Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 21 June1924
The Funeral
A crowd of between 400 and 500 persons collected outside the cottage in Wadsworth Street at 2-30 on Tuesday afternoon, an hour before the time fixed for the funeral. Persons had even begun to assemble there shortly after noon, such was the excitement caused by the tragic event.
Police were present, at first under the direction of Sergt. Sparrow, and later directed by Inspector Dance, for the purpose of controlling traffic.
“Never has there been a sight in Denaby like this,” exclaimed one woman, and the demeanour of the crowd testified to the great impression created by the murders and suicide. There was a good deal of gossip among the people as to what had led up to the tragedy, the final scene of which was the funeral.
The cortege was promptly formed. In the first hearse was the body of Unwin, in the second that of the wife and the pathetically diminutive coffin of the little child, Grace. Flowers covered the coffins. In addition to those sent by mourners there was one from the North Cliff Club and another from friends and the Chapel Walk Spiritualist Society at Mexborough. Following the coaches containing the mourners was one in which was Thomas Webb, the lodger, to whom Unwin had left “everything of value” which was in the cottage when the crime occurred.
There were crowds en route to the cemetery at Conisbrough. The public were not allowed within the gates, but they “lined up” six deep for a space of quite 150 yards on the approach to the grounds, where they remained until the service was over.
In the absence of the Rev. H. Lee, M.A., vicar of Denaby, who was away from home on holiday, Dr. Briggs, vicar of Mexborough, conducted the proceedings. The service was brief. The cemetery chapel was full, and during the prayers sobbing was repeatedly heard.
The coffins were carried to the graveside by neighbours, and there were child-bearers in mourning, with white sashes. The crowd was quite orderly.
Householders from Denaby turned out in their hundreds to watch the last episode of a particularly pitiful tragedy. The affair has made a great impression on the neighbourhood, and a very sincere sympathy is felt for the bereaved relatives.