstances I've ^ot n feeling incide me . . of sinking . do you
know what its like us a eehn of great excitement . piobabic
excitement bat not positive An H' I OJI- for such a short time tint will socin
so lonj; till jfaif ;v r PEIDI
Exhibit 66.
[COPY TELEGTIAAi ]
Office 01 Origin Buibieiiii, Lmid-m City Oiiico Stamp Tilbury, 6
June, 1922, Essex
Handed m at 10.36 Received lit- c t',t i.0 52
To By waters, Steamer Morea, Tilbaiy Bock
Failed again poihaps 5 o'clock to-nf,!it
Exhibit 67
[Co?Y TKI ern^At ]
C>ince of Ori;ia Lo7it!on, T OfTic? RLanip Tilbrvy, 7 Juno, L922,
Essex.
Handed in at 12 34 -Received here at !2 ^5
To Bywaters, Steamer Morea, Tilbury Docks.
Rave already said not going 23 1 se* yon r-nrl talk SIT
C8
Office of GjTiu'n London (!i! P Office SUnupT-lbiiry, f) ,funo, 1022,
Essex.
Boataf;e assured
Handed in at 9 SS p m Received here at 10 a.m
To Bywaters, Steamer Muroa, Til)nr> Dociks
Send everything Fisher care ti J* t >,L1 Mond/iy.
198
, ; Appendix I, . ' ..-.' : . '>
. . . . .Exhibit. 24. . . .
Envelope Mr. F, Bywaters, P. & (X B.M.S. " Morea," Marseilles,, franc*.
. .. '; .. ''.. [PostmarkLondon., E.G., 13th' June,- -22, -4.30 p.m.]
Barlingest Boy,
I'm trying very hardvery very hnrd to B.B. I know my pal wants
me to.
OR Thursday -he was on the ottoman at the foot of the bed and said
lie was dying and wanted fco ho had another heart attack thro me,
Darlint I had to laugh at tills because / knew it couldn't be a heart
attack.
When ho saw this had no effect on me he got up ad stormed 1 said
exactly what you told me to and lie replied that he know thats wbat 1
wanted and lie wasnt going to give ib to me it would make things far too
easy for both of you (meaning you and me) especially for you he said.
He said heel been to 231 and been told you had said you were taking a
p1 oiil and it was nil ;t planned affair so was the last Thursday yon were
Lome and also Tuesday of last weok at. Fonchnrch Street he told them at
231 a pal of hia sow (is UK! by 1lw durcripticm lie gave of the man I was
with it was you.
Thats an awful lie darliut foeciwKp 1 told hiia I went to B* St. for Mr.
Carl ton and saw Booth Jiiul spoke io Isiiii j;nd I askod him the next clay if
Booth mentioned me and he said no -nothing tiit ail.
We're both liars ho says arid you ?iro making me worse and he's going
to put a stop to all or nny correspond ewee coming for mo at 168. He Bakl
4 * Its useless for you to deny he writes to you because 1 know he does "
henco my wire to you regard if )<4 (i. !*.(),
Ha also ay# 1 told Mm 1 wroto to yo aaking you not to seo me thi
time ho knows very wall I said last time but I think ho has really par-
sttaded himself 1 said this time.
I rang Avia yesterday and sho said he cam down there in >a rage and
told Dad everything about all the rows we have had over you -but she
did not mention he said anything about the firwt real one on August Iflt-
00 I suppose he kept that b-ack to suit his own ends DIK! said it was a dia<
graceful thing that you uhould come between husband and wife and I ought
to b<en ashamed. Darlint I told you this is how they would look at it*-,
they dont understand and they newer will any of them.
Dad was going to talk to me Avis said- but 1 went down and nothing
whatever was said by any of them. 1 told Avis 1 shd tell them of if thuy
said anything to rao 1 didnt go whining to my people when he did things I
dlidnt approve of and 1. didnt expect him tobut however nothing was said
at all
Bad gaid to them ** What & scandal If it sliowid get in the papett "
evidently he suggested drastkj measures to them.
On Friday night 1 said I was gomg to sleep in the little room we hod
a nOTfflft* he aucceaded in getting Into the little room and on to the bed
00 1 went into the bathroom and stopped there for an hr< - he went dow
Bfeairs then arid I W6nt into the Httlo room qmicklyloeked the door nnd
stopped there all night I hd have oontinaed to do so but even 4 little
thing like that i 1 ate was against us because Dad w&s over on Sat, and
'
By waters and Thompson.
asked me if he could stay the night suggested he should sleep with Jinn, in
the big bed but Dad would not hear of it so sooner than make another
fuss I gave in.
On Saturday he told me he was going to break me in somehow I have
always had too much of my own way and he was a model husband and m
future on Thursdays the bedroom was to be cleaned out
He .also told me he was going to be master and I was to be his mistress
and not half a dozen mcns (his words) I dont exactly know how to tnke
this Darknt, do you know Avis said to ma Miss M'Donald saw you v.'ibh
Freddy last week of course I denied it but she described my frock any-
how it turned oat to be on Wed so of course it was all right but you f?co
we are seen and by people who know us and caut hold their tongues Au.5
said she was upset because you had gone for good she said she could hardly
realise it She also said that he said at 231 " I thought he was keen on
you (Avis) but now I can see it was a blind to covei his infatuation for
Fdie "
Darhnt its not an infatuation is it? Tell mo it isnt
I dont think thcres anything else heaps of little things weie said that I
cant remember but you can judge what they were because you know me
and him
Im wilting a lettei to Marseilles darlint this is only & summary of
events
Exhibit 53.
Envelope Mr F Bywateib, P & RMS " Morea," Marseilles, France.
[Postmark London, E C , 14 June, 1922]
Uarlmt Pal,
Ive come to the conclusion that you and I do absolutely m^l things
cbpecially I.
I never have a thought about having those letters sent to P I
called there on Monday ana was told that unless I could prove I was Mu T'.
Fisher I couldnt have them
I thought, this is a devil of a mess and wondered what to do
Eventually I decided to have some cards printed (this cost me 6/5)
dent laugh, darlint and I also got Rosic to address an envelope Lo mo at 168
in the name of Fisher
The card and envelope I showed to tho man at the I* todjj -
fortunately it was a different man from yesterday Darlint I thirl: it
would be best to address all Ictterb there until [ tell you otherwise, dont
you? The watch I received quite safely darlint yon say in your letttr
it goes 10 minutes a day fat>t this isrit right is it ? It should he ,*>luw
However yesterday I took it back and they promised to pill it in oro**
ior me I shall probably send it to Sydney is tins wli.it, you wish .Also
the cheque I received but not until today of course I will tiy and eusili it
tomorrow and let you know the result In any case 1 will put fha money
on. the Hunt Cup for you and for me Tho Oaks money hr, not Iwn paid
out I dont thmk we shall got it at all Jim lella me iho man tfol* 7 days
for obstructing the Police and he (Jim) cant get hold of him now Hnvo
also sont what you asked me for hope you got it wifely
200
Appendix L
D.arlingest boy, dont forget to answer the note I gave you on your
last night in England. Ill feel much happiei if I know. Im so glad youre
not sorry this time, no Im not a bit. I really begin to feel that I am
doing something just a little for younot exactly doing something for you
but giving you something- a part of me, for you and no one else write
and tell me that not only fire you not sorry this time but youre glad really
glad because I a.m.
Mr. Caiiton likes my hair cut he noticed It, and told me so imme-
diately he saw me, 1 told you nobody but Lily did didnt i do you? you
never said.
1 wonder how my own pal is fouling - I'm feeling very blue myself an
inactive sort of drifting feeling, that cani bo described -1 suppose its really
reaction 1 longing to hear from you next Monday -I hope its a lot.
On our birthday you will be Jcffc Aden cm your way to Bombay -you* 11
be thinking of a girl whose best pal you arc* hi England wont you- 111 think
of you all day every little inirmle -ami kc,"p on wishing you success a$ 1
cant be -Perhaps you CAM and aa you fiiy you arc* still hoping dariint- --
so shall I. Time hangs so dreadfully and just }KcauH I want to work it
away we are not busy this week and arc leaving at five. 1 suppose we shall
thro the Summer now. Bar! int., how can you get ptomaine poisoning from
a tin of salmon? One 1 ' of our boys Mother ha, died with it after being
ill only three days.
One year ago today we went for Usfit uteTitoriiblc ride round the island
in the char-a-banc do yon, remember ? Last nitflit when I went to bed 1
kissed you goodnight in my mind because that wan the first tiino you kiflftd
me,
Dariint this month arid next aro full of romembrjinceR* anit they?
1 went to 49 last night and Mat and listened to ailments for about 2
hours -its awfully exhilarating especially whon you, feel blue, 1 alfto had
a small row with them. Ho a^ked -why Graham never came to see lift and
I said 4< !Why do you ask for him to ^owc round when you know ho'w not
allowed to,"
This led to words of course and I wan told that neither Ms mother nor
his Father would tell him not to speak to me -my retort wan that 1 know
his Father would not but It would tako tnoro thun any of them to convince
m his mother would not, and 1 wish to God, I didnt have to go there-!
feel really bad tempered when I <jom<> away.
1 was token faint in the train this rooming 1 didnt quite go off
thoughOn Saturday I'm going to see a Doctor, I think it is best that I
should^-I dont like doing these silly things in public places I've got my
costume home it looks very nicoIm ever $o pleaded wifch it but I dont
want to wear it I wish you could see roe in it what would you like mo
to do? Next week 111 be writing to the othor end of the world to you
dariint I wish you didnt ever have to leave England, -even il 1 didnt
000 you 1 should feel happier and safe because you would be near but
the sea and Australia Bounds years and yearn apart, 1 do so moch want
my pal to talk to and confide in and my own itmn to lean upon some-
tiraen.
Have just come from the Bank, They caahod the cheque for me after
difficulty-masked me if 1 was F. Bywatera - 1 thought it best to tell the
By waters and Thompson.
truthas they might ask me to write signature, so 1 said, " No." " Did
you endorse the back? " " No " " Just write your name on this paper
please " I did so, and they then asked me what authority I had from F.
Bywaters to cash the cheque I had your letter with me showed it them
and they paid out. So muck for that incident What a mess we do get
into!
I shall have to close now darlml, goodbye until Sydney I always
love'l my only Pal and I do love so much my own boy think of this all
the friMe you are in Australia I bhall be thinking of you and wishing you
\yr .\ \ff l th PEIDI
"Vf niton in pencil on plain envelope
Yarzy 1st
Statford 2c1
Crubonuiore 3rd
Darhiil,
We mutt give up Loisc racmg
"Wt have lost between iw
30/- each way Scamp
20 /- Montserrat
10/- ,, ,, Pondoland
(6)
And won about 10/- on Cruhenuiori* on Tihich I had 2/6 each way for luck.
I used 3. 10 from cheque, 30/- from my own money and 20/- from
Derby winnings for the JB6, oo I have the 5 untouched
Don't send me any more money please darlmt.
Goodbye and good luck-
always,
PEIDI
JfchibiL 25
Envelope Mr F JBywaterj , P & R I%f S " Morea," Sydney, Australia
[Postmark London, EC, June 20, J922, 130 pm]
Darlmgest Soy I Zvwtr,
This time last year 1 htid won the nweop dtttko for the Gold Cup, this
year I have lost 1 . 30/- eh -way Kings Idler and the result is Golden Myth
at 7 to 1, Plamboyont 20 to 1, and Ballyheron 8 to 1 I*m not going to
bet any more even in horse racing the fates are agam&t mo.
You get into Marseilles tonight I wonder how you're feeling darlint,
very blue or not feeling anything at all just drifting its hard cither way
isn't it?
I wish you had taken me with you darlint I don' I, think I will be
able to stay on here all alone there soems so much to contend -with ao
long to " dance " when you'd rather die and all for no definite purpose Oh
I'll pack up now, I can't talk cheerfully so I shan't talk at all goodnight
darlint.
Appendix I.
It's Friday now, darlint nearly time to go, I am wondering if you
remember what your answer was to me in reply to my " What's the
matter " tonight of last year.
I remember quite well te You know what's the matter, I love you "
. . but you didn't then darlint , because you do no\v and its different
now, isn't it? From then onwards everything has gone wrong with our
lives I don't mean to say it was right before at least mine wr.sn't right
but I was quite indifferent to it being either right or wrong and you darlint
you hadn't any of the troubles or the worries you have now you were
quite free in mind and body and now through me you are not darlint I
am sorry I shouldn't mind il I could feel that snmo day I should be able
to make up to you for all the unhappincss I Iwive caused in your hfe but
I can't feel that darlint I keep on paying to myself that " it will it shall
come right " but there is no conviction behind it why can't we see into
the future?
When you are not near darlint I wish we had taken the easiest way I
suppose it is because I can't see you can't have you to hold me and talk to
me because when you arc in England I always want to go on trying and
trying and not to give up to seo and feel yon holding me is to hope on,
and when I can't have that I feel a coward. The days passno they
don't pass, they just drag on and on and the ond of all this misery and
unhappiness is no nearer in sight is anything worth living for?
There are 2 halves in this world who \vnnt nothing oa earth but to be
joined together and circumstances persistently keep them apart nothing
is fair nothing is just wo can't even live lor ourselvescan we?
I suppose the week end will pass somehow -the only thought that helps*
is that you will talk to me on Monday.
Goodbye darlingest boy I do wish you wore hero.
Its Monday now darlint, that day you came up and took me to lunch
at the Kings Hall do you remember?
Things are very quiet here and Mr. Carlton has takrn 2 or 3 days oil
this week. He told me he would conic up about Thursday to fix up the
outing on Saturday that was the day last yi>at that you and Avis came
to an understanding I wonder if that's the right way to put it.
Nothing happened over the week end darlint except that Dad came up
on Saturday and did not go home in the evening. It's becoming a regular
thing now I wonder why?
When you are in Australia- -darlint you will tell m<* all you do and
where you go everything I want to know.
I shall be in Bournemouth when you're in Australia think about m<?
darlingest boy it won't bo the holiday I anticipated will it? I certainly
shant learn to swim neither shall I be playing tennis it won't be nice at
all because I shan't even be able to escape things and beings by going up
to town each day but it' one of thoae things that have to be gone thro
in this life I lead and all the railings against it won't alter a tiny bit of it
so I must dance thro somehow. Are you going to see Harold? if you do,
try and knock a bit of sense into him please datfint ponr nioi and write and
tell me what he is doing, how is he getting on everything lie writes ftuch
nonsense that you can't tell from a letter what ho really is doing. He's
written to Doris Graf ton and tells her, he is sending over her pa&oage money
and she is to come out and marry hint and a lot more of rot like tfcat
darlint I*m sure he's not normal sometime*.
203
By waters and Thompson,
See what my pal can do for me, please
Won't you have a long time to wait for a letter from me this lime,
Darhnt ? I have heen looking at the mail caid and see you do not arrive
in Australia until July 22nd I'm so sorry I wish I could afford to cable
you a. long long letter to somewhere before Sydney, or better still, to be
able to phone to you and hear you say "Is that Peidi? "
I went to see a doctor ou Saturday he asked me lotu of
could he examine me etc I said no then he said are you enciente? to which
I replied " No, I think not," but explained to him how I felt Eventually
he came to the conclusion that I have " chronic anaemia " which will prob-
ably turn to pernicious anaemia if I am not careful
I asked him exactly what this was and he said, " all your blood every
drop turns to water."
I also asked him if it was a usual thing for any one to have and he
said " No " only much older people suffer with it; as a rule only younger
people, when they have had an accident and lost a lot of blood, have you
had one? he said
I said " No " because it wasn't really an accident and I didn't want
to tell him everything he might have wanted to see my husband.
But I expect thats what has really caused this antuiiid, becs*us<* k I >sb
an awful lot of blood.
The doctor says I must drink Burgundy with every meal 1 gli* >-s . A
day I don't know how I am going to do that I hate the stuff
He has given me some medicine as well pud a box of pills to be I. then
until I am ill
Darhnt are you disappointed it is only that? tell me please
I've just come back from getting the Marseilles Mail ut the G.P
What an utterly absurd thing to say to me " Don't be too disappointed "
You can't possibly know what it feels like to want and wait each day
every little hour for something something that means " hfo " to you
and then not to got it
You told me from Dover that you wore going to talk to me for a
long time at Marseilles and now you put it off to Poit Said.
You force me to conclude that the life you load away from Eng].*i.d
is all absorbing that yon havn't time nor inclination to remember England
or anything England holds.
There wore at least 5 days yon could liavo talked to me about if yni
only spared mo 5 minutes out of each day But what ih tlio HRP <f TMG
saying all this it's the same alwayn I'm never meini to h.i\e anything
I expect or want If I ,un mijwrir I am sorry but I <' I fool anything
at presentonly just as if I have had a blow ou the head and 1 am hi united
the disappointment no, more than that tlio utter despair is loo in.ieh
to boar I would sooner go under today than any thine;.
All I can hope is, that you will never never fool like 1 do tod.'V
it's so eafiy to write "try to he brave" its so much iuirdw t<> l w>
nobody knows but those who try to be - against such heavy odds.
It's more to mo than any tiling on this earth to load what you say to me
yon know this darlmt, why do you Fail me? What encoiirfigtunaut is it
to go on living and waiting and waiting
204
Aooe.idix I.
J. JL
Perhaps I ought not to have written this perhaps 1 ought to have
ignored having a scrap only, altogether but hoAV I feel and what I think
I must tell you always
Darlmt I hope you will never never ne\er feel as miserable a*
PEIDI.
E:Jnlyil CO
Peld DJ(.C 26 June, 1922
Mo 2 MOEEA 26 Jin- '022
P 7
Hand 3d in uL LONDON 1.1 36
V \V 15 10/2 A G S
Radio 261 *i
To JBYWATERS, Slo 3- ; ' MM M, 15 .i:d,'.v nuJjo
frl H : 27621 iMCtUI
i' F yv,'rttjj,, r &O IJ M 8. " Moroa," FrwnrmUo,
Ausl.iulu
| PosiiiKirK- Lmi Jon, BO, 4 July, 1022 1
l. H<y/
of iill last Sinid.ty v;i<<l ,t lady 1 doul, know her name -wo alt
caJl luv "2 juti potw Inj.^1 " ,islv(<i afl.(r *' tin! IIKJO curly ho;i(I<d boy."
W<* wet lir Jn II foul ni ilio <'vciun'j> t hnid wliou I Isist ,HJLW you jou wrro
qinto well T wasn't hy myclf Dtjrlint 7// was with me
I fell quite jealous that who ghould rumombc'i 1 yMi all this limn. Then
lust Wednesday 1 ml .vour wnlhor and she cut nio I wnanM prepared lor
it e?thcr [ saw her c<mimq towards me and thought " us she spoke to mo
List time we met thnl iliotv is no nMfion why she Hliouldn'i. tins timo," And
as eho came up 1 pint <>mil<d, bowed, said *' IJow do you do *' -ahe jul.
look io notice whatever ami \\Mlkod on 1 can't, p^plain how I felt 1
think I wanted to hit hor more than anything l\ri\}*p /;ot worse and worse
instead of jwrt a liny hit boUor och <I'iy
On Thin Bdiiy afternoon I wont to tho ( I* O. for the Port Said Mail
and encountered the first man that I flaw before he handed mo u registered
envelope from you (which contained tho #irUnUmnk you very much
darlmt) and told me if I liud an addims in London I couldn't have letters
addressed to the O.P.O. I fold him L hadn't but I donb t/hirik ho bohevod
me anyway he didnt give me your Port Hmd lottor and I Iiadnt tho pationco
to overcome (or try to) his bad Unapor.
I went again on Monday and got it a difiuronL man wua on duty whan
1 road it T didnt feel very Hatinficd darlint it didn't scorn worth waiting
all that time for 24 days however I wont talk about it yon ought to know
by now how I feel about tlioso thingfl.
Bywaters and Thompson,
In one pait of it yof h.'., von aie ^oiii^ i-o st/iil writ* to ric beoai.se
it will help, in another pan, you say" I'erluys 3 rslu.au -urite to you & 1*1
some poits Looausc I w.Mit lo help yoa " I aont t't.cl^ci ,ud I 1,17 Lo
but I cvnir wily 1 canu d:Jmt my head achca ,ch a \vith
Last Friday last year we wait to joe " Romance " */^/i we wore pals
and this year wo s>eeju no luitliei* advanced
Why arnt you sending mo something I wrntod you to you never do
wliu,t "I ask you darhut you still have your own wny always If 1 dou t
mind the nsk why should you 7 uliutorer happons cant be any woie tluii
this existence looking lorwavd to nothing and ^ainui^ only ashes and dust
and bitterness
I'm not going to ask dad about you at all I not going to say anything
to anybody they can all UimL the worst of w tint io potsniblc f am c;inie
indiii'crent
Hiss Pnoi la on. holiday mid the onh pus'ui in this vrurLil thai i* i 'ue
to nio is Mr Gnvltnn I have liad 2 hall 1 <I.\vi- t.ff mid iuu ln,/inj.5 ano. >u't
to-morrow afternoon all this tune off nnkc'b nio Untik ot li^nl* yc'AV whui
you were with {tie rushing homo to sec 3 on
I've had a brandy and soda, bruno moriim*;* .iloul 11-30 and a I 'alt
bottle of chattip^ne bctwuori us other luoriun^i* .UK! I L'.^ru such a let of
things that arc interesting too
This movmng on the station I saw Molly U<lkii){ Aiid laughing wuli
Mr Dorvy in case yon clout remember (.lie luuuo it's the little man in
the ct White Horse "
I've never seen her talk to him bufoj'c all ho I\\Q has pu&cd me ou the
platform talking to him n voral times (nio talking to him I mean) I bowod
said good moiuing to him as I parsed and Invu &inco boon w<jud< k riug if
they have told each othci what they kno v ; jhout inc.
Never mind, a little ' toro bad feeling ci'iit btivi thore u; such a lot r*
it to contend with will you tell me if youd rather T ilidnl
Have you studied " Bicljlrnido of Itforcnry M?
231 Shjikcjhpu.'
Manor I'urk, K 12,
Juno (3(.h 1C22
Dr. Fred,
I have just received a letter from my sister m Melbourne she mcloHi*
a letter received from Ilarold in which ho says he him not a job in the
"Elite Cafe" 85 Acttand Sir. St. Kilda, Melbourne, hi- hat juat, boon
working theio for a week at the time of writing md lifis got 2 &
week with borrd ni^l lod^iii;; to ho fught not io \v 'Tit fur much, ho
works from 9 a.m. to J p m them he is off duty lill 6 p in. he then goca
on again from 6 till 10 p m according to this ho has plenty of time to come
down to your ship md got hold of the bag so might I HUftgegt you write
him from Frcomautle and tell him to conie alonft nd see you and #et the
bag, this would avoid having to nond it to Box Hill but I'll leave it to you
to make the bobt arrangement you am, and Fvo no doubt you will. Well
now what of the voyage so far, are you comfortable and a full ship, and
does there soem a prospect of making say half a fortune this trip. 1 hope
you will bo successful and do yourself a real bit of good this trip as it is a
long one, and that next time we meet you will bo able to report progress.
L
JL A,
Well, I doijit think Fve much more news to tell you*
So will conclude with best wishes from us all for your health and
prosperity, and again thanking you..
I am,
Yours etc.
: " '..' . . . ' ' .' . W. E, GEAYDON.
Exhibit L%,
Envelope Mr. F. Bywatcrs, P. & 0. 11.51.8. ** Moreu," Colombo.
[Postmark London, WJ.., July 14, 1922, 7J5 p.m.]
Darlingost boy you worry iuo wo luuch \vhaL tlo ,yua mean you nay
*' I want to be in England to look after you." 1 CJJMI im tier stand that und
I want yon to be "here also hut you tlicn say <c 1 want yon to look after
me too '* Whais tho matter tlarlhit, arc you 111? is any-
thing the matter that I could help you in at all. I do believe youve been
ill-. oh darlint why are you such miles si way -why nrent we together- so
that I ccrald help you. Would you like a pillow? tho pillow that only Poidie
can give you Id love to have you hero now so that I could give it you.
Bo tell me whats tho matter dnrlingost boy 1 shall worry and worry all tho
time until you write and "fell wo. Its Thursday and Ivo just come from
the Q.P.O. with tho Aden mail. Isnt it late thin lime darlint it's usually
in on a Monday or at latest Tuesday, However Ivo got it and thate all
that really matters Darlingosb boy diclnt 1 ay u long limo ago 4< Donfc trust
Ban." Of course I didnt moan that in Uie Kriso you have told me he
couldnt be trusted hi but my instinct was right wamtt it? You will ho careful
wont you darlint pour moi? I dont want to ever know or think that
my own boy is in any predicament of that orl~ because 111 l>e too far
away to help wont 1? The thought of anything like that makes my blood
cold 1 111 be always worrying. Im writing this letter rather early to
Colombo because Im going away tomorrow and 1 shanfc have an oppor-
tunity of writing to you again for a fortnight. Perhaps I could manage a
letter card tho anyway you'll understand wonfc you darlint pal! 1 dont
mind a bit pencil as long an its words on paper it doesn't matter
because , they *r what you say and think and do -a letter darlint is like
food only you have food everyday to keep you, alive and 1 have a letter
$very how many days? 14 sometimes and 1 have to keep alive on that
all that time. About Bella Donna no 1 dont agree with you about her
darlint 1 hate her hate to think of her 1 dont think other peapla
laade her what she was that sensual pleasure loving greedy Bella Donna
was always there* If she had originally "been different- a good Bian lite
Nigel would have altered her darlinfc- sho tiwof knew what it was to It
denied anything she never knew ** goodness '* as you and I know it
was never interested in a good manor any man unless lie could appease
her sensual nature. I don*fc think she could have been happy with nothing
*"-except Baroudi on a desert island she liked no loved and lived for his
money or what it could giva herthe luxury of his yacht the secrecy with
which he acted all bought with his moneythat's what she liked.
Yes she ww clever*-*! admire the cleverness-- *but she was cunning
is a difference ttellnt s 1 clotft admire that I certainly don*t
Bywaters and Thompson.
she would ever have killed Nigel with her hands she would have been
found out she didn't like that did she ? being found out it was that secret
cunning m Baroudi that she admired so much the cunning that matched
her own.
If she had loved Baroudi enough fehcs could have gone to him but she
liked the security of being Nigel's wite for the monetary assets it held
She doesn't seem a woman to me she seems abnormal a mon&tei
utterly selfish and self Imnp;
Darlmt this is where wo differ dboul women.
I usually stand up for them against you and in this case its the reverse
but honestly darhnt I dont call her a wou-an sho is absolutely unnatural
in every sense
You do say silly things to mo' try a little bit every day not to
think about me 'doesn't that ' trying * ever make it worse it does foi me
always
About the l age ' passages m 4 The Fruitful Vine 'I marked them
because as I read they struck me as concerning you and 1
Darlmt I didn't do it with malice every passage in any book I read
that strikes me as concerning 2 pals I maik it doesn't mailer what they
are about
I hadn't mentioned the subject any more hid T v
My veriest own lover I always think about the * difference ' when I'm
with you and when I'm rway sometimes when I'm happy for a little while
I forget but I always remember very soon perhaps some little thmg
that you might say or do when we're together reminds me Sometimes I
tlunk and think until my brain goes round and round ' Shall I always
be able to keep you " 8 years is such a long time it's not now it's later
when I'm h Joan ' and you'ie not grown old enough to be * Darby.'
When you'va got something that you've never had before and something
that you're &o happy to havo found you're always afraid of it flying
away that's how I feel about your love
Don't evor take your love away from me darlint I never want to lose
it and live
If it gets less and gradually fades away don't Jet me live to feel with-
out it It feels a bigger fuller greater love that 1 have for my own and
only lover now PEJDI.
Exhibit 63
Envelope Ah 1< Bywatern, P 0., RMS " Morea," Port Said
stamp London, E C , Aug 28, 6 15 p m , 1922.]
Darhngefit boy, today is tho 271 h and its on a Sunday, so L am writing
this in tho bathroom, 1 always like to send you greetings on the day not
the day before or the day after*
Fourteen whole months hjve gone by now, dorliiit, its so terribly
long, ^ Neither you nor I thought we should have to wait all that long
time did we? although I said I would wait 5 years and I will darlintr-
ita only 3 years and ten months now.
Appendix I.
Many happy returns and good luck darlingest boy I cant wish you
any more can I? every day I say ' Good luck to my Pal ' to myself.
PEIDI.
Exhibit 54.
Envelope Mr. F. Bywaters, P & 0. E M.S. " Morea,'' Marseilles, France.
[Postmark London, E.G., Sept. 12, 1922, 530 p.m.]
Darlint Pal,
I've got nothing to talk to you about I can't think about anything
at all I can't even look forward to seeing you. Now you are nearing
England I keep contrasting this home coming with the previous ones. I
have been buoyed up with hope, bubbling with excitement Just existing
with an intense strung up feeling of seeing you and feeling you holding me
in your two arms so tightly that it hurts but this time* everything seems
different. I don't hear from you much you don't talk to me by letter and
help me and I don't even know if I am going to see you.
Darlint, Fm an awful little beast I know I don't want io be either
but I feel so hopeless just drifting but if you say * No I won't see
you ' then it shall be so, I'm quite reconciled to whatever verdict you send
forth and shall say to myself 'It is for the best it must be so,'
Darlint you do love me still tho' don't you? and you will go on loving
me even if we don't meet. Things here are going smoothly with me I am
giving all and accepting everything and I think am looked upon as * The
Dutiful Wife ' whose spirit is at Jast bent to the will of her husband.'
This isn't sarcasm or cynicism its exactly how I feel I had a little
letter from you by what you said it was written on the 28th of July
Ive had nothingfurther there are heaps and heaps of questions in my
letters to you.
I wonder if you will answer them, or are they already dismissed? On
Saturday I was so ill. I had to stop away its not very often I give in
so much as stopping away from business but on Saturday I really had to
I'm quite alright now tho* darlint.
I don't think I told you I bought a fur coai at least part of it. It
was 27 gns. and I had 13 saved up so I borrowed 515 from the account
and am paying it back at 1 per week the debt is only 10 now.
Also I've had to fall back on wearing lace shoes no don't make a face
darlint, they are rather nice ones I wanted grey and could get nothing at
all in my usual style only with one or two straps across and I don't
like these even if they hid my foot I /shouldn'tthey look loud, 00 I
bought lace ones, only to wear with cloth clothes tho* darlint not with
silk.
Yesterday you were at Stzess-r I suppose you got my Port Said letters
there and on Friday or Saturday, you will get these I think the mail
facilities favour you more than me darlint.
Darlingest pal do let me hear an awful lot from you next week I'm
just existing now I shall live then,
Darlingest, only lover of mine try to eheer nae up,
PEIDI,
By waters and Thompson.
Exhibit 28
Envelope unaddressed
(After 19th Sept 1922)
I think I'm fearfully disappointed about you not getting in on Friday
darlint I'd been planning to get off early rush to JQford and do the
shopping and rush up to meet you having had my hair washed in the
luncheon hour instead of at nightas I should have said and now all that is
no useso I shant have my hair washed it must wait until the next
Fridaythat will mean an extra hour with you do you mind me having
a, dirty head for a week darlint its very very dirty. I've been hanging it
out especially for now.
Why are you so late this time oh I hate this journey, I hate Australia
and everything connected with it it will be 109 days since Ive seen you
and you didnt answer my question about China and Japan next time, I
suppose it is Tight or you would have told me it will be worse then
I was surprised about you going home this time darlint so surprised
I couldnt believe I had read rightly at first
You ask me if Im glad or sorry darlint I dont know how I feel about
it Im glad for you darlint because you know I always felt responsible
for the break, I dont think Im glad for myself tho', I think I'm harbouring
just a small petty feeling of resentment against them I've tried eo hard
not to and I think I didnt at first, and its only just this last time
You say you have reasons darlmt I dont know them and you dont tell
me them so I cant be influenced by them one way or the other Tell me
them it'll help darlmgest You say you suppose you deserve the Sydney
letter didnt you get 2 darlint I was sorry as soon as I had posted the
first. I do hope you got the 2nd.
Darlmgest boy pal you're horrid to be cross about the Turkish Delight
you are really I'm sorry I wrote that but just think darlint you know
that is what everyone else would have said or thought and I'm mixed up
with all the " everyones " so much that I forgot at the moment, that I
was talking to someone different If you are still cross soften a wee
teeny bit and forgive Peidi and try and accept her excuse for erring Darlint
you know " to err is human, to forgive divine," and Im certainly not
going to even hazard a guess why you are not bringing any delight or
cigarettes this time, in case I err again or am misunderstood. Please teU
me I think I must have been reading ' The Firing Line ' at the aame
time as you I finished it last Sunday Why didn't you like it as well as
the others darlint?
I liked it but I liked the villain as they call him, too, Louis Malcourt.
I've read it before ages and ages ago only I was stuck for something
decent to read and asked Avis to bring along something belonging to ine
that they had at 231 she brought that
I've read " Monte Ohristo " darlint but neither of the others you
mention.
You're going to get me some books this tmie aren't you? please
darlmt.
Darlhigest boy I don't quite understand you about * Pals.' You say
* Can we be Pals only, Peidi, it will make it easier.'
210
Appendix L
Do you mean for always? because if you do, No, no, a thousand times.
We can't be * pals ' oidy for always darlint its impossible physically and
mentally.
Last time we had a long talkI said, " Go away this time and forget
all about me, forget you ever knew me, it will be easierand better for
you."
Do you remember and you refused, so now I'm refusing darlint it
must be still ' the hope of all ' or * the finish of all. '
If you still only mean for a certain time and you think it best, darlint
it shall be so I don't see how it will be easier myself but it shall be as
you say and wish, we won't be our natural selves tho' I know we'll be
putting a kerb on ourselves the whole time like an iron band that won't
expand. Please don't let what I have written deter you from any
decision darlint I don't want to do that truly I'd like to do what you
think best.
I don't sleep much better now th* nights seem so long I sleep for an
hour and lie awake for 2 and go to sleep again for another hour right thro*
the night.
A doctor cant do me any good darlint no good at all even the most
clever in the land unless that doctor is you -and it cant be, so Im not
going to waste any more money on them. I want you for my doctor my
pal my lover my everything just all and the whole world would be
changed. Im very anxious to know about missing the ship at Sydney.
I heard about it from Avis last night she said ' Oh I suppose he was
drunk.' Darlint, thats a lie isn't it you promised me once that it would
never be e too much.' Im worrying about it 231 have made me worry
by putting things into my head.
Send my letters to 168 as before darlint 111 risk it and I have a diffi-
culty in getting them at the G.P.O. The Marseilles letter was marked all
over " Hot known " and initialed about 5 times, I think, and they always
question me closely as to not having a permanent address. I'll expect a
letter on Monday morning at 168.
Im not very keen on the sound of " I went home to my cousin's every
night quite domesticated." It sounds like a sneer I wonder if you did
sneer when you wrote it.
Now about that Wednesday I mentioned Im disappointed, I thought
you told me you'd never forget " Dont spoil it " and yet you can remember
a trivial incident like that. Monday when I was with Harry Pentaa,
Do you remember now? taking me to a quick lunch at Evans and coming
into 168 and then meeting your Mother up West and then ringing me and
asking me what I was doing that evening and I was going to tea at
The Waldorf. You went and slept at Norwood that night and didn't
come back to me until the Friday. You sound very despondent when
you say about " Time passes and with it some of the painFate ordained
our lot to be hard." Does some of the pain you feel pass with time?
Perhaps it does things eeem 00 much easier to forget with a manhis
environment is always different but with a woman its always the same.
Darlint my pain gets less and less bearable it hurts more and more
every day, every hour really.
" Other ways only involve the parting of you and I, Peidi, nobody
deserves anything mote than I do/'
Bywaters and Thompson.
I don't understand this part try and explain to me please have you
lost heart and given up hope? tell me if you have darlmt don't bear it all
alone.
Darlmgest, about you being unnatural I don't know I don't think
its unnatural to give something without wanting to receive in return I
never did but I think at one time you would have thought so
From the way your acquaintances argue they are judging you from
how they know you, I think, but I know quite a different boy from them
he's a pal not an ordinary sensual sort oi creature made m the usual
mould of men
Let them know you as they like darlint Im selfish enough to want to
be the only one who really knows her pal
I think I must be fearfully densealso my memoiy has loft me in
the lurch because I dont understand what you mean by your question
" Peidi do you think you could live with a replica you once said No "
When did I say it and what do you mean what docs the question
refer to* Its a puzzle to me darlint, but I accept the rebuff my memory
has given me and hope you will overlook this omission
Darlint that's the worst of saying something " is always good "it
invariably lets you down after this statement
Please explain
Now I'm going to be cross Dont bully me I never said or evon sug-
gested that I should cultivate the Begent Palace Hotel and there was no
need whatever for you to have hurled forth that edict and then underlined
it. Ask to be forgiven you bully ' (darlint pal)
No, I dont think the man who mistook iue foi " Romance " was decent
darlint, but I do think he was quite genuine in mistaking uie, I dont think
it was a ruse on his part.
Yes, darlint you are jealous of him but I want you to be ho has tho
right by law to all that you have the right to by nature and love yes
darlint be jealous, so much that you will do something desperate.
Ive not sent a wire to Plymouth to you Ive changed my mind I seo
you left Gibraltar on the 19th and perhaps you will got in Saturday morning
then I shall send you a wire to Tilbury to meet me in the afternoon if
its at all possible for you
Before I finish up this letter Ive got a confession to make. Darlingost
about the watch I didnt send it to Plymouth purposely.
I felt that you were not going to come and see me this time and the
feeling was awful horrid, and I felt that if you refused I couldnt make you.
And then I was tempted I thought, " Sfes I can make him I wont
send his watch I'll tell him if he wants it lie's to come to 168 and
fetch it
Darlint, was it small? if it was, real big love must make people think
of small things, because real, big love made PJOXDX.
Exhibit 55.
Darlint Pal, please try and use pour moi, and dont buy a pouch, je
vais, pour vous one of these days.
(ad) Proi
Appendix I.
Exhibit 55a
Extract from Daily Sketch, 20th September, 1922, page 2, column 4.
With headnote
fc ' Chicken Broth Death
" Bat Poison Consumed by Fowl Kills Woinjn "
The report states
" That death was due to consuming broth mode from a chicken which
had eaten poison, containing a rat virus, was the medical explanation at the
resumed inquest at Shoroditch yesterday on Mrs. Sarah Feldman (34) of
Reliance Square, Horton "
HXhiliR 47 uud *8
[ThLKURAM |
Office of Origin London City, 8 Oflu-e' flliiini/ Villii*' v Jfiswsx,
Sep 22.
Handed m at 9.28 Kecouod hero at 9 48.
To Ttoply Paid Bywatu'b Steamer Morea, Tilbury I>ocli
Can you meet Peidj Broadway 4 p m.
Envelope addresseil JBj waters, s *, " Moron." limply I'd.
58 ami 59.
*MJ
Office o{ Origin London City, ft. Offtce Stamp Tilbury, Essex, 25
Sop 22.
Handed in at 103 am Received hare at 10.16 a 111,
To By waters, Steamer Morea, Tilbury Docks.
Must catch 5 49 Ifonchnrch Boply if can
R \lnbifc 9.
From CarH-on and Pnor t
168 Aldorsgaio Stnwt,
London, E.C.I.
September 30, 1922.
Come in for mo in i an hour.
Bywaters and Thompson.
Exhibit 60
Plain envelope.
Darlingest lover of mine, thank you, thank you, oh thank you a
thousand times for Friday it was lovely its always lovely to go out
with you
And then Saturday yes I did fool happy I didn't think a teeny bit
about anything in this world, except being with you and all Saturday
evening I was thinking about you I was just with you in a big arm chair
in front of a great big fire feeling all the time how much I had won cos
I have darlmt, won such a lot it feels such a great big thing to me some-
timesthat I can't breathe
"When you are away and I seo girls with men walking along together
perhaps they are acknowledged sweethearts they look so ordinary then
I feel proud so proud to think and feel that you are my lover and even
tho' not acknowledged I can still hold you just with a tiny * hope.'
Darhnt, we've said we'll always be Pals haven't we, shall we say we'll
always be lovers even bho' secret ones, or is it (this great big love) a thing
we can't control dare we say that I think I will dare Yes I will ' I'll
always lovo you 'if you are dead if you have left me even i you don't
still love me, I always shall you
Your love to me is now, At is something different, it is my life and if
things should go badly with us, I shall always have this past year to look
back upon and feel that * Then I lived ' I never did before and I never shall
again
Darlingest lover, what happened last night 7 I don't know myself I
only know how I felt no not really how I felt but how I could feel if
time a#d circumstances were difiereofc.
It seems like a great welling up oE love of feeling of inertia, just as
if I am wax in your hands to do with as you will and I fool that if you
do as you wish I shall be happy, its physical purely and I can't really
describe it but you will understand darlint wont you 7 You said you
knew it would be like this one day if it hadn't would you have been
disappointed. Darlingest when you are rough, I go dead try not to be
please.
The book is lovely it's going to bo sad davlmt tho', why can't life go
on happy always?
I like Clarie she is so natural so unworldly
Why ar'nt you an artist and I as she is I feel when I am reading
frightfully jealous of her its a picture darlmt, just how I did once picture
that little flat in Chelsea why can't ho go on loving hor always why are
men different I am right when I say that love to a man is a thing apart
from his life but to a woman it is her whole existence
I tried so hard to find a way out of tonight darlmgcst but he was
suspicious and still is I suppose we must make a study of this deceit for
some time longer. I hate it I hate every he I have to toll to see you-
because lies seem such small mean things to attain such an object as ours. We
ought to be able to use great big things for great big love like ours. I'd
love to be able to say ' I'm going to see my lover tonight.' If I did he
would prevent me thoro would be scenes and he would come to 168 and
214
Appendix I.
interfere and I couldn't bear that I could be beaten all over at home and
still be defiant but at 168 it's different It's my living you wouldn't
let me live on him would you and I shouldn't want to darlint its funds
that are our stumbling block until we have those we can do nothing.
Darlmgest find me a job abroad I'll go tomorrow and not say I was going
to a soul and not have one little regret I said I wouldn't think that I'd
try to forget circumstances Pal, help me to forget again I have succeeded
up to now but its thinking of tonight and tomorrow when I can't see you
and feel you holding me
Darlmt do something tomorrow night will you? something to make
you forget I'll be hurt I know, but I want YOU to hurt me I do really
the bargain now, seoms so one sided so unfair but how can I alter it?
About the widcii I didn't think you thought more of that how can I
explain what I did feol ? I felt that we had parted you weren't going to
soo mo I had given you Bomothm'; to remind you of me and I had pur-
posely retained it If I said '* come for it " you would but only the
once and it would be as a pid, because you would wsmfc me to barlly nt times
thai the watch would help you not to feel so badly and if you hadn't
got it the feeling would be so roal li would conquer you against your will.
Darlmt do I flatter myself wlion I think you think more of the watch
than of anything else That, wasn't u. present HIP I wz,r, something you
asked me to give you when we decided to be pal* a soit of sealing of the
compact/ 1 couldn't afford it llh>n, but immediately I could 1 did Do
you remember when arid whore, wo woic when you naked mo foi il v If you
do tell me, if you don't, forgot I asked,
How I thought you would feel about the watch, 1 would feel about
something I have
It isn't mmo, but it belongs to ua and unless wo wore differently situated
than we are now, I would follow >ou everywhere until you gwe it to me
back
He's still well he's going to gusso fill day Jong at you in your temporary
homo after Wednesday.
Don't forji*t what wo taikod in the Toa Roam, I'll Mill risk and try
if you will wo only huvo 3| ye.tw> left darhngost.
Try & holji
Jftuui.
hit 10
Cnrlliin jnrl 1'iiui',
168 Aldaii;al<* MLnwt,
London, K C.I
19
Wait till one h<'' a>nnu
PKIUI.
By waters and Thompson.
Exhibit 64.
Plain envelope.
Darlicgest boy, thank you
I know what you say is really true, but darhnt it does feel pometimes
that we are drifting. Don't you ever feel like that and it hurts so of ever
so much
Yes, we are both going lo fight until we win darlint, fight hard, in
real earnest you are going to help me first and then I am going to help
you and when you have done your share and I have done mine we shall
have given to each other what we both " desire most in this woild " our-
selves, isn't this right, but darhnt don't fail in your share of the bargain,
because I am helpless without your help you understand
Darlint, this is the one instance in which I cannot stand alone I cannot
help myself (at first) the one instance when I want a man to lean on
and that one man is and can only alwaysbe you
Please, please darhnt take me seriously I want you to I wanted you to
before and you didn't. Tell me when you see mo nest time that you will
darlint, for certain, remember Peidi is relying on you and you understand
mo and know I moan what 1 say and tell me you know i too tit fall or shirk
when the time or opportunity comes.
Darlint you say you are looking forward to Thursday nijjht, is this
really true? somehow I feel it isnt, I have done ever sinco the 9th and
when I think about it I feel more so about it. You have not asked mo
all the time you've been home to go with you except to a dance which
I refused because I want to wait for that tune that first fiance until it
will be a real pleasure, without any pain and it <nn't bo just now darlmt
can it ? and when you said you'd take me to lunch and then didn't cumo arid
I'm wondering I can't help it darlint if I ve done right in asking you to
take me out. And apart from this feeling that I h.ivo, there is that over
present question of money darlint you've never told mo this time onco
about money what you had and what you spent and I felt hurthorribly
darlint, especially about the suit last time you told uie about tho coatbut
not this tune why the difference darhnt?
And as I haven't any money to give you, at least not much and perhaps
you havn't any I wish you weren't going to take me out darlint and evon
now its not too late if you'd only tell mo, be quite frank about it darhnt,
I'll understandsurely you know I will I didn't intend to mention this
darlint, but neither you nor I must harbour thoughts that each, other
doesn't know, mu*>t we, we must be one in thoughts and wishes and
actions always darlint, so I have. Please undroitfimt how I /<*el and
know I love you. A'JBSXDX.
Exhibit 14.
Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company.
3.8 Morea.
Bombay,
1st December, 1921.
Dear Edie,
Do you remember last Xmas you wrote to me wishing mo all the best.
216
Appendix I.
I never wrote you so this year I'm going to make sure of it, I want to wish
you all that you can wish youiself I know all those wishes of yours will
run into a deuce of a lot of money Such items as fur coats, cars and
champagne, will be very prominent on the list anyhow, good health and I
hope you got it Have a very ical good time, the best that is possible.
I shall be about 2 clays this bide of Suez. Never mind I will hav* a drink
with you Once more the vciy very best at Xmas and
Yonrs veiy Sincculy,
EJiitnt 30
Clouaiio
Darling Peidi Mia,
Tonight was impulse natural I coulrlut ;*Hst- 1 had to hold you
darling little sweetheart of mine davlmt 1 \v.w afraid 1 thought you were
going to refuse to kiss mo dnrliul little c^irl I love you so much and the
only way 1 can control myself IH by not <-ccmg you und I'm noo going to
do that. Darlmb Peidi Mui I must have you 1 lovo von darhnt logic and
what others call reason do not enter into our lives, ind \vliore two halves
are concerned. I had no intention dnHint of doing that it jusl happened
thats all I'm glad now chore cl.irhnli when you snjjqo,te<l th" occupied
carriage, I didn't wiuil to go in il did yon liiiuk thai peihaps I did RO
that there would have boon n> opportunity for TOP, to break Uio conditions
that I had stipulated darlinl 1 felt quite t'oiifulent that I vK>ul<l be able to
keep my feelings down I wis wrong Pcidi 1 was reckoning on will
power over ordinary forrr* - but i ur fij;htint( v\}i!it ? not ordinary forces -
nothing was fighting the whole of itx* I'ddi you me my uiu^net -1 cannot
resist darlint you draw mo io you now and always, 1 ahull never be able
to floe >ou and uMimin impaMMivo iMilmt IVuli Mm Frlo! niine~-l lovo
you ttlwayu always Ma CJlun IjHiii riiglit \vli< i n L road your questions
didn't know how to answer them I havu now l'<*idi?
Barlint L dont tlmik I c.tn talk abnutr other tiling tonif^lil- -T want to
hold you so tightly Tin goirt to tonight in my .sleep. IJou Nuit Ma
Petite, dborcliez bien pour volie
Kxlnhit, 31
Peidi JDarlint.
Sunday evening, Everybody in out und now I cinn lalk to you. I
wonder what you are doing now my own little girl I hope that Bill has
not been the cause of any further tmple;us!wtne;;,s dnrlint Darhnt Iittlo girl
do you re/nomhor iyirig ** Lho hope for all," ** Or Uio finish
of all." Pcich tho finish oi nil Beoins toi-nblti oven to <'on-
template. What darlint would it bo in pr;vt;ticc v JVidi Mia.
1 love you more and more ovwy duy it grows darlint and will koep
on growing. Darlint m the park our Park on Saturday, you wore my
" little devil"! was happy then ] J oidiwore you? 1 wasn't thinking of
other thing* only you darlint- yon wa my entire world-*! lovo you so
much my Peidi I mtwtut over think of bfiiig you, darlint if I wag a pool I
JI7
Bywaters and Thompson.
could write volumes but I not I suppose at the most Ive only spoken about
2 dozen words today I dont try not to speak but I have no wish to Im
not spoken to much so have no replies to make
Darlint about the watch I never really answered your question I only
said I wasnt cross I -cant understand you thinking that the watch would
draw mo to you where you yourself wouldnt is that what you meant
darlinfc or have I misunderstood you Tho way you have written looks to
me as though you think that 1 think more of the watch than I do of you
darlint Tell me Peidi Mia that I misunderstood your meaning
Darlint Peidi TVlia I do remember you coming to me m the little room
and I think I understand what it cost you a lot moie then darhnt than It
could ever now. When I think about that I think how nearly we came to
be parted for ever, if yon had not forfeited your pride darlint I dont think
there would evei have been yesterday or tomorrow
My darlmt darhnt littlo girl 1 lovr yo'i more than I will ever be able to
show you Darlint you are the centrethe world goes on lound >ou, but you
ever remain my world the olhcr part some things ju'o essential others fire
on the outsku-ts and sometjmea &o far removed from my mind that they
seem non existent Darling Peidi Mia 1 answered tin* question alxjut the
word *' Idle " on Saturday T never mentioned it
Yes darlmt I remember you being asked if you had found *' Tho great
lover " It -was when you sang " A Tumble Down Nook "
What have I found dailint? Tho darlinge&fc little sweetheart girl m
the whole world and "The Only Pal" Now dailiiit pal Im anxious
about Avis I hope you have found out all there is to know of the other
night I want you to tell me Supposing she did stdy with some fellow
and she tells you and asks you not to teU anybody are you going to toll
me Peidi?
Darhnt I'm enclosing a slip for vou for the book;, in cnM 1 1 am unable
to got them myself al&o will you get the " Tempting of l'iul Ohestfr "
Alice and Claude Askew. There in 15/- to pay on the others but darlmt
1 hope to be able to get them myself, also and principally T want to drink
Beaune with yon.
Good night now darhngest dearest littlo sweet ho'irt and big pal
218
APPENDIX II.
Letters from Edith Thompson not put in Evidence at tke Trial
Envelope -Mr F. Bywaters, ?, & UIvJS " Morca," Aden.
[Postmark London, E C , Dec, 6, 1021 , 2 p.ni 1
Darlingest boy I know,
I saw m the p.ipor yesterday you touched Aden on the 28th, I suppose
tomorrow or Sunday you will amvo in T3omba\ & I believe Bill left today,
perhaps you will just manage to rsoo him tlio\
I am feeling very Vino today darlint, you hnvn't talked to me lor u
fortnight, and I am felni'? wornccl, oh 1 don't know how I'm foelmg
really, it beoms like a vry !,ir<,o p.iiii thM. conn From that ceascle&h longinj;
for you, wordcs uvo oxprowioiiUwi darlmt, I'ns "rattuesB, tho bigness of
tho love I have, makes mo fo*v tlinl it in too '\w t {\ to last, it will never dm,
darlint don't think, but 1 f oar how can I o q>hnn that it will never
mature, tliat we, you & I will ncvoi roap onr icv/ard, in fact, 1 just feel
today darlint, tli.it our love will all bo m vH.ni
Ho talked to me <igam litest mifht a lot, d.irlint 1 don't remember inmli
about it, except that ho asked we if I was any happier 1 just smd f
suppose as happy as I shall over bo, & then h<* fnVhtened me by sHjiV;
oh I don't think I'll Ml von
I loft off there, dftrliutr thouijhir thotiplit for i nu hour & J will
tell you now. Ho said ho began to think that both of us would k>
happier if we had a baby, I said " No, a thousand timon No " & he bognn
to question me, and talk to me & pldud with ino, oli d(lmt, its all BO hard
to bear, come home to mo <omo home quickly & help mo, its so much
worse this time Ho hasn't worried mo any more, excopt that onoo I told
you about, darlint, do you understand what I moan? but things seem
worse tor all that. You know 1 always Hlucp to tho wall, darlint, woll I
still do but he putif} his arm round me & oh iLs horrid, I suppose l'ui
silly to take any notice, T never used to bcforu I knew you I just used to
accept the inevitable, but you know dailmt, I cither fool things very
intensely or I am quite indifferent just cold froswn.
But to writo all this is very selfish of mo, it will uuiko you feel very
miserable you can't do anything to holp moat least not yet, so I'll stop.
What else cnn 1 talk about v only ordinary things darbnt, but to talk
about even those perhaps will help to doaclmi tho pam. We went to tbo
theatre in the week to see " Womuu to Woman " afc tho Globe. I had tho
tickets given me. Darlint, it was a lovely play, 1 think I liked it as much
as " Romance " altho the plot is not tho anio. I have written you a
description of it I should like you to discuss it with me, but better still
I should like to soo it again with you, but I cant, HO I have talked to you
about it, that's the next, best thing, isn't it darlint?
By waters and Thompson.
Also I finished the book " The Trail of 98 " & liked it ever so much,
I have also written to you, about it Darlint you have quite a lot of mail
from me at Aden, I think, I do hope you will feel pleased not too miserable,
I don't want you to, darlint, just forget all the miserable things I've said
to you.
Its been terribly cold here, & foggy thick real old fashioned fogs for
4 days. I've had & still got such a bad chilblain on the back of my heel
its been there a fortnight now & I cant get rid of it I think I've tried
5 different things The worst of it is any shoes I have the tops of them
cut it the chilblain, right in half
Darlint, have you written to the * B.I Co ' yet, please do I w.int you
to, you know if we are going to \\in, \ve must look forward understand
darlint*
Yesterday I v\ras taking a country buyer to Cooks, St Pauls, & passing
the <( Chapter House '* he said to me '" Would you care for a glass o wine
here, its quite a nice place " Imagine darlint, me being told its quite a
nice place. I said " No thanks," really I'd rather not " & yet if it had
boon anywhere elso I should have said " Yes " Do you know, darlint, when
you were home last time we didnt go there once, I feel borry when I think
about it, I should like to havo gone, but we wiil next time, say " Yes "
darlint I do so hope you'll be home longer than a fortnight this next time.
Isn't it funny the feelings we havo about going into the places with
strangers that we have been m together. I fool very strongly about it, I
couldn't no I simply couldn't go & sit in either of those corner boats at
the Strand without you nor nt the JETolborn, nor " Chapter House/ 1 nor
the " Coronation " nor anywhere elso, where you & 1 havo been ft fftffced,
really talked. Do you remember us talking together in tho " Chapter
House " one Friday night, about my life being happy, living with onJy 2
people besides myself I don't remember what I answered then Yes, I
believe I do, but the answer would not be the same today, it would be
with only 2 people, 2 halves, one whole, darhnt, just you & me, say " Yos,
it's right, & it will be so," I want telling so many times darlint.
What do you think ho is going lo loam dancing to take me out to
some nice ones, wont it be fun as tho sing says " Aint we got fun/* while
you are away About myself darlint, its still the .same & I've not done
anything yet I don't think I shall until next month, unless you tell me
otherwise, after you get this letter, or the OTIO I wrote previously.
Darlint I got a letter, or rather 2 in 1 envelope on Saturday morning
You say that you can't write but you will try from Port Said. Is this
correct * The envelope of these is stamped Port Said. No, you're quite
right darlint, when you say you cant talk to me, you can't, these letters
are only writing, they are not talking, not the real talking I was looking
forward to.
Why is it? darlint, what is the matter? you do still fool the same,
don't you ? Oh say Yes, I feel so sad & miserable about it. I seem to be
able to talk to you always & for ever, but you, I don't know, you don't
seem, the same as when you wore away before, you did talk to mo a lot that
trip, but this time you don't seem to at all. Why is it dailint? You do
still feel the same don't you? Am I horrid to expect so much, tell me if I
am but darlint I feel that I could give all, overything & I can't read
Appendix II.
between the lines of your letters this time that you even want to accept
that all.
One part that did amuse me was over the argument That expression
" I do love 'em, etc " made me think of old times, you remember the
Shanklin times, when neither of us had any cares, or worries, personal ones
I mean, altho' we hadn't learned to know ourselves or each other, which
were the best times darhnt ? now or thon, just tell me, I shant mind That
was a funny droam you had, wasn't it ? I wonder what it means or if
it means anything Why do you toll me not to get excited darlmt,, do you
think I would I don't think I should darlmt, over that, you & I have
too much at stake, to take too many risks. But I don't think there is any
risk, darlmt, it doesn't seem so at any rate, but I feel that I could dare
anything, and bear everything for you, darlmt.
That's all now, darlint, 1'vo got such a great lump como m my tluo.it
& I'll have to swallow it somehow. Peidi does want 5 ou now.
Envelope-Mr P. Bywatort, P. & O. J& M.fc. " Moiea," Marseilles.
[Postmark London, EC, Jan 24, 3C22, 3 SO p m ]
Durl ingest boy I know,
I ^ot your note and wiclomire from Tilbury and a letter a renl nice
one from Dover this morning.
Yes, darJint, it wns r<al lox>ly on Thuruduy ju*t to bo with you for
lori^r Mum that one hour just to Id, (,mio slid** h>i a little longer than
usuaJ I'm over so gUcl I had you on Thursday it vould have boon &o hard
yes, much harder Mtuti it js now for you Jo go tiwny without being with
you for just that sliorl 1>inut.
Darlmt don't we set store by jui>t those few hours cim you imagine what
a whole long day will bo like? Hours sooia hko Paradise, days will bo liko
well I don't know, bccwiBO Tvo never had days before.
This is a vile nib, but T havii't another.
That feeling I had & ntill have about yoti j;oiug darlmt 1 can't
explain -not oven to myself fust of all f ftvl that 1 shfill want you &
shall need you to loan on & you wont bo Uioro & than durlint iho " drifting
foelmg " that 1 told yon MM nil before I think is nuiinly responsible J think
if next time (C rm;in in March) things arc just tho samo we'll fcol
further apart still, because darlmt, T did feel apart this time its no uae
making myself say I didn't, lint darlind tTmt was your fault yes, it was &
you*re going to way " It wns " & take all tho blumo because 1 said so
but its not gointf to happen again you're not going to lot it are yon
darlint, you're going to tell tuo every tiny little thing both when you'ro
away & when you como homooven if fjomo things are silly & you're cross
about & you're still going to tell me. Yes, I've fluid " YQH " for you, so
yon must darliut. Dariin^ost boy, 1 didn't go to 231 OIL Friday 1 did
want you so much jut to take caro of ino & help mo to get thro', I'll
toll you about it.
About 10.30 or 11 a.m. I foil awfully ill -I hud terrible pains como
all over me -the sort of pains that I usually have but have not had just
lately do you understand.
Bywaters and Thompson.
These continued for about an hour & I stuck it somehow feeling very
sorry for myself until about 12 o'c I went off then into a faint. They
managed to get me to with brandy then I went off again, & again, making
3 times in all. Everybody here was fearfully frightened & eventually sent
for the doctor. He told them to partially undress me & give me a hot
water bottle refilling it every half an hour
At 330 p.m. he came in again and as I was no better Jim took me
home in the motor Dailint, I was lying flat on the floor inside, with the
water bottle.
Whon I got home I went straight to bed & about 7 something awful
happened, darlmt I don't know for certain \\hut it was, but I can guess,
can you, write & tell me.
On Saturday, I felt a bit boiler, but not much I didn't know what
to do or take to get better & I looked awful. In the evening I dressed &
went out & really enjoyed myself, meeting heaps of people I know & hadn't
seen some for 2 years. It was a very cosmopolitan crowd darlmt & I do
wish I had been with you there I'm so certain sure you would have
enjoyed it I've enclosed you a menu & programme, not ows, but an extra
one I got Uncle to give mo. On tho back you will see names of artistes
" Evelyn Clifford & John Humphries." They arc husband & wife friends
of Mr. Carlton & they sang a song the following of which I remember .
He : One little word.
Sho : Chen.
He : heads to two little words.
She Ma chere.
Ho Two little words load to 3 little words.
Both I love you.
It was nice, darlmt, you would Lave liked it
Yesterday darlmt was an opportunity lost, it was a thick, a very thick
fog the worst London has known for years. II o wont to bed about 8.30
with a headache I stayed up in front of the fire until 10 30 with you
darlinir thinking of you & thinking of us & thinking of that " Glorious
Adventure " that you are helping me with. You are aren't you?
Everything was alright on Thursday night. I had an escort from the
station I didn't go to sleep at nil that night, no not ouco, not even when
it was time to get up.
Darlmgest boy, I'll talk to you again by Wednesday. Don't worry
about me now, I'm feeling much better, but a teeny bit disappointed.
PSSIDI.
Envelope Mr E. Bywaters, P. & 0. R.M.S. "Morea," Marseilles.
[Postmark London, EC., Jan. 28, 1922; 2.30 p.m.]
Darlingest boy, its Wednesday now, the last for posting to Marseilles.
I'll be thinking & thinking, wishing such a lots of things tomorrow late
when I shall know you have arrived You will help mo darlmt you
won't fail me this time. I'm feeling very very hopeful to-day that
" bucked " feeling darlmt, you know it, I know, but I also feel how much
I miss you miss so much even that one little hour.
Bo you remember the songs darlmt *' One little Hour," did you like it
well if you did when you first heard it, you dout now, because darlint
Appendix II.
you've changed, you're different not a bit like the boy I remember at
Shanklin on the last Friday, do you remember darling " I love you," I do
& then it was that " One little Hour " kind of love, oh yes it was, but
those kind of things that were pleasures to you then are, just sordid inci-
dents now aren't they I mean with everybody but ourselves.
Darlint, about the other song you never mentioned if you liked the
words I didn't buy it to send to you especially, it belonged to me no to
both of us, & it still does. Not since you've been gone darlint have you
had a nice tidy head, I've done it purposely not once a day but 2 or 3
times, it's nice I like doing it. So you'll have to, darlint. Just say I'm
not to, & I will. Do you remember our Sat. morning the snowballs & the
sweets & the drinks in that " low common place " for a woman to go.
Darlint you know you called me " fast " & the man in the confectioners
thought I was terrible spending all your money & darlint I will be terrible,
when you have a lot of money for me to spend. All those motor cars
fur coats & champagne you wished me at Xmas I'm going to have one of
these days, eh darlint because you're the only one that I'll let buy them
I went to E.H.S. on Monday night for the parcel & as I had time to
spare (I didn't want to get home before 7) I walked back along the High
St. to the Broadway very narrowly missing Mrs Bristow & bumping into
Cossy. I dare say everyone at 231 knows I was in the High St. now.
On Monday night we went into the Birnages for a hand of cards. They
were very nice, but the strain of keeping out family matters (owing to the
rift with Lily) was rather trying.
Darlint, I got your cable this morning, thank you so much the clock
indicates handed in at past 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Is this right? It's later
than it always has been.
The weather here is frightfully cold again, the wind blows so hcird, & I
miss you to hold me in the train.
Will you do something for me darlint, yes, I know you will if its
possible. I want a slide for the back of my hair to match the comb, do
you think its possible to match.
I can't possibly wear my usual one & the comb together. Try for me
please darlint.
Have you finished *' The Common Law " yet, I expect you have
don't forget to write me a long discussion on it, I want to hear exactly
what you think of her ideas & what you think about her giving in.
The giving in part was rather significant to me darlint, because as
you remember saying to me " But you would if I asked & wanted you to,"
Darlingest boy, please excuse me now I've just had a ring from Avia
& Mother was taken ill last night with " flu " & temperature 105 the
doctor is afraid of pneumonia so I'm just going down to Manor Park.
It's 12.30 now. I love you darlint & am living for Monday when you will
be talking to me, I hope it will be a long long time. PKIDI.
Envelope Mr F. Bywaters, P, & 0. R.M.S. " Morea," Aden.
[Postmark London, E.G., Jan. 31, 6.15 p.m., 1922. Stamps 2d.]
27th January, 1922.
My very best wishes darlint and hopes for many real happy ones later.
PSSIBL
Bywaters and Thompson.
Envelope Mr V. Bywateift, P & O. KM S. "Morea," Aden.
[Postmark London, E.G., Feb 15, 530 pm, 1922. Stamp 2d ]
I was so pleased to get your letter, darlint, it came on Friday mid-
day Miss Prior took it in & examined the seal all the time she was
bringing it down the stairs. I was looking at her Darlint, you bay I cant
know how you feel, when you failed cant I darlint? dont I know didn't I
fail once 9 I do know darlmt, its heartbreaking to think all the schememg
all the efforts are in vain But we'll be patient darlmt the time will
come we're going to make it just you & I our united efforts darlmt, I shall
be very very interested in all you will have to toll me I can understand
darlint how difficult it must be all that underwork I wonder if I could
do any more I believe I could somehow women usually can in these things
but I'm counting on you putting all my faith in thoho persuasive powers
that I know you possess, because you've used them on mo Darlmgobt Boy
you say '" Am I right " I dont know it's what 1 think happened darlint
but I dont know, I've never had any experience in such matters and I
never discuss them with members of my sox as so many girls do therefore
I suppose I'm rather ignorant, on such subjects but I'll tell you everything
about it when I can look at you & you musl/nt be cross with me darlint
about getting up. I can say I did know it was dangerous or whether I
didn't I just didn't think about it at all, I fought and fought with
myself to make myself keep up & I think I succeeded, darlmt. Put
yourself in my place darlint & sec how you would foci if you thought by
stopping in bed and not making an effort a doctor would have been called
m would have said well what have you I think he would someone else
not you would have taken both the blame & tho prido for the thing they
did not do.
I imagine how I would foel about it, I'm afraid darlmt I would not
have been able to keep silent. Plouso dont worry, darlint I'm alright
really now only a bit shaky & 1 dont like the way you say ** It was
ridiculous for you to get up " etc because I'm not going to let you bully
me so please take note monsieur & dont transgress aga n.
Darlmt that Friday night you wouldn't have " gone under to any-
thing " would you and left me by myself. I understand how yon felt,
but cheer up darlint it wont always be like that & all we get in future
darlint, we shall appreciate the more because we have had to climb so
many stiles in " Our glorious adventure " & have fallen the other side
so many times, that when wo dont stumble when we land on our feet oh
wont it be gorgeous darlint the thought of it is tho only thing that keeps
us up sometimes oh, I understand darlmt the one pal you've got under-
stands everything.
It is as if our thoughts & minds & actions wore just one even tho*
we are miles apart Do you feel like that darlint I do when I'm doing
anything by myself. I always think & say to myself that you are doing
it & thinking it with me.
Darlint when you are home next time you must ask your sister to play
that eong for you because it wont matter that she does know who gave it
you then will it & I shall never be able to play it so darlint please do.
Fancy darlint you doing such a dreadful thing as to discuss those truly
awful matters with me. I am ashamed of you. Am I ? you know & darlint
Appendix II.
I am glad you altered (m your own mind) thai word good to fortunate
because you also have fco utter the word " Bad " to unfortunate.
I've been reading a perfectly glorious book darhnt " The Business of
Life " by R W. Chambers. It is very like in detail " The Common Law "
but in the one question it is exactly opposite.
I did enjoy it so much I believe I liked it better thcin " The Common
Law " no I'm not quite certain Anyhow I want you to read it & tell me
what/ you think of it if you liked it better etc it seemed to me more human
in many ways, than the oilier one
Shall 1 bond it- to your homo tor -you to read o\er weekend March 18th
or shall I keep ifc & grve it you. I'd like to send it to you now, I'm so
anxious for you to read it
Dai lint is my letter to Bombay awaiting you on your arrival, or
do you have to wait :i week lor it, I behove you do This morning I think
you arrive and you'll coe Bill & I'll be thinking of & about you all this
coming week, darlmt cinch a lol I know you'll be careful you said you
would
I want to toll you abort a dream I had last week I received a letter
by hand by Avis & the envelope was addrcsbed m Harry Benton's writing
only inside was a letter from jou
It wasn't your writing darlint it was n largo round hand just like a
schoolboy's I read & road lor a long time not recognising from whom it
came until I came to tho woid Pouli & then I called out " Why its from
my own boy " 3 dont know if 1 did really, but 1 did in the dream,
Evon now 1 cant del ermine ID niy own iiimd whether you sent the letter
to him to .semi on to me, or whHhui he got hold of it somehow
Tell me what you think darJint. There's nothing but ordinary every
day things to toll you dmhnl oh except one thing juat that I love you
so much but you know thai donl you dniiint, I wish you were here that I
could tell you but you will be otic day each day is gradually dragging on.
PECDI.
Envelope Mr F. Bywatw, P & R.M.S. " Morea/' Marseilles, Franco.
[Postmark London, Ifl C , Mar. 6, 6.15 p m., 1922. Stamps 14d v lid., Id.]
My Darlmgest boy,
I was so pleased to get letters from you last Monday I hadn't expected
any as I got thai/ note after the Port Said letter & thought it must have
boen posted at Aden Darlint if you were 14 hours out from Port Said how
did you post il*
In your letter you bay you foil I had boen ill, darlint I told you not
to worry & you mustn't when will you do what I ask you?
I suppose I have boon ill probably more so than I thought but I
wonldnt give way because I wanted to keep that illness all to ourselves
thinking that helped to keep mo up.
I certainly did receive your cable in time to got y w an answer, but
darlmt, it never entered my head that you would expect one I am so sorry if
I disappointed you it was not intentional.
You see darlint, I had told you in my Marseilles letter about it. I
thought I could write in full m my Bombay letter & what could I put
in a cable darhnt only " Pont worry better " & you would still have
worried I hopo you arc not now anyway there is no need.
o 225
By waters and Thompson.
On Sunday I was ill as usual & I did feel really ill darlmt, I think
it was worse than before what happened The only effects I feel of any-
thing is a languid lazy sort of feeling no energy just pale & limp but
all that will be altered when you are in England I didnt stop away from
168 because I thought of your letters and I knew they would forward them
to 41 if I was not there so I managed to get m every morning & went early
& then Mater got ill & I had no time to think of myself.
Darlmgest boy dont talk or think about losing me that will never happen
will it ? if I go you will too wont you 7 You say " I must let you know of
all those things that you ask me & I have forgotten "
Darlint, do I forget to answer anything I dont icmember forgetting
anything & I try not to orget anything that we ever say to each other
or do with each other or ask each other.
Tell me what I have forgotten & I'll answer everything. Darlint you
say you realise what it was for me after Aug 5th 1 am glad you do, in a
measure, it was & still is too awful, I darent think too much I should
alyays be weeping & that wouldn't do, would it? because you told me to
dance only sometimes to dance is much hardor than to sit & think.
Do you remember the cutting I once showed you whore toll me?
" Eyes that tell ol agony untold Lips that quiver with unuitered pain. A
heart that burns with misery " & grief etc
Darlint do you remember anything happening to mo on Nov 7th I do &
I think you will. We have just got the Doctor's bill in for it here & he
has charged 10 /6d so Heaven knows what he will charge for Friday Jany
20th I dont know whether to offer to pay or let 168 pay, what would you do f
I have bought " the Red Planet " by W. J Locke & am reading ifc
but am disappointed in it & I think it is the one that you have read &
which you thought was " The Rough Road " anyway it is a war elory
and I'm not very keen.
Do you remember I told you I had been ill with a bad cold well I
managed to shake it off a bit but last Sunday brought it back again
so I slept in the little room of my own accord, last Saturday I went to see
" The Co-optimists " at the Palace Theatre W & was awfully disappointed
in them. I had heard them raved about & suppose I expected too much.
Darlmt I'm beginning to think that I expect too much always of people
& things in fact too much of life altogether do you think I do? darlmt if
you do think so do you think I always will 7 I have enclosed you a sheet
of sketched Millinery that we had done. I had to write 100 of these how
would you like the job?
Twelve ot us, mostly Stamford Hill people & Reg & Beas wont to a
private dance at Shoroditch Town Hall last week, he camo too Darlint
I enjoyed it do you know it hardly seems possibly that I could to me &
I'm sure it does not to you I enjoyed it dancing with Reg. & Mr. Philpot
they are both good dancers & now he wants us to make arrangements
for 8 of us to go to the Nonstop March 16, 22. I suppose I shall go I
shall have to, but I wouldn't if you were in England would I? I am
living for you to come home this time darlint, (sorry) every time you go
away the two months seem to grow longer and longer.
I suppose you left Bombay on Saturday for England only 3 more
weeks By the way I heard that a boy from the " Malwa " knocked Mr
Moore right down a ship's gangway & rather hurt him. I didn't hear
what he did it for.
Appendix II.
To-day I finished the " Turkish Delight *' its all gone now & I'm sorry
I was so greedy but I know I'll get some more soon. Enclosed is a cutting
that reads as if it might be you ? What do you think 7
Last Saturday we went over to Tulso Hill to Mr Manning's I went
to his office and helped him with his books until 5 p.m & then met Mater
< Dad. Avis & wo all went together. None oi us this time managed to
carry away a puze (it was whist) it is unusual as one of us usually manage
to take one. There was no mail in on Monday this week perhaps there
will be later in the week I do hope there will lie I'm longing to hear you
talk to me, but darlmt longing much more for jou to be here to see you,
for you to hold me tight so tijht I cant bieathu Au revoir darlint.
PEIDI.
Envelope Mr F Bywators, P & R, M S k * Moves," Marseilles, France.
[Postmark London, EC, Mar 7, 3230 pm., 1922 Sfcampb 2d M Id.]
27th
You know all & everything I wish you darlingest & myself.
I was very very sorely tempted to buy myself a birthday present from
you today. They looked so lovely everywhere you go you see them now,
but then I thought next birthday you will bo m England to buy them
for me so I refrained, altho' jt was hard
Good bye darlmt you have all my love
PKIDI.
Envelope Mr K. Bywutors, P & 0. K M S. * k Morea," Plymouth.
[Postmark London, Mar, 34, 5 pm., 1922. Stamp 2d.]
Je suis Goche darlmt & disappointed I said in my previous letter I
was sending 1 large & 1 small parcel.
I have only sent 1, the largo ono.
Lunch time I went to Queen Vic. St to got some " Toblezone " to
aend with the tissue paper (a small pel) but finding " Toblossone " is out
of stock for a few days, therefore I've not sent the tissue, hut I'll give
it you when we meet.
Au rovoir darlmt, I'm consumed with impatience.
PISIDI.
EnvelopeMr F. By waters, P. & R.M S. " Morea," Marseilles, France.
[Postmark London, Apr 4, 6.15 p.m., 3922 Stamps 2d., 3d.]
First of all darlingest about Thursday. He knows or guesses some-
thinghow much or how little I cant iind out. When 1 got home &
went upstairs I found him not there*
As I was getting into bod a car drew up outside & he came m looking,
well you know how with that injured air of mystery on his face attempted
to kiss me and then moved sway with the expression " Phew drink."
He had been to a Theatre ho had a programme what I imagine is
waited for me on the 11*30 found I wasn't on it & caught the next of
By waters and Thompson.
course was surprised to find, me home. If he has any sense he could
easily put 2 & 2 together Your last night last time & your last night
this time I went to a theatre on both occasions.
He says he caught the 11 55 hut there is no such tram in my time
table there ubed to be Tell me whit you think about this please darlmt
I must toll you this talking about rates at 231 last night Avis said
<k if you dont pay they'll take you to prison " He said " No they wont
I'll see to that. Avis k< Well they'll take jour wife. lie (under his
breath altho I heard it) "A good thing too " He's never oven said
" Wh.it did you see or how did you enjoy youi-self." Oh its a rotten spirit
Avis came over to tea 011 Sat & s.nd " The last time 1 came Bess & Beg
were here." He Bess is supposed to be here to-day but she doesn't know
she hasn't been asked (I note a&ked Bess to come down for the week end
as Beg would be awaj but she replied by Thursday to 168 that she
couldn't come as he was coming homo n,t noon Sat) lie didn't ask me if
wo enjoyed ourselves or if Boss was coming so 1 didn't mention it
After Avib had gone I said " A remark you pabsed at tea time about
Boss what do you mean by it I want to know." Me *' You want to know
do you well you &hant you can jubt imagine how much I know & how
much 1 dont & 1 hope you'll feel uncomfortable .ibout it "
I'm afraid I lot go then & said several things m lusle perhaps it would
have boen better had 1 held my tongue & finished up with "Go to Hell "
you can only keep good tempered when you getting what you want a case
of sugar for the bird & he sings. I was told I was the vilest tempered
girl living & "you used not to be, but you'ie under a vexy good tutor "
now it seems. That was Saturday 1 went to bed early how 1 got through
Sunday T dont know living with banging doois & sour silent faces will
turn me grey
It was funny at 231 on Friday I didn't go down till 8,15 just had
some tea in Lpool St. Buffet & read the paper. Mother asked me to have
a cigarette almost immediately I got m & I said, " Where did you get these
they look posh." She " Never mmd I had them given me.
Me Well I dont suppose you bought them where did you get them
She Fred Bywaters gave them to me
MG Has he been down here?
Dad Yes he's been 3 or 4 times
Me Oh I sorry I missed him next time he comes romombor mo to him
& say if he lets me know when he's coming to 231 I'll come too.
Dad He's sailed now, went out today. By the way " Have you had a
row with him?
Me Have I no, the last time we met we were pals (this is right isnt it
darlint).
Dad Has Percy had a row with him then
Me Yes he did,
Dad & is it over yet. I thought it was when Percy came back to say
good bye just before Xmas.
Me No, its not over & not likely to bebut still I'm sorry I didn't
see Freddy. I should like to have done very much.
Dad Yes, I sure you would & I'm sure he would like to soo you.
Mother What do you think of the fags.
Me Not much they are scented & I dont care for such posh ones.
Appendix II.
Mother was quite indignant with me darlint & said " If they'd been given
to you you'd like them, so I said " Would I " & smiled Darlingest boy,
you know why I smiled.
He came in then & mother offered him one he looked & said ei Amlve "
Oh they're doped cigarettes.
Mother What do you mean by doped.
He The tobacco is grown on opium fields.
Can you imagine me seeing the joke inside me all by myself when
are we going to see the joke together darlint. Oh mother said something
about " By the way he spoke " I said to Avis, he must not have seen
Edie (meaning you).
Avis came to tea Sat. as I've already told you & went again at 7,30
to keep an appointment she said.
In the afternoon we went shopping together & she spoke about you a
lot. She seemed to be quite friendly with you.
She mentioned she saw you on the station every morning & what a lot
it must cost you for fares & it would be cheaper she thought if you
lodged in East Ham & then they would be able to see more of you.
Also you had on a diamond ring & seemed to have plenty of money
altho " I know writers rlont make more than 5 per trip she said " she
also told me you asked after Peggy & that she told you all about it &
that she went round & had a drink with you she didn't see why she
shouldn't as you could be pals (her interpretation) if nothing else.
She said lots of small things connected with you which aren't im-
portant & I didn't remember.
Darlint what a poor quality Mail card this time not a bit like the usual.
Are you Oxford or Cambridge, the former I expect men nearly always
are. Well they didn't win & I'm glad because I'm Cambridge & I won
5/- on Sat. over it.
By the way I had 5/- eh. way on Leighton on Saturday for the New-
bury Cup & the meeting was abandoned owing to the course being covered
with 6 inches of snow.
Au revoir darlingest boy.
Envelope Mr F. Bywaters, P. & 0. E,M.S. " Korea," Marseilles, France.
[PostmarkLondon, E C., Apr. 5, 2,30 p.m., 1922, Stamps 2d,, 2d. 3 Id.]
I didn't get your letter first thing in the morning darlint. I felt a
wee bit disappointed but supposed youd been too busy with work that
must be done, & I was prepared to wait till next Monday to hear from
my own man, but at 12.15 just as I was going to leave your letter came.
It bucked me up such a lot I thought to myself well it will help me to get
thro the " inevitable weekend " & it did help me darlint. All the time I
felt miserable & downhearted I was thinking io myself " when you go to
168 on Monday you'll have a real letter to read again. I shall read it
every morning until I get another one from yon just as 1 say " good
morning " to you. No not to you but to your picture & ruffle your hair
& make you cross first thing in the morning (Is this right). Bar lint that
ache which you and 1 share & you speak aboutyes its awful not a sharp
etabbing pain that lets you know it is there & then goes but just a numb
Bywaters and Thompson.
feeling a feeling of inactivity like a blind that is never more than half
raised just enough to torment you with the sight of a liny bit of li&hi &
sunshine.
About what you told me No I dont think it will worry mebut I
cant help thinking about it can I ? after all darlmt but for mo it never
would have happened I'm always the cause of pain to you & perhaps to
myself as well but always to you ever since you just knew me you've
never been really happy & perhaps had you known mo less you might have
been
Darlmt 1 dont/ think yon told me everything that you & others said
on that Thursday you didn't because you thought it would hurt, but if I
promise it wont hurt, will you write & tell mo please. I want to know
everything. I do tell you everything that is said about you dont I 7
Why didn't you recognise your sister oil Thursday you must darlint
pour moi you know what you promised to do for mo & she's my sex-
forget she's your sifater think she's mo when you inoet her & bo courteous
I'm over so borry you didn't recognise hor whatever is over oaid or ever
happens connected with them & me dont forget this. Does this sound like
a lecture? I dont what it to be, I just want you to remain as I know you
now, not to rovort to you I know last year
Of course darlint T love all jou've said about mo, about giving up what
people cherish most for mo about those horrid thoughts that people have
that you will Htamp out I love all that darlmt I f eol proud when I road it
that you say it about mo proud that I have someone that thinks so much
of me its so nice darlmt I've never had anyone quite like you (like
you were once, yes, but not as you aio now). When & ii' you do write
to your Mother I want a copy of tlio letter please, yes I do & you must
Bond me one, you've not to ignore this subject or dismiss it in the usual
manner. Remember I sent you a copy once Jibout the Imt for Mavio you're
not going to charge her for it are you? if you were then you're not to give
it her please from you & me I'd like you to
Darlingest boy I received a telegram from you on Friday G M M.O.
always stop dont worry. Now am I very dense or are you a little too
vague, because 1 doni know what " Always stop " moans Please tell me
darlint I can only think you mean we will always stay together is this it '
I'd like you tell mo darlint just how you feel when you move out of
dockwhat are your thoughts when you begin to move when you must realise
that you'll not on England or anybody connected with you & England for 2
whole months
You told mo you were sailing about 2 & about that time I began
thinking how you were feeling if you were hopeful and not too down-
hearted & I thought about everything connected with the last fortnight,
some things I waa sorry about & some things pleased. How did you feel?
This you went was'nt like the last time darlint. I had a pain but it was a
different one not a physical one at all just a pam that you & I were
parted again, oven tho it was only for 2 months I dont want ever to be
parted from you not oven for one day, not one minute really. I always
want to be where I can see you foel you holding me.
Darlint couldnt Marie help us at all if I havo to loavo hero, perhaps
she would if you asked you know I could do practically anything to earn
just enough to keep myself for a little while.
230
Appendix II.
I don't want to give in darlmt oh I do want to have you so much &
if we give in people will only laugh & think us failures & we're not are we
fcell me we're not going to be we're going to succeed you & I together
even tho* we fail m " Our Glorious Adventure "
We'll fight to the last while there's an ounce of strength & will power
left fight to live our life, the life you & I will choose together we're not
cowards to shirk & hide behind a cloak of previous misfortunes we'll take
the bull by the horns shape something good & clean out of something bad.
I cant help this paper being another colour its the only pad the
stationei had in stock
A lady ha& just come in whom I have not seen for 5 years neaily, she
has since been mained & h.id 2 children one of which & her husband has
died She &ays 1 dont look any older but I'm RWC by the way sho said
it, she doesn't think it I won<lcr why people will pny doubtful compliments
they dont mean
Today hi April 4th & tho MIO\V is falling in thick lumps & laying in
some places tho weather has stopped trade & made every body miserable
What poot was it who wrote " Oh to bo in England now Spring 'is here " I
wish he wore il'\e, & Feeling mitorable ns T, on this nice English Spring
Day.
Dont forget darlmt wlitii >ou are road ing tho books Dipt the Shulamite
comes first The ' Wouum Deborah " after
T wonder if you will notice* anything m ** The Wonii'ii Doborah " I
await your remarks
Jim fetched my case from Barking & left it at 41 for mcs he was
going down to II ford.
Durhnt tho Turlimh Pol'jjht i lovely this tmip much hotter than the
last lot.
Enclosed is on** Ui;i,l. you sent mis it is a i<>itiu,';ht today hasn't it kept
well I ha\o tended thiw one especially to send von cut il stalk and given
it frosh water with salt in every morning,
Darlinl toll mi* you love mo & how much-- Loop on tolling mo make me
feul all the time you do, its a long time 2 moniliK <hirlmt I want tolling
heaps & heap* of limes, no, not bocunse 1 doubt but bocuuwn I like to feel
that you'ro always thinking it
Darhnflost boy 1 do lovo youyc>h, always, \vlnlo this lifo hiuts so much
oh so much, I ami tell you but* you muni know you do know darlmt,
that there ncwi hna hcon anyono I love at (ill, only juwt you, thoro JH such
a difference) Uood byn until Bontbav.
(Of Hid IlK'lv)
PllDT.
Darlingest boy,
II 45 am 5/4/22 I' v< juht r-a(i your cable it <ta,mo first thinp: thi
morning I behove but C didn't fool up to the mark so I didn't go up until
11, & them I was bosomed by pooplo wanting this clone & that done.
It was nothing much darlint just a few fainting iila ouo aftor tho
other, nothing whatever to worry altoul so please dont..
I notice it ayn *' (Jood afternoon so you quite ('.spetwl me to got it
on the 4th but it wasn*t roctd in London until 7,48 p,m.
Anyway whatever time it camo I wan pleased to got it. PlcHuwl to
know that when you aont it you wore thinking about m<.
Bywaters and Thompson.
I've got to post this to-day darlint, I dont suppose you'll get this one
till Friday but I hope when you do you'll feel its all you want
I'd love to look at you now you I mean no, no substitute they (sub-
stitutes dont satisfy) but I'll wait I'll not say with patience, because darlmt
I'm not patient am I but I know you understand
PEIDI.
Envelope -Mr F. Bywaters, P & R M S " Morea," Bombay, India
[Postmark London, E C , Apr 12, 1 30 p m , 1922 F ]
I just wanted to write a few lines to you darlint, before we close here
for the holidays from Thursday 1 oc till Tuesday 10 oc
Friday Saturday Sunday- Monday 4 whole days darlint with nothing
whatever to do but think, & only you can know what those thoughts will be
If I only had all that time to spend with you darlmt am you imagine
what it would be like I cant & can't possibly imagine such a long time
I suppose it would only seem like 4 hours instead of which it will now scorn
like 4 years but perhaps it wont always be like it, eh I'm going on
hoping so hoping hard are you too 7 You havent given np yet, have you 7
please dont darlint 7
We're fearfully busy here I was here till 7 the last 2 nights & still
we have such a lot to do before the holidays
Darlingest boy I love you such a lot & want you such a lot oh so badly
why arent you here to hold me tightly & make mo feel how much you
love me its such a starving sorb of feeling darlmt just living on a picture
I do want you so much I want comforting darlint & only you can do
that for
PEIDI.
Envelope T. E. F. Bywaters Esq Writer P. & 0. S.S " Morea," Marseilles.
[Postmark London, E.C , 10 My 22 Stamps 2d 30 centimes, 30
centimes ]
11 West era Street,
Upper Norwood,
SE. 19
May 9th 1922.
Bear Mick,
Just a few lines in the hope that you wont have gone yet. I really
haven't had any time for writing or anything else. Mum has been v<>ry
ill for about three woeks Doctor coming every day, so you can guess T have
been pretty well occupied. But Im lad to be able to tell you she is
alright now. The tables have turned & now the doctor is visiting me I am
a walking Chemists shop with all the muck he is dosing me with.
Just one thing I want to tell you Mick. The night before you left
well of course I couldnt help hearing it said. But leaving out what you said
to Mum even but I happened to hear a little remark which I think con-
cerned me, It was this '* My sister ! ! They only want me for what they
get out of me." Well you know best yourself whether this is true or not.
Appendix II.
But all I can say is that if it were true I have been very patient in waiting
for what I get from you. Its true last time home you bought me some
jewellery but if you are regretting that -well, it can easily be remedied.
About your laundry the whole lot including collars comes to 3/6d
Mum wants me to tell you she had your letter but it came at a rather
bad time she being that day at lior very worst and of course the contents &
tone of letter did not tend to improve matters as she was suffering from A
nervous breakdown together with blood-poisoning
I hope you have had a good tnp & that you are keeping quite well
Lovo from all,
Your affectionate &ister,
FLORBIR
Envelope Mr F. Ttywntorn, P & II Af S " If ores-/' Sydney, Auslralu.
[Postmark- London, 50, .Tun 2, 1922, 330 pin Stamp I. 1 /.]
Since 1 liavo pojfwl tlio firs', loiter 'o 3}dn\v dailiuf a wholo m jhl &
a whole day has fone by ft I've boon thinking & Ihiiikmt; mcli a
lot & feeling so awful auout it. I couldnt !ICMJ> for one littlo nnimfce
thinking about y<m & what. you vould Hunk of nte & how VMI would feel
when you received tU
I am sorry dailmir !>ui I \\role how I fold it Wiin iwfu'--& 4<nioliAii>s
when you feel so terrible you write & think very unjusk and 1iHr things
your feelings at the tune curry you ,iwoy Invy did 1110 p!eise, ploj c, diirlin|{oit
boy forgive mo.
Pals should never fool hard & cross with one nrioihor should they'
& we are fitill pals in bpido of that letter, aren't, wo ? do write mid toll ie
it makes no difference 1 nhnut foel ** right " with niywlf until von tell me
it has made no difference; 1 fool nri awhil hoftst about it : I wish 1 had not
posted it at oricc but kopt id for a <Uy then 1 should have lorn it up. Ploano
forgive mo & try lo excuse your pul. She did ftutl so awfully down in tho
world when she found that or felt Uiut the besl pal a girl over luid hjul
forgotten or neglected her.
Sho'll try hurd not to
Knvelope Mr K. Dywdtc-rH, V. & O. U.M.S. u Mow*/ Molhounift, Anatralisi.
[Postmark Loinlon, Jim. 23, 11)22, 2.30 pin. Stamps U<L, IJd.l
Today is Friday durlinl. by i!io tiny not the dato (he day you took IIH
to lunch at tho nH)orn--Jirht tune when I lot .you K<O and told you fxmtu
things that no one elso know. 1 v/antt-d t< j.k yon if ytju reujenilirc<l
anything about last Wodnomluy I*m nob tfoing to tell you junt toll J>ie
if yon do nmtmnber & what It IN,
Nothing olfio of any im|>(r(.ancc liar, ha,pf)cnc<l darlint fiincc 1 talked
to you lanl wo t,jll WJ^JP about yoti A I mippowi wo ahvayH nhull. Tonihi
we aro going to u Qaidmi Party & Koto in aid of the Hmunena OrpliiUia^tt
at Wansiond.
Mrs Birnago & her people arc on tlio Committee & nlie in parUkintf in
the some of tlie amnncmonti 1 believe & tomorrow is tlio outiug-<o porhapa
Bywaters and Thompson.
this week end will pass a little more quickly I shall still have to wait 5
days after Sunday to hear from you Darlint I havent sent your watch on
to you, because you have not told me what to do about it & I especially
asked you so I shall keep it until I do hear.
It was rather funny on Tuesday Mr Dunsford offered to take me up m
the Car and let me stand on the roof of it to see the Prince on the next
day of course I was rather bucked about it and told him on the Tuesday
evening He did make a fuss said he objected & a lot more nonsense &
asked how I was going to get on to the roof I darent tell him Mr Buns-
ford was going to hoist mo up he would have been " terribly shocked "
so I said I could climb up by a rope ladder at the side of the motor
However I went in spite of all objections & saw everything beautifully
it was rather fun
Last week on one evening I went up West to buy a frock for the outing
I did soI thjnk you would like it it is pale mauve voile embroidered
111 grey on the bodice & on the skirt & a sa&h of darker mauve ribbon It
was from the shop I saw the White & jade frock I told you about & I
asked them if they had still got it they had & showed it to me it was lovely
& so was the price 12 guineas so it had to stay m the shop
I was looking mto a shop window up there & went to move away &
found your sister & her fianco standing beside me, also looking m tho
window.
I suppose she was trousseau hunting of course she's not coming to
town after she is married, is she 7
Darlmt, your own pal is getting quite a sport
On Saturday I was first m the Egg & Spoon race & first in the 100 yards
Flat race & 3rd in the 50 yards Flat race
Everybody tolls me Im like a racehorse can get up speed only on a
long distance & my reply was " that if a thoroughbred did tlioso things
then I felt flattered "
The I was M C Tor the Lancers we stood up 10 Sets had some boys
m from an adjoining cricket field I sat on the top of the piano & made a
megaphone of my hands & just yelled nothing else Mr Oarlton said all
that shouting was worth 2 long drinks afterwards so I had 2 double brandies
& Sodas with him
We had a vory good day indeed : In fact I think I enioyod the actual
outing better than last year until we got to Lpool St coming home & then
he started to make a fuss says I take too much notice of Dunsford & he
docs of me & created quite a scene. I am really sick of this sort of thing-
he gets jealous & sulks if I speak to any man now.
Darlmt, if we're over together for always & you get jealous I'll hate
you I shant bo your pal
Im so stiff & sore today I can hardly move I loft the house 10 mins
earlier than usual this morning to make certain of catchmg my tram : 1
was so stiff
This time last year you wore able to rub me & gradually take that
stiffness away do you remember 7
It was rather fun on Thursday at the Garden TartyThey had swings
& roundabouts & Flip Flaps cocoa nut shies Aunt Sallies Hoopla & all
that sort of things I went in for thorn all & on them all & shocked a lot of
people I think. I didnt care tho' & going homo Mr Birnage said he*d
Appendix II.
like some fried Fish and potatoesI'd got rather a posh frock on wlit
georgette & trd with lows & rows of jade ribbon velvet & my white fur &
a large wht hat, but all that didnt deter me from going into a fried fish
shop in Snaresbrook & buying the fish & chips
Getting it home was the worst part it absolutely smelt the bus out : I
didnt mmd it was rather fun only I wished you had been with me : I
think 2 halves together would have enjoyed themselves better than 1 half
by herself
Today is your bnthday & our birthday Dnrlml I wonder if you are
thinking about it at all, I am
I sent you greetings by cable this time it was the only way I could
celebrate darlmt I wanted you lo leceivo it on the exact day but Im
afraid you wont its not my fault darlmt its the fault of that ship of yours
not being withm radio range of cither Aden or Bombay on the 27th
Darlmgest own Pal, I lo\c you honps & heaps more than yesterday and
such a lot less than I shn.11 tomorrow.
Miss Prior is t^oing iiwav tomorrow I oxpoct I shall have plenty to
do then until I go away
Only 2 morn days before T hear you talk to me I hope its a lot I do so
want it to be.
Goodbye for now darlingost pal to
PBIDT.
Envelope Mr V. Bywatcrs P & R.M.S " Morea," Melbourne, Australia
[Postmark London, 27 Jan., 1922 Stamp ld 1
June 27/1922
The birthday of the Palhhip of 2 halves
This is Iho real birthday darlmt just the same as I always wish I wish
today & hope everything will not always be in vain.
The birthday of the best pal a girl over hnd.
Many happy returns davlmt, may everything yon undertake in your
life be successful
PKIDI
Envelope Mr F. Bywatow, P & 0. R,M S. " Morea," Fremantle, Australia
Macdonnld Hamilton & Co 10 Aug. 1922 Fromantlo W.A.
[Postmark London, Jul. 12, 1922, 3,30 p.m Stamps Hd 4^ ]
Darlint Pal,
I dont think Ive got anything to tell you jusi/ the ordinary things happen
every day & 1 somehow donfc think you want me to talk to you about those :
I went to Henley Inat Thursday with tho Woldorf man I previously had
the invitation but refused on tho plea of business bat on the Tuesday night
230
By waters and Thompson.
Mr Carlton asked me if Id like Thursday off so I rang up & made arrange-
ments to go. We got there about 1230 and had lunch at Phyllis Court
at the invitation of an M P. Mr Stanley Baldwinit poured with rain aU
the afternoon & was altogether miserableI got home by 6 45 p m
I've had a lot of time oft this fortnight 2 Sats 3 half days & last
Thursday & go about 4 every day I dont know what to do with myself
why are you not in England when Miss Prior is away look what a lot
of time we could have together Last Saturday I was ill the first tune
since I told you about it last trip m the evening I went to the Doctor
& told him . lie seemed pleased I suppose because his pills had done
their work. I felt terribly bad & could not have gone to business had I
had to do so fortunately I had the morning off
It wasnt the same sort of ill feeling that it WHS that time before tho
On Saturday we go for our holiday Shall I call it 9 It wont be what I
anticipated will it no swimming lessons or tennis or anything that Id really
enjoy. However I must make the best of it & dance Im so tired of it all
tho- this dancing and protending
I've not packed my peach sports eout . I dont want to wear it this
time so Ive left it behind.
This is the last day for posting mail to Fremantle & Ivo not had jour
promised letter irom Aden.
If it is at the G P.O lunch time perhaps I'll have &omc more to talk
to you about before I post this
I'll leave it for a little while anyway.
Avis has just been round hore & I was m the office having a brandy &
soda with Mr. Carlton ; he asked her to have one too I think she feels
very flattered am I horrid I really believe I am tell me but everything
in this world soems so top&y turvy Id give anything to be her free I mean
& I think she'd change places with me this minute if we could but we cant
so I mustnt moan it'll become a habit.
By the way f told you about Molly & Mr Dorry.
I think it was Tuesday he said to mo " So you know that young lady I
was talking to 'the other morning?
Me. No, I dont know her.
He: But she knows yon & all about you.
Me. Oh, probably . lots of people know me & about me thai I'd rather
not know
fie: 1 believe you're jealous.
Dor lint, just try & imagine me being jealous of her talking to him of
all people. I have to laugh right out loud when I think about it. Some
men have such ,1 high opinion of themselves & their charms that I'm afraid
I cant climb up to them.
I wonder what * e my only pal " is doing now & how ho is fooling
whon I try & contrast my foohuqs of going away this year to those of going
away last year I really -wonder if Im living in the same world t suppose
I arn but its riot the mini* world to we darlmt that world last year didnt
contain a paljust one only, to whom I need not wear a mask but this
year does altho he is still so very far away that I go on wearing that
mask to everyone I meet, every clay I wonder if there ever will be a time
when I shall appear as I really am only you see mo as 1 roally am the
" pretence me " is my ordinary evwy day wearing apparel tlie " real " me
is only visible for such a very short time when you're in London DarKngest
Appendix II.
Boy I cant boar to think of you bemg in England and not seeing me must
we be so very strict & slorn cant you imagine what your only pal (no, not
pal Im talking to you cUirlint as the girl that loves you, Im talking to my
veriest own lover not as & to a p-il) will feel like knowing youre in London,
& expecting to see you at every turn & rojljy knowing deep down in her
heart that she wont. Must you be so cruel darliut? Si>e me once for ono
whole day together for nil that time & I wont mind if I dont see you any
more the whole time you are in London I cant bear it if you go away
without seeing me again nearly 4 more months after September that makes
it January 1923 its too loncj to wait Darlmt too much to ask of any
human being especially is it too much to ask o? you and Iwe're not
ordinary human beings weVo apail different we've uovor known pleasure
real pleasure I mean in another a company until wo know each other
weve had so few pictures & ho immy rebuuV ovuiy one that is added now
makes it harder.
Am I solfish ? No I dont llmik ita a selfish fcoung cos its for both of
us Im fighting for our rights to break down that reserve that youro going
to build up against yourself & between
PlfllDI.
Letter Card (Bournemouth } To Mr I* 1 B,s\vnf,w,s, P &0 II, M.S. tv Moreo,"
Co'itn-l)'),
[ Postmarks Bmirnemoi'iX ft p rn., 27 JiiI ; London. 2!)tli Jtil,, 22
Kniii'pr- V 1 ,, Ju., J,<1
Maokinnou & Afnc ki'iiKM 1 , Cnlomhri, 'il Aug., i922; 9.15 am.
27/6/21
Today J'B 27th M Ifli
Chorloy today Jnwt. yiw
PKIIH
Darhngost Pal,
I'm on the Boat thai lias boon all round tlw I of W. landed nt Vcntnor
Id rather go thoro than (/oriKvn.ll J think : plunge <ake TnuoIlp says wero
coming next year tiro wo v
Envolopo Mr K. I Jyw, (*:,, |. & () I{, M.S "' Moreri," Colombo
i Postmark London, KO , .lul. 31, 1022, 6,15 pin.]
Ponhunl (utuidth'^'iiSfd).
29th.
I am leaving for London today.
This day laftt year 1 wiw* nt Kuw wiih my p,*!.
1 shan't post this in Ji'nioulli, prohuuly ^huti't t?(if an opportunity. I
love you so much durlml, I ulwayn nhall,
PKTJ>X,
JHnvolwjtfi-Mr F. fJywaior, P* & 0, KM.K. *'Morca," liombay.
[Postmark- -Lrunlon, K,(3. Au. 4, 1D22; 4.30 p.m. Stampn-M, Jd., Id.]
Tito IK* stoat pul a girl ovor had.
27
Bywaters and Thompson.
I wonder if you remember what today ly the day is I keep on thinking
about it & of you & wondering if youre thinking as well about leaving me
all by myself at 41 for good, when Morns Avenue corner became one of
the treasured spots in our memory Last Tuesday was the memorable 1st
such a lot seems to have happened in that little time & yet such a little
everything that we wanted to happen Insnt & everything that we didnt want
to happen has
However perhaps this coming yea,i will binij; us the happiness we both
desire more than anything in this world & if it doesnt 7 we'll leave this
world that we love so much cling to so desperately.
We are finishing at 168 at 1 p m today I donb know what the dickens
1 shall do with myself everyone I know is away I cant even get a lunch
or a tea out of anyone or even a few hours amusement.
Last holiday breaking up I had a Pal waiting for me a Pal that really
wanted to see me for myself alone & who really wanted to take me to lunch
for nothing
On Tuesday you're starting for homo how I ahull count the days now
& look forward so much I dont know to what because you bay you wont
see mo but I shall hope & hope & hope that before Sept 23rd you'll melt
just a toeny weeny bit towards your pal I wonder if youve got anything
to tell me : or do you still teol very reticent about all your doings while
you're away.
On Sopt 24th I wonder if you would like to lomoinbcr to her that it is
Avis's birthday I know shed like to remember
Dont say I didnt tell you in timo this year.
I am enclosing a piece of the evidence of tho " Russell " Case
Have you road it all' I have found it very interesting & a portion of
the evidence on enclosed slip struck me as being very similar to evidence I
could give does it you?
I've wished & wished all the time it has been on ^that she could be
proved innocent bub the jury have found her innocent in the case of the
2 co-respondents mentioned but she will come up for trial again regarding
the "man unknown." Write & tell me what you think about it please
darlint
Darlmgest Boy, have you destroyed that photo that I asked you to
last trip you've never mentioned il^-neilher have you acknowledged my
request is it one of those things that you have dismissed ? " I had an
absolutely rotten holiday the Boarding house was terrible " Ladies are
requested not to smoke in the house " no drink allowed indoors and not too
much grub oven for ladies I was borry for the men
However we made the best of a bad job there wero 27 in the house
& not a very sociable crowd cither or rather they wore too quiot. I think
Avis & I managed to liven them up a bit. Wo did some mad things-
climbed a tree in front of a row of Boarding Houses & had our photos
taken up it (Avis & I I mean) everyone m Lho Bdg. llsos wore watching
us from the windows & had donkey rides up & down the front : the
people stopping m our Boarding Hso could hardly believe (they said) I'd
been married as long as I had & I was tho age I am : they said 1 only
seemed a child I f olt glad they thought this pour vous altho I really felt
very old & miserable & lonely all the timo I was away.
Bournemouth is a very stiff starchy place not a bit like the Island
Im very glad we didnt go there last year that is one holiday I can look
Appendix II.
backward on & think I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday & myself in an
impersonal way. You'd like Vontnor Darlmt when we complained to the
people there about B'mth being stiff no smoking no drinking (by the way
there is only 7 licenses granted to the whole of B'mth & Boscombe & its a
very big town 90,000 inhabitants) they said c< There's nothing like that
about Ventnor you can walk about naked if you like " Thats the place
for us we said & this man recommended us to a very nice Boarding Hse
right on tho front with 2 front lawns very like Osborne Hse last year.
We said to the Pier Ma&ter at Ventnor " I suppose youre going to
dust us for 2d going olf & 2d going on (they do m B'mth) as well " & he
said " Oh, no, we want your Company here & not your money " & shook
hands with us
Darlmt I do so want a holiday with you next year please I must do the
wages now last holiday you c.ime with me to draw them didn't you *
Do you still lovo mo as much ? J do you no more
PEIDI.
Envelope -Mr F. Bywatois, P. & RM.S. "Morea," Aden.
[Postmark London, E.C , Aug 35, 230pm, 1922 Stamps lid , lid.]
Do you know darlint, I dont think I can talk to you very much I
dont feel liko it a bid I want to &eo you & feel you not to imagine you &
thon talk, its so awfully hard.
When I came buck to 368 1 went to G P.O. & got a letter & the discus-
sion on tho book from Bombay & a note from Colombo I havont heard any
more I wonder if you have written to ine since & when I shall get it if
you have it teems such a long dune since you went, three or four times
longer than when, you go to Bombay, and now you have already started
home & I am writing to Aden a, month is 32 when you're not in England
& it will always be the sjtino d.irlint that will newer alter, whatever else does
I meant to have mentioned botore that the Turkish Delight last time was
stale not a bit moo. Darlint, Fiu nod ungrateful and I'm not looking a gift
horse in the mouth as you might think, I'm just tolling you this so that lE
you likod you could toll dho old chap from whom you bought it, what you
thought of bun. I should want to 1 know & 1 think you will too. Dont be
cross anyway will you '
I've read one or two books while you've boon away & Ive not marked
them Ive wanted you to find the small things that interest us, out for
yourself Ive got tho " House of Baltaaar " now & have just started it.
The two you ordered for me, never came in tho girl still says they werent
ordered there so 1 didnt bother I didn't want to do it for myself I
wanted you to do it for me -so 111 wait until youro in England again
On Tuesday we went at 2 & I went to tho " Waldorf " to tea & while
waiting in the vestibule by myself a gentleman canto up to meraised his
hat & said " Good afternoon, are you Romance? " I thought he was mad &
turned away & sat on a couch ho followed & continuing the conversation
said " Im sorry if youro not, but I have an appointment here with a lady
with whom Ive corresponded thro a " Personal Column," she calls herself
" Bomance " & she was to wear a black frock & a black lace hat." I was
wearing the blk frock with tho roses on it & the lace hat you like,). Then
By waters and Thompson,
fee moved away & later I saw him at a table with a girl in a blk frock with
steel beads & a black lace hat, so I supposed he was speaking the truth,
altho at the tune I doubted it
I think it was rather funny dont you? Darlingest boy, Ive shown my
beads & said that Miss Prior gave them to me, do you mind? I did it
because I can wear them more often now they are very much admired
I think this is rather funny dont you ? while I was away I wrote to 168
for Kosie's & the Dunsford's private addresses & he made over such a fuss
about it said I was too familiar & deceitful because I couldnt say what I
wanted to* on a post card to him (Mr D ) at 1C8. Wo had a ri4jht royal
battle about it & I was told I was impudent & nil sorts of things bad &
that I must have a very good tutor that is quite a lavounte phrase and is
often used.
Anyhow he sulked for 2 days and on the Sat , Avis came down and
during the course of conversation she said to him, " My fuend Bessie
Hughes saw you in Lyons in Bishopsgato the other Friday evening." He
" Oh did she, its quite possible*** Avis Yes & you woro with a short fat
girl m a brown costume with a white stripe (Tins is Miss Tucknott). He
Oil yes, I took her m to have something to eat as it was late after working
at the office & it was my last night m town for a fortnight. I told him
afterwards that I was not the only one who was deceitful, but he wont
have it Wove boon chipping him about Miss Tucknolt ever since & I
behove lie thinks Im quite jealous
Ever smco Ive boon buck in I] ford Ivo hud most awful nights rest.
I havent been able to sleep for more than an hour together & even when I do
that I dream sometimes theyre not very nico dreams. They are nearly
always about you One night I dreamed that you had married Avis
bocause she found out how much was between us (you & I) & threatened
to toll everybody unless you marued her another night I dreamed I had
been to a theatre with a man I knew I had told you about him & you
came home from sea unexpectedly & when you found me you just threw
me over a very deep precipice & I was killed, sometimes Ive dreamed worse
things than these & waked up in a fearful fright.
It reminds me of this time last year do you remember. I didnt sleep
hardly at all for 3 weeks then.
I think I read your letter from Bombay thro again destroy it & then
talk to you about it for next week's mail & 111 also talk to you about
Dolores then.
I dont think I can now, I feel too sad no not really sad but Im m a
deep depression that only one person m this world can light.
Do you know who that is darhnt* Just the best Pal of
PEIDL
Envelope Mr F Bywaters, P 0., E.M S. " Morea," Aden.
[Postmark London, B.C , Aug. 18, 530 p.m., 3922. Stamps 3d., id.]
I was reading the book & I could understand hor so well I should do
the same exactly for the man I love but you must Jove him darlint real
& deep & true because your honour is such a sacred thing your only
covering, that you would only lose it to an " anybody ** for a man you
really loved.
240
Appendix II.
You ask if it is sufficient reason that a good woman knows she is
wanted, that she sins. Yes I think this right in a measure. A good woman
who had no husband or lover either had never had one or one that had
died would sm with a man whom she knew wanted her & she would
willingly give herselfbecause she felt that she was wanted so muck wanted
enough darlint, but a good woman who had a husband or a lover who really
loved him & whom she really loved would never sin with another man
because she felt that other man wanted her. Have I explained the difference,
darlmgest boy, Ive tried to
I didnt like Theo myself -but I think ho was a good main & would
have been a fine man if lie had had a child He was terribly selfish
darlint I know, but then cvety man i& selfish in life as well as in fiction,
to be selfish is part of their nature Cesare I loved, I think he was fine
he certainly loved Dolores very very much but it still didnt make her
love him Yon say you dont understand Dolores because she wrote when
she crime back " Ail thut she told you is true, I sent her to tell you "
(Nur&o JouuwftH)
What about Lady Sarah Ides didnt you like her?
About Dolores darlint I dont agree with you at all about her not
loving her husband. You think sho loved Cesare because she gavo all
darlmgest boy slio didnt give heisolC in the true sense of the word She
loved her husband so much that sho would do anything in the wide world
anything m her power to give him pleasure. Sho felt for him as well
as lor herself she knew what his pleasure would be if she gave him a
child she also know more than ho did she know it was not thro her sho
didnt have a child it was thro luin he was the Fruitless Vine & she the
Fruitful & becau.se of this sho degraded herself m every way for him.
Darlint, If she hadnt lovod him, it would have been the easiest thing
in the world for her to have said '* IL is your fault Theo (that is what she
called him isnt it), not mine. & lie would have probably loved her so much
more & she would have been so much happier instead of which she makes
the supreme sacrifice (darlint it is the supremo sacrifice to give yourself to
someone you dont love) for lior husband's sake, to mako him happy- as
well as herself it was a "big thing to do darlint, tremendous & it is always
the same darlint & will nlways bo the same w;i //*'// 7 is too much to do for
the man you love nothing is too much to give no not even yourself.
I can feel with her & live with her darlint & I did all the time I
certainly think she wronged Coaaro more th?m sho did her husband & I
think she realised sho had & that is why sho wrote that.
Sho wanted Cosaro to soo how much .she had wrongod him how bad she
really felt sho had boon towards him.
Had she have lovod him sho would nov&r have said or written that-
she would have gone anywhere with him to the ends of the world she
wasnt a woman who was ruled by convention. He, Cesare was just a man
who could help her to give her Imaband what ho (& she) wanted most in
this world & because Cesare lovod her enough to want her & take her as
she was she used himthats all thorn is about it darhnt.
About tho Marcolli darKnt, you say you like her in one breath & in
another you say you quite understand Cusare wanting to break away from
her, These two sentences aro absolutely opposite.
X think you said you liked tho Marcolli to please me I think you
thought " If I say I dont like hor & could understand Cesare's feelings in
Bywaters and Thompson.
trying to get away from her " Peidi will be hurt she will think of her
position & mine in relation to the Marcellis & Cesare's with regard to age,
so I will say I like her. Oh I hated her she was a beast a vampire Oh I
cannot bear her darlint I should have been much more pleased if you had
said you hated her.
I like " Oarissima " better than yours darlint it sounds so like the
" Great Lover," so much like Oesare as I imagine him
Envelope Mr F By waters, P & , R M S " Morea," Aden
[PostmarkLondon, E 0., Aug 23, 1 30 p m , 1922. Stamp ld ]
Thank you for your wishes on the 27/6/22 darlmgest boy.
It seemed such a strange day to me, I did want to wish you " Many
Happy Returns " for yourself first then for we two darlint in person that
day but I couldnt so I sent the " Radio "
Darlmt, tell me what you thought when you were first told there was
a message for you before you knew what the message was. I thought
about you such a lot that day & wondered if I did right in sending it I
thought perhaps it would give you a shock that perhaps you would think
it was something to do with " Health " either mine or his
About Dolores darlint you say " Forget hor romance in connection
with you."
I said it would be as her case with me darlint, because I felt it would
be so good to do something for you to give you something to live for &
cherish all your life you could be happy then darlint I know youll say you
couldnt but think a little Im sure you couldyou could live m a memory
and with a replica
However, while you still tell me to hopo I shall forget about Dolores.
Talking about " Scamp " darlint, Im a bit fed up with him While I
was away he ran in the Steward's Cup at Goodwood & I made sure he
would win it especially as I was away & couldnt back him so I thought
about it & sent a wire to Rosie to do 1 each way for me & then the
wretched thing didnt wm.
Darlint remember when the " Morea " is due in England, both 231 &
41 will sure to try & find out if you are still on her or if you have stayed
in India as you said.
I wont to the Regent Palace to tea the other day darlint with Lily.
Im trying to overcome that horror of the place & she asked me to go & I
didnt want to say No, I felt very uncomfortable all the time I was there
tho*, & I did try hard not to think of previous experiences there.
Its rather funny sometimes at 41 The attacks continue so I am told
of course I know differently but I say nothing & laugh all to myself right
deep down inside. They always happen after " words "or " unpleasantness."
A Phrenologist at Boscome told him he would live to be quite an old
man.
242
Appendix II.
Darlint, Ive used all my perfume, shall I buy some myself, or shall I
wait for you to do it for me.
I'd really like you to do it best but I'll do just whichever you tell
me to do.
Goodbye for another week darlint Pal I do hope I shall hear from you
soon Ive had nothing since Colombo & Im starving now You havent
forgotten your Pal in England have you 7 her name is
PEIDI
EnvelopeMr F. Bywaters, P.O., RMS " Morea " Port Said
[Postmark London, E , Aug. 29, 3 30 p m., 1922 Stamps Id., id.]
Darlmge&t, I got a letter from you last Thursday, from Fremantle I
think, I dont think there was anything in it that I can talk io you about
you say you are longing for that letter from me that you will got in
Sydney well darlint, Im longing to get a letter fiom you a real letter,
one in which you're going to tell me such lots and lots of things perhaps
you will when you have heard from me I always feel that you write
better to me whon you havo hoard from mo And then another thing that
strikes mo is this in most of your letters you say " Wo are getting into
so & so tonight.'* That makes me think that a few hours before you get
into a Port, you sit down & write to mo, as a duty. Don't you ever feel that
you'd like to writo a few lines to mo & then leave it & write again when
you feel like it Thats how I do darlint, & then whon it conies to the last
day for posting, I havnt got to sit down & write as a duty.
About books I havnt read " Mrs Marden " I should like to, but I
have read " Martin Conisby's Revenge " quite lately & I wasrit very keen
on it it didnt seem up to Jeffrey Farnol's standard I dont think I havo read
" The Chronicles of an Imp " & yet the title is familiar. However I dont
think the book would appeal to me very much from Die title Why did
you loavo out " The Common Law " whon you wore naming the list of
books that you havo read & liked. Didnt you like it sufficiently to lot it
remain in your memory? For want of a nice book to read I got hold of
" Septimus " & read it again.
It is very amusing havo you read it ? if not I'll send it to you.
Im now reading Eclon Philpotts " Secret Woman " darlint Im not very
keen it takes a lot of reading its very dry & you know the " Secret
Woman " practically at the commencement if you've got any sense.
Darlint, a little nows that you wont like.
Blouses are fashionable again, no more jumpers I've craved the " little
green one " for you, do you want it? Im longing lor Sept. 23rd to come,
although you say I shant see you, just to know you are in London will be
good.
I wondor what you're going to say to my first letter o you at Colombo.
I'll be awfully anxious to get your answer* be kind to me darlint
our pleasures together aro so few no, Fm going to stop now because I shall
start railing against Life & Fate & everything & I do want to try not to
I want to B.B. only for you darlint cos I know yon will be pleased with
PEIDI.
Bywaters and Thompson.
Envelope Mr F Bywaters P.O B.M S " Morea " Marseilles France
(Seal on back " P.")
[Postmark London, E.G., Sep. 11, 2 30 p m., 1922 P. Stamps Three ld 1
Today is Sepfc 7th darlint, do you remember it last year I think it was
the day the " Morea " lelt England am I right' I had rather a shock this
morning I am enclosing you the cause of it just as I received it Do you
know anything about it? I dont suppose you do darlmt, but Im just
asking Inf sure if you had reasons for not wanting to see me you'd
tell me and tell me the reasons you couldnt resort to letters of this descrip-
tion. I dont think it can be from anyone I know or from any relation of
mine, because I am addressed as " P " you will notice & no one knows
you call me anything but <k Edie " Also darlmt I cant help noticing that
it is posted in the West J3nd on a Wednesday. Write and tell me what
you think about it & if you have DO use for the letter destroy it because
I dont want it I c<int talk to you very much darlmt; it scorns such a
long time since you really talked to mo and nothing can break down this
barrier but a real long talk with you I am so looking iorward to it Avis
was over last night and told mo you had seen Harold She also said that
they (231) were looking forward to the " Morea " coming in to hear all
about Harold from you & when I said " Bui 1 understood he was not
coming to England " she said " Oh that was a lot of rot he was talking.
I expect he has thought better of it since we all think we'd like to die at
certain times but we all get over ib and I suppose he has done the same by
now." She also told me that the " Morea " is due for China & Japan next
trip is this so ? darlmt its oven longer than Australia isut it* Oh 1 cant
wait all that time its awful here m England without you
There has been some unpleasantness with Mrs Leaher she is not
attempting to get out and its nearly 2 years now so he told her if she
wasnt out by Dec (she promised to get out for certain by this September)
he would take the matter to Court We have had our solicitors advice on
this matter & he saysshe wouldnt have a log to stand on 2 years is
tons of timo for anybody to find something else. But I suppose she is
waiting for something at the same figure (30 /- a month) & of course she
will never get it. However she's horrid to me of course she cant do
anything to irritate him, as he hardly comes into contact with her but I
do & she's so nasty she refuses to take anything in at all not even
bread or milk & has told the window cleaner only to do hor side of the
house.
Its awfully awkward I have to rush home on Friday nights & do all
my own shopping, carry potatoes etc -because if I only ordered them & had
them sent she wouldnt open the door when they came. She wouldnt open
the door to Bill the other day when he brought a parcel up for me & she wont
open it to tho Laundry so I have to take it & fetch it. She's done some
very petty things this last fortnight I didn't believe she would especially
after what Ive done for her & Norah. I am trying to get Ethel to come
up from Cornwall now I dont know if I shall be successful I do hope
so I shant be able to stand this state of things much longer Darlint. I
hope I havent bored you with all this I have just thought perhaps I have
-Hafter I had written it all. Forgive me if I have, I didnt intend to I just
244
Appendix II.
tried to make you live in my life. Will you write & tell me if I am to send
your watch to you at Plymouth & the books. I have had it put right and
often wear h myself at 168 the strap is so big it comes nearly up to my
elbow also I have had a gold buckle put on it did you notice it was only
E Gr I didn't when I bought iir or I should have had it altered at the time
however it is done now
Dont forget to write from Marseilles & tell me what to do. Darhngest
pal I love you more & moio I always shall 111 never alter.
PEIDT
Envelope Miss P Graydon, C/o Messrs Carlton & Prior, 168 Aldersgate
Street, E.C.I.
[Postmark London, W 1, Sop 6, 3.15 p.m., 1922 A.]
September 6th
If you wish to remain the friend of 1? Bywaters, be careful. Do not
attempt to soe him or communicate with him, when he is in England
Beliove this fco bo a eiunno warning from
A WELLWISIIEB
Envelope Mr F Bywiiterh, P ft.M S. " Morea " Plymouth.
(Seal on back " P.")
[Pofttuiurk London, 5 p in., 20 fcJep 1922 Stamps ^d and Id ]
Do yon know Bar lint Tm getting fearfully disappointed today I
had hopes ofr heading from you but there is nothing yot I went to
G.P 0. yesterday and they told mo there was nothing for me that was
quito disappointing enough, bub 1 thought perhaps you were late at Mar-
seilles & it would be in to-day (Tuesday) When I asked for the letters
for mo to-day & was told there was none, I asked if the mail by the
" Morea " was IP & was told it was but was not yet sorted o now 111
have to wait until tomorrow as its no use mo getting letters after business
hours I have nowhere to keep them tor safety However I hope time will
fly till tomorrow.
This afternoon I sent you a parcel of books to Plymouth I thought
perhaps it would bo too late to catch you if I wnitod to hear from you
And darlmt something was in the parcel for you I couldnt remember if you
told mo your hair brushes were worn out or if it was some one else
was it you ? & do you like tho ** Mason Pearson " brush like wire on a
rubber cushion. On Saturday 1 had vory solemn warning that you were
expected home this week eud & you wore sure to visit 231 (This Gran
Mother) & when I en id I understood you wore not coming to England
any more I was told *' Oh that was all bluff just an excuse to make ii>
easier to take you out that night."
I have been amusing myself making jam chutney & mincemeat with
the apples from the garden. Most people who have tasted it think I have
been very successful & Norman wants to borrow me as his cook, Im
getting rather proud of myself darlint but I wish I was doing it to
245
Bywaters and Thompson.
share with you it would be worth more to me than the whole world's
praise. This morning I had a letter from Ethel and she says she will come
up to me at the end of the month thats something anyway Im beginning
to hate this drudgery it doesnt even help to stifle thoughts now
I think 111 send you a wire to Plymouth to ask you to send Plymouth
letter (if I am to have one) to 168 One letter cant matter can it dailmt,
anyhow 1*11 risk it. But 111 wire you because perhaps you wont open this
before you leave.
Its 5 now darlmgest 111 put this away till tomorrow Im thinking
about such a lot.
PEIDT
Darlmt darlmt pal Im so happy Ive heard from you such a lot it
seems like the very first time I have really heard since you have been
gone I dont know what to say to you I really dont but you know how
I feel dont you 9 Today is the 20th and Ive got tons of work to do it is
statement day and its also nearly H so I must post this now I will talk
to you properly and answer your letter & keep it until you tell me where
to send it you will wont you? One thing I must say darlmgest pal Im
a thought reader I must be you* 11 think so too when you get your parcel
at Plymouth Must it be pals only darlmt ? if you say " Yos "it shall be
PHIDI
(still loves you )
Plain Envelope
Darlmgest boy I know, can I wish you all & everything you wish me
Here's luck to us both in " The Glorious Adventure " may our next
meeting be real, darlmt, real & true & happy 111 lot you have your own
way about writing daiiint, if you think it ically best & I'll quite understand.
Goodbye & good luck dnrhnt, the very very best luck that could happen
to you darlmt and
PEZDT.
Plain Envelope
Darlmge&t Boy,
Thank you evor, ever so much for all those things I received are
they all for me tho ? there seems such a lot & what am I to do about them ?
Wear them now? or wait, I know when you sent them you wanted me &
expected that I would wear them, but now well I suppose its not to be.
Ive nothing to talk about darlmt, not a tiny little thing Life the Life
I & we lead is gradually drying me up soon I'll be like the " Sahara "
just a desert, like the " Shulamite " you must read that book, its interesting
absorbing, aront books a consolation and a solace? We ourselves die &
live in the books we read while wo are reading them & then when we have
finished, the books die and we live or exist just drag on thro years &
years, until when? who knows Im beginning to think no one does no not
even you & I, we are not the shapers of our destinies
I'll always love you darlmt,
PIXDX.
240
Appendix II.
Plain Envelop^
Darhnt, I did have a doubt about Australia doesnt doubt show great
love sometimes? I think it does, its that sort of doubt I had perhaps
" doubt " is the wrong word its fear more fear of losing you a woman
is different for a man a man says " I want it I'll take it a woman
wants to say that but an inborn feeling of modesty is it? makes her
withhold her action perhaps you'll not understand this Men are carried
away on the moment by lots of different actions, love, hate, passion, & they
always stand by what they have done.
Darlint, Australia frightens me, memories, with faces, return & humans
cannot control their own Fate
Supposing Fate has it written down that you & I are never to be happy,
you'll fight against it, but you'll have to give in & perhaps you'll come
back, perhaps you wont Darlint I'm going to forget theie is such a place
from the day you sail this time, till the daj you return
On the evening you said to me " Au revoir " in January you told me
you still had something something in connection with Australia. All the
tune you wore away I wondered why you mentioned it what made you
remind me about it
Darlint before you go this time send me everything connected with
Australia & when you come back to me from Australia I'll give them all
back to you, to do with what you like
Whatever you think about this will you talk to me about it please
darlint.
Nothing, nothing on this earth over will make a teeny scrap of difference
to our love
Darlint, it is real & for all tune too large too great too grand for
anything to destroy it.
Ill keep those things, at least for you to see the first time, but darhut
if its possible for us to go out this Thursday, I'm going to wear one set,
& on the day you come home I'm going to wear the oilier set Yes, you
want mo to? or not?
Why and how was la" little girl "darlint I always feel that I want
you to take care of mo, to bo nice to me, to fuss hold me always in youi
2 arms, tight, ever so tight* & kiss me, keep on doing it darlint
An organ outside now, playing " Margie."
Darlint I'll try not to bo cynical, hard I'll try always to be just a " little
girl " a tiny little girl that you call
PEIDI.
Plain Envelope.
Oh darlinti 1 do want to thank you HO much, heaps & heaps, heaps
for everything you're much too good to rno darlint in that way really you
are
At any rate III be able to think of you every morning & every evening
because I'll be abb always to wear silk now, & the beads no darlmgest
boy I cant say " thank you " enough everybody wants me to leave them
to them in my Will I feel proud ever so proud when anybody admires
anything you have given me.
247
By waters and Thompson.
The lilac set I like best 4* all, I told you this before, but I must tell
you again, they are for ThursdtVy first & then only for the first & last times
I am with you. I dont think you can possibly know how much I thank
you, but I dont mind if you dont know, because / know how much.
Darhngest boy, I got your note this morning, if you felt it was awful
on Saturday & you wanted to die, how do you think I felt ? its indescribable,
all the pain that this deceit and pettiness caubes
Yesterday I thought was too awful to beat, I dont know how I got
thro the day, my mind and thoughts T had to make frozen, I darent think,
not about anything, I should have run away, I know I should, I felt
quite sure.
Saturday at 530 it was terrible, every time I see you, the parting is
worse, on Saturday it was awful, so bad I couldnt B B any longer, I had
to cry all the way to 41.
I keep on asking myself " Will it ever be any different " things seem
so hopeless, do they to you?
You said in your note " What am I saying dont let (Ins make you too
miserable Cheie."
Darlingest nothing that you say like that cim over make me fool more
miserable than I do, just try & think durlmfc that Peirh always feels us
badly about things as you do perhaps worse, circumstances always have to
be considered & remembered.
Will you think this always darlmt perhaps it will help. I am going
to see you tonight arent 1, just for that " very little while," its the only
few minutes of the day that is worth living.
When you shook hands on Saturday I felt sick with pain, that that was
all you & I could do, just imagine shaking hands, when wo are all and
everything & each other, to each other, two halves not yet united.
Have you thought any more about that " leave it ui night " for
PJBIDI.
Plain Envelope.
Darlingest boy I know always and ever, after all T shant be with >ou
on our birthday darlint I shall think of you such a lot & you will too eh?
I want to leave every little thing to you darlmgcst boy, I know you
will decide and do what is best for two halves, only 1 should like to know
all your thoughts & plans darlint, just to help me beat up & live, no exist
thro this life, until it is time for us to be joined together. Could you
write to me from Marseilles & tell me everything. Am I 6olfi:;h ? I believe
I am because I am always thinking of myself & yet right deep down in
my heart I want to do what is best for you.
Its fearfully hard to decide, thats why 1 want you to pour inoi &
whatever you say or do I shall accept without fear or doubt or question,
& think all the time, even if it soems wrong to rue, that you know it will,
at some indefinite period be, best for us. This is right font it?
It gets harrier and harder every time doouit it. I scorn to have lived
years & years in that little one from 27,6.21 to now.
Goodbye darlingest I wont you to have every fmccess in everything
Appendix II.
darlint, you know that dont you 7 if only I r^uld lielp you in thai success,
but I cant, so you must go on by yourself ,/nd know always that you are
loved and trusted by
PETDI
Plain Envelope
Darlint, it doesnt seem possible you are home again I cant realise it,
I tried all last night I did not close my eyes once just thinking & foaling
all over again how I folt when I saw you By the time you read this I bhall
have asked you to do something for me I didnt like doing it myself,
darlmt, in fact I cried all the Lime, but after it was done I felt easier,
& after you have finished it for me I shdll foci easier still. Darlint, dont
be cross about it, its better I am sure & I was thinking all the. time to
myself " the next real one I have perhaps 111 be able to keep for always
1 wasnt very nice last night when you were leaving me darlint, I know,
but 111 try and be patient, 2 hours if lei 7 woeks seems so short. I put the
violets in my hand hag last night until I went to bed at 9 p.m & then
put them in watei They are quite fresh this morning, I wore them &
they are now beside our monkey on my desk I dont think I thanked you
properly for Iho * wools darlint but T was &o plonsod to see you, everything
Hew, you understand, I know
I have not put /its ribbon on again yet -it will causo comment if I do
so am leaving it for a littlo while.
Thank you for G.M M.C wire tins morning Dont forget J ivatif you
always so be careful, & good luck darlmt
PKIDI
Envelope Mr F Rywntora P.O. R M H. " Morea " Marseilles Franco
(On back) I bnrnt this scaling it. PEII>T
[Stamps Throe lid.]
well let us accept it thenand boar the hard part as willingly as we enjoy
the natural part. Darlint, I didnt think you wanted to go into the other
carriage -but I suggested it because I felt there would be less temptation
there not only for you but for me too do you think it is loss pleasure to
me, for you to kiss me & hold me, than it is for you to do so? I tlunk
its more pleasure to mo than it can possibly bo to you at least it always
feels so & darlingest, if you had rofrainod from doing these things (not
perhaps last night but at some time before you went) I am not above
compelling you to darlint I could, couldn't I, juat tho same as if the
position was reversed you could compel me to because we have no will
power. I felt thatB how it would be darlingest lover of mine I was
strong enough in spirit, until I was tempted in I ho flesh & the result a
mutual tumble from tho pedestal of " P;I!H only " that we had erected as
penance for ourselves. No darlmt, it could never be nowI am sure that
you see that now dont you? intentions mich as we had were forced
unnatural & darlingest wo arc essentially natural with each other we
always have been, since our first tmdorfttaudmg. Why should wo choose to
be as every other person ^when we're not is every other person such a
240
Bywaters and Thompson.
model that you & I should* copy them? Lets be ourselves always dai
lingest there can never be $Vy misunderstandings then it doesnt matte
if its harder you said it was our Fate against each other we only hav
will power when we are in accord, not when we are in conflict tell me i
this is how you feel. As I said last night, with you darlmt there can neve
be any pride to stand in the way it melts in the flame of a great love-
I finished with pride Oh a long time ago do you remember 7 when I ha
to come to you in your little room after washing up I wonder if yo
understand how I feel about these things I do try to explain but som
words seem so useless Please please lover of mine, dont use that wor
I dont like it I feel that Im on a pedestal & that I shall always have t
strive to remain there & I dont ever want to strive to do anything anythm
with or for you thats not being natural & when you use that word that
just how I feel not natural not myself. Would you have me feel like th]
just eo that you could use a term that pleases you & you only ? Tell me
Do you remember me being asked if I had found *' The Great Lover "
Darhngest lovor of mine I had & I'd found " The Great Pal " too the, bet
pal a giil evei "had. One is as much to me as the other, there is no firs
and second they are equal
I am, glad you held me tightly when you wont to sleep darlmt, I wante
comforting badly I cried such a lot no I wasnt unhappy I look a sigl
today.
Barlingest what would have happened had I refused when you usfee
me to kiss you ? I want to know
M H. "R 27621 from
Pvnn.
Plain Envelope
Order from Carlton & Prior.
168 Aldcrsgate Street,
London, E C. 1 19
(Written in pencil)
Mr* Carlton has gone out to lunch now & I must wait until he comes bac
Miss P. is not back yet do you mind waiting there Im sorry to ask yo
to wait such a lot but its awkward today I had a terrible half hour.
FXXDI.
Order from Carlton & Prior
168 Aldorsgato Street,
London, E C. 1 19
(The following written in pencil)
I rang you to-day but you were out.
It was only to say goodbye I am going away again in tho morning-
I didn't ask you to drink my health this time home somehow I thought yo
would refuse. Perhaps I shall get my appointment in Bombay this time-
IE hopo so I failed before.
250
APPENDIX hi.
Royal Courts of Justice, Thursday, 21st December, 1922
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.
11EX
FREDERICK EDWARD FRANCIS BYWATERS
Before The LOUD CHIEF JUSTICE or ENGLAND,
Mr. JusTron DARLING, and
Mr JUSTICE
JUDGMENT
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE This appellant, Frederick Edward Francis
Bywaters, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court, together with a
woman named Edith Jessie Thompson, of the wilful murder of Percy
Thompson, and ho was sentenced to death* He now appeals against con*
viction, and, in accoi dance with the practice of this Court, it is right
that this appeal should be dealt with at once, and it will not then be
necessary that this appellant should have the ordeal of listening to the
appeal in the other caso
Now, tho learned judge, in his summing-up to the jury, spoke of the
charge as a common or ordinary charge of a wife and an adulterer murdering
the husband. That was a true and appropriate description. The case is a
squalid and rather indecent case of lust and adultery, in which the husband
was murdered in a cowardly fashion, partly because he was in the way and
partly, it would seem, because such money as he possessed was desired ly
the others, Thore is no need to recapitulate the facts of the case. The
woman, Mrs. Thompsonto whom I refer for the present purpose only in
describing so far as it is necessary to describe the events which preceded the
commission of the crime, prejudging nothing as to what may be said on her
behalf in that appeal was the daughter of a Mr. Graydon, and is twenty-
nine years of age. In 1915 she married Percy Thompson, who, at the
time of his death, was thirty-two years of age* Thore were no children
of the marriage. They occupied part of a house at 41 Kensington Gardens,
Ilford, and there was evidence, upon which it is not necessary to dwell,
that there came a time, at any rate, when she and her husband ceased
to be upon good terms. The appellant Bywaters was twenty years of age
last June. Ho was employed as a ship's writer,* and apparently he had
known the Graydons for two or three years, and in the year 3921 ho
stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Thompson at the Isle of Wight, and then after*
Bywaters and Thompson.
r
wards in their house at Ilfoii In August of last year Bywaters told h
mother that Mrs Thompson v .ed a very unhappy life with her husbanc
and asked his mother how Mis Thompson could get a separation, an
there is evidence that he met Mrs Thompson twjce at the warehouse whei
she was employed once eighteen months ago, and once on Friday, the 29t
September of this year. That wa5 the day upon which Bywaters' ne
period of leave started. There was further evidence that he and Mr,
Thompson were seen together at a neighbouring leashop on the 29th Soptemb<
and on the 3rd October, and that letters had been taken for Mrs Thompsc
from the warehouse to Bywaters On Tuesday, the 3rd October, Air. an
Mrs. Thompson went to a theatre with Mr. Thompson's uncle This appe
lant, Bywaters, was at Mr, Graydon'e house in Manor Park that night; an
in the course of the evening it was mentioned that the Thompsons had gor
to the theatre Bywaters left about ten o'clock, or a little later, and tl
place where Mr Thompson was aftei vvards killed was some 2 miles and 3"3
yards from the house of the Or ay dons, and was not at all on the .appellant
way home. Mr. Laxton left the Thompsons at the Piccadilly Tube station
about a quarter to elevon that nigh I, and they made their way to Ilforc
and as they were going in the direction of their home Mrs Thompson woi
running to a passer-by in a state of great agitation and made a statemen 1
I do not at present enter into that statement, because it is not necessary
Mr. Thompson had been killed, and when tho police came and took hj
body to the mortuary he was found to be wounded in many places on tb
left side below the ribs there wcro four slight cuts on the hkm which ha
gone through his clothing; there were two blight cuts on the front of tb
chin; two slight cuts on the right side of the lower jaw; and a slight ci
on the right arm. There was a stab in the back of the neck 2 inches dee
and 1 inches wide; a stab at the back of the nock 2] inches deep and 1
inches wide ; a stab m the centre of the neck 1 inch wide and 2 mchc
deep, which penetrated down and opened the gullet The doctor was c
opinion that the fatal wound in the neck wa$ received from behind, hi
he was doubtful about it
Now to pass over further evidence, no small part of the evidence in tb
case undoubtedly consisted oC a remarkable correspondence between th
appellant and Mrs Thompson. Few of: his Jotters had boon preserved,
think only three. Many of her letters hud been preserved, and thot
letters were undoubtedly used as some material helping tho jury to arm
at a true conclusion with regard to tins appellant. It is not ticcessar
for me in dealing with his case to enter further into tho nature of tli
contents of those letters ; but it JR said by Mr. Wlnteloy, who has argue
tins appeal on behalf of tho appellant, that it was wrong HI this case the
the appellant and Mrs Thompson should be tried together. That is th
first ground of his appeal. Now, it has been held again and again b
this Court the cases are so numerous that it is not necessary to rtfc
to thorn that it is a matter of judicial discretion whether two peroi,
shall or shall not be tried separately. In this case the learned judg<
exercising his discretion, decided that tho present appellant and Mn
Thompson should be tried together In tho opinion of this Court, there wa
no ground at all for tin favourable criticism of that decision. On the cor
trary, this was clearly a case iti which, in tho interests of justice, it wa
desirable that the two prisoners should be tried together. It is said the
the effect of trying the two prisoners together was ihat many of the lettei
262
Appendix III.
written by Mrs Thompson to the appellant were used as material from
which the jury might draw a conclusion unfavourable to Bywaters. But
exactly the same thing would have happened if the prisoners had
been tried separately It is not to be supposed that if the learned judge
had come to the conclusion that Bywaterb should be tried separately the
prosecution would not ha\e nride use of those letters. It was further
said that the result of trying the two prisoners together was that Mis
Thompson became, as otherwise she might not have been, a witness in
tho case in which By waters was being dealt with No doubt, if the result
of tiymg two persons together who might have been tried separately is
what has been called in the cases referred to by Air Whiteley a miscarriage
of justice, this Couit will mteifere But what is meant by a miscarriage
of justice' That moans that a person has been improperly found guilty
It is idle to sugg'est that a miscarriage of justice has taKen place if the
prisoner, against whom thoie is ample evidence, and, indeed, overwhelming
evidence, suffers, in tho opinion of tho defence, some incidental disadvantage
because a fellow-prisoner, who would not otherwise have been a witness,
does go into the witness-box No doubt, HI cases where the defence ot
one accused person lu to incriminate another accused person, that is a good
reason for not trying the two persons together, but that was not this
case, and, in tho opinion of this (Joint, it was helpful in the administration
of justice, which knows no other object except to arrive at a true conclusion,
that Mrs. Thompson's evidence should have been given as assisting the
members of the jury to come to a right conclusion m the case, not only
of herself, but ultio of Bywaters Now, in the course of the complaint
under this head, Mr. Whiteley said that there was no evidence at all
that Mrs. Thompson did tiny thing to aid and abut the actual commission
of this crime on the in^lid of the 3rd October. That is a matter which
may have to bo considered in the next appeal, but, so far us that argument
is employed on behalf ol Bywators, speaking for myself, I am not prepared
for a moment to admit that there was no evidence that Mrs Thompson
aided and abetted tho actual commission of this crime, Upon the whole, so
far as this first ground of appeal 1$ concerned, the learned judge, as we
think, exercised his discretion and exorcised it wisely and well in holding
that these two prisoners should stand their trial together.
The second ground of appeal wan that as the learned Solicitor-General
appeared aa loading counsel Tor tho prosecution, he had, and exercised, the
right of reply ; and it w?is contended that, at any rate, since tho passing of
Lord Donman's Act, tho Criminal Procedure Act of 1865, the law officer
of the Crown has not a right ot reply. Support for that proposition was
sought to ho derived from casos in winch the prerogative of the Crown in
relation to tho provimous of statutes dealing with similar matter has been
considered The argument fails, for this quite simple reason : the Act of
3865 is not dealing with this matter at nil, and it was long after 1865
that the resolution of the judges referred to by Mr. Whiteley was come
to, namely, in tho year 1884. That was not an enabling resolution; it was
a resolution which had a limited effect, and it was this : that in those
Crown cases in which the Attorney or Solicitor-General is personally
engaged, a reply whore no witnesses are called for tho defence is to be
allowed as of right to the counsel for the Crown and in no others. That
is the existing state of the law. If the law in to be altered, it must be
altered elsewhere, but at prestmt, when tho law officer o the Crown,
-253
By waters and Thompson.
f
whether he be the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General, appears m a
Crown case which is no merfe accident what it means is that those who
have had to deliberate upon the matter have come to the conclusion that it
is a case in which, m the interests of justice, it is right that a law officer
of the Crown should appear when a law officer of the Crown does appear,
then, according to the exercise of his discretion, he may exercise the right
which at present he lawfully has; and, again, applying that matter to the
facts of this particular case, one cannot soe any ground for the suggestion
that the defence was prejudiced by what the learned Solicitor-General, m a
speech of 4udious moderation, did
Finally, it is suggested that there was misdirection The summing-up
in the case of Bywaters fills, m the transcript of the shorthand note, an
enormous number of pages It is not denied by Mr. Whiteley that the
questions relating to Bywaters were fully and clearly put again and
again, and, in the opinion of this Court, m the particular and minor matters
to which Mr. Whiteley has taken exception, there is no ground whatever
for the complaint of misdirection
As to the complaint that evidence was wrongly admitted, I have already
dealt with that in deabng with the letters The complaint there is with
regard to the letters, and I make this further observation about thorn only :
it matters not for this purpose whether Mrs. Thompson had really done or
attempted the various acts which in those letters she said or suggested that
she had done or attempted It matters not whether those letters show*
or, at any rate, go to show, that there was between this appellant and
Mrs Thompson any agreement tending to the same end. Those letters
were material as throwing light, not only upon the question by whom
was this deed done, but what was the intent, what was the purpose with
which it was done Therefore, not to mention other grounds, those letters
were most material upon tho allegation of the appellant, by way of after-
thought, that what he did was done in self -defence. I say " by way of
afterthought/' because when one looks at the statement which ho made
at an early stage, after his arrest upon the 5th day of October (exhibit
No. 6) and Mr Whiteley has already read tho passage this morning
what ho said was this" The reason I fought with Thompson was because
he never acted like a man to his wife. He always seemed several degrees
lower than a snake." That is not merely not the same thing as saying
"The reason I fought with Thompson was m self-defence, because he
appeared to me that he was going to shoot me "; it contradicts that reason.
It is something which excludes that defence.
In all these circumstances, not to dwell further upon the evidence m a
very ordinary though a very painful case, in the opinion of this Court this
appeal fails upon every ground, and mu&t be dismissed.
254
Appendix III.
Royal Courts of Justice, Thursday, 21st December, 1922.
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.
REX
v.
EDITH JESSIE THOMPSON.
Before The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OP ENGLAND,
Mr, JUSTICE DARI/ING, and
Mr. JUSTICE SALTEE.
JUDGMENT.
The LOUD CHIEF JUSTICE This appellant, Edith Jessie Thompson, was
convicted at the Central Criminal Court, together with the last appellant,
Frederick Edward Francis By waters, of the wilful murder of Percy Thomp-
son, and she was sentenced to death. She now appeals against conviction.
The charge against her was in point of law that she was what is called a
principal in the second degree; that is to Bay, that she was a person present
at the commission of the offence who aided and abetted the commission of
the offence, and, to put it in a slightly different way, the point of the
charge against this woman was that she incited and aided and abetted the
commission of this crime upon the night of the 3rd day of October. Now,
before I come to deal with the argument that has been presented on behalf
of the appellant by Sir Henry Curtis Bennett, it is necessary, as shortly
as possible, to review some of the facts of this essentially commonplace
and unedifying cose. The appellant, Edith Jessie Thompson, is twenty-
nine years of age. She is the daughter of & Mr. G-raydon, And seven years
ago she married Mr. Percy Thompson, the man now dead, the only person
who in this -case excites any sympathy.
At the time of his death he was thirty-two years of age. They lived
in a part of a house at Ilford, called No. 41 Kensington Gardens; and the
evidence was that the appellant and her husband were not on good terms
with each other. She was employed as manageress to & firm of milliners
in Aldersgate Street, where she received a salary of J56 a week in addition
to a bonus. Some timo ago, a -considerable time ego, the appellant made
the acquaintance of Bywatera, a young steward on a liner, whose case wae
dealt with this morning. He had stayed with them elsewhere and in their
own house, and it is quite obvious from many portions of the evidence that
the terms upon which she and Bywaters had come to be, long before the
3rd October of this year, were terms of tho most culpable intimacy. Bywatera
was from time to lime absent on his ship, It is not necessary even for
the sake of clearness to examine closely the chronology in the case; but
255
By waters and Thompson.
theie were periods when he was at home and there were periods when he
was away, and the periods wh?n he was away are to a great extent covered
by a remarkable and deplorable correspondence, full of the most mischievous
and perilous stuff In August of last year Bywaters, according to the
evidence, made a statement to his mother about the unhappy life of Mrs
Thompson, and the evidence showed, if the jury accepted it, as they
apparently did, that on more than one occasion Bywaters had called at the
warehouse where- Mrs Thompson was employed, that he had kept up this
protracted correspondence with her The letters which are actually made
exhibits be^ an with the llth of August, 1921, and they continue right down
to the 2nd October, 1922 that is to say, the day before the commission
of the crime and the evidence further was that after an absence of some
week?, Bywaters began a new period of leave on the 29th September last.
There was evidence that he was with the appellant at a neighbouring teashop
upon that day , and again upon Tuesday, the 3rd day of October That was
tho day upon which the crime was committed. On that Tuesday, tho 3rd
October, the appellant and her husband went to a theatre with the husband's
uncle, Mr. Laxton Upon that same evening Bywaters went to tho house
of the appellant's father ; and it appears to have been mentioned at tliat
house that the Thompsons had gone to tho theatre Bywaters left about
ten o'clock or a little after ten Somewhat later the appellant and her
husband with Mr Laxton, went to the Piccadilly Tubo station, about a
quarter to eleven There, it was said, they wore apparently on good terms,
and it is clear from what followed that bhoy made their way homo by train
to Ilford. Shortly before midnight a Miss Piltard wua walking with Mr.
and Mrs Clevely from Ilford station, and their way took them through a
road called Belgrave Road, and when they were between Do Voro Gardens and
End'iieigh Gardens, both places not far from Kensington Gardens, where the
Thompsons own house was, Mrs Thompson came running to him. Sho was
agitated and incoherent. She said" Oh, my God, will you help mo, my
husband is ill; he is bleeding." And she said ho was on tho pavement,
and asked those persons to go or take her and get a doctor. They took her
to the house of a doctor, Dr. Maudsley, and then Mrs. Thompson ran back.
A witness was called named Webber, who lived about 30 or 40 yards away
from that place, and he said that as he was going to bed ho heard a woman's
voice, a voice which ho now recognised as Mi-s. Thompson's voice, calling
in piteous tones, " Oh, don't, don't." Ho went outside, and three or
four minutes later he saw three persons coming from Dr Maudsley's house.
Mrs, Thompson was in front running and sobbing. Ho followed, and found
Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Thompson. He asked hor if he could help, and
she said, " Don't touch him, don't touch him ; a lady and a gentleman have
gone off for a doctor." Miss Pii/tard and Mr Clovely then caino up, and
they found the appellant kneeling down by Mr* Thompson, who was lying
upon the footpath in Bolgrave Boad with his back propped against the
wall. The place was dark Mr. Clevely etruck a match, and Mias Pittard
asked Mrs. Thompson what had happened,- and the appellant answered,
** Oh, do not a&k me; I do not know. Somebody flew past, and when I
tnrnod to speak to him blood was pouring out of his mouth." A few-
minutes later Dr. Maudsloy arrived, and he found that Mr. Thompson was
dead Ho thought he had been dead then about ton minutes. Mrs.
Thompson was standing by his side, and he described her as being confnaed,
Appendix III.
hysterical, and agitated. He asked her if Mr. Thompson had been ill
coming home, and she said " No." He td her that Mir. Thompson was
dead, and she said, " Why did not you come sooner and save him? " The
doctor made no examination then. He saw the blood. He did not see
any wound, but he sent for the police. A police sergeant took the appellant
to her house, and on the way she said, " Will he come back? They will
blame me for this." Now, the place where the body was found was about
50 yards from the Thompsons* house and 1250 yards from Ilford station.
It was an indirect way from the station to the house. The police came,
took the body to the mortuary and undressed it, and it was eAmined j and
a great number of wounds were found upon it. The most serious wounds
were three stabs, apparently inflicted from behind, one of which penetrated
down to and opened the gullet. Mr. Thompson's brother was sent for,
and shortly before two o'clock in the morning he arrived at Mrs. Thomp-
son's house. She told her brother-in-law that Mr, Thompson was walking
along and suddenly came over queer and said " Oh ! " and that on the way
from the station he had complained of pains in his legs, and that she had
met a lady and gentleman and had gone for a doctor, and when they got
back he was dead.
At three o'clock in the morning two police sergeants went to Mrs.
Thompson's house and saw her. She was asked if she could explain what
had happened on the road, and she said, " I do not know; I cannot say;
I only know that my husband suddenly dropped down and screamed out
' Oh ! ' I then rushed across the road and saw a lady and gentleman,
and asked them if they would help me, and they went with me for the
doctor." She was asked whether she could account for the cuts on her
husband's neck, and she said, *' No. We were walking along, and my
husband said ' Oh,' and I eaid ' Bear up/ thinking he had one of his
attacks." He then fell on her, and walked a little further. He then fell
up against the wall and then on the ground. She was asked if her husband
carried a knife, and she said " No." She was asked if she was carrying
a knife in her handbag, and she said " No." She was also asked if she or
her husband saw or spoke to any person in Belgrave Road, and she said,
** No ; I did not notice any one." About eleven o'clock hi the morning
of the 4th October Inspector Hall saw Mrs, Thompson at her house, and
she told him: " We were coming along Belgrave Boad and just passed the
corner of Endsleigh Gardens when I heard him call out, * Oh er,' and he
fell up against me. I put out my arms to save him, and found blood
which I thought was coming from his mouth. I tried to hold him up. He
staggered for several yards towards Kensington Gardens and then fell against
the wall and slid down. He did not speak to me ; I cannot say if I spoke
to him. I felt him, and found his clothing wet with blood. He never
moved after he fell. We had no quarrel on the way; we were quite happy
together. Immediately I saw blood I ran across the road to a doctor's. I
appealed to a lady and gentleman who were passing, and the gentleman
also went to the doctor's. The doctor came and told me my husband
was dead. Just before he tell down I was walking on his right hand aids
on the inside of the pavement nearest the wall. We were side by side.
I did not see anybody about -at the time. My husband and I were talking
about going to a dance." That evening Mrs, Thompson was taken to the
police station, and OB the 5th October ehe made a. statement which became
8 257
Bywaters and Thompson.
exhibit No 3 at the trial. I shall not read it all; but it is to be observed
that in that statement made w*ien she went to the police station she says
this: "I have always been on affectionate terms with my husband I
remember Tuesday, the 3id. October, we both went to our respective busi-
nesses that day, I met my husband by appointment at a quarter to six in
Aldersgate Street " She then describes how they went to the theatre and
how they came home, and then she describes or purports to describe
what took place, and she says, amongst other things, this " I cannot
remember whether I saw any one else there or not. I know there was no
one there w$en he staggered up against me " She went on to speak of
Bywaters and her knowledge of Bywaters She said, " I am not in pos-
session of any letters he wrote to me I luve destroyed them all, as is
customary with me with all my correspondence When he was at home in
England we were in the habit of going out occasionally together without
my husband's knowledge " According to that statement she had not seen
Bywaters that night , she did not associate Bywaters with what had taken
place, and she was on good terms with Mr Thompson, her husband Now
it happened that at the police station she saw Bywaters, who had been
taken to the police station, and was in Ihe library as she passed, and she
then said, " Oh God, oh God, what can do? Why did ho do it? I did
not want him to do it I must tell the truth " And then she made a
further statement, which is exhibit No 4 In that short statement she said
this*' When we got near Endsloigb Gardens a man rushed out from the
Gardens and knocked me and pushed me away from my husband 1 was
dazed for a moment When I recovered I saw my husband scuffling with
a man The man who 1 know as Freddie Byw.itorH was running
away He was wearing a blue overcoat and a grey hat. f know it was
him although I did not see his face " The two wr afterwards charged
together. The knife with which these wound* hud been inflicted was found
in a neighbouring drain, and J do not think I need dwell upon the rest of
the evidence Dr SpiLslmry said that All the wounds except the one on
the arm of Mr Thompson were stabs.
The .appellant Bywaters gave evidence first, and Mrs. Thompson gave
evidence, and I shall have to refer in a moment to the denials she made.
She said, among other things, that she first foil in lovo with Bywatens in
September, 1921, and that she had told hor husband that she had given him
cause for divorce. The jury, having heard the whole of the evidonw, both
that which I have summarised and much else, came to the cowluMon that
the appellant was guilty of wilful murder.
Now, what are the pleas that are put forward on behalf of the appellant
in this appeal? Sir Henry Curtis Bennett at the outset stated, and very
frankly stated, that before he came into Court tins morning he had
decided to abandon that ground of Appeal which rested upon tlm allegation
that this appellant and Bywaters ought to have been tried separately,
but were in fact tried together. That ground of appeal i not persisted
in. But Sir Henry says he puts it in more than one way, but it is really
the same contention illustrated and nought to bo enforced from different
poults of view that in order that this appellant might properly be con-
victed of this crime thero ought to bo evidence showing not merely that
as between her and Bywatera there was a community of purpose in this
matter, but that that community of purpose continued light up to the
Appendix III.
crucial moment when the crime was committed; and in regard to that complaint
Sir Henry relies especially upon two majbers. He relies first upon the
letters and the use to which they were put or not put; and secondly, he
relies upon certain portions in the summing up, where he says the learned
judge not only misdirected the jury in the sense of inviting them to find
what they could not find, but also omitted to direct the jury in the sense
that he did not adequately put before the jury what the defence of the
appellant was. With regard to the letters, in the opinion of this Court
there was more than one ground upon which the use of these letters could
be justified. It is enough for the present purpose to say ttyt they could
be justified upon this ground that by means of them the prosecution were
seeking to show that continuously over a long period, beginning before and
culminating in the time immediately antecedent to the commission of the
crime, Mrs. Thompson was, with every sort of ingenuity, by precept and
by example, actual or simulated, endeavouring to incite By waters to the
commission of this crime. I am not going to read those letters. There
is a great mass of them. Many of them were read at the trial They
begin in the summer of 1921, and they continue until the 2nd October, 1922 ;
that is to say, they continue until the day before the day upon which this
crime was committed. Now, what is ib that those letters may reasonably
be regarded as showing'/ First of all, they show a passionate and, in the
circumstances, a wicked affection between Mrs. Thompson and Bywaters.
Secondly, they contain what purport to be accounts of efforts which have
been made, sometimes without the assistance of Bywaters, sometimes with
the assistance of BywAters, to get Mr. Thompson out of the way. Thirdly-
and Jthis is a thread that runs through the whole skein of these letters-
there is the continual entreaty and hope that that which they both desire
will somehow be accomplished. Now, in the opinion of the Court, the
theory that these letters, so far as they purport to describe attempts made
upon the life of Mr. Thompson, are mere nonsense" Vapour," as Bywatera
calls them" Melodramatic nonsense," as learned counsel has thought fit
to call them is a theory which cannot be accepted. But however that
may be, if the question is, as I think it was-, whether these letters were
evidence of a protracted, continuous incitement to Bywaters to commit the
crime which he did in the end commit, it really is of comparatively little
importance whether the appellant was truly reporting something which
she had done, or falsely reporting something which she merely pretended
to do. I am not going to read them; it is not necessary; but reference
may, perhaps, be made to one of them, which is the last By this time
Bywaters was back in this country. The appellant and Bywaters were
meeting. They had ample opportunity of conversation and arrangement
of any plan in which they might be interested ; and upon the 2nd of October
the appellant wrote to him'* I tried so hard to find a way out of to-night,
darlingest, but he was suspicious and still is. * * . We ought to be. Me
to use great big things for great big love like ours." And again
" Darlint, it is funds that are our stumbling blockuntil we have those,
we can do nothing/' That is not the only passage in the later corres-
pondence in which the appellant refers to the importance of money. Then
she goes on" Darlint do something to-morrow night will you? something
to make you forget. I'll be hurt I know, but I want you to hurt me
I do really the bargain ttow seems 00 one-sidedso unfair but how can
Bywaters and Thompson.
I alter it." And finally, the last passage "Don't forgot what we talked
in the tearoom. I'll still risk nnd try if you will we only hnve 3J years
left darhngest " Now, it cannot be said that those letters were not
evidence against the appellant in support of the charge which the prosecu-
tion were making up against her
I pass to the summing up. The complaint against the summing up,
which is a very long summing up, is that it did \vluit it ought not to have
done, and it omitted to do what it should have done Is there any ground
for that criticism 7 Let me refer to one or two, and only to ono or two
passages. The case for the prosecution was that the appellant and "By waters
were acting together. The case for this appellant was that the letters
she had written were nonsense, and that what took place on the night of
Tuesday, 3rd October, was to her a great surpuso At the very outset of
the summing up the learned judge put the question for the jury in this clear
and simple form " The case presented is that these two, by iirrangoinoiit
between each other, agreed to murder this man, and the murder WAS effected
by the man Unless you are satisfied of tltnt, namely, that they did it,
did it by arrangement in the way I shall explain to you, there would bo
no case aginsl the woman." Then the 1 Gained jiidt^e deals with the CUM
against the man, and, to come to a later page, lie says tins " Now i am
going to ask you to consider only one question in your deliberations,
and that is, was it an arranged thing between the woman and the, man, 1 *
&c. (reading to the words) " if you are satisfied " I panne thtw to nay
that one of the incidental criticisms offered upon I he summing up is th.it
it does not expressly say in so many words the burden of proof IH upon
the prosecution, but again and again and again the learned judge wiys
that everything depends upon the jmy'ft being satisfied of something, which
apart from technicality is the sanio thing as saying that the probncution
have to prove their ca*e " If you are satisfied that there was/' &<
(reading to the words) " that is what 1 submit to you " Now, tin* criti-
cism which is offered upon that pJiKsage is that there was no direct evidence
that she had informed Bywaters that she would be there with her h unhand
at that time There was no direct evidence that ho was thorc ut bur invi-
tation, or upon information given by her That Is quite true. But in
view of all the rest of the evidence, both as to what happened before tho
commission of those acts, and as to what happened immediately after tho
commission of those acts, it was obviously open to the jury to infer that
that which was done was done as tho result of preconcerted arrangement,
and that is what tho learned judge is putting here, making it plain again
and again and again that they aro to be satisfied before they draw that
inference. And he pursues the same matter. Ho sayw on tho next page- -
" The short case for tho prosecution is this 1 , that for months IheKo people
had beon corresponding/ 1 &c. (reading to tho words), " inciting him to
murder/ 1 In the next sentence the learned judge goes on to say" 1 will
deal with the letters and deal with her explanation later on " j and it is
complained that in that part of, his summing up he says, " I know when
you have letters the jury want to hear what tho judge says about the
letters." I cannot help Chinking that far too much stress has boon laid
upon that particular phrase. It seems no more than tins ~" have not
forgotten the letters; I know you will expect mo io deal with them." And
when the learned judge comes to deal with the letters, what 10 it that ho
260
Appendix III.
says? Let me refer to two other passages He says this, having referred to a
letter " The meaning of that is for you tf judge You will fully under-
stand it is not for me to tell you what the letters mean. Tou are the
judges of that, not I There is no law about it whatever " And yet again
ho says" I should be wanting in my duty if I did not plainly explain to
you that the meaning of these letters is entirely for you." In view of
those warnings, it seems to me to be impossible that the learned judge
could be understood to have meant by his former phrase, " You will take
your view of these letters from me." Again, to pass to another passage,
tho learned judge says this " It is said by the piosecution that from the
beginning to the end of these letters she is seriously considering and inciting
the man to assist her to poison her husband; and if &he did
that, and if you find that within a week or two after he
came back the poisoning is considered no longer possible, he has
no longer studied or has not studied bichloride of mercury, but
has read * Bella Donna ' to see if * Bella Donna ' can be of any use to
him "I pause to say there that a remark was made as to the view which
she expressed upon a leading character in that story, and it is also to be
observed that pho recommended that book to be read by him as a book
which might prove useful to him hereafter" they would naturally turn to
some other means of effecting their object/ 1 &c. (reading to the words) " a
meeting which only finished when there was a discussion in the tearoom fl
that is tho discussion referred to in tho last paragraph of the last letter. And
again" You arc entitled to assume it is entirely for you to say whether
you are satwfied you are entitled to assume that &he sped him on his
errand/ 1 &c (reading to tho words) " you will not draw it unless you are
satisfied " And finally, at tho close of the summing up the learned judge
once more repeats the warning. It is on the last page of the summing up
"You will not convict her unless you are satisfied that she and he agreed
that this man should bo murdered/' &c (reading to the words) " he waa
doing it " Tho matter could not be put more strongly than that'* If you
arc not satisfied ot that you will acquit her If you are satisfied of
that it will bo your duty to convict her."
Taking that long summing up as a whole, and reading one part with
the rest of what the learned judge says, in the opinion of this Court it is
not possible to found upon it any unfavourable criticism. The case was
clearly put before tho jury, There was simple evidence, partly direct
evidence, partly evidence from which inference might properly be drawn; and
upon that evidence, in a case which exhibits from beginning to end no re-
deeming feature, the members of the jwy have convicted the appellant. In
the opinion of i\m Court there is no reason tto interfere with that conviction,
and this appeal mutt be dismissed
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