THE DOUBLE MURDER AT LYTHAM – 27, CECIL STREET, LYTHAM – 02/11/1886

 

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT LYTHAM. DOUBLE MURDER LAST NIGHT. - The first report - Wednesday, November 3^rd, 1886 – Lytham Times

A thrill of horror pervaded Lytham last evening as a rumour got afloat that two persons had been murdered in a house in Cecil-street, a good street off Church-road, at the west end of the town. It seemed at first impossible to credit the report, but it proved to be too true. The particulars, so far as at present known, or, in fact, so far as are likely to be known, are as follow:--Between four and five o'clock last evening, whilst P.C. Murray was on duty in Westby-street, a man named Mellor came up to him and asked him to come with him as far No. 27, Cecil-street, "as two women had hurted themselves." Murray went to the house with Mellor, and on going into the kitchen Mellor pointed to a female lying on a sofa with her head battered in and said, " this is one." He then took the Police Officer into the yard, where another female was stretched on the ground with her head also beaten in, and be said " this is the other."

The two women were Mrs. Mellor and her sister, Miss Kent. Murray at once took Mellor into custody, and removed him to the Police Station, and Sergt. Harrison and P.C. Barker went to the house, calling for surgical assistance by the way. Dr. Fisher went to the house as soon as possible, but both victims were beyond all surgical aid, the skulls of both being so completely beaten in that the brain protruded.

Dr. Eason was also in attendance soon afterwards. Superintendent Stafford was telegraphed for from Kirkham and be at once proceeded to Lytham. The house, No. 27, Cecil Street, is a house where visitors are received and where visitors were staying at the time. They had gone out between two and three o'clock and stated that everything then appeared to be going on as usual. Mellor, who is said to be rather deficient in intellect, is apparently a man of about 67 years of age, formerly in the Railway Company's service at the station, but up to last week bad been working for the Commissioners. Report says that the home has not been a very comfortable one for some time past. A heavy hammer with blood upon it was found in the yard by the police and there can be no doubt that this was the weapon with which the murder was committed. Mellor will most likely be examined before the magistrates today.

It would appear that Mrs. Mellor must have been laid upon the sofa probably asleep when the attack was made upon her, She had had two or more fearful blows on the top of the head, and two on the face where the jaw was broken. She had apparently died without a struggle. Miss Kent, it is supposed, was hanging some clothes on a line at the time as the clothes were found on the ground. She was doubtless taken by surprise and struck at from behind, the back part of the head being broken in. It would appear as if she had struggled with her assailant as her arms were bent and were soiled with earth. At a later hour last evening at the Police Station, Mellor replied to Superintendent Stafford that he was sorry for what he had done and hoped that he would be forgiven.

It seems that when Mellor went home in the afternoon, Miss Kent was in the house of a neighbour, Mr. Rukin, some four or five house. away. He went to the back door and inquired for her, and she returned with him. It is now conjectured that be had then killed Mrs. Mellor and that he attacked Miss Kent in the yard as she was returning to the house with him. Mrs. Mellor was 58 years of age and her sister 56. None of the neighbours heard the slightest disturbance, and nothing was known of the terrible deed until Mellor took the police to the house. The occurrence, as may well be imagined has caused intense excitement in Lytham, where a crime of this nature has never been committed before; the nearest approach to it, being we believe, a case of child murder more than 40 years ago. An inquest will be held immediately the necessary instructions are received from the Coroner.

The inquest Wednesday November 3rd, 1886 – Lytham Times (10/11/1886)

As may well be imagined, the principal topic of conversation in all circles at Lytham during the past week has been the dreadful murders of which we gave particulars last Wednesday. It is a most remarkable circumstance that popular sympathy has been, and is expressed almost entirely for Mellor, and not for the murdered persons, and the cause of this probably is that the unhappiness of his domestic life appears now to have been no secret.  

The Inquest was held at the Police Station, Lytham, on Wednesday last (November 3^nd 1886), by Dr. Gilbertson, coroner, and the following were the jury-Mr. T. Waring, foreman; Mr. J. Dobson, Mr. Jas. Holt, Mr. Jas. Leech, Mr. Chas. Miller, Mr. C. A. Myers, Mr. N. Preston, Mr. W. Pintner, Mr. T. Rymer, Mr H. Towler, Mr. R. Waring, and Mr. J. Wildman.

The Court being only of small dimensions, there was room only for a very few persons besides the representatives of the press, of whom there were some thirteen or fourteen present. Superintendent Stafford, of Kirkham, carried out the arrangements. The Coroner having administered the usual oath to the jury.

27, Cecil Street, Lytham

Arthur Mellor, first witness, said: I am a joiner, and live at Marton, near Blackpool. The deceased, Sarah Mellor, was my mother. She was the wife of James Mellor, and lived at No. 27, Cecil-street. James Mellor is a blacksmith. I cannot tell her age exactly; she is nine years younger than my father. [Mr. Kent, her brother, who was present, said she was 58.] I last saw her on Sunday, and she was in good health then. Betty Kent was my aunt, my mother's sister. She was in former years a weaver but has kept a lodging- house lately. She was two years younger than my mother. [Mr. Kent: 56 in March.] I saw her on Sunday; she was in good health then. My father has had very good health of late. He has been very silent lately; has spoken very little for a year or two on and off. He has not complained of anything. He has slept well and has taken his food well. I have not seen him worse in his mind of late. He has not complained to me of my mother or her sister, -To Foreman: He has been on good terms with my mother for anything I know. He has not been away from home much. I do not live at home; I come at the weekends.

Hannah Whittaker, the next witness, said: My husband's name is Thomas Whittaker. We live in Oldham, at 55, Chadderton Road. We have been staying in Lytham, at 27, Cecil-street, for a month. I have not noticed anything going on in the way of a dispute or quarrel.

I never noticed anything peculiar about Mr. Mellor except that he was quiet, I went out of the house yesterday with my husband about two o'clock, and we left Miss Kent, and Mr. Mellor and Mrs. Mellor in the house. They were all in the wash kitchen, in the garden behind; it joins to the house. Mrs. Mellor always went to sleep after dinner, on a sofa in the kitchen. I never saw anything of a hammer. We returned at ten minutes to five. I cannot tell anything more. Never saw any dispute or quarrel whilst we were there. I spoke to them in the wash kitchen as I was passing. -To Foreman: Being only lodgers we did not use the house in common; and did not see very much of them- To Coroner: Everything appeared quite straight forward when I passed through the house. Mellor had his dinner with them; it seemed all right. - To Mr. Chas, Miller: I do not know that the door has ever been fastened against him at night. I know nothing of that. - To Foreman: I have seen them getting their meals together when I have passed through.

Mary Moore, next witness, said: I am a single woman and live at No. 19, Cecil-street. I knew the two deceased women and the husband as well. I occasionally went into their house. I never noticed anything peculiar about James Mellor whenever I visited at the house. I saw Miss Kent about half-past two yesterday in the kitchen in our house. She came for a clothes prop. She wasn't in many minutes. She had a drink of tea. No- thing of any consequence passed. James Mellor came to the back door, not the house door, the back door of the garden, for her and she went with him. That is all I can tell. I heard about five o'clock about it. - To Foreman: The back garden door was not fast; it was wide open.

Alice Mercer, next witness, said: I live at No. 3, Westby-street. I am connected by marriage with James Mellor; one of his sons married my sister. I knew them pretty well. I do not know that there had been any dispute or quarrel amongst them or anything strange. I saw James Mellor about three o'clock yesterday afternoon. He called at our house. He left the key of the back door leading into his house. He said it would be called for. He called again for it about four o'clock. He took it away with him. I noticed that he was excited, but this was all; he did not say anything: he called a third time before half-past four; he asked for a drink of water then. He seemed more excited than he was before; he only asked for water once. I did not see anything more of him. I had not heard anything.

P.C. Murray, 353, next witness, who is stationed at Ansdell in township of Lytham, said: At 4-30 yesterday, the prisoner came- [The Coroner: James Mellor, we will call him; he is not our prisoner.] James Mellor came to me in Westby-street and asked me if I would go to his house; he told me it was 27, Cecil-street. I asked him what for, but he would not tell me. I then told him I would not go unless he told me the nature of the case. He then said that two women had hurt themselves. I then went with him to the house 27, Cecil street, and we went in by the side door leading into the yard and then into the back kitchen. James Mellor unlocked the back door; he went in first and I after. He then said, "That is one," pointing to the body of a woman (Sarah Mellor) laying on the sofa in the kitchen.

I looked at her and noticed her face besmeared with blood and her head battered in. I thought she was quite dead. Then I asked where is the other, as he had said two had hurt themselves. He said, "she's out in the yard."

He went out and I followed him; when we got halfway down the yard, it is a garden and yard all in one, he pointed to the body of a woman and said, "there's the other." I noticed there was a pool of blood under her head, and that the left side of her head was battered in. She was dead. I did not examine the premises. I secured Mellor and brought him to the Police Station. He said I need not get hold of him; he would walk quietly. I brought him towards the Police Station and met the Sergeant, Sergeant Harrison. I told him what I had seen. We took the prisoner into the Station. I went back to the house with the Sergeant. I searched the bodies and nothing of importance was found only money and some keys. There were not any letters or anything. When Mellor spoke to me, he appeared to be in a very excited state all the time, he could hardly speak.

Police Sergeant Harrison, next witness, said: At 20 minutes to five yesterday afternoon I met Constable Murray and James Mellor in Clifton-street, Lytham. The Constable told me in the presence of Mellor that he had been to Mellor's house, 27, Cecil-street, Lytham, at the request of Mellor and had seen the dead bodies of two women on the premises. I then came to the police-station with Murray and Mellor, and I asked Mellor who the two women were whose dead bodies had been found on his premises; he replied, "one should be my wife, and the other is her sister." I asked him if he could give any explanation or information as to the cause of their deaths. He made no answer for a short time and then said: "I'm very sorry for what I've done, and I hope you'll forgive me." I asked him several more questions, but he declined to answer. I then went to 27, Cecil street to examine the premises, and on going into the kitchen I found the body of Sarah Mellor, the wife of James Mellor, lying on her back on the sofa, quite dead, but warm.

I found the top of her head battered in, a large cut on the left cheek which went right through; and another on the upper lip. There was a pool of blood on the floor at the end of the sofa, there were blood splashes on the door and on a tablecloth: there was no appearance of any struggle having taken place. On going into the back yard I found near the bottom of the yard the dead body of Betty Kent; there was a large pool of blood near the head; the head was battered in on the top, and on the right side; the right eye was black and the upper lip was bruised; the body was lying on the left side partly on the belly, and the hands were under the upper part of the body and were very dirty.

There was a broken clothesline lying on the ground with some wet clothes on it. Near the body I found a pair of spectacles [produced], and under a shed in the same yard near the body I found a large blacksmith's hammer [produced] which was smeared with blood and which corresponded with the marks on the heads of both bodies of the deceased. I then sent for Dr. Fisher, and he examined the bodies. I afterwards charged James Mellor with having at 27, Cecil-street, Lytham, some time on the 2nd November killed his wife Sarah Mellor, and his sister-in-law Betty Kent, by striking them on the heads with the hammer produced. He made no reply. There is nothing more that I have to tell.

 

Dr. Fisher, next witness, said: I first heard of the murder at the Lytham Railway Station, but previously to that I had been sent for to my house. Police Constable Murray met me at the Lytham Railway Station. I accompanied him to 27, Cecil-street, and the first body I saw was that of Mrs. Mellor lying on a sofa in the kitchen. She appeared to me to have been asleep when attacked; her arms were lying across her chest, the hands were not clenched, and there was not any appearance of any struggle; and from her features I should say her death had been instantaneous, there was no apparent signs of any suffering in her countenance.

[The Coroner: We don't want to hear much of the surroundings; what we want to know is the nature of the wounds.] I found an extensive compound comminuted fracture of the skull; a very large opening had been made through the skull on the top of the head and the brain protruded; it seemed to correspond with the round head of the hammer produced; a large piece of bone was quite loose.

There was a severe wound on the left cheek, which it penetrated, and a deep cut on the upper lip and a fractured jaw beneath it. She was rather warm when I saw her at a quarter past five. I should say she must have been dead from two hours to two and a half hours. The injuries to the head were the cause of death. It was impossible for anyone to survive. I should think her death must have been very rapid. I then accompanied the Sergeant and Constable Murray down the garden and inspected the body of Miss Kent. I found the feet lying nearest the footpath and the head furthest away. It was rather dusk at the time, and I could not distinctly see which way the body was lying, but I think she was upon her face.

I assisted to carry the body into the back kitchen, and then inspected the wounds, and found from the crown of the head to the ear on the right side there was a mass of broken bones, with several wounds commucating with the fractures. I did not observe any brain protruding, but I could feel it. Blood was issuing freely from the right ear; the right eye was very much blackened and swollen, as well as the right side of the face; both hands and arms were covered completely with mud and dirt, as if she had struggled on the ground. The injuries to the head were the cause of her death. I have known James Mellor intimately for several years, and I knew the women, too. I have always thought him a man of rather weak intellect but never thought him incapable of taking care of himself.

I thought him a harmless man. -Coroner: have you ever heard him make use of any threats? -Witness continued: About three years ago my wife and I were wakened about two o'clock in the morning by shouts of murder in front of my house; it was-"murder, murder, Dr. Fisher, murder."  I opened the window and asked what was the matter? One of the sons said James Mellor, his father, was in one of his excited moods, and he was taking care of him, walking him about to try and get rid of it-to walk it off. The affair caused a good deal of excitement at the time. He applied to me about eighteen months ago to be taken to the Cottage Hospital, as he was not being kindly treated at home; he was poorly. I agreed to take him in, and in the evening his wife came down to me and she objected to him going in. I then attended him at his own house when he was in bed, and I thought both his wife and his wife's sister treated him very kindly at that time. I saw nothing to find fault with when he was in bed.

I saw nothing to find fault with when he was in bed. I never heard him utter any threat. When they first came to Lytham, Mrs. Mellor called and told me there were differences between her and her husband, so I imagine that the difficulties have been going on for years. I have no hesitation in saying so. I believe her object in coming to Lytham was to get out of his way, or to leave him. She did come to complain very much of him when she first came. - To Foreman: I cannot remember what the differences were; I think one was his excitability of temper, and the other was his incapacity to provide for his family; he didn't and couldn't.

John Mellor, one of the sons, was the next witness, and said: I am a cabinet-maker and furniture dealer at Blackpool, 24, Talbot-road. I was not at home when this happened. I could not positively say that I have heard my father use any threats towards my mother, at the same time my father's conduct has been since my earliest recollections, the conduct not of a loving---Coroner: Do you know if he has ever uttered any threats? Witness: No. -Coroner: His conduct as a father has nothing to with it; it is as a husband we want to know. Witness continued: Some years ago, he met with an accident; he fell through a roof and injured his spine and was in Ashton Infirmary for some time. It is some ten or twelve years ago; and since then we have considered that he has not been the same man.- Coroner: Was his conduct to your mother altered?- Witness: He had long fits of moroseness and I consider his temper was very peculiar.-Coroner: (to the jury) You must know, gentlemen, we are not going into the mind of James Mellor, that is for another tribunal, but I'll speak of that by and bye.

James Kent, brother of the deceased, said he wanted to say a few words, and he was accordingly sworn. -The Coroner: We only have to inquire as to cause of the death of these two women. We have nothing to do with the state of James Mellor's mind. -Witness proceeded and said: I am a joiner, and live at Highlands, Royton, near Oldham, and am brother to Sarah Mellor and Betty Kent. I believe James Mellor has been in a curious way ever since the time he lamed himself. He has been strange in his habits and ways when we have been here, he never spoke to us. -Coroner: That is not what I want, I want to learn whether there have been any quarrels or threats, or anything of that sort. -Wit- ness: I know he has not always had his meal with them, but it has always been provided for him. I never heard any threats.

Mr. Preston (one of the jury) said: they considered it would only be a waste of time to proceed further. The Coroner said he thought so too. Of course, this was not an ordinary case, and it was desirable to get all the evidence they could as to the cause of death. With the state of James Mellor's mind, they had nothing to do; that was for another tribunal.

There was not any further evidence tendered.

The Coroner in summing up said: that this was a most melancholy case, he need not enlarge upon that for he was sure they all agreed with him, but there was this difficulty that there was no direct evidence as to the murderer if it was a murder, no one saw the occurrence, but they had the evidence of the several witnesses who had been before them. There could be no doubt as to the cause of death and the question was who was in the house at the time. They bad the evidence of Mrs. Whittaker, and she saw deceased and Mellor then.

They had the evidence of Dr. Fisher who had examined the deceased professionally and carefully, and then they bad the admission made afterwards by Mellor to Sergeant Harrison. Under these circumstances he thought they would have no difficulty in arriving at a verdict. As he had said before they were not there to inquire into the state of Mellor's mind, all that he had wanted to ascertain was whether there had been any quarrel or any threat heard.

The court was then cleared and after some six or seven minutes consultation, during which the Coroner was recalled to give some advice or suggestion, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against James Mellor, who heard the result without any apparent emotion. In fact, throughout the hearing of the case he appeared one of the most unconcerned of those present. He was then removed to await the magisterial inquiry on the following day.

On Thursday noon the prisoner was brought up at the Police Court before S. Stott, Esq, presiding magistrate. The same witnesses were present as at the inquest. The Court was crowded, together with the adjoining passage, and a considerable number of people assembled round the doors of the Police Office and the street adjoining. W. J. Dickson, Esq., Magistrates' Clerk, conducted the examination. Superintendent Stafford was also present, and the prisoner was seated in a chair at the end of the table almost opposite to the magistrate. The evidence given was similar to that reported at the inquest:-

Hannah Whittaker, wife of Thomas Whittaker, of Oldham, who with her husband had lodged at Mellor's house, repeated her evidence as given at the inquest. Asked if he desired to question the witness, prisoner replied, "No, Sir, it's very creditable."-Mary Moore, housekeeper to Mr. Rukin, 19, Cecil-street, also gave similar testimony to that of Wednesday.-The Clerk, to prisoner: Do you wish to ask her any question ?- Prisoner: No, Sir.-Alice Mercer, 3, Westby-street, spoke as to Mellor's visits to her father's house on several occasions during Tuesday afternoon. He seemed excited.-The Clerk, to prisoner: Do you wish to ask her any questions? - Prisoner: No, Sir; it’s very creditable.

Police Constable Murray spoke to prisoner meeting him on Tuesday afternoon, and taking him to the house, where he found the bodies of the two women, one on the kitchen sofa, and the other in the yard both dreadfully mutilated.-The Clerk asked Mellor if he wished to ask the witness any questions ?- Prisoner replied: No, I don't wish to ask any questions, but there is one thing that had better be corrected. I did not say that the women had hurt themselves. -The Magistrates' Clerk: You had better, perhaps, not make any statement now. You will be allowed to make a statement afterwards.

If you wish to ask the witness any questions, you can put them now. Have you any questions to ask? Prisoner: No, Sir. Sergt. Harrison repeated his evidence as to receiving the prisoner into custody, and his examination of the bodies. He charged the prisoner with the murder, and the latter made no reply. -The Prisoner did not desire to cross-examine him. He said he had a remark to make which he would make afterwards.

Dr. Fisher again detailed the result of his examination of the bodies, and described the wounds, which he said undoubtedly caused death. Prisoner had no questions to ask,-John Mellor, son of the deceased, Sarah Mellor, and the prisoner, identified the bodies, which he had only seen that morning. The prisoner being invited to question the witness, said: Did he not speak last night as to "ways and so on."-Mr. Dickson (Magistrates Clerk): We have simply to deal with what he has said now. Have you any questions to ask upon the evidence he has given to-day? -Prisoner: Do you remember having me down in the back yard, and "jowing" me on the floor. -Witness: No.-Prisoner: Didn't our William come on a bicycle from Blackpool?

Hadn't he been sent for while you had me "jowing my head in the back yard? Didn't he jump over the yard door? Witness: I remember a time when we had to control you by main force.-Prisoner: Did our William tell you to let me get up? -Witness: I dare say. -Prisoner: What did our William do then. Do you recollect? -Witness: No, I don't recollect. -Prisoner: You don't recollect him throwing me down, and blacking my face? Did you, several times. -Witness: I know you were very rough that night. -Prisoner: It was in the daytime.

-The Magistrates' Clerk: I think these questions hardly come out of the examination at present. You can make any statement you like afterwards.- Prisoner: They have very bad recollections, have my sons. I am very sorry for them. -This closed the case for the prosecution. When the customary charge had been made to the prisoner, and the latter was asked by the Magistrates' Clerk, "Do you desire to say anything? -The prisoner replied, No, sir; I have nothing to say. -The Magistrates' Clerk: Do you desire to call any. witness? -Prisoner:-No, sir. -The Magistrate: James Mellor you are committed to Her Majesty's prison at Preston, there to await your trial for Wilful Murder at the Liverpool Assizes. The prisoner was then removed. On Thursday afternoon, Mellor was removed from Lytham to Preston by train, in charge of Superintendent Stafford and P.C. Barker, the former of whom left the train at Kirkham.

Whilst waiting for the train at Lytham Station, Mellor remarked to Mr. Draper, the station master, who was speaking to him, that "the future could not be worse than the past." Arrived at Preston, he was taken to the County Police Offices in Fishergate. He went up the incline from the Station alongside of the Police Officer quite quietly and was not handcuffed. Occasionally his knees seemed to give way as he walked. Several Lytham passengers were also in the train, and on getting out at Preston the remark was made by one of them to him -"Well, I suppose I shall have to say goodbye to you now; and Mellor merely replied, "Aye." He was after wards removed to the House of Correction, and on Friday morning was taken to Liverpool to await his trial.

On Saturday, (06/11/1886), the funeral of Mrs. Mellor and Miss Kent took place. The coffins were placed in two oak coffins with brass mountings, made by Mr. T. H. Smith, of Blackpool, and were conveyed in two hearses to the Railway Station, where they were put on the train for Ashton, near Oldham, where the interment took place. The coffins bore simple inscriptions-" Sarah Mellor, died November 2nd, 1886, aged 59 years;" and "Betty Kent, died November 2nd, aged 56 years." There were several handsome wreaths on the coffins, and a large number of persons assembled to see them removed, not- withstanding that the weather was extremely wet.

At the opening of the Liverpool Assizes on Monday morning (08/11/1886), the Judge, Mr. Justice Day, in his charge to the grand jury just alluded to the case. He said that the calendar though it contained the names of 94 prisoners, did not call for any unfavourable observations. The crimes were not, speaking by comparison, so serious as to demand any such unfavourable notice. There was, he was sorry to say, one case-he was glad to say one only-of wilful murder. It was a case which called for no detailed observation at his hands. The facts appeared to be very simple, and he felt that it would be the duty of the Grand Jury to return a true bill against the person charged.

This morning, Wednesday, the several witnesses left Lytham for Liverpool, as the case would come before the Grand Jury. It is not, however, expected that the trial will take place before Thursday or Friday. As we have already said, a very widespread feeling of sympathy for the prisoner exists in Lytham, and fund is being raised for his defence. The suggestion has been already very willingly and liberally responded to, and a Committee has been appointed to take the necessary steps.

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT LYTHAM. CONFESSION OF THE MURDER. TRIAL AND SENTENCE. – Reported in the Lytham Times on 17/11/1886

Yesterday at the Liverpool Assizes (16/11/1886), James Mellor was tried before Mr. Justice Day for the murder of his wife and his sister-in-law at Lytham on the 2nd of the present month. The particulars of the terrible crime are fresh in the memory of all and have indeed formed the principal topic of conversation in all circles in Lytham and the vicinity ever since the deed was committed. As we have before stated, a subscription to raise funds for Mellor's defence has been raised in Lytham, the feeling of sympathy being almost universally in his favour rather than for the two murdered women, owing no doubt to the fact that the unhappy circumstances attending Mellor's home life were well known; indeed a gentleman residing at Ashton, wrote to the Committee who were taking charge of the subscription, giving particulars of the unhappy life that he and his wife had led during their residence there.

Since Mellor has been removed to Liverpool, Dr. Fisher of Lytham has seen him; and Dr. Wallace the medical superintendent of the Whittingham Asylum, visited him in consequence of instructions received from the Treasury, and bas made a very full report, in which he states his opinion most strongly as to the unsoundness of Mellor's mind.

Whilst he has been in gaol, Mellor has been visited by several of his relatives and has stated what occurred on the day of the murder. He says that on the morning of the murder he quarrelled with his wife, and again at noon, and that in the afternoon, while his wife was asleep on the sofa, he was seized with an uncontrollable impulse to kill her. After the dreadful butchery of his wife, he concluded to make away with her sister, whom he states he regarded with more terror than his wife. He fetched her out of a neighbour's house and as she went into their own garden killed her also; Mellor did not seem at all anxious to conceal that he had done the deed.

Yesterday at the trial, Mr. Blair (instructed by Mr. W. J. Dickson) conducted the prosecution: and Mr. Shee (instructed by Mr. Parry, of Blackpool) defended. The prisoner pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Blair opened the case and entered into the circumstances of Mellor's previous life. He then said he thought it only fair to say that from the time of the accident, Mellor was not quite the man he had been before. From time to time be appeared to have suffered from some sort of mental disturbance, and he [Mr. Blair] took it that the main question for the jury would be whether the disturbance was of such a character as to relieve the prisoner from the responsibility for what he had done. On that point he proposed to give them all the assistance he could.

He should call medical gentlemen who had conversed with the prisoner, and who had probably formed an opinion as to his mental condition. He must, however, tell the jury the definition of insanity. To establish such a defence, legal proof must be furnished that there was mental aberration or weakness of such a character as would free a man from responsibility for his acts, or that his state of mind was such that he did not know his act was wrong. One of these propositions must be established on the prisoner's behalf to free him from responsibility for his act.

Prima facie, a man who killed, committed murder; and the Crown threw upon the accused himself the responsibility of showing that when he did it the circumstances and state of his mind were such that he was not guilty of wilful murder. In this case, from 1875 down to 1886, the prisoner's mind had undoubtedly been disturbed. He then proceeded to state the details of the crime and afterwards called the following witnesses-Mrs. Whittaker, Mary Moore, house- keeper to Mr. Rukin, police constable Murray, police sergeant Harrison, and Dr. Fisher, whose evidence was the same as that reported in full at the inquest.

Dr. Fisher having given evidence as to the appearance of the bodies, Etc., was cross-examined, and said he had known the prisoner for ten years and he had attended him. He had seen him in goal since his committal. -Mr. Shee: Since you have seen him in gaol, you have had further proof to that you supplied to the solicitor as to his insanity? -Witness: Yes; I believe prisoner is insane now. He has often had violent fits of excitement. I believe him to have been insane at the time he committed the crime. He had been for some time suffering under delusions.

Persons subject to such delusions were liable to fits of violence. -Re-examined by Mr. Blair: He had delusions of persecution and oppression, and also in regard to his money. He laboured under the impression that he had been very badly treated by his wife and wife's sister. -His Lordship: Was he persecuted? - Witness: Not to the extent that he thought he was. Mr. Blair: You do not think the impression on his mind was wholly groundless? -Witness: No; there were domestic troubles in a slight degree. He told me that his wife and wife's sister had accumulated large sums of money.- Mr. Blair: Do you think he is aware that he has killed his wife and sister? -There is no doubt about that. -Have you had any doubt in the course of your conversation whether he knew it or not? -I believe he knows it. -Did he tell you he had done the deed? -Yes, he described it pretty well.

He did not express any regret to me for what he had done; and he did not give me any reason. -Did he allege any cause of provocation at all? He said there had been a few words early in the morning and that his wife was angry with him. He did not hear what she said, and he turned round to look at her. She made use of further angry words, and he said, "I have made no reply." That, he said, rankled in his breast all morning. He went on to say to me that the committal of the act was momentarily. I said, "Didn't you give it a minute's thought?" and he replied, "No." I said, "You must have thought a minute, because you had the hammer to fetch."

He said, "That only required a quarter of a minute." He added, "I never felt so strangely in my life as I did at that moment. I should have done it whoever had been there." I then said to him, "Did you then kill the other?" and he replied, "Yes, one was as bad as the other, so I thought I might as well kill the other, so I went to Rukin's back door to call for Betty Kent. She came and I killed her." I then said, "Are you not sorry?" He hesitated a moment, and then replied, "I am satisfied." I thought his description of his treatment at home was somewhat illusory.

Dr. Wallace was the next witness and said: be had had 19 years’ experience of cases of lunacy. He considered that Mellor was morbid and had but one leading idea in his mind all through and that was an idea of persecution. Mellor expressed no sorrow for what he had done but rather satisfaction. He spoke as if the deceased had got what they deserved. He did not seem to be the least aware of his dangerous position; and his (witness's) opinion was that he was insane when he committed the murders, Witness was proceeding to state what he had heard as to Mellor's home-life when the Judge remarked that this was very irregular, and the subject was discontinued.

William Mellor and John Mellor, two sons of the prisoner, were the next witnesses, and spoke to their father labouring occasionally under violent fits of temper, and strange fits of nervousness, and gave particulars of one or two accidents, from which he had suffered before coming to live at Lytham. Mr. Shee then addressed the jury in defence. He thought after the evidence that had been given by Dr. Fisher, a jury would be very slow indeed to find that the prisoner was sane when he committed the frightful deed. Add to that evidence the statement of Dr. Wallace a specialist of large experience, and he thought the jury would not have the slightest difficulty in finding that the prisoner was not responsible for his act.

His Lordship, in summing up, said that the prisoner killed his wife there could not be any doubt. The term insanity was often used vaguely and incoherently to establish insanity in a court of justice. In the only true sense of the word it must be shown that the person alleged to be insane was at the time the act was committed ignorant of the nature and quality of the act. In other words, the prisoner must show that either he did not know what he was doing or that he did not know what he was doing was wrong. He called attention to the statement of one of the witnesses, which was to the effect that the man knew the nature of the deed which was committed. His Lordship commented on various points in the evidence, and The jury, after a short consultation, brought in a verdict of "Not guilty on the ground of insanity." The prisoner will, therefore, be confined during Her Majesty's pleasure.

Mick Downer, Lytham Heritage Group, July 2025