Transcription:

WILLIAM HARRIS

SARAH ELIZABETH HARRIS

 

DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT WASH COMMON

POSTMAN AND WIFE FOUND DEAD

 

WOMAN WITH HER THROAT CUT

MAN WITH HIS HEAD IN A BATH

INTERVIEWS WITH NEIGHBOURS

 

A distressing tragedy was brought to light at Wash Common on Tuesday afternoon, when a constable, breaking into a cottage occupied by William Harris, a letter carrier in the employ of the Post Office, found the man dead with his head in a hip bath partly filled with water, whilst his wife was in bed in the same room, with her throat cut. Both bodies were still warm, showing that the tragical occurrence had only taken place a short time previously, and the fact that man's body was the warmer of the two seemed to indicate that he was the last to die. These shortly are the facts concerning the tragedy. It soon became known on Wash “Common” that Harris was dead, the general belief amongst the neighbours being that his wife, who had been bedridden for two years, had died during the night, and this had preyed on the husband's mind that it had caused him to take his life. A “Newbury Weekly News” representative, who was told off yesterday to inquire into the facts, found that a terrible double tragedy had taken place.

 

A devoted husband

 

The circumstances surrounding the sad affair are peculiarly distressing. Harris will be recognised by most of our town readers when we say that he was the postman with the tall, gaunt figure, his bearded face had rather a sad look about it, he was slightly bent at the shoulders and had a slouching walk. He was a most quiet, and inoffensive man, and bore an exemplary character. He was devoted to his wife, who was a confirmed invalid suffering from heart trouble, and had been confined to bed for two years or more. He waited on her hand and foot. He never had another woman in the house, but looked after her himself. She had been constantly attended by a doctor, and it was his habit, when he went on duty in the morning, to leave the key of the house under a flower pot near the front door, for the doctor to walk in and visit his wife in his absence. Harris was 55 years of age, and his wife was four years older. On the Monday evening he seemed to be worried because his wife was not so well, having an attack of bronchitis, and he arranged with a Miss Willis, a neighbour to come in and look after her whilst he was away on duty. Some time after nine, Miss Willis came round as she had promised, but did not find the key in the usual place, and she also noticed that the milk and morning paper had not been taken in.

It was this discovery that first led the neighbours to think there was something wrong. Later on, the Postal Authorities phoned to Miss Edwards, the Postmistress at Wash Common, to go to the cottage to see if Harris was ill, as he had not reported at the head office as usual.

 

Callers at the Cottage

 

This she did, and knocked and shouted, but could make no one hear. Subsequently Inspector Bolton, of the Post Office, and Constable Witts, a senior member of the outdoor staff, paid a visit to the cottage, which is called Roseleigh, but with the same result. Dr. Kennedy, was another who called, and he not only knocked at the door but shouted in a loud voice, “It's the doctor Harris; let me in.” The neighbours were now becoming alarmed. Mrs. Stevens, who lives next door, went into the garden as she was worried about Mrs. Harris. She thought she could not have had any breakfast, saw the milk had not been taken in. She knocked at the door, and called up to the window. She says that Harris slightly drew up the blind at the bedroom window, and then, when she asked if his wife was ill, he immediately dropped the blind. She stated, however, that she was struck by the fact that he had a very strange look on his face, and there were marks on his beard as if he had been sick. She went to Mr. Pestell, who keeps a shop close by. She told him that she believed Mrs. Harris was dead and that her husband was going out of his mind, as he seemed so strange, and asked Pestell if he could get into the house. Mr. Pestell accordingly knocked at the door but could get no answer. Then he tapped at the window, and Harris came downstairs and looked out. He said “Anything the matter Mr. Harris?” to which he received the reply “No.” He also asked if he could get him anything, or fetch the doctor, but he could get no other answer from Harris than “No.” Harris then moved away from the window, and this was the last time he was seen alive.

 

The House of Death

 

Mrs. Stevens was quite upset and went across to P.C. Harris, who lives nearly opposite to acquaint him of her fears, but found he was down in the town. Later on the Constable arrived home, and not being able to make anyone hear at Roseleigh forced the door. This was just about three hours after Harris was last seen alive by Mr. Pestell. He went up the stairs, and on entering the front bedroom, which is on the left at the top of the stairs, discovered the body of the Postman just inside the door, with his head in a hip bath which was partly filled with water. His wife was dead in bed with her throat cut, and subsequently he discovered a large clasp in the road with bloodstains on the blade. A bucket was near by, and Harris had evidently carried two bucketfuls of water up stairs to put in the bath. No message or letter was left behind. The room in which the tragedy occurred was a low ceiling one looking out on Essex Street. It contained a large double bed, which occupied most of the space in the room, and directly over the bed was a picture of the Crucifixion, with portraits of Queen Victoria and King Edward on either side. The other pictures round the room were portraits and family groups.

 

Believed to have taken Poison

 

P.C. Harris sent for Dr. Kennedy, who examined the bodies of the man and the woman. There is a strong suspicion that Harris had taken poison, as there were indications around the room that he had been vomiting. The public authorities kept the matter very quiet, and neither the neighbours nor those who passed along the road by the quiet cottage had any idea of the gruesome spectacle which the interior presented. Arrangements were made for the bodies to be removed early yesterday (Wednesday) morning to the mortuary by motor ambulance, and this took place quietly between seven and eight.

 

As has been stated, Harris was a man of a very quiet disposition, but appeared to be a little bit eccentric in his ways. He was a recluse, and kept himself to himself. Very few of the neighbours ever went in. Occasionally Mrs Stevens, who lives next door at Holmbury, made a pudding or other dainty, which she took in to the invalid wife. For the past two years the man had, in addition to his postal duties, been tending his wife, and this seems to have worn him out and sapped his vitality, for he was essentially of frail physique. A few months ago he also had the misfortune to sustain a bad fall from his bicycle whilst cycling down Wash Hill. He fell on his head and lay in the road for some time before being picked up. The pair seemed to have no relatives. His wife, before she was married, was a Miss Sarah Elizabeth Morris, her father being Thomas Morris, a plasterer. They were married in 1890 at St. John's Church, at which date Harris was 24 years of age, and his wife 29. They were brought up by a Miss Grainger, who lived at Roseleigh, and left the cottage to them when she died in 1904. It is a nice little cottage, standing well back from the road in a large garden. When the full significance of the sad tragedy became known yesterday afternoon, it created quite a gloom amongst the residents of Wash Common. The inquest has been fixed by the Borough Coroner (Mr. Stanley Pinniger) for Friday, and Sergeant Walker, the Coroner's officer, has charge of the evidence.

 

Newbury Weekly News November 17 1921

 

BMD Deaths Dec Q 1921

William Harris aged 55 Newbury 2c 289

Sarah E. Harris aged 59 Newbury 2c 289

Transcription:

WILLIAM HARRIS

SARAH ELIZABETH HARRIS

 

 

THE WASH COMMON TRAGEDY

 

DISCLOSURES AT INQUEST

 

 

Scene between Doctor and Police Superintendent

 

The sequel to the Wash Common tragedy took place at the Police Court on Friday, when the jury mercifully returned a verdict that William Morris cut his wife's throat and afterwards drowned himself in a state of temporary insanity, but the Borough Coroner (Mr. Stanley Pinniger) pointed out that according to the law this was tantamount to a finding of wilful murder and suicide during temporary insanity, and that such was the verdict he would have record. A great deal of interest was taken in the inquiry, which was conducted with the assistance of the following jury: Mr. Harry Brown (foreman), Messrs G.W. Love, S.C. Lewis, S.H. Benn, R.F. Jeffrey, F.A. Warwood, C.Brown and West. Several of the postal staff were in attendance, including Inspector Bolton, Councillor Witts and Mr. W. Head, whilst among those also present were the Rev. T.G. Tylee, Supt. Maunders and Sergt. Walker, the Coroner's officer, who was in charge of the evidence.

 

The tragedy reconstructed

 

The story of the tragedy, as unfolded in court, might have been read from the columns of the “Newbury Weekly News,” so closely did the testimony of the witnesses follow the lines of last Thursday's report. Additional facts were, however, given by Dr. Kennedy, who practically reconstructed the tragedy, and then gave the cause of death as obtained from the post mortem examination he had conducted on the bodies. At the conclusion of his evidence, and intervention by Supt. Maunders caused something of a sensation, and resulted in quite a scene between him and the doctor. Dr. Kennedy had given his evidence in a most sympathetic manner, and had laid stress upon the devotion which Harris had always shown towards his wife. He waited on her hand and foot, said the doctor, anything which was ordered he showed himself only too willing to get for her. Then the Superintendent asked a string of questions and made statements to show that the woman had been allowed to get into a filthy condition through inattention. He asked if it was not the doctor's duty to see that Harris should have a woman in the house to look after his wife, and that, if he refused to do this, to order her to the Infirmary.

 

Doctor Resents Implications

 

Dr. Kennedy strongly resented the implication that he had neglected his duty, and appealed to the Coroner if the Superintendent's remarks were in order. He said it was not a case which could be sent to a hospital, and it was a matter of the Infirmary or else the woman stay where she was. Having regard to the happiness of the pair, he added, he was not sorry that he had left her there. The Coroner gave it as his opinion that the doctor had no power to forcibly remove the woman to the Infirmary without the husband's consent. Later on, Supt. Maunders asked that the woman who washed the bodies at the Mortuary be called to bear out his statement, and this was eventually done, although the Foreman of the Jury pointed out that it had nothing to do with the cause of death. She stated that Mrs Harris' body was in a neglected state, owing to the want of a woman's care and washing. The incident than closed and the Coroner proceeded to sum up, and in doing so, pointed out to the jury that if they came to the conclusion that Harris killed his wife, they must say so without any comment as to the state of his mind at the time, though they would be quite in order in saying whether he was sane or not, as it concerned his own death. The jury returned a verdict as stated above.

 

The hearing of the evidence occupied some considerable time, and though several other witnesses were present in Court, the jury intimated to the Coroner that they had no wish to hear them. It was rather a striking fact, however, that Mr. Pestell, the last person to see Harris alive, and the Police Constable who broke into the house and made the discovery of the tragedy, were not called.

 

The evidence

 

The first witness was Mrs. Emily Stevens, whose evidence was practically a repetition of the statement she made to a “Newbury Weekly News” representative, and which was published on Thursday last. She told how she went to the cottage of the deceased couple on the Tuesday morning with Mrs. Edwards and Miss Willis, and, although they knocked loudly at first, nobody answered. Subsequently after repeated knockings, Harris drew up the blind of the bedroom window, and in answer to a question as to why he had not gone to work replied with a monosyllable “Ill.”

When witness enquired about his wife, at then mention of Mrs Harris' name, he immediately drew down the blind. Mrs. Stevens added that Harris had a dreadful expression on his face and looked as if he had been sick. She felt sure that something was wrong, and accordingly went to Mr. Pestell, who keeps the shop close by to see if he could get in, and later on she informed the police constable. She said that Mr. and Mrs. Harris always seemed a bright and cheerful couple, and most devoted to each other.

In answer to Supt. Maunders, Mrs. Stevens said that when the conversation took place the window was closed. She had visited the deceased woman about a fortnight or three weeks previously.

Supt. Maunders: When you did that, will you tell the jury in what condition you found the place? Mrs. Stevens: It was very dirty.

Do you know if Mrs. Harris could leave her bed without assistance to be washed and attended to? - I should think so; because in the summer her husband brought her into the garden, but he had to carry her up again. She told me she was alright as long as she had not to move much.

Do you know who did the washing of the house and the bedding? - I don't know, but I used to wonder if the husband did it, because I saw the things on the line.

Did you see another woman in the house? Yes; a Mrs. Winstanley used to go there on one or two occasions to do little things.

 

Dr. Kennedy's Evidence

 

Dr. David Kennedy said he had been in attendance on the deceased woman for the last 18 months. For a year she had been confined to her bedroom, although not exactly bedridden. During the last fortnight she could only move to the chair with help. She was suffering from diseased heart and bronchitis. He last saw her alive on Monday, when she was very much worse than during the preceding days.

He told her husband that he must get someone to be with her whilst he was away on duty. Harris seemed very much distressed, and said he had great difficulty in getting anyone to come, but promised to do his best. Witness promised he would call next day, and on Tuesday, about noon, he went to the house but found the door locked. The key was not under the flower pot. The blind of Mrs. Harris' room was down. He knocked loudly and went to the window and called out “Harris, this is the doctor, come and let me in.” He got no reply, and he went straight to the Post Office, reporting the matter to the Postmaster. About four o'clock in the afternoon, he went to the house again, in response to a message. P.C. Harris and the Inspector (Mr.Boulton) were upstairs, and on the bed Mrs. Harris' dead body was lying. Harris was lying head downwards on his right side in a sitz bath three-quarters full of water. Both his mouse and nose were completely beneath the surface of the water. He was quite dead, and in his opinion had been dead about four or five hours. He then looked at the woman's body and saw that she had a deep wound in her throat, which severed the windpipe but had not cut any of the great vessels of the neck. Rigor mortis was just setting in, and he formed the opinion that she had been dead seven or eight hours. The injury was apparently made by a knife, such as the one produced by Sergt. Walker.

 

Mrs. Harris too weak to Inflict Wound

 

The Coroner: Do you think it would have been possible for Mrs. Harris to have made such a wound herself?-- Dr. Kennedy; I feel certain that she could not. She was far too weak to make such a wound. Considerable force was necessary.

The doctor went on to say that Mr. and Mrs. Harris were a most devoted couple and he waited on her hand and foot. Again and again she had expressed her gratitude to me for her husband's goodness.

The Coroner: Was there any vomiting? There was some in a chamber. I smelt it, but there was nothing noticeable. My opinion is that the vomiting was caused by shock after the cutting of his wife's throat. The sitz bath had not been used for washing. There was no soap around. It was placed in such a position that it was unlikely he could have accidentally fallen into it. My personal view is that he was unhinged by grief at the distress of his wife's condition, she was labouring for breath, and he resolved to put her out of her misery and then drown himself.

Witness described the post mortem examination made on the two bodies on Thursday. He found Harris' lungs swollen through water. There was also water in the stomach and the blood was fluid. He presented all the signs of death by drowning. The stomach was normal except for an old partially healed ulcer. There was no apparent sign of poison. He formed the conclusion that his death was due to drowning. Mrs. Harris' heart was fatty. She had advanced fatty degeneration of the liver and congestion of the lungs. The wound in her throat had divided the windpipe, and cut several small vessels, but missed the great vessels of the neck. He formed the conclusion that death was due to heart failure caused by the shock of the wound in her neck.

 

Doctor and Police Superintendent

 

Supt. Maunders: How many inches of water would there be in the bath to cause this drowning?-- Dr. Kennedy: I should think that there would be about six inches.

Do you think it possible for a man to be able to hold his head under water sufficiently long enough to drown himself in six inches of water? I do. A determined man could, and you must remember that from the position in which he was lying he might have had a difficulty- weakened as he was by the shock of what he had done- in getting himself up again, even if he had wanted to.

You say that you attended this poor woman for about 18 months. During that time have you ever seen a woman in the house? Yes, I have occasionally.

About how many times? I should think only about four times.

Was there any anyone to take any instruction from you as to how this woman should be treated? No: but she communicated my instructions to her husband. Did you notice she was in a filthy state at any time, and as a medical man should you not have seen that a woman came in, or if the man would not do this have had her removed to the Infirmary? Don't you think as a medical man that was part of your duties? – I don't. I advised the husband what to do. I asked him if he had any relatives on either side that could come in. I suggested that he should try to get them. I should have been very sorry if I had felt I had separated these two people and sent her to the infirmary, as her husband loved her so much.

How did you come to the conclusion about the husband's devotion and about him loving her so much? Did you see them together?-- The husband was there some times when I paid a visit.

Not very often? I paid a good many visits in 18 months, and found the husband there on a large number of occasions.

A medical man attending a patient for 18 months should certainly have known the terrible condition the patient was in and I do think it was his place to see that state of affairs was stopped and something done to prevent it going on to the end.

 

A scene

 

Dr. Kennedy: I appeal to you Mr. Coroner, if these remarks are in order. The Police Superintendent seems to be exceeding his duties. He is not only asking questions, but is making speeches which have nothing to do with the cause of death.

Supt. Maunders: I am bound to ask these things to know why they were not done. This was a terrible tragedy. If everyone had done their part and the woman had been sent to the Infirmary it would not have happened.

The Coroner: I think these remarks are going rather too far, and that the Superintendent is a little bit exceeding what is right. He talks about forcibly removing the woman to the Infirmary. I should like to tell him that that could only have been done by the consent of the husband.

Supt. Maunders: I think the clerk to the Guardians would have had the power to do that.

The Coroner: No, you could not compel the woman to go in.

Supt. Maunders: I don't think there are any further questions I wish to ask the doctor.

Mr. Love (a juror); The opinion of the jury is that the doctor's evidence has greatly helped them. Most of us know Dr. Kennedy and are satisfied that the medical attention and advice given to the deceased must have been of the highest, and they feel that he has given his evidence in a very sympathetic manner.

The Foreman: A juryman would like to know if the doctor told Mr. Harris that his wife could only possibly live a day or two longer?

Dr Kennedy: I didn't tell him that. I told him her condition was very bad. I didn't put a definite time.

Dr. Kennedy's evidence was then read over, and before signing the depositions, he said he resented very much and very strongly the implication that he had neglected his duty to this poor woman. It was simply a case of the Infirmary or staying where she was. There was nothing else. She was not a suitable case for the hospital. Having regard to the great affection and happiness which existed between this couple, added the doctor, “I repeat that I am not sorry that I left them together.”

Supt. Maunders: After the remarks of the doctor, I should like to say, in fairness to myself, that no suggestion has been made that he neglected his duty in any way, but I do say that certain things ought to have been done, which were not done. I am not throwing any slur on Dr. Kennedy, but I do think he should have looked after this woman.

 

The Woman who was asked to Go In

 

Elizabeth Willis, of 6 Rosebery-cottages, a short distance from the house of the deceased couple, said about one o'clock on Monday, Harris came to her and asked if she would go and see to his wife, as the doctor had said she must have someone to attend to her whilst he was on duty. Witness said she had not been used to sickness, but promised to go at eight o'clock the next morning. Harris said that he generally left about half-past five to go to his duty. He told her she need not stay, but to go in two or three times during the day. He said the key would be found under a flower pot near the door. Witness went to the house on Tuesday morning, but found no key, and at 11 she went again, meeting Mrs Stevens and Mrs. Edwards at the gate. They went to the door and knocked. Harris came to the window, and Mrs. Edwards asked why he had not been to work, and he replied “Ill.” Harris then asked the time and witness told him eleven o’clock. Mrs. Stevens asked if she could get anything for Mrs. Harris, but he drew down the blind and went away.

 

The Post Office Inspector

 

John Edward Bolton, and Inspector at the Post Office, was next called, and gave it as his opinion that Harris' health had been failing him for about a fortnight or three weeks before the tragedy. He said that he had known him for about 40 years. He had complained of having a cold and indigestion during the last three weeks. It was not difficult to see that something was the matter with him, and also his appearance was not so smart as it should have been. He attributed this to the trouble he had at home on account of his wife's illness. On Monday morning, after he had performed his usual delivery, finishing about 8.45, he went home and returned at 9.30, and requested that he might have leave of absence until Wednesday morning. For that length of time witness told him he could only have it by making application in writing to the Postmaster, but that he personally could sanction him being off for a few hours. Harrison accordingly consented to this course, and had the remainder of the day off. Mr. Bolton said that Harris appeared somewhat strange in his manner, so much so that he spoke to to the overseer after he had gone. Apart from that he had always done his duty very well.

Mr. Benn (a juror): Is it not a fact that Harris had a bicycle accident sometime ago? – Yes.

And he fell on his head? --Yes, when he was coming down Wash-road.

Have you noticed anything different since that time?--Not very much; it might have aged him a little.

There were several other witnesses ready in Court, including Mr. Pestell who was the last person to speak to Harris before he was found dead, and also P. C. Harris who entered the house, and was the first to discover the tragedy, but the jury intimated that they had heard enough.

 

The Mortuary Attendant

 

Supt. Maunders having spoken to the Coroner, the latter said that the woman who washed the bodies at the mortuary should be called as to their condition.

The Foreman of the jury said he did not think it was necessary, as it would not affect the cause of the death.

Supt. Maunders: I should like the woman called to bear out my remarks to the doctor.

Mr. Benn, juror: Is there any law under which the doctor could have sent a person like this to the Infirmary?

The Coroner: No, he had no power to do so.

Mr.Benn: There ought to be a law.

The Foreman: That is not the point we are here to decide. It is simply wasting our time.

Mr. Jeffrey (another juror) thought the Superintendent's remarks should be confirmed by the woman.

Supt. Maunders: It is only fair to me.

Mrs. Priscilla Pye was then called and said she attended to the bodies of the deceased in the mortuary. She found that of Mrs. Harris dreadfully neglected through the want of a woman's care. She was much neglected in her body through not being washed. The body was also much discoloured and sore, both from bedsores and want of washing.

 

The Coroner's Summing Up

 

The Coroner then addressed the jury, and said he thought the doctor's evidence was a very fair supposition of how the tragedy occurred. Supposing the jury came to the conclusion that Harris killed his wife—and he could not see in the face of the evidence how they could very well arrive at any other finding—it was not in their province to say what state of mind he was at the time. In the case of murder it was immaterial to the jury's verdict whether the man was sane or not, but when they came to consider his own death, it was quite proper to inquire as the state of his mind. He thought they would have very little difficulty in arriving at a verdict, but they must bear those distinctions in mind.

The jury deliberated for a few minutes and then the foreman announced that it was their verdict that Harris cut his wife's throat, and afterwards drowned himself in a state of temporary insanity. He added that the jury would like to express their appreciation for the plan of the bedroom showing the position in which the bodies were found, which had been handed in by the Coroner’s Officer (Sergt. Walker), and which had helped them materially to form an opinion about the case.

The Coroner: You say that Sarah Elizabeth Harris died from a cut throat inflicted by her husband William Harris, and so I must add that the said William Harris did feloniously kill the said Sarah Elizabeth Harris, which amounts to a verdict of wilful murder against him.

Before the proceedings concluded, Inspector Bolton said that on behalf of the Post Office Department, and more especially the Postmaster and staff at Newbury, might he say how sorry they all were that such a thing had happened to Mr. Harris, who had served the department so faithfully for over 40 years, and who was greatly respected by all. It had evoked the greatest feelings of regret that his life had terminated in such a terrible tragedy.

 

Newbury Weekly News 24 November 1921

 

BMD Dec Q 1921

William Harris aged 55 Newbury 2c 289

Sarah E. Harris aged 59 Newbury 2c 289

Transcription:

WILLIAM HARRIS

SARAH ELIZABETH HARRIS

 

Letter from Dr. Kennedy

 

Sir,- In justice to the dead I feel that I must make the strongest possible protest against the suggestion of the Superintendent of Police made under the guise of cross examination that the late Mr. W. Harris had been guilty of gross neglect of his wife. The evidence brought forward by the Police Superintendent in support of his allegation was weak in the extreme, and consisted only of a general statement without details. To describe the body as dreadfully neglected through not being washed was a gross exaggeration. The old couple were strong believers in the virtues of goose grease for chest trouble. As it is well known, goose grease when it is rubbed in, will carry any particle of dust that may be about, into the superficial layers of skin. It is very difficult to remove, and an effect of want of cleanliness is produced which goes far beyond the reality. The discolouration of the body was due to ordinary post mortem changes which take place equally in the clean and unclean. The so called bed sores were superficial, and of the most trifling character. They only manifested themselves in the last in the last two or three days of Mrs. Harris’s long illness. One of them Harris pointed out to me on the occasion of my last visit, and I gave him full instructions as to the treatment and care of the skin. These instructions I am convinced he would have faithfully carried out. Why was I asked nothing about the existence of bedsores or other signs of neglect when giving my evidence?

The devotion of this childless and lonely old couple to each other has been one of the most touching episodes of my whole professional career. Harris, by his own request, had his postal duties so arranged that he was never absent from his wife more than three hours at a stretch. She would have no other hands than his wash her and wait on her. To have removed her to the Infirmary would have been as cruel as it was unnecessary, and would, I am certain have precipitated the tragedy that has occurred.

It is difficult to restrain hot anger at the slur cast on the memory of a man who sacrificed his reason and his life to his wholehearted devotion to his wife. As a medical man I shall be only too happy to join the Superintendent on a crusade against dirt and want of personal cleanliness, but I trust he will base his action on more reliable evidence than he has done in the present case.

 

D. KENNEDY

Cornermead.

November 22^nd 1921

 

Newbury Weekly News 24 November 1921

 

BMD Deaths Dec Q 1921

William Harris aged 55 Newbury 2c 289

Sarah E.Harris aged 59 Newbury 2c 289

 

THE FUNERAL

The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon at the Old Cemetery, where the bodies had been removed the previous evening from the mortuary. The arrangements had been quietly made, and happily there was an absence of curious sight-seers; those at the cemetery being present out of sympathy. There were no known relatives, and the local Oddfellows, of which Harris was a member, had made arrangements for the burial. The bodies were interred in one grave, the clergyman taking the service being the Rev. T.G. Tylee. Harris' coffin was borne to the grave by fellow postmen.

Among those present were Dr. Kennedy, the Newbury Postmaster (Mr. T.T. Snowball), Inspector Bolton and Mr. T.M.Morris; also the following members of the outdoor staff: Councillor Witts, Messrs. W. Clayton, A. Harris, H. Osgood, F. Parker, A. Goddard, G. Chun, H.J. Chalk, C.T. Pratley and H. Chalk; Mr.Langton and Mr. Winterbourne (retired), Mr. W. Taylor, Mr. H. Warne, Mrs. Higgs, Miss Berry, Mrs. Witts, Miss Hodgetts, Miss Todd, and Mrs. Winter.

There were a number of wreaths, amongst others from the indoor and the outdoor staffs at the Post Office.

 

Harris was the owner of his own cottage and garden at Wash Common, and in addition there was a certain amount of money in the Savings' Bank, as well as can be ascertained, there are no relatives whatever, and if this is the case, the property lapses to the Crown.

 

Newbury Weekly News 24 November 1921