Nottingham Journal (Nottingham Daily Express) – Tuesday 30 May 1899
SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT COALVILLE
ATTEMPTED MURDER & SUICIDE
A sensation was caused in Coalville yesterday morning by the news that a man named William Evans had attempted to murder his wife and then to commit suicide.
Inquiries proved that the rumour was too true. Evans resides at Ellistown, and it appears that he had not been living happily with his wife. In consequence of this, she went on Sunday to her brother’s house in Belvoir-road, Coalville, staying there all night.
Shortly before eight o’clock yesterday morning, as the woman sat at breakfast, her husband entered and, without saying a word, went behind his wife and deliberately drew a razor across her throat, afterwards making three attempts on his own throat. The kitchen presented a horrible spectacle.
As the news spread, the greatest excitement prevailed. Evans is a chimney-sweep and has six children. Dr. Jamie was called in and attended to their wounds. The condition of both is critical.
FURTHER DETAILS
Our Loughborough correspondent telegraphed:— Evans is 34 years of age, and his wife, Mary Ann Evans, 32. They have been married about fifteen years, and there are six children, whose ages range from thirteen to three. The woman has one clear, deep gash from right to left. If she survives the first effects, she may recover. There are four incisions in the man’s throat. The windpipe is severed, and the ultimate complications will be serious.
The parties have lived very unhappily for years, and he has recently ill-used her and even threatened her, especially when in drink. Those who know him say that he was both an idle and a drunken husband.
On Sunday evening, about five o’clock, the woman left her home in No. 10 Row, Ellistown, and, taking one child with her, came to her husband’s brother’s house in Belvoir-road, Coalville, and asked her sister-in-law to provide her with a bed for the night, as she could not stop and be ill-used. She contemplated going to her own sister in Abbey-street, Leicester, on Monday morning.
While the injured woman was having breakfast in the kitchen on Monday morning, William Evans came in and sat behind his wife and said, “Are you coming home?” She replied, “No, not to be ill-used by you.” He pulled her head back over the chair and cut her throat in an instant while Walter Evans and his wife were not looking. The injured woman said, “Oh, Mary Ann!” and when the sister-in-law looked round, William was hacking at his own throat.
William Evans took the razor away, but he made a further attempt with a pocket knife and bread knife, which were wrested from him by neighbours. He had threatened his wife before, and had also threatened to cut the throat of Walter’s wife. Wm. Evans is the son of the James Evans, a collier, who perished in the recent Whitwick colliery disaster.
Analysis and Context
- The Event:
- This is a tragic domestic incident involving William Evans (34) attempting to murder his wife, Mary Ann Evans (32), after years of alleged abuse, especially when he was intoxicated.
- After she sought refuge at her brother-in-law’s house, he attacked her with a razor and inflicted wounds on himself in an apparent murder-suicide attempt.
- Victorian Social and Legal Context:
- During the Victorian era, domestic violence, especially against women, was prevalent but often treated as a private matter. Women had limited legal recourse and were financially and socially dependent on their husbands.
- By the late 19th century, attitudes were slowly changing. The 1878 Matrimonial Causes Act allowed women to apply for judicial separation on grounds of violence. However, divorce or legal separation was still a luxury for the wealthy due to its cost.
- Historical Factors:
- William’s alcoholism and idleness were typical markers of domestic instability in working-class families of the time. His profession as a chimney sweep suggests his family was part of the lower socioeconomic strata.
- The reference to the Whitwick colliery disaster highlights the precarious lives of miners and their families in industrial areas. The loss of his father might have influenced William’s behavior and mental health.
- Law Enforcement and Justice:
- Victorian Britain relied on coroners and magistrates for criminal cases. Attempted murder was a capital offense. If William survived, he would likely face trial at the local assizes court and possibly the death penalty.
- Implications for Researchers:
- This case illustrates the dynamics of domestic abuse, societal norms, and the criminal justice system in late Victorian England.
- Researchers can explore how such cases were reported in the press, reflecting societal attitudes towards gender, class, and violence.
The Nottingham Journal: A Historical Overview
The Nottingham Journal was a prominent newspaper based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands of England. Over its lifespan, the publication underwent several transformations, including title changes driven by mergers, acquisitions, and shifts in ownership. These changes reflect the evolving landscape of the British press from the early 18th century to the 20th century.
History
Nottingham’s first newspaper is believed to have been The Weekly Courant, first published in August 1712 by William Ayscough. This was soon followed by The Nottingham Post in 1716. In 1723, Ayscough acquired the Post and launched The Nottingham Weekly Courant, which continued publication until 1769.
At this point, Samuel Cresswell took over and, in 1787, renamed it The Nottingham Journal. In 1775, Cresswell partnered with George Burbage, and the newspaper became Cresswell and Burbage’s Nottingham Journal. Later, Burbage became its sole owner. After his death, the paper was purchased by George Stretton, who owned it until his retirement in 1832, when it was acquired by John Hicklin and Job Bradshaw. By 1841, the paper came under Bradshaw’s sole ownership.
In 1860, the Nottingham Journal moved into new premises on Pelham Street, Nottingham, designed by the architect Robert Clarke.
By 1887, the Nottingham Journal was incorporated into the Nottingham Daily Express, which itself was renamed the Nottingham Journal in 1918. In 1953, the paper merged with the Nottingham Guardian to form the Guardian Journal, which continued publication until 1973.
Notable Figures Connected to the Nottingham Journal
- Graham Greene
Renowned writer Graham Greene worked as a sub-editor at the Nottingham Journal before moving on to The Times, where he began to establish his career as a novelist. - J.M. Barrie
The celebrated playwright and novelist J.M. Barrie worked for the Nottingham Journal between 1883 and 1884, earning three guineas a week. During his time there, he wrote daily leaders, Monday columns under the pseudonym “Hippomenes,” and whimsical Thursday essays as “A Modern Peripatetic.” Barrie’s time at the Journal inspired his novel When a Man’s Single, which first appeared as a serial in the British Weekly.A plaque now commemorates Barrie’s employment at the Nottingham Journal offices, highlighting his contribution to the paper. A colleague once described him as “a craftsman to his fingertips.” - Cecil Roberts
Cecil Roberts, another prominent literary figure, served as the editor of the Nottingham Journal from 1920 to 1925.
Significance in the History of British Journalism
The Nottingham Journal represents a microcosm of the broader evolution of local journalism in Britain. Its long history—from its roots in the early 18th century to its eventual merger in the 20th century—demonstrates the role of regional newspapers in shaping public discourse, documenting local history, and nurturing the careers of influential writers.
Key Points for Historians and Researchers
- Early Journalism: The Journal’s beginnings as The Weekly Courant reflect the rise of regional newspapers in early 18th-century England, driven by growing literacy rates and demand for news.
- Ownership and Influence: The transitions in ownership highlight the financial and operational challenges faced by newspapers during this period.
- Literary Connections: The careers of figures like J.M. Barrie and Graham Greene link the Journal to British literary history.
- Press Evolution: The mergers that led to the creation of the Guardian Journal symbolize the consolidation of the British press in the mid-20th century, a trend that continues today.
A Shocking Tragedy in Coalville: Domestic Violence, Attempted Murder, and Suicide in Victorian England. #CoalvilleTragedy #VictorianCrime #DomesticViolence #HistoricalResearch #1890sBritain
