Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 21 June 1924
The Inquest
Letters From The Husband
A Sad Story And Terrible Consequences
The inquest was held at the Denaby Main Hotel at four o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Frank Allen, the Doncaster district coroner, explained the painful circumstances of the case to the jury. He said: “From the information before me, it appears the deceased had been, for some time, jealous of his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Unwin lived together in the house at 17, Wadsworth Street, with two lodgers. Unwin with his wife went to bed about 11-30, and the two lodgers, who occupied the back bedroom, went to bed about 12.
About three o’clock one of the lodgers—Thomas Webb—said he heard someone go downstairs and say ‘Good morning. Aren’t you asleep yet?’ At 4 o’clock Webb heard the knocker-up call, and Unwin answered. At 4-30 the knocker-up passed the window again, and Unwin answered. At this time Unwin was downstairs. At 4-45 Percy Mellor—the other lodger—heard the deceased man shout, ‘Come at once!’ Mellor jumped out of bed, rushed across to the other room, and found Unwin bleeding by the bedside. At that time Mellor was not aware of the state of Mrs. Unwin and the child. Later, Mrs. Unwin and the child were found with their throats cut, and the razor was found on the bed.”
Mrs. Nellie Booker, sister of the dead woman, was called to give evidence of identification. Witness said Unwin was a collier, and was employed by the men at No. 2 pit, Cadeby Main Colliery. During the war he lost a leg, and was therefore unable to work as a miner.
The Coroner: Was there any family trouble?—Not that I am aware of.
Was there any reason for jealousy?—I cannot say.
Has he been in good health?—As far as I know.
When you saw him yesterday was there anything unusual about him?—No, sir.
Was he in regular work?—Yes, sir.
Thomas Webb, a miner, one of the lodgers, was then called.
The Coroner: How have Mr. and Mrs. Unwin managed to get on?—Quite all right, to my knowledge.
They were on good terms?—Yes, sir.
What time did you go to bed?—About 12 o’clock, but I did not sleep.
Was it before or after you went to sleep that you heard someone go downstairs?—Before I went to sleep.
Did anyone call out?—Yes, I heard a voice call “Aren’t you asleep yet?” Then the next thing I remember is that Mellor awoke me just after four o’clock. Mellor shouted “Oh! they have done it!” and I rushed out into the street. Two men from across the road came to help. I went for the police and doctor.
The second lodger, Percy William Mellor, was then called.
The Coroner: What woke you up?—I heard Unwin cry, “Oh! come quickly.” I rushed into the room and found Unwin lying over his daughter, who was covered with blood. At that time I didn’t notice Mrs. Unwin. I saw the razor lying on the bed.
How long have you been a lodger in the house?—About three weeks.
Have they had any differences?—Unwin and his wife had a bit of a tiff yesterday afternoon. I could not say what the trouble was.
Did they come to blows?—No, sir.
Has he been jealous?—No, sir.
How long did the tiff last?—About two or three hours. When Robert Unwin came downstairs he began to play the piano.
Did she come down?—Yes, sir, and seemed all right.
P.C. Smith said he received intimation of the tragedy about 4-30 on Saturday morning. He was called from his bed and went to the house. He found Unwin with his throat cut and also both wrists. He was lying on his side near the child, Grace. At that time Unwin was on the point of death. The child was dead, and Mrs. Unwin was lying on the floor on the far side from the door. The constable found two letters on the mantel-shelf of the kitchen. One of the letters was dated 4-30 a.m. and the other 4-45 a.m.
In reply to the Coroner, Webb said that when he went to bed the fire was out, but when he next came down he found the fire burning.
The Coroner then read the two letters.
The first said: “To all whom it may concern.—I, Robert Unwin, have been told to find the man who pawned my wife’s wedding ring. I did so, and, on further inquiries, found he had been very intimate with her, to such extent that misconduct took place. My wife has admitted this is true, and after thinking things very carefully over, I have come to the conclusion to take both our lives. My last wish is that the man will be made to come to the inquest and speak the truth, proving to people what dirty scum are going about the world, men who would steal another man’s wife.—Signed, Robert Unwin.”
A postscript was added to the effect that his main reason for his action was that his wife was enceinte, and he was unaware if he or the other man was responsible.
The other communication was a brief note giving everything of value in the house to Webb.
Another letter contained an account with a local cash stores, and a postal order for 4/6 as part payment of the arrears.
Mr. Allen pointed out that the reference in the letter to a man against whom Unwin made certain allegations concerned neither of the lodgers, and the Coroner congratulated Webb and Mellor on their clear and straightforward evidence.
The Coroner observed that there could be little doubt but that Unwin had gone downstairs, lit the fire and written the notes, at the time when Webb was aroused. He regretted having to read the notes, and did so only in order to assist the jury in their efforts to discover the state of Unwin’s mind. It was not their business to say whether or not Unwin had cause for suspecting his wife, but they were entitled to know if certain events had caused his mind to be disarranged. He left the question of sanity, or otherwise, entirely to the judgment of the jury.
The letter was properly spelt, with few grammatical errors; in fact it was written like an ordinary business letter. There was no indication that the man who wrote it contemplated committing a murder.
The jury retired for a few minutes, and returned with the verdict: “That Unwin, his wife and child, met their death by Unwin’s hand, he being at the time of unsound mind.”
The Coroner agreed that the decision of the jury was amply justified.