[PB, January 2015: This transcript has not been checked closely against the original. The original can be viewed here. George Garnham's entry can be viewed here.]
Profound sensation and deep regret were caused in Warwick and Leamington on Wednesday, when it became known that the honourable career of Mr. George Garnham, the retiring master of Warwick Workhouse, had ended under circumstances of an exceedingly painful and tragic nature. For nearly thirty-five years Mr. and Mrs. Garnham have been master and matron at the Union, and it is only a short time since their resignation was tendered to, and with regret accepted by, the Board of Guardians; in fact it was upon the actual day of their departure from the Workhouse that Mr. Garnham's body was found in the Warwick and Napton Canal, which runs close by.
Mr. Garnham had been unwell of late, and this, together with his wife's illness (which was the cause of their resignation), and the fact his long connection with the Workhouse ceasing, appears to have preyed upon his mind. It supposed, too, that recent statements concerning the condition of the Infirmary were wrongly regarded by him as in some way reflecting upon himself, though it is certain that such an interpretation was never intended to be put upon the remarks made, lord Mr. Garnham was considered to be a model master, and the Poor Law inspectors entertained high opinion of his administrative ability.
Mr. and Mrs. Garnham were retiring with well-earned pension of £175 year, besides which the former had private means. Wednesday morning Mr. Garnham passed by the Workhouse lodge, and was seen by his clerk to go in the direction of the Infirmary. Later on the discovery of his hat near the canal led to the finding of his body in the water, and on its recovery life was found to be extinct.
The inquest was held in the Board Room of the Workhouse on Thursday morning, before the Warwick Borough Coroner (Mr. John Tibbits). Mr. F. Home was foreman of the jury. Alderman S. W. Stanton, the Chairman of the Board of Guardians, and one or two members of that body, as well the Clerk (Mr. C. H. Passman), were present.
The Coroner, after the swearing in of the jury, referred to the Bad circumstances under which they had met. Their purpose was to inquire into the death of Mr. George Garnham, a very esteemed townsman, and the much valued master of that institution. By a strange coincidence his term of office expired on the previous day, and the jury would see later from the evidence whether that had in any way influenced him in the rash act which he afterwards committed. Coroner added that he was sure the jury #would like him to express their very sincere sympathy with Mrs. Garnham and her family in their sad bereavement.
J. W. Stephens, relieving officer for the Warwick district, identified the body that of the late master of the Workhouse. He was years of age. Witness was in the deceased's company from 9-35 to 104 on Tuesday evening. They were in the master's room of the Workhouse. Deceased appeared to be more cheerful that night than he was when witness saw him on the previous Sunday evening. He was then at witness's house for about half an hour, and complained of his health, telling witness that felt very depressed, and that he could not sleep at night. He told witness, on Tuesday night, that he would not like to undergo another month had already undergone. He said he had been greatly worried during that time, but mentioned specific cause of worry.
Witness knew, however, that his wife was ill, and that had son in the South African War. Deceased said he hoped Ladysmith (where his son was) would be relieved as soon a possible. There had been considerable amount of extra work for him in connection with the transfer of the mastership, and deceased had also been removing his furniture. Deceased gave witness no idea that he had any suicidal intention.
Herbert Bevan, master's clerk at the Union, said that on Wednesday morning he saw Mr. Garnham at ten minutes seven. Witness was in the lodge, and deceased, who was passing by, asked him what sort of night he had had. Deceased then passed across the road towards the Infirmary. He was depressed, but not more than he had been of late. Witness did not see him again. Thomas White, employed by Mr. John Cashmore, and living at 17a, Pickard Street, Warwick, said was in the fields by the canal on the previous morning. About twenty minutes past seven saw a hat on the ground near the railings by the canal. He got on to the rail, and looking up the canal saw object in the' water about twenty yards away. He went up the lane, and saw that it was man, lying motionless and face downwards the water. There was one else about, and witness ran for the police. He met nurse in the lane, and told her there was a body in the canal. Witness was present when the body was removed from the water, and assisted getting it out.
By juror: A boat went by, and witness asked the man in it to lend him his shaft. The boatman, however, would not render any assistance, but told witness to go for the police.
James Creelman, tramp master at the Workhouse, said that about eight o'clock on Wednesday morning heard that a body had been taken from the canal. At nine o'clock witness went to the canal, and saw the deceased's body in the middle of the water. He assisted in recovering it, and removing it to the mortuary. Witness had seen good deal of Mr. Garnham lately, and had noticed that he had been very depressed. On the evening before his death, witness had a conversation with him. He seemed to feel very much the severance of his connection with the Workhouse, after being there for so many years.
P.S. Hollyoak said that on the previous morning received information that somebody was drowned. He went to the canal, reaching the spot at nine o'clock. He found that the body had been recovered from the water, and was lying on the bank. It was fully dressed, and was lying about twenty yards from the hedge of field on the right hand side of the lane. With assistance witness removed the body to the mortuary, and searched it, but found nothing which threw light von the case. There were some private letters and four pence in the pockets. He afterwards visited the deceased's office, and there found that his drawer was unlocked, with the key in it, which he was informed was very unusual. In the drawer were deceased's purse and watch, and the keys of the Workhouse. There was letter in the drawer.
By a juror: There were many footmarks on the canal bank that it was impossible to trace deceased's steps. The bank was steep, and in muddy condition.
Mr. Charles Herbert Passman, Clerk to the Warwick Board of Guardians, stated that he was wife Mr. for two hours on Tuesday morning, obtaining particulars for the half year's estimate expenditure. He also came over to get same information with the training of children in the Workshouse, before deceased the day, when his term of office expired. Witness noticed that seemed very depressed leaving, but he referred frequently, with considerable pride, the success which children had attained after leaving the Workhouse. The deep interest that took in the institution was particularly noticeable.
Afterwards a presentation was made to Mr. and Mrs. Garnham on behalf of the officers, and deceased and witness went down stairs. Just before witness left, Mr. Garnham said to him: "You have no idea what a wrench it is leaving here. I can't sleep at night thinking about it. Mr. Passman, I'm leaving home. Witness left a few minutes after one o'clock. Deceased had on previous occasions complained of inability to sleep at night, but particularly so of late, and also of being generally out of sorts.
By a juror: The matron resigned on account of ill-health. It was joint appointment, and the resignation of the matron vacated both offices.
By the Coroner: Mr. Garnham was appointed master of the Workhouse on October 7th, 1865. He was held in very great esteem by the Guardians.
Mr. Roger Bullock, Medical Officer of the Union, said had recently attended Mr. Garnham, who for the past fortnight had been suffering from stomach derangment and liver complaint, with insomnia. Witness had before attended him when was in a similar condition, to which was very much liable. During an illness of that nature he generally also suffered from irregular action of the heart. The insomnia would contribute depression, and deceased was depressed in consequence the change mastership. Witness had also been attending his wife, who was ill. Deceased worried about his wife's illness. He had often talked to witness about his son in Ladysmith, but did not give witness the impression that it was preying on his mind very much. Deceased said his son was a soldier, and must take his chance.
Witness produced Mr. Garnham's diary, which was handed to him that morning. It contained the following entries: Monday, 19th February. Feeling very bad for want of sleep"; Tuesday, 20th, Dr. Bullock sent me medicine"; Thursday, 22nd, "In town this evening: got sleeping draught from Holliday's"; Friday, 23rd, Slightly better night and better to-day"; Sunday, 25th. " Spent miserable day: head very bad." That was the last entry.
Witness had seen the body. There were no marks upon it, or indications of severe death struggle. The Coroner, in summing up, said there could be no doubt that deceased was extremely depressed at the prospect of leaving the Union, which he looked upon, from his long connection with it, as more or less his home. He the jury would have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that deceased made away with himself while his mind was unhinged, to produce which condition a great many circumstances tended.
The jury retired to consider their verdict, on returning into the Board Room the foreman announced that they found that deceased committed suicide by drowning whilst temporarily insane. The foreman added that the jury considered the boatman was much to blame in not assisting White to recover the body. If he might be allowed, on behalf of the jury, he would say that they felt it very painful duty, as no doubt it had been the Coroner, to hold an inquest on one who had been highly esteemed by all who had had any connection, official or otherwise, with him, and who, he believed, was loved by the poor of whom he had had charge for so many years. The Coroner expressed his sympathy with the foreman's remarks, saying that it had been a most painful duty to hold that inquest.
Alderman Stanton said that Chairman of the Board of Guardians, and having held that office for thirteen years, he had been in constant communication with the late master and matron, and he thought it was his duty on that painful occasion to state that better, more honourable and upright officer had never filled public situation, and in saying that he was quite sure he was expressing the feeling every member of the Board of Guardians. He wished most emphatically to emphasise what had already been brought out in evidence, namely that the resignation of Mr. and Mrs. Garnham was received by the Board with the deepest regret.
The Board deeply sympathised with the cause of their resignation - Mrs. Garnham's ill-health.
Two years before she resigned, it was intimated to her physician, whom she consulted, that if she studied her health it would be necessary for her give her situation, but her devotion to duty was great that she adhered to her office for another two years, until it was imperative that she should resign, and, as explained by the Clerk to the Guardians, the resignation of the matron necessitated the resignation of the master. He might state that such was the esteem which the Guardians had for Mr. and Mrs. Garnham, who had served them so faithfully for third of century, that many members of the Board came to him to ask it would not be possible for daughter of Mrs. Garnham take her place, that they might retain his services for a few years longer.
He thought it was due to their memory that he, as the Chairman of the Board, should make these observations, and what he said when the resignation was received he now repeated, viz., that he did not believe any Board of Guardians in England had officers who had served them more faithfully, more honestly, and more conscientiously than Mr. and Mrs. Garnham had served the Warwick Board of Guardians. The following Saturday at the Board meeting, a resolution, drawn up some time ago, would have been moved expressing the gratitude of the Board to Mr. and Mrs. Garnham for their past excellent and devoted services.
A juror expressed his pleasure that the Chairman of the Board (Alderman Stanton) was present, and had made that statement. He hoped it would be published in full, because he heard one or two very slanderous remarks made about his friend Mr. Garnham on the previous night.
Lieutenant-Colonel Garnham (brother the deceased) referring to statements made in the course of the evidence, said that Mr. Garnham, old soldier, who had been through the Crimean War from its beginning to its end, would not feel depressed at having son Ladysmith, fighting for the honour of the Queen and country, but rather the very opposite. had no hesitation in saying that if the deceased had had twenty sons would have felt the highest possible pride they were all performing the same noble service.
Mr. Garnham was an old soldier and a Balaclava hero. He came fighting family, and, when a smart, well-built fellow of eighteen, joined the Light Dragoons - now known the 13th Hussars. After serving for some time with the Regiment at home, accompanied it to Bessarabia, where a column was sent to assist the Turks against the Russians. it being thought that the Russians would attempt to enter Turkey through that province. The column afterwards re-embarked for the Crimea, and young Garnham subsequently took part the battles Alma and Balaclava.
He was one of the gallant six hundred who made the memorable charge of the Light Brigade, and marvellously escaped unwounded, though his horse was shot under him. Half-starved, he continued to serve through the terrible winter of 1854, and had the proud distinction of receiving the four clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, as well the Turkish medal.
At the termination of hostilities he returned home with his Regiment, meeting at Gibraltar his brother (now Lieutenant-Colonel Garnham), who was serving in the Royal Artillery.
By that time he had recovered from the effects of want of food in the Crimea, and, to use his brother's words, looked wonderfully well. The Regiment landed Cork, where the damp climate, and the sudden change, following upon exposure in the Crimea, brought on such an attack of rheumatism that he became perfectly paralysed, and had to be fed. Receiving a few months' furlough, he went to stay with his father and mother near Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk, of which county he was native, being born Wickham Market. was then so serious condition that had to be attended like a child. After a time he obtained admission to the Bury St. Edmunds Hospital, and when he had been treated there for month or two was able to get about on crutches, eventually quite recovering - this notwithstanding the fact that he had been invalided out of the Army incurable.
Having regained health and strength, Mr. Garnham entered the employ the Great Eastern Railway Company at Norwich, and after remaining there for a short time went into the convict service as a warder at Dartmoor. was about this time that he met the young schoolmistress who afterwards became his wife. Leaving Dartmoor he was appointed Workhouse Master at Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, from which place he at length removed to take up the appointment which he has for long held Warwick.
Besides his widow, Mr. Garnham leaves three sons and three daughters. The sons are: Mr. Hamilton Garnham, chief of the Epileptic Asylum at Liverpool; Mr. William Garnham, Sergeant in the 5th Dragoon Guards, who has been taking part in the defence of Ladysmith, and who went to South Africa from India, where he took part in the Tirah Campaign; and Mr. Ronald Garnham, a Reservist of the 1st Dragoons, which Regiment he has just rejoined in Dublin.
Two his three daughters are married. Adeline Grace, one of the wedded daughters, is B.A. of London University, and until her health gave way, intended trying for yet higher honours. She has held several scholastic appointments, and was one time mistress of the High School at Beaumaris, in Wales.
The grandfather of the late Mr. Garnham was soldier, and was at the siege of Malta, where he lies buried. His father, though not in the Regular Army, was Volunteer, and one of his brothers, Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Garnham, late R.A., of whom mention has already been made, has seen no less than 37 years' service, obtaining his commission from the ranks. He had two step-brothers, one of whom, sergeant the 80th Regiment, is dead. The other, who joined the 68th Regiment (the present Durham Light Infantry) went through the New Zealand War and the Crimea. A nephew (ion of Lieutenant-Colonel Garnham) was also a soldier, and died in the service.
[Source: Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 03 March 1900. The original can be viewed here. George Garnham's entry can be viewed here.]