Halloween Night Murder in Salisbury 1908
110 years before the Salisbury Poisonings, Salisbury was infamous for another reason entirely. The murder of a 12 year old amputee called Edwin Richard “Teddy” Haskell on Halloween night – 31 October 1908. His mother was tried twice for his murder – and was found not guilty both times due to insufficient evidence.
Teddy Haskell
I came across Teddy’s gravestone in my local graveyard by chance – my interest was piqued as the gravestone was inscribed:
Edwin Richard Haskell. By his school fellows and friends. Died at the age of 12 years October 31st 1908. In thy presence fullness of joy.
His mother was Flora Fanny Carter who married his father Edwin Haskell on 11 May 1896 in the parish of Fisherton Anger, which is part of Salisbury. Teddy was born later that year and was baptised on 6 December 1896.
Flora Haskell
In the 1901 census the family were living at 20 Meadow Road and were living with Flora’s mother, Mary Ann Carter, who was a widow and worked from the home as a Laundress. Having researched the birth records, it appears that Edwin and Flora had no further children born to them in the eight years that they were married.
Three years later Teddy’s father Edwin died at the age of thirty-six in February 1904 when Teddy was seven years old. By 1908 Flora and Teddy were living at 40 Meadow Road which is where the mysterious murder took place.
What happened on the night of 31 October 1908?
The following report was published on Friday 6 November 1908 in The Salisbury Times, Wilton Times and South Wilts Gazette, and is effectively a running commentary on what happened that night and in the following days.
The Meadow Road Tragedy
Sensational Developments
An appalling murder, which has stirred the city and neighbourhood to its depths, was committed in Salisbury on Saturday night under mysterious circumstances.
The victim of the crime was a little crippled boy named Edwin Richard Haskell, aged 12, who lived with his mother, a widow, at 40, Meadow Road, Fisherton, in the locality familiarly called the Gaol Ground, and he was found dead in bed, with an ugly wound in the throat.
In a city like Salisbury, where comparative immunity from serious crime has for generations been a proud boast, the sensation caused by so revolting a tragedy has naturally been great, but this was added to an element of mystery, which, to say the least, was exceedingly disquieting to the whole district.
The dreadful affair has been made the more painful by the sensational arrest of the mother, who was taken into custody late on Tuesday night on a charge of wilful murder. The next day Mrs. Haskell was brought before the magistrates on the capital charge and was remanded till next week.
Under these circumstances it is essential in the interests of justice that nothing should be said to prejudice the case. The police have naturally been extremely reticent, and even accredited enquirers have been unable to get any information from them. Some of the neighbours who were earliest on the scene have been interviewed, however, by a Times representative, and the particulars they were able to give set out with vivid clearness the shocking nature of the crime.
The Alarm
Briefly told, this was the mother’s story, so far as it can be learnt. Little “Teddy,” as he was affectionately called by those who knew him well, had had his Saturday night tub, and had been put to bed, and the mother had gone out to do some shopping – to purchase some groceries or something of that sort. She was not absent for any length of time, but on returning to the house, was astonished at hearing noises in the bedroom above. She went to the foot of the stairs with a view to ascending them and of ascertaining the cause, when a strange man came rushing down the stairs, and throwing a blood-stained knife on the floor, dashed out of the house into Meadow Road and ran away. A little nephew named Percy Noble, who lives with his parents in the next house, was knocking at the back door at that time, and to him Mrs. Haskell rushed in a state of great agitation and appealingly cried: “Stop that man; he has murdered my Teddy”.
The frightened boy obeyed his aunt’s behest and ran to the corner of York Road but could not see a man, and whilst he was gone she went to the front door and “raised an alarm”.
That, told in a few words, is the story which scared the neighbourhood on Saturday night and shocked the city and country at large on Sunday morning, when it became more generally known.
The scene in the immediate locality of the crime on Saturday night was one which will not soon be forgotten by the neighbours and those attracted there by the alarming reports. It was about 10:30pm when Mrs. Haskell ran to the front door and appealed for help, and although there were not many people about at the time a large crowd of several hundred people quickly collected.
In The Stricken Room
In the meantime, neighbours had gone into the stricken home to render what assistance they could. One of the first to arrive was a man named Walter Steer, and he, accompanied by another neighbour, Mrs. Butt, went up into the bedroom and obtained sad confirmation of the little boy’s fate. He lay in bed, with one small hand outside the coverlet, and with a happy, reposeful smile upon his face, but with a fatal wound in the side of the throat from which blood had flowed and saturated the bed clothes.
Dr. Wilks and his assistant, Dr. Rowe, came at once, but the little fellow had passed beyond human aid.
Strange to say, the bed-clothes were undisturbed, and there is every reason to believe that the little chap was murdered in his sleep, and was thus happily unconscious of the brutal act which robbed him of his young life. It is some small consolation to think that this helpless little cripple, who by all accounts was ever bright and cheery under a heavy affliction, was saved the pain and terror of a violent end, and this one has reason to believe was the case, for there is every indication that death was instantaneous. He was mercifully wrapped in a deep sleep and one hopes was dreaming of the innocent delights of the saving of “penalty kicks” in the games of football, into which, though bereft of a leg and encumbered with a crutch, he entered with such zest.
There were no signs of disorder in the bedroom, but it is stated that some money was stolen from the little boy’s money box which was kept there. He had been saving his pennies with a view to buying a cork leg to take the place of the limb he had lost, and it was said that he had accumulated the sum of over eight pounds, and that something like £4 of this was missing.
Hunting For The Murderer
The loss which was uppermost in everybody’s mind, however, was the loss of the boy’s life, and the desire which animated the crowd outside was to discover his murderer.
The police were at once communicated with and were very promptly on the scene. Every available man in the city force was called out. Many of them had done a day’s duty and had retired to rest, but they all responded to the call of duty with commendable smartness, and in a very short time were ready to carry out the commands of their chief, Mr. Frank Richardson, who was one of the first officers on the scene.
Bicycles were hired and borrowed, and every preparation was made for the prosecution of a complete and diligent search. Neighbours and others volunteered to help, whist the valuable assistance of Superintendent Stevens, with his men of the county police force, was also gladly accepted.
The importance of guarding the exits from the city in order to prevent an escape from within was at once realised, and with this end in view constables were despatched to commanding positions on all the roads leading out of the town. A cordon of trained and eager watchers was in this way drawn around the city, which rendered it well nigh impossible for anyone to leave the town through the ordinary channels without being observed, closely scrutinised, and, if thought needful, questioned as to their movements and antecedents. Additional precautions were taken by calling in aid the telephone, and messages circulating a description of the man who was wanted were flashed all over Wiltshire and the adjoining counties.
The Official Description
The description of the mysterious man was given, of course, by the mother, but it is stated that owing to the dim light in the passage she was unable to give any precise details. At any rate the man who was looked for was one:
From 30 to 40 years of age
Height five feet six or seven
Clean Shaven
Dressed in dark suit of clothes, but wearing no collar or tie
Wearing a light cap, and may have a light overcoat
May be in possession of £4 or £5 in money
Meanwhile the search parties which had been organised at the scene of the murder had set out on their quest in the more immediate neighbourhood. But their task was of no little difficulty, for the geographical character of the district affords every facility for escape. The houses are built in rows and terraces, and the straight streets dissect the district into chequers, whilst there are dark passages and obscure corners innumerable. The absence of shops and the consequent lack of illumination which their brightly lighted windows afford, throws the onus of street lighting upon the public lamps, and compared with other parts of the town which are less completely residential , Meadow Road and thereabouts is perhaps rather dimly lighted.
The locality, however, was most thoroughly scrutinised. Every nook and corner had a flood of lantern light turned upon it, and all the trucks which were standing on the railway in the vicinity of the station were peered into. The adjoining meadows and the fields beyond were hunted by groups of men. Indeed every conceivable place which might possible afford a hiding place for one seeking to flee from justice was carefully searched.
Scouring The Countryside
The police on their bicycles were meantime scouring the country roads, but all the workers were hampered by the darkness, and when morning dawned no arrest had been made.
It was a night of tense excitement, not only for those who had joined in the chase but also for those who stayed behind. The circumstantial story of the murderer’s escape and the horrifying details of the tragedy which leaked out during the night, kept the neighbourhood in a state of alarmed suspense, and few of the people living near were able to get much sleep.
Early on Sunday morning the scene of the tragedy was visited by big crowds of people, and throughout the day there was a constant stream of visitors waiting for developments.
Amongst those who called early on the widow was the Rev. Canon Thwaites (the rector of Fisherton) and the curate, the Rev. J. J. Haworth. To mark the sadness of the parish the bells were not rung in their customary peal, but only the monotone of a single bell was used to summon folks to church. At the conclusion of the service the Rector offered an extempore prayer in which he referred to the tragic events of the previous night.
Captain Noel Llewellyn, Chief Constable of Wilts, came to Salisbury early in the morning and stayed for some time.
The Chief Constable had also got into touch with Scotland Yard, and Chief Inspector Dew, of the Criminal Investigation Department, was sent to the city to assist local police.
Sunday wore on but no announcement of an arrest was made; indeed there was nothing to announce. The police were naturally reticent. They had an extremely difficult and delicate task to perform, and, as in all cases of this kind, strict secrecy as to their plans was essential. The most extraordinary rumours were circulated, but were either not believed or quickly dissipated.
The Bloodhounds
During the day Mr. Oliphant’s bloodhounds were brought from Shrewton, but they were sent back without being put to the test. These celebrated animals were those which recently took part in the man-hunting trails on Salisbury Plain.
Inspector Dew and Chief Constable Richardson were at the house nearly all the afternoon and evening, and there were reasons for believing that the scope of their enquiries were narrowing down. Interest in the tragic affair, however, by no means abated, and in addition to the large crowds which still lingered around the house in Meadow Road, groups of people waiting outside the police station in Endless Street, and when the well-known detective and the Chief Constable came dashing up to the private entrance in Endless Street in a motor car the anxious waiters immediately formed up on either side of the door, barely leaving a passage clear for the occupants of the car.
On Monday the police continued their investigations, but it was pretty clear that they were concentrating on the neighbourhood of the crime. All day long Inspector Dew and Mr. Richardson were running in their motor car from the house to the police station, to and fro, and in the evening a big crowd gathered around the house in the expectation of sensational developments. Nothing came of it, however.
The Inquest
The Inquest was opened at the Council Chamber on Tuesday afternoon, at three o’clock, but only evidence of identification was taken, and the inquiry was adjourned until next Wednesday.
The proceedings took place in the Crown Court before the City Coroner (Mr. S. Buchanan Smith), who was accompanied on the Bench by the Mayor (MR. R. M. Hall), the Chief Constable and Inspector Dew. There was only a small attendance of the public in the court, but a huge crowd had gathered outside with a view no doubt, of getting a glimpse of the witnesses, and of those who were taking part in the proceedings.
The jurors arrived early, and were all present on the stroke of three, when the Coroner called over their names as follows: - Messrs. J. Miles (foreman), J. Ashbridge, J .S. Rambridge, B. Bennett, L. J. Sly, E. M. Whaley, G. J. Summers, H. Simmonds, J. J. Gater, H. Lapham, F. Sims, W. Bingham, G. H. Davis, W. Cripps and G. R. Rawlings. They were sworn, and then they went with the Coroner to view the body. A conveyance was in waiting for them outside, and in this they were driven to the house. The Chief Constable and Inspector Dew went with them, and it was noticed that they carried away with them and brought back with them when they returned two big Gladstone bags.
The jury having returned after an absence of about twenty minutes, there was a further wait of a few minutes for the only witness who was called. At length she came, and she proved to be the murdered boy’s grandmother, Mrs. Carter. The old lady, dressed in black, and obviously in great distress, was assisted into Court by her son. She was sworn, and then the following dialogue took place between the witness and the Coroner: -
The Only Witness
Is your name Mary Carter, and do you live at Hayter’s Home; Fisherton Street? Yes.
Are you a widow? Yes.
Have you been to 40, Meadow Road? Yes.
And did you there see the body of a boy? Yes.
And did you recognise him? Yes, Edwin Richard Haskell, my grandson.
What was his mother’s name? Flora Fanny Haskell.
Was she a widow? Yes.
And did she reside at 40, Meadow Road, Fisherton? Yes.
How old was the boy? Twelve.
The sympathetic jurors had no questions to ask the grief-stricken grandmother, and her evidence was at once read over to her and she signed it.
Adjourned
The Chief Constable then rose from his seat beside the Coroner and stated that that was all the evidence he proposed to offer, and he would ask that the enquiry be adjourned until Wednesday, November 11th.
The Coroner: Is there any likelihood of getting through it then? If so we will sit early and get through it then?
The Chief Constable: I think it would be advisable to sit early.
The Coroner: Then we will sit a ten o’clock. Very well then gentlemen, I will bind you over until to-morrow week at ten o’clock.
The jurors were then bound over to attend the adjourned inquest and the proceedings ended.
Outside, the crowd had grown in numbers, and there was a rush to get a glimpse of the grandmother as she was helped into the cab which was waiting. It was not until a quarter of an hour or so afterwards that the police car drove away.
The unexpected ending of the inquest seemed to deepen the mystery rather than to dispel it. It had been expected that some light would be thrown on the tragedy by evidence given at the Coroner’s enquiry, but this was not forthcoming, and the brief and formal proceedings produced rather a disquieting effect.
Arrest Of The Mother
The sensational news of the arrest of the mother was not made until late on Tuesday night, and was not generally known until next morning. Indeed, the painful business was kept quite secret.
The actual arrest was made at 10:30, and the accused was taken to the police station in a motor car.
From that time events developed rapidly. At eleven o’clock a crowd collected outside the Council Chamber, in the belief that the police court proceedings would commence at that hour. It turned out not to be the case, however.
Before The Magistrates
The magisterial proceedings commenced at one o’clock, but the fact had been kept very close, and a few minutes before the appointed hour there was nothing outside to suggest the melancholy proceedings which were just about to commence inside.
A few people came in singly and amongst those one noticed was Mayoress (Mrs. Hall) who was sitting in the balcony, whilst downstairs in the body of the court was Mrs. Grove, wife of the ex-mayor, with her little son.
Mrs. Haskell was brought from the police station in a cab, and was assisted into the court by a wardress and Sergeant Golding, the latter not wearing police uniform. With the attendant on one side and the sergeant on the other, almost holding her up, the accused appeared to be in a state bordering on collapse. She is a woman of slight build and medium height and has rather a gentle, pleasant face, but she looked terribly worn and wan. Dressed in mourning and hanging her head the unhappy woman was assisted along the narrow passage, up the steps and into the dock where she was seated. During the hearing Mrs. Haskell closed her eyes and appeared to be in a dazed condition.
Just behind the accused came the Chief Constable, Inspector Dew and Supt. Stephens, and they took their seats beside Mr. W. J. Trethowan, who had arrived earlier and was appearing for the prisoner. He was accompanied by his son, Mr Frank Trethowan, and in the seat behind them sat Mrs. Haskell’s two brothers.
When the magistrates came in, the Court rose in silence, and the Mayor (Mr. R. M. Hall), bowing slightly, took his seat. Accompanying his worship on the bench were the ex-Mayor (Mr. S. Grove), Mr S. R. Atkins, Mr. W. M. Hammick, Mr J. A. Folliott and Mr. C. Haskins.
The proceedings were not commenced at once, but the Chief Constable had a consultation of some minutes duration with Mr. Jonas (the Magistrates’ Clerk) and in this Mr. Trethowan joined.
The solicitor for the defence subsequently went up into the dock, and, beckoning Mrs. Haskell away from the attendant who sat by her side, spoke a few words to her. Mrs. Haskell nodded her assent to, or agreement with, what was said.
Then the Chief Constable rose and glancing at the dock, addressed the magistrates thus:
This woman is brought here, your worships, on a charge of murdering Edwin Richard Haskell. She was arrested late last night, and I should be glad if you would remand her until Wednesday.
The Mayor: Until eleven o’clock?
The Chief Constable: Yes, until elven o’clock.
Mr Trethowan: I consent to that remand. I don’t know what evidence you are going to take now. That is for the Bench to decide.
The Charge
The accused was then charged. She was brought to the bar of the dock supported by those who accompanied her. She presented a sad figure, and the Magistrates’ Clerk, speaking in a kindly conversational voice rather than in the cold tones of stern formality, read the charge: -
Flora Fanny Haskell: You are charged with that you did feloniously, and of your malice aforethought, kill and murder Edwin Richard Haskell, aged 12 years, at 40, Meadow Road, on Saturday, October 31st, by cutting his throat.
All eyes were upon the fragile figure in the dock, but she made no answer. The Mayor turned to the attendant and commanded kindly: “Let her sit down.”
Another pause for consultation between the Chief Constable and the Magistrate’s Clerk, and then
The Mayor intimated that the Bench should have evidence of arrest.
The Mother’s Answer
The Chief Constable accordingly went into the witness box and having formally admitted his identify to Mr. Jonas, gave his evidence. It was very short, but it had to be written down and was therefore given in brief sentences. His statement was listened to with the greatest interest. This is what he said: -
Last night at 10:30 accompanied by Inspector Dew, of Scotland Yard, and Superintendent Stephens of the County Police, I arrested the defendant at 40, Meadow Road, and charged her with murdering her son, Edwin Richard Haskell, on Saturday, October 31st, by cutting his throat with a knife. I cautioned her and she replied: “No, no.” I took her to the police station.
The Brother’s Application
Mr. Trethowan had no questions to ask, but immediately afterwards applied to the Bench for permission that the two brothers of the prisoner might see her at the police station.
The Chief Constable: In the presence of an officer.
Mr. Trethowan: Why in the presence of an officer?
The Chief Constable: We must have somebody there?
Mr. Trethowan: You will be outside.
The Chief Constable: Outside where?
Mr. Trethowan: Outside the cell.
The Chief Constable: Yes, as long as we do not lose sight of the woman.
Mr. Trethowan: You can look through the keyhole if you like.
The Bench granted the application, and the proceedings, which only lasted a short time, came to an end.
A few minutes elapsed before Mrs. Haskell was taken back. She came out, assisted as before, and full of grief. A big crowd had collected around the cab which was waiting outside for her, and as she came in sight she buried her face in her handkerchief. The spectators watched with sympathetic interest. The accused woman was placed in the vehicle and taken rapidly back to the police station. There was no demonstration; the crowd was solemnly silent.
One of Mrs. Haskell’s brothers informed a Times representative in court that the family have received a great many letters of sympathy and they wished to return their grateful thanks for them. He added that they have also received many offers of assistance in arranging for the defence.
The Funeral
The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of a large crowd of mourners. The city was officially represented by the Mayor (Mr. R. M. Hall) who with characteristic kindliness, attended at the cemetery as a mark of the citizen’s sympathy with the little fellow, whose life had been ended so tragically.
The sad ceremony of burial took place at three o’clock at the Devizes Road Cemetery, but long before that time many sympathisers gathered around the house, whilst others took up positions along the route or at the entrance to the cemetery. Meadow Road was closed to the public for a short time, the way being kept clear by a string of policemen under the direction of Inspector Stroud.
Schoolfellow’s Tribute
Just before the cortege left the house a dozen of Teddy’s school-fellows, chosen from the higher standards at Fisherton Boy’s School, marched over from the school, with the headmaster, Mr. M. L. Winterton, each of them carrying a bunch of white chrysanthemums and springs of spirea. Their names are: Herbert George, Godfrey Bowering, Bertie Lawrence, Tom Say, Alfred Wisdom, Edward Downer, Albert Withers, Ernest Kelly, Fred Quinton, Harold Pengelly, Albert Knee and Bruce Slater.
The coffin, which was of elm with white facings, was borne to the cemetery in a glass hearse, and was covered with beautiful floral tributes. The chief mourners, three uncles and a nephew, followed in a closed carriage, and the school boys, walking two abreast, came after.
All the window blinds along the route were drawn and there were other manifestations of sorrow at the little fellow’s sad fate.
From the cemetery gates, the tiny coffin was solemnly carried to the grave on the shoulders of strong men.
The public were not admitted – at least not all of them. There were scarcely more than a hundred people around the grave.
Canon Thwaites in a surplice of spotless white and a black hood stood at the head of the grave, and hard by was the Mayor, accompanied by Mr. Frank Baker (who is one of the representatives on the Town Council of the ward in which the tragedy occurred) and Mr. G. F. Henbest.
Mr. Thwaites read the beautiful service with much feeling, and after the Grace the deputation of schoolboys files, bareheaded, past the grave and reverently dropped their bunches of white flowers upon the coffin. It was a moving sight of touching simplicity – this last tribute of school children to their little comrade.
The Rector’s Pathetic Speech
Many were moved to tears, and Canon Thwaites speaking with deep emotion, addressed the assembled mourners in these words: -
“Nowhere will he be missed more than at school. He was loved by everyone who knew him, and it is a real pleasure to me to see so many dear, loving, sympathising friends here. Many of you are in tears, and I feel fit to cry myself. A dear, bright little boy, and as far as one can judge, a dear, sweet little Christian lad, going to bed a little before ten o’clock is found at ten-thirty, lifeless. I am sure the friends are grateful for your kind sympathy and for coming here in such large numbers.”
With this pathetic little speech the service ended.
“From His Loving Mother”
There were many beautiful floral tributes. Of chief interest among them was a wreath inscribed: “To darling little Teddy from his loving mother and grandma.”.
The directors of the Salisbury Football Club, who knew the little chap well, by his attendance at their matches, sent a football of white flowers, studded with purple violets, “In loving sympathy.”
Another wreath bore a verse commencing “You are not forgotten Teddy, dear,” and this was signed “Bob and Milly.”
Amongst others were: -
With deepest sympathy from Pamela Tennant.
With loving thoughts of Teddy from children and teachers of Fisherton School.
Poor little Teddy, from Sir Walter and Lady Palmer.
From all his dear little friends and playmates.
From Mr. and Mrs. Locker Lampson.
From St Paul’s Wardens of the Primrose League.
From St Martin’s Boys’ School.
The Little Cousin’s Story
Percy Noble, who lives with his parents next door, was the first person to whom Mrs. Haskell communicated the news of the murder. He was little Teddy’s cousin and playmate, and was Mrs. Haskell’s nephew. He went to the back door at about half-past ten, and knocked but got no answer. He knocked again, and then heard what he described as a thumping noise as if somebody was jumping down the stairs. Immediately afterwards Mrs. Haskell came out, and in great agitation cried: “Stop that man; he murdered my Teddy.” She told him to run up the passage to see if he could see anybody, and he did so, running to the corner of York Road but he could not see the man.
What a Neighbour Saw
Mrs. Butt who lives at the corner house, and was one of the first neighbours to respond to the alarm, told a reporter that she was sitting in her room when she heard the mother scream “Someone has killed my boy.” She put on her coat and hat and rushed out, and going into the house found Mrs. Haskell sobbing “Somebody go and see my son, somebody go and see my son”.
There was no light in the bedroom, and we could not find a candle downstairs for the kitchen was lighted with gas. Just then Mr. Steer came in with a lamp, and I asked if I should go up? “Do,” she said, and I walked upstairs behind Mr. Steer. Mrs. Butt added that the little boy was lying as if sleeping quite peacefully. His hands were unclenched and under the pillow was his little watch which he always took to bed with him. She added that Teddy was a dear little boy and that no one could help liking him.
About “Teddy”
“Teddy” as he was affectionately called by the neighbours and friends, was a popular little fellow. Fatherless and a cripple, everybody who knew of his troubles took sympathetic interest in him, and his unusual cheerfulness for one afflicted, and his bright little face endeared him to them all. He had been delicate from his infancy and suffered chiefly from hip disease, and this necessitated the amputation of his left leg some five or six years ago. The operation was successfully performed at Salisbury Infirmary and it is sympathetically recalled by one who knew him that when he came out of the institution the little chap innocently inquired how long his leg would take to grow again. At school he was bright and quick to learn, and despite his physical deficiencies took his share with the stronger boys in everything that was moving in the juvenile world.
His great delight was football. To those who attend the City football matches he was a familiar little figure and to players and directors alike he was very well known. He was also an enthusiastic player and on Saturday afternoon had been playing in goal in a youngsters’ match. It happened too that he “saved a penalty” in this match, and to his cousin who came in to see him before he went to bed, he related his prowess as a goalkeeper with childish frankness and delight.
He seems to have been a particularly lovable child and was made much of by his relatives. Of his grandmother he was a great favourite. She went to tea with him on Saturday and afterwards was preparing to leave when the little fellow asked her not to go, “Don’t go yet, granny,” he said, and when she replied she must go now, he added brightly: “Well, come again granny and have another tea.” The old lady gave him twopence and promised to come and see him again.
Flora was first tried for Teddy’s murder on 15-17 February 1909. The jury were unable to agree a verdict, therefore they were discharged. She was again tried for murder on the Coroner’s Inquisition with the same offence on 1-3 April 1909 and was found Not Guilty due to insufficient evidence.
What was the evidence against her?
Although she stated that a man had run down the stairs and thrown a knife at her, there was no evidence that a man had actually been there at her house. Her blouse was covered in blood, the murder weapon was a knife from her own kitchen and although she raised the alarm that Teddy had been killed, she apparently hadn’t checked on him first to find out.
The following are transcripts from the prosecution at the first trial which were printed in The Salisbury and Winchester Journal, And General Advertiser on Saturday 20 February 1909.
“In opening the case Mr. Foote spoke for two hours, giving a lucid description of the locality in which the murder was committed, and the nature of evidence which the Crown would bring against the prisoner. At the preliminary hearing of the case there had been rather more than a hint on the part of the Treasury that in the prisoner’s intention to marry again might be found her motive for the crime, but Mr. Foote caused something like a sensation in court when he swept aside every suggestion of this sort, and frankly confessed that the Crown could show no reason why the prisoner should have murdered her child.”
“The only theory which the Crown are able to present,” said Mr. Foote, “is that this woman committed this act in one of those extraordinary abnormal conditions of mind which overtake human beings sometimes, and which it is impossible for medical men or legal experts to give any adequate explanation of.” During her stay in prison the accused has been under the observation of the prison doctor, and he is of opinion that she is perfectly sane.
“…some strong comments were made by the Judge on the conduct of the police officer who was left in charge of the house on the night of the murder, and yet the next morning permitted Mrs. Carter, the prisoner’s mother, to wash over the floor of the passage. When asked by the Judge why he allowed it, the officer replied that his instructions were to allow no one to go upstairs, but that he could let the women do as they liked downstairs. “Dear, dear! I cannot imagine such a piece of folly; it is the one piece of evidence in this case,” was his lordship’s grave remark.
“…the police matron at Salisbury, who stated that, after her committal for trial, in the cells, the accused woman said, “Oh, Mrs. Shepherd, if I did it, I don’t remember it.”.
“He had better, perhaps, explain to the jury at once that the prisoner was a widow, aged 34, and she lived at 40, Meadow-road, Salisbury, with her little boy, who was 12 years of age and was a cripple…The prisoner lived by taking in washing, earning a small but steady livelihood. There was no evidence that she was in want, more than all people who earned a small wage were to a certain extent in want”.
“The little boy was killed, as near as could be ascertained, at 25 minutes past 10. Mrs. Haskell was seen by several people within an hour of when the tragedy occurred. Whether innocent or guilty, she probably, he thought, put the little boy to bed somewhere about nine o’clock or a little after. Miss Steer saw the prisoner just before 10 o’clock, and she was then in her normal condition. The next person who came to the house was a boy named Wyatt, who called at 10:17 with a parcel for a Mrs. Manning, who lived close by. The boy saw nothing to attract his attention either in the woman’s condition or in the house. They had now got to within a few moments of the deed being done, and he did not think that it was conceivable that at that time there was anyone in the house but Mrs. Haskell. The fact that the front door was locked when Wyatt went to the house, with the other evidence in the case, proved conclusively that there was no one else in the house. Of course, one could not shut one’s eyes to the fact that a man might have concealed himself in the house earlier in the day.”
“The boy was upstairs sleeping from 10:17 p.m. to 10:20 p.m., and between that time and 10:30 p.m. exactly that child was killed in the way he had described. The woman’s nephew, Percy Noble, who lived next door, had borrowed a shilling from her, and at 10:30 p.m. he went to the back door of the prisoner’s house and knocked twice with his knee. What Noble heard and saw was of the greatest importance. He did not think the prisoner answered the door instantly, but at the same time she did not answer the door with any such delay that it caused the boy any suspicion. There was a light in the kitchen, and Noble heard a sound as of a chair being moved, which might of course have been caused by the woman pushing back the chair in which she was sitting, or knocking against a chair in passing, or in a variety of other ways. The lad Noble also said that he heard a noise, which he described as “a thump.” He heard some other noise, but did not hear a door being opened or shut. When she opened the door to Noble she told him to run for a doctor, and that a man had killed her poor Teddy. Noble ran off for a doctor, and the boy’s evidence as to the woman’s condition at the time was probably not very minute nor very accurate, but he ran quickly, and was seen by two credible witnesses. They heard the scream, and they went back some fifteen yards to the corner and saw Mrs. Haskell at her door, and heard her screaming. The importance of that was that if Mrs. Haskell had rushed to the front door as soon as the boy got into York-road, she would have got there before the boy got into York-road, because it was a shorter distance for her to go, but, as a matter of fact, she was slower than the boy, and did not get to the front door until some time after Noble reached York-road. It was not very long, but the jury would notice from the plan that near the back door there was a sink and tap, and it was quite plain that she would have had time, under such circumstance, to rinse off any stains of blood that might have been on her hands before going to the front door.”
“The prisoner’s story was that she was just going out, and on opening the door leading into the passage she saw a man coming downstairs. She said he threw something at her, and went along the passage to the front door. She then heard a knock at the back door, and went immediately to answer it. It was then that Mrs. Haskell saw Percy Noble and told him that someone had killed her little Teddy, and asked him to run for a doctor. It was quite plain, and not disputed by the other side that when the woman opened the door to Percy Noble, she had not been upstairs to see what was the matter, nor had she followed the man who she alleged she saw leaving her house.”
“She ran to the front door and screamed, but she made no attempt to follow the man. Her cries attracted the Steers, who were neighbours, and Mrs. Haskell, when she saw Mr. Steer, said “Man round the corner.” However, Steer only saw two men in York-road. The police were occupied for some time in ascertaining who these men were, but he believed that their identity was now satisfactorily explained.
“It was afterwards found that the prisoner, who wore a light blouse and dark skirt, had a number of spots of blood upon her clothes. They were not very big spots, but there were a great many of them. The doctor said that there were 50 spots on the skirt and 28 or 30 on the blouse. The chief situation of the blood on the blouse was on the right arm from the shoulder downwards, and the largest amount was near the wrist. The doctors who would be called would tell them that in their opinion it would be impossible that these spots could have come from a knife being thrown at the woman, whether the knife was covered with blood or not. It was difficult to see how a knife could have splashed the woman in the way described, because it was obvious the amount of blood that could be carried on a knife was comparatively small, and it would lose some of it whilst it was being brought downstairs.”
“They had first to assume that man knew money was kept in the child’s room, and that he went up there to steal it. They must also assume that the man opened the drawer before he killed the boy, because there was no blood on the handle of the drawer…Therefore, if a man was in the room to commit a murder and robbery, he committed the robbery first and the murder afterwards, and it was difficult to say why the murder was necessary, and it was also difficult to understand why he should have taken part of the money…It would appear from the evidence in this case that the woman had, at any rate on previous occasions, taken part of the money for her own use.”
“Mr. Foote proceeded to read the statements made by the prisoner to the police, and in referring to the man Mold, said there was some talk of marriage between him and the prisoner…there was no suggestion that there was any motive arising out of the proposed marriage which would account for the murder.”
After she was found Not Guilty for the second and final time, Flora Haskell decided not to return to Salisbury. She left for London and the 1911 census saw her living with her brother Richard Carter and his family in East Dulwich. She died nine years later in 1920 aged 46, London.
Photo credits to Salisbury Journal