Murder in the family

[JulesSmith]

I have just received my GG Grandmother's death cert and have now confirmed the rumours/stories that have gone around the family for quite a few years.

My GG Grandfather strangled his wife... at last, something juicy in an otherwise pretty mundane family tree. So now I need to find out his sentance...

[Uncle John]

Perhaps the local paper, or if it was reported in The Times we can all have a goggle at it!

[JulesSmith]

The murder was in Portsmouth, Hampshire. 8 October 1904. If you can find anything I'd be really chuffed, so far my google search has given me zilch.

John Tom Burnett wife is Elizabeth Mary (nee Anderson)

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

I can't see anything specific in The Times, but the paper does reveal that the Western Circuit assizes for Hampshire were opened on 24th Nov 1904, so that would be a good place to start (as well as immediately after the date of death) to see what happened next. The assizes included one murder charge and three manslaughter charges.

Is that John's death in 1929 aged 73 in Portsmouth?

[Uncle John]

There's a big piece in The Times of 2 December 1904. PM me your address for details.

[Uncle John]

Merry, he was sentenced to death but the jury recommended mercy. It was referred to the Home Secretary.

[JulesSmith]

John was born 1855 so it could be. TBH I hadn't seen that one. I will have to follow it up.

What does that mean about the Western Circuit assizes ? any idea where I would find it? Record office or local reference library?

It's a sad person that's as happy as I am about a murder LOL

[JulesSmith]

UJ I can't believe you found this, and so quick too. PM has already been sent to you.

THANK YOU

[Uncle John]

If you have access to The Times digital archive, select the date 2 December 1904 and the keyword Winchester. For some reason the report on page 5 doesn't have his name as a keyword.

[Elaine ..Spain]

The Times, Friday, Dec 09, 1904; pg. 6; Issue 37573; col B
A RESPITE.-John Tom Burnett,

burnett.jpg

[JulesSmith]

Elaine...That's the one.

UJ I take it access to the Times costs? I will have to look into getting this I guess, although until now, I didn't think I would ever need it.

Are you still sending the piece by email?

[Uncle John]

The law certainly moved a lot faster in those days.

[Uncle John]

Jules - an email awaits you. It's worth finding out whether your library does have access to The Times digital archive. Some do, some don't. All I needed was my reader's ticket and a PIN number.

[JulesSmith]

Jules - an email awaits you. It's worth finding out whether your library does have access to The Times digital archive. Some do, some don't. All I needed was my reader's ticket and a PIN number.

Excellent thanks UJ. I will be there first thing Saturday morning banging on the door to be let in

[JulesSmith]

It made excellent reading. Thankyou everyone for helping me with this one. I will now try to figure out what happened to him next.

Again, many thanks

[Uncle John]

Reading between the lines (as one does!) it doesn't seem to have been a happy marriage.

[JulesSmith]

Reading between the lines (as one does!) it doesn't seem to have been a happy marriage.

It seems to me he did it on the only day he was sober LOL

[WendyP]

HI

Just to add that his name appears on the following website just scroll to his surname or use edit find

http://www.blacksheepindex.co.uk/BSI-BurBurr.pdf

[JulesSmith]

thanks Wendy

[Little Nell]

Newspaper account will give more detail than the assizes papers which will be at Kew.

The assizes papers for my relative just gave the names of the jurors and witnesses and the verdict and the judge - though it did say that the trial lasted 2.5 hours all over by lunchtime! The law certainly was swifter in those days, the crime was in Oct, the trial Dec. 1862.