by Jill Evans
The Coroner asked Inspector Weaver about the whereabouts of the footprints which had been found on the canal bank. He replied that they were near Two Mile Bend, in the soft mud at the edge of the canal. The woman’s footprint was about a foot away from the boy’s. The body had been found twenty yards further down.
The Coroner then asked him if the statement made by Mrs Mould at the Duke of Wellington on Christmas morning was a voluntary one. The Inspector replied that it was. She was muttering to herself and crying, and he thought she seemed to know she had done something wrong. When he arrested her at about nine o’clock that evening, she appeared to be ‘in great mental trouble’. She didn’t speak to him at all after Christmas morning.
Finally, a new witness was called. William John Barnes, the husband of Mrs Mould’s sister, Beatrice, said that on Christmas Day he had asked his sister-in-law how she was feeling, and she had replied, ‘Oh, Bill, I have done something. I have drowned a little boy in the canal, and I shall get hung for it.’ She repeated this several times and said she would not see Barnes again on this earth. Barnes hadn’t believed her story, because she had said many things before for which there was no foundation.
The jury then considered the evidence, and returned a verdict that Hubert Boulter’s death had been wilful murder, and the Coroner committed Mrs Mould to be tried at the next assizes.
On Tuesday, 5 January, the Governor of Gloucester Prison received a warrant issued by the Home Secretary, ordering that Agnes Mould should be removed from the prison to the County Asylum. She was taken there in the afternoon. The local press reported that it was expected that Mrs Mould would still appear before the County Magistrates on the coming Saturday, to face a charge of murder. However, on Thursday it was announced that she was to remain at the asylum for the time being.
In February, the Winter Assizes began in Gloucester and the name Agnes Dorcas Mould appeared on the Calendar of prisoners to be tried. The judge, Mr Justice Ridley, addressed the County Grand Jury concerning the cases they were to consider. He told them that the third case on the Calendar was that in which Agnes Dorcas Mould was charged with the wilful murder of Hubert Thomas Boulter, by pushing him into the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal. Under the name of the accused was written, ‘Removed to the County Lunatic Asylum, 5th Jan 1904, by order of the Secretary of State.’ The judge remarked that the woman was clearly a lunatic, and the Grand Jury would not be troubled by the matter, because of the Home Secretary’s order. In other words, Agnes Mould was not to stand trial for her crime.
Isometric view of Gloucester Asylum by T. Fulljames, 1842. (Gloucestershire Archives, D12733/1)
This was not, however, the end of the story. After Agnes Mould was returned to the asylum, now classified as a criminal lunatic, her husband was left to deal with some of the consequences of what she had done.
On 22 March 1904, a civil case was heard in the Gloucester County Court, before Judge Ellicott, in which John Boulter, of 1 Winifred Villas, Tudor Street, Gloucester, sued William Mould, publican of the Duke of Wellington and of High Street, Tredworth, for damages. Boulter was claiming £7 damages caused him as a consequence of the illegal act committed on 24 December 1903 by the wife of the defendant, in causing the death of Hubert Thomas Boulter, aged six years, son of the plaintiff, by pushing him into the canal at Gloucester.
The claim was made up of £2 funeral expenses and £5 other incidental expenses. When asked to give more details, the reply was that the burial and funeral expenses came to £2, while the other expenses were made up of: extra refreshments for bearers, etc., cost of a tailor to make a suit of black clothes for the plaintiff, black material and dress-making account for the plaintiff’s wife, two suits of black clothes for the plaintiff’s two sons, and the deceased’s clothing, etc., spoilt, which was valued at ten shillings. The judge awarded the plaintiff ten shillings for the cost of the boy’s clothes.
While Agnes Mould stayed in the Wotton Asylum, William Mould continued to live in Tredworth. As for the Boulter family, John and Emily had another child in late 1904, who they named Herbert George. John died in 1907, aged just forty-four. At the time of the 1911 census, Emily Boulter was living with all but her eldest child, and working as a laundress. Strangely, rather than getting as far away as possible from the canal, they were living at Sims Bridge in Quedgeley, not far from the place where little Hubert Boulter was drowned.
Mildred Elizabeth Rodgers, known as Elizabeth, lived with her husband Matthew and their three sons in New Street, between Stroud Road and Park End Road. Elizabeth was the daughter of Eneas and Julia Ranford, and she had been born in Cheltenham in 1887, but her family had moved to Gloucester when she was an infant, and she and her brothers and sisters were brought up at 43 New Street. In 1908, Elizabeth married Matthew Rodgers, who was a few years her senior, at All Saints’ Church, in Barton Street. The couple lived in various places, including Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, which was Matthew’s home town. By 1918, the Rodgers’ had three sons, and the family moved back to Gloucester, into 45 New Street, next door to the house where Elizabeth was brought up. The occupants of no. 43 were Ernest and Maria Barnes, who had a thirteen-year-old son and a nine-month-old infant.
Mr and Mrs Rodgers’ marriage was a tempestuous one and there were frequent quarrels, mostly concerning Matthew’s relationships with other women. Matthew had joined the army in March 1915, and served with the 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. In 1918, he was injured and was placed in a Red Cross Hospital in Wilmslow, before being transferred to Manchester Infirmary. During that time, Elizabeth discovered that he had been courting a girl in Yorkshire, when she opened a letter which the young lady had innocently sent to his home address. Elizabeth went to see her husband in hospital to confront him, and for a while it seemed that the marriage was over, but she took him back.
Detail from Baedeker’s map of 1910, showing the New Street area. (Author’s collection)
Matthew was discharged on 26 February 1919 and returned to the family home. The couple were soon having problems again, largely due to his relationship with a woman who lived in New Street, who was known locally as ‘Hairy Mary’. Elizabeth frequently confided in her neighbour, Mrs Barnes, whom she had known for many years.
During the afternoon of Saturday, 13 September, the Barnes’s heard an argument and a crashing sound in the kitchen next door. In the evening, Mr and Mrs Barnes went into the Park End Hotel, which was on the corner of New Street and Park End Road. They noticed Elizabeth Rodgers sitting at a table on her own, looking distressed. Mrs Barnes went and joined her, and Elizabeth asked her to have a drink with her, as it might be her last. She started to cry and, thinking she might be suicidal, Mrs Barnes told her not to be so silly and to think of the children.
At about half past ten, Matthew Rodgers came into the hotel. He went up to the counter and ordered a glass of beer. Elizabeth went over and spoke to him, then returned to her seat, while her husband went and joined his friends. Later, Matthew and Mr Barnes joined the women at their table, and the atmosphere seemed perfectly pleasant.
At eleven o’clock they all left the Park End Hotel and walked back to their houses. Matthew Rodgers then asked Mr and Mrs Barnes if they would like to come in and listen to some music. They agreed, and all went in to no. 45, where they were joined by the Barnes’s son, who brought his infant brother with him. They all sat down to listen to the gramophone and Rodgers asked Mrs Barnes if he could hold the baby, then he sat in his chair with the little boy on his knee. As well as listening to the gramophone, Mr Barnes played a melodeon, and there was also some singing.
At about half past midnight, Elizabeth Rodgers suddenly got up from her seat by the fire and went into the back room. She returned a few minutes later, went up behind her husband’s chair and put her arms around his neck, as if she was going to kiss him. Then she drew away quickly and left the room. Matthew Rodgers immediately slumped forward and the baby fell off his knee, but landed safely on the sofa where Mr Barnes was sitting. The h
orrified guests realised that a stream of blood was gushing from Rodgers’ neck.
Mrs Barnes picked up her baby and ran from the house; Mr Barnes carried the injured man out on to the pavement, and someone went to get the police. Elizabeth Rodgers waited calmly on her doorstep for the police to arrive and take her into custody. Matthew Rodgers was taken to the infirmary, but he was already dead.
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The trial of Mildred Elizabeth Rodgers began on 28 October 1919, before Mr Justice Rowlatt. The public gallery in the courtroom was full as the prisoner, neatly dressed in black, was brought into the dock, accompanied by two female prison warders. In reply to the charge that she had wilfully and with malice aforethought murdered her husband, she pleaded not guilty in a clear and distinct voice.
Mr Cockburn opened the case for the prosecution. He told the jury that the unhappy woman sitting in the dock was accused of the awful crime of murdering her husband and respectfully asked that if any of them had heard or read in the newspapers about the case, or had spoken with their friends about it, that they now banish from their minds any impressions they might have formed. In common fairness to the prisoner, and in the general cause of justice, it was essential that the jury should approach the case with free and open minds.
The prisoner worked as a factory hand, and her husband was a boot-repairer by trade. For about the last eighteen months the Rodgers family had lived at 45 New Street. For some time there had been serious quarrels between husband and wife, chiefly in respect of the deceased man’s relationships with other women. The jury would hear particular mention of one woman, a Mrs Smith, who would be referred to in the case by her nickname of ‘Hairy Mary’, and who also lived in New Street.
A page from the Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic for 20 September 1919, showing 45 New Street, the Barnes’s son and baby, Mr Barnes, the Rodgers’ children, and Mrs Barnes. (Gloucestershire Archives)
The courthouse, behind Shire Hall. (Jill Evans)
The two principal witnesses for the Crown would be Mr and Mrs Ernest Charles Barnes, who lived next door to the prisoner and her husband, at 43 New Street. The jury would hear from the Barnes’s that on 13 September a somewhat violent quarrel between the prisoner and her husband was heard, and it was on the evening of the same day, and on into the night, that occurred the events which led to the death of Mr Rodgers. It was, Mr Cockburn said, a tragedy in two scenes. The first scene took place in the Park End Hotel and the second scene was in the home of the prisoner and the deceased.
Florence Maria Barnes, wife of Ernest Barnes, was the first witness called. She had known Elizabeth Rodgers for twenty years and had lived next door to her for the past eighteen months. She had often heard quarrels next door, and Mrs Rodgers had complained to her about her husband carrying on with other women. Mrs Barnes then related what had happened at the Park End Hotel, and subsequently at 45 New Street.
Cross-examined by Mr Lort-Williams, the defence counsel, she said Mrs Rodgers had always been a woman of good character and an excellent mother, looking after her children as well as she could. Whilst her husband was away at war, Mrs Rodgers had worked hard to keep things together and had made a comfortable little home. She had constantly made complaints about her husband’s behaviour, and about him going about with other women and threatening to go about with them as much as he wanted. She had shown Mrs Barnes two letters sent to her by her husband. These letters were then produced in court and read out to the jury. The first one read:
The Park End Hotel, on the corner of New Street and Park End Road. (Jill Evans)
Just a few lines in answer to your insult offered when you sent me the photo. I may as well tell you the best thing you can do is to try and take proceedings for a divorce as soon as you can, as my affection for you is dead, and I have found someone I like better, and you can take proceedings to get me divorced. The last two letters I had from you poisoned my heart against you forever. You can have who you like, as I have found someone to care for me better than you. So I set you free to do as you like, as I am willing to keep my children, but as for you I have finished for ever. I still remain a rotter and fool in your eyes, but a man in someone else’s who I can trust and who knows how to respect a man in return. I send my best and fondest love to my children, Matt, George and Jack. From their ever loving Father, M. Rodgers.
You can start as soon as you like, and I will give you all the proof you like; so carry on as soon as you can as I want to be free from you.
The second letter read:
My dear wife and children. Just a few lines in answer to your letter. I am very sorry if I hurt your feelings in any way, as I did not mean anything by what I put in my letter to you, and I am very sorry for writing such a foolish letter. As I have been in front of my commanding officer, and he made me look like a big fool, and I was very lucky I did not get into trouble for it, but he gave me a good talking to and told me to write to you and apologise for the letter I wrote to you. I hope you will forgive me for writing such a foolish letter; so give my best love to Matty, George and Jackie, and xxx for yourself. I remain your ever-loving husband. xxxx for you and the children.
Dear Bess,- All I can see is that we are both jealous of one another, and it is that which is the cause of all the trouble, but I can tell you it will never occur again so just write me a nice letter and say you will forgive me, and I will act as a man should do in the future. Dear Bess, love and xxxx to you and the children. From Matt to Bess, with love and xxxx.
Mrs Barnes said Mrs Rodgers told her she had forgiven her husband, but later on she made complaints about him and other women. Mr Rodgers had no cause to be jealous concerning his wife, for she had never heard or known of her carrying on with any other man. Since Matthew Rodgers had returned from the army, his wife had continued to work and keep the children, but Mrs Barnes had never known him to do a day’s work since he came home.
The photograph referred to by Matthew Rodgers in his first letter was one of a woman which had been sent to the Rodgers’ eldest son, Matt, upon which were the words, ‘This will soon be your new Mammy.’ Mrs Barnes knew ‘Hairy Mary’, and Matthew Rodgers had lived with her before he married the prisoner.
At the Park End Hotel on Saturday night, Mrs Rodgers told Mrs Barnes that her husband had ‘come home nasty’ in the afternoon, and had smashed some crockery and finished up by throwing some dirty water over the kitchen. Mrs Rodgers told her that he had pawned a watch she had given him as a present to get money to treat ‘Hairy Mary’. She asked her to come to her assistance if her husband ‘knocked her about’ that night. Mrs Barnes told her she ought never to have had him back. Mrs Rodgers was in a state, crying one minute and laughing the next.
Police Constable Pinnions deposed that he went to New Street on the night in question and saw the body of Rodgers lying on the pavement and the prisoner standing at the door. PC Hendry stated that in the course of searching the house, he found a bloodstained razor on a window ledge in the yard. Police Sergeant Glover said he arrived at New Street with the two constables and saw Mrs Rodgers standing at her door. He cautioned her and she said, ‘Yes, this is my husband. He has been carrying on with another woman. I quite admit I did it.’ She handed the Sergeant three letters and said, ‘These will show you what he has been doing.’
These letters were then read out in court. The first was headed, ‘Private M. Rodgers, 1/5 Lancashire Fusiliers, Red Cross Hospital, Wilmslow, Cheshire, September 28, 1918’. It referred to the young lady in Yorkshire, whose letter had caused Elizabeth to go to the hospital to confront her husband. It read:
Dear Bess,
Just a few lines to you. Hope you got back safe, and that you found the children quite safe. I was sorry I could not come back to the station to see you off, but I was so cut up with seeing you it was only agony for me to try and speak to you, but you can have a contented mind that I have made up my mind to finish it off altogether with that girl, and the reason why I did not
give you the address is I know what kind of letter you would have sent to her. So you can tell Matt, George and Jack not to upset themselves about me, as I have made my mind up to be the same as I used to be, and to turn over a new leaf. So I hope you will try to forget it all and destroy them letters I sent you, and I will write you a long letter next time, as I don’t hardly know how to write to you.
Dear Bess, the doctor came and seen all in the hospital, and he marked some of them out, but he did not say anything to me, but I think if he had examined me he would have said I had heart failure, as you gave me the biggest shock I ever had in my life, and I can tell you I have not got over it yet. So give my best love and kisses to Matt, George and Jack, and the same to you when you have cooled down a bit.
From your ever-loving husband and father, Matt Rodgers.
To this letter were added a number of kisses with ‘for the children from Daddie’, then followed a lot more kisses and ‘You can have these, if you will accept them.’
The next letter showed that Mrs Rodgers had found out the address of the girl who was the subject of the above. Miss Crabtree wrote from Yorkshire:
Dear Mrs Rodgers,
I have received your letter, and when I opened it what a shock I got – I could not open my lips for a few minutes. I handed the letter to my mother, and she read it aloud and when she had finished she says ‘What do you think of him now?’ Because he always swore to me that he was a single young man, and if there is anything I hate its married men or women to go about with single men or women. I think they can find something else to do, and what is more I think you have misjudged me. If I had known he had been married I would never have written a line to him, but I would have told him he ought to be ashamed of himself and he ought to look after his wife and children before looking to other girls.