A Rhodes Tragedy

A Rhodes tragedy. Wife and two children murdered The Husband commits suicide Not in all the records of Middletons criminal history, If such were compiled, could be found anything equal to or even anything approaching the unearthly and diabolical scenes which formed the forefront of a domestic tragedy at Rhodes on Thursday morning. Wherin Louis Smethurst of 9 Hilton Street, in that village, murdered his wife and two children, and afterwards commited suicide. Pen cannot describe the varied feelings with which the story of this terrible tragedy was received, how it was wafted from ear to ear, growing in intensity and in more harrowing detail the faster it travelled. But not the most liberal dissemination gave the story one touch of exaggeration which could be deducted from the sum total of the atrocity. Wether in Middleton or Rhodes, it was the same story one heard succinctly told, that a man had murdered his wife and family, and afterwards destroyed himself, and then turning naturally to the question of

motive, that it was jealousy in its most sordid and terrible form that was at the bottom of the mischief. Bathed in a flood of sunshine that seemed but mockery, writes a reporter. I saw before me the house wherein a whole family had been exterminated. It is a tiny cottage, well elevated and healthily situated. This would be about eleven o’clock on Thursday morning, and round about were knots of women and men who discussed the pros and cons of the case in whispers. There was horror at the crime certainly but people seemed to be too staggered to talk rationally. How terrible a thing this was for the village of Rhodes; such was prominent in their minds. To think that here in this self-contained village, with its hard working folk, and its churches and chapels and institutions. All the restfulness of their village lives should be broken in upon by a dire calamity such as this! Thoughts like these were freely expressed. Indignation was an absent quantity – there was more of the gentle spirit of sympathy. Downstairs in the front room a white blind hid the view from the curious populous, but they new that it was not here the police were investigating the horrors of the tragedy. The bedroom upstairs with window sash drawn aside was the scene of ghastliness and death.

The first story

I will try to gather the facts I gleaned. Here there lived man and wife –Louis Smethurst, aged 30 and eliza Ann Smethurst, aged 27 with their little children John (aged 4) and Hannah (aged 6). It was matter of common knowledge that they were not on good terms, that husband and wife enjoyed none of that felicity to be looked for in married life, But friends and neighbours looked upon it as no more than one of those misalliances which alas are far too common. That violence was a possibility might have been anticipated, but that murder was an eventuality was never even dreamt of. I learned the first part of the story from William walker, who lives in Thorpe Street, and is the professional cricketer at Rhodes. Walker rendered yeoman service in the matter. This man was coming up Chapel Street about 9.35 a.m. and was attracted to Hilton street by hearing screams. Drawn to the spot he saw the unusual spectacle of a ladder drawn upto the window of No. 9 and a woman looking through the front bedroom window. He mounted the ladder and peering in at the window. Had the horrifying spectacle presented to him of a whole family murdered and saturated in blood. He was naturally much unnerved and instinctively his thoughts turned to the police. He was not long in securing the services of P.C. francis, who made an entry. The real nature of the tragedy had been previously been discovered by Mrs. Henshall and Mrs. Ogden, who thought there was something wrong by reason of the house remaining locked up and there being no signs of animation about.

When Francis entered the bedroom. I he was to be met by a spectacle he hopes never to see again. In the bed nearest the window lay the child John, lying on his back, his throat cut and saturated in blood. Like all the other members of the family, the poor child was quite dead. On the bed, nearest the wall Lay Mrs Smethurst, who had suffered a like fate. The attack on this poor woman had been of the most violent and murderous character, there were too fearful wounds in her throat, as well as several wounds on her arms. Next to the mother, on its right side, lay the child Hannah, also terribly mutilated. As for the author of this tragedy, he lay on his back on the floor, having killed himself in a manner similar to that of the three victims. One shudders in writing all the horrible details of this gruesome affair, but there remains to be told how that the room was one pool of blood, and that the walls and skirting board were splashed with Gore, and how that the bedroom resembled more a butcher's shop than the domicile of an Englishman. Screams awoke, Mrs Henshall, who lives next door, about 5:45 a.m., and she got up and knocked at the door. She had no response. From this time, everything was quiet, from which we may gather that the tragedy took place between 5 and 6 a.m.. Later in the morning, as we have shown Mrs Henshall suspicions that something was wrong ripened, with the result already stated. Smethurst committed The fell deeds with an old army razor he had

evidently purchased somewhere. This was found underneath his right thigh. Later intelligence. Another of our reporters writes: it appears that Lewis Smethurst was a labourer, being employed at Messrs Schwabe and co Rhodes works. For a long time past, the relations between man and wife have been very unhappy, and he had been very jealous of her. Between 10 and 11 o'clock on the Wednesday night. They were it to be quarrelling with one another. At a quarter past six on Thursday morning, the next-door neighbour, Mrs Khenshall heard screams coming from the direction of Smethurst’s house, and she went to the door and knocked. She got no reply and listened It all went quiet. As the deceased man did not go to work in the morning. She became very uneasy, and not hearing anyone knocking about obtained a ladder and put it up to the front bedroom window. Mrs Henshalls sister, a Mrs Ogden, who resides close by, ascended the ladder and looking through the bedroom window, saw the child John lying on the bed and covered with blood. Mrs Ogden, immediately gave information to P.C. Francis at Rhodes, and he went to the house. He ascended a ladder and obtained entrance to the house by way of the bedroom window. He subsequently found Mrs Smethurst lying dead on the bed. He sent for P.S. Sollit, and they examined the body's. Lewis Smethurst was lying on his back on the floor between the beds with nothing on but his shirt. His throat was severed from just under the left ear to just

underneath the right side of the chin. His windpipe was completely severed. His left hand was lying on his left thigh. There was a cut on the knuckles of the fingers of the left hand. The right-hand extended underneath the bed. The razor was found to be opened and underneath his right thigh, covered with blood. And with the letters'. “M.A.N. 551” on the handle. His head was near the wall. His body was cold and death appeared to have taken place some time previously. Eliza Ann Smethurst was on the bed farthest from the window. She lay on her back, and on examining the body he found a deep wound extending from the back of the neck on the right side immediately under the chin, exposing the bone. The arteries were completely severed, and on the left side. He found a large deep wound extending from the left ear, almost to the right ear. The left hand was underneath the left hip. Between the thumb on the left hand was a deep wound, and on the back of the left hand there was a small wound. On the right forearm. There were two severe wounds, about 1 inch long. The body was covered with blood and her sleeping apparel was saturated with blood. Hannah aged six years, was also quite dead. On examining the body found a deep wound about 3 inches long, extending from the back of the left ear to underneath the chin, also a large wound in the front of the throat, about 3 1/2 inches long. On the left side of the chin was a wound about 1 inch long. Death appeared to have taken place some time ago. The body was dressed with a nightdress, which was saturated with blood. On the bed nearest the window, he found John, aged four years.

There was a large jagged wound extending from underneath the right ear to underneath the chin, completely severing the windpipe. The body was dressed in a blue cotton shirt, nightdress, etc, and was quite cold. The bedding and bed clothes of both beds were saturated with blood. The part of the floor of where Smethurst lay was running with blood, and to all appearances a terrible struggle had taken place. Everything points to the fact that a desperate struggle took place between the man and his wife. Before the family settled down to the night. The neighbours say there was a disturbance in the house, but this was so common an occurrence they paid little heed to it. The walls of these cottages are thin, and conversation would probably be loud at the moment. What the man had said was not heard but he had evidently been r reproaching his wife through the jealous mania that was upon him, for a neighbour, Mrs Dawson heard the wife say “im surprised at yo” “I Canna tell what yo’ve getting in thi ead”” before midnight, peace seemed to reign in the small front bedroom, where the Smethurst slept. At 5:45 in the morning screaming took place and a child heard to say “Oh Dadda dunna”. That makes it evident that the man's murderous intent was first directed to his wife, and in the struggle that would ensue. She contracted the wounds on her arms. Probably she would faint, and then the man's bloodthirsty task would be lightened. Next came the turn of the innocent children who were speedied out of this world in the same brutal manner. By his jealous

disposition, Smethurst had brought this awful condition of mind on himself. How morose he had grown was palpable to his workmates who had made remarks thereon. It is said that on going to his work on Wednesday he had grown so absent-minded. He was nearly run over by a tram.

Another account Something about the family Another Guardian reporter writing last night, gives the following account of the tragedy. Such a ghastly tragedy cannot be remembered to have occurred in the district, not by even the oldest inhabitants. Quite a sensation existed in the localities where the News of the horrible murder became circulated. Hundreds of people rushed to the scene, only to find that the rumour was to well founded. The murderers motive is not directly known for committing the crime, but apparently had been overcome by a fit of rage and jealousy, and it seems feasible that he could be capable of committing the tragic deed, while suffering under these symptoms. It's a well-known fact among the neighbours that quarrels had frequently occurred between the parties. On many occasions, they had to interfere with what were considered to be matrimonial differences. These were never expected to assume such a serious aspect as they have, but the crisis came on Thursday morning, ending not only in the murdering of the young wife and her

innocent offsprings, but also the suicide of the murderer. The neighbour Mrs Henshall, who had happened to hear the heart rendering shrieks of the victims, listened at the door, but soon the screens died away. The crime must of been committed then. Everything points to their having been a deadly struggle between the murderer and the wife. The walls were splashed with blood, and the bedclothes and the little wearing apparel l of the dead bodies of the victims was saturated. One police officer described the scene has been more like a butcher's slaughterhouse than anything else. Not noticing the man proceeding to his work, as was usually the case, Mrs Henshall became strangely curious and proceeded to make investigations. Meanwhile, a Mrs Ogden, obtaining a ladder placed this at the front of the house near the bedroom window. Mounting this, she looked into the bedroom, where a ghastly spectacle, met her gaze, she giving vent to a cry of horror she immediately informed P.C . Francis, who proceeded to the scene and effected an entrance by getting up the ladder, and through the bedroom window. There he saw the grim work of the madman. The constable's eyes first fell on the poor little lad John, whose body was lying on the bed, a terrible gash having been inflicted on the throat. It is thought that there little four-year-old lad had been sleeping with his father that night, whilst the mother must have occupied the other bed in company with the little girl. The piteous appeal and cries of anguish of the victims must have been heart rendering as one by one he performed the ghastly tragedy. After carrying out this work of slaughter, he

turned his attention to himself with a razor that had done the work only too well. He gashed his own throat , so vigorously and determinedly that he had expired when found. All the bodies were discovered to be on the bed with the exception of the murderer, who was stretched out on his back on the floor, lying in a pool of blood. The beds in which the victims lay were saturated with blood. The walls were besmittered with the lifeblood of the innocent ones. Indeed so much blood has been lost that the floor was covered with it, and Sergeant Sollit, and P.C .Francis, who examined the bodies, explained that it was exceedingly difficult to prevent themselves from falling consequent on the slippery nature of the bedroom floor, brought about by the blood having found its way all over the place. Hundreds of people have visited the scene of the tragedy from many of the surrounding districts. Much excitement , naturally prevails and plenty of gossiping is to be heard. There is evidence of the determination of the murderer to carry out the fearful deed. Yet frequently been urgent threat in his wife's life, and is previously stated. Jealousy appears to be at the bottom of the grim affair. The deceased woman was industrious, clean, and highly respected by all with whom she was acquainted, she bore an unimpeachable character. In her early life, long before she made the unfortunate acquaintance of her husband, she was connected with the Wesleyan community at Middleton, her heart and soul being centred in religious work. She attended the sacred edifice for many years. In fact, she was scarcely known to

miss an attendance at the the Sunday school or chapel until she married. At this period she, with her husband, took up their abode at the present house at Rhodes. Joining the primitive Methodists, she has frequently attended their place of worship at Rhodes, and on special occasions such as the anniversary services, choir sermons, etc was quite enthusiastic. Her motherly love was very conspicuous, so industrious, was she that she added onto the household duties the self-imposed task of taking in washing that she might add to the family income. She came of a well-known and highly respected family in Middleton, for whom the profoundest sympathy is expressed. She sent her little ones to the Sunday School of the primitive Methodist chapel at Rhodes, regulary. She was the daughter of William Whitehead, Parkfield, Middleton. Louis Smethurst is stated to be an individual possessing an excitable and jealous nature, being inclined to be passionate. His threats to injure his wife were frequent. He was also noticed to be rather peculiar at times, and often is fellow workmen have regarded him with astonishment. On the morning of the day before the murder, it is stated that he was almost knocked down by a tram can, escaping only narrowly consequent on a timely effort on the part of the driver. At Rhodes Works. He was employed as a labourer, and it was not often be absented himself from his employment. Born at Rhodes, in 1873 he received a good education, but he had perforce to seek for work in his early teens, In consequence of his mother having been left a widow 19 years ago. He gained

employment at Messrs Schwabes Rhodes works and had been connected with that well-known firm until this dreadful incident. It was not often that he attended a place of worship, although he at one time, frequented All Saints Church, Rhodes. His acquaintances, states that he was of a genial disposition, and was usually quiet.