Tragedy of Jealousy: The Shooting on the London Road: Inquest on Pinsent: Contemplated Murder and Suicide: Extraordinary Letter: The inquest on Horace Pinsent, the young man who on Wednesday night shot at his sweetheart, Ada Smith, and, on a young man named Hytch going to her assistance, also shot him in the neck, and afterwards committed suicide, was held at the Town Hall on Friday evening.
The Coroner’s Statement: The coroner (Mr. E. G. B. Fowler), in opening the inquiry, said: The deceased is Horace Pinsent, 19 years of age, a pattern-maker’s apprentice, who lived at 66, Burley’s-lane, Leicester. He had been keeping company with a girl of the name of Ada Smith, for the past six months. It appears he had become very jealous of her; probably there may have been some ground for his jealousy. On Tuesday evening he had some words with her, and then said something about shooting himself and her too. On Wednesday he also had some further words with her, and again he said that he should shoot himself, and that he should do her in as well. In spite of that, about 7.35 on Wednesday night, the girl went to his house for him, and they went out together. They first went to the Magazine Hotel, and from there they walked up the London-road to the tram terminus. At the tram terminus they turned back in the direction of Leicester. After walking for a few minutes, the deceased put his arm round the girl’s neck, and then drew a revolver from inside his waistcoat, and pointing it at the girl, fired at her. Fortunately, the shot only grazed her face, and went through the brim of her hat. She ran away at once towards a man who was on a bicycle. Then the deceased fired again, and the man on the bicycle was hit, and fell to the ground. The deceased then seems to have fired two more shots at random rather, and then to have gone off in the direction of the town. After going some distance, and reaching somewhere about Toller Road, he appears to have turned the revolver on himself, and to have used the remaining shot in taking his own life. He must apparently have put the revolver into his mouth and killed himself at once. On him was found a letter, and a letter written by him was found in his chest at the place of business where he worked. These letters show that the deceased deliberately contemplated taking his own life and that of the girl. With regard to Mr. Hytch, he was most unfortunate to have been shot in this way. He had nothing whatever to do with the parties, but simply stopped because he heard a shot fired. The coroner added that he was glad to say Mr. Hytch was going on very well, and hoped he would recover from this injury: Evidence was then called: … Dr. J. W. Patrick … … The next witness was the deceased’s father John Arthur Pinsent, a licensed victualler, of 66 Burley’s Lane, who said his son had been keeping company with Ada Smith during the past six months. They had had a few tiffs occasionally, but more just lately. On Wednesday, about 7.50 p.m., his son received some money from him in order to purchase an insurance stamp, and he then went out with Ada Smith. The coroner: Was he in good health and spirits? Witness: He came to me in a very sly way. He was always so bold, but this time it was different. I did not think much about it at the time, but now I can see that he was not absolutely himself. Continuing, the witness said he was informed of his son’s death at about 11 p.m. on Wednesday. The revolver produced was the witness’s property. He had had it for between 14 and 15 years, and it was kept in an unlocked drawer in his bedroom. His son was practically a teetotaller. The coroner: Did you object to his keeping company with this girl? Witness: Strongly: You thought the girl was not straight? Yes Sir: No other reason? I did not think she was a fit company for my lad. The Chief Constable: Although you objected to her, you allowed her to come to your house regularly? Witness: Yes, I knew he took the girl out, but thought he would give her up. I thought he would give her a good hiding and that would be the end of it. He never went after her; she came after him. By a Juror: Deceased had said to him “Look here, dad, you hear these things about her, and you cannot get anyone to prove them.” In answer to further questions, the witness said: “I know he was falling out with her. I thought he would thrash her. I never thought that anything like this would happen.” Letter found on Deceased: the coroner handed to witness a couple of letters which he identified as being in his son’s handwriting. The coroner: This letter was found on the deceased, and it is addressed to “My Parents” It says: “April 1913: this is to wish everybody goodbye! Hope this letter is read, that it will be a lesson to young people to be careful how they get courting, as I was taken in. Ada and I have been together six months now, and I thought that she was true to me, but I found out just lately that she told me some of the biggest lies she would think of. I helped her out of many difficulties. Anybody that knows me well, and knows any harm about me, please let them give their report to the police. Ada used to say that if I fell out with her that she would see that nobody else would have me, so I have taken the same pattern. When I left her on Thursday night, she told me that if I fell out with her, she would go the wrong road, which I think is the best for us both to part together. I hope nobody will trouble me. The money that I have I want Ernest’s children to have between them, as I love them. Do not mention my name no more than possible. Forget me as soon as you can. Dad told me it would end like this if I was not careful. I do not think I can say any more now, as I should want a little book: With love to all and sorry to upset anyone. Signed, Horace Pinsent, 66 Burley’s Lane: My sister had just told me ‘I shall be sorry I did not show anybody this’. She did not know that it contained this news:” The following letter was found in a box at the place where deceased worked: “Dear Tom Gamble, If I happen to do the thing I have on my mind, will be kind enough to pack all my tools up and send them to my father; also, the box and tools at your house.” Ada Smith’ Story: Ada Smith, a printer’s bronzer, of 155 Bedford Street, said she had known the deceased since November of last year, and since then she had been keeping company with him. They had always been on the best of terms until just lately. The coroner: What has altered it just lately? Witness: I only said to him, “My position is not as good as yours; why don’t you get someone else?”. Proceeding, the witness stated that on Tuesday she told the deceased that her position was not as good as his, and he replied that if he did not have her neither would anyone else – “I will shoot you as well as myself,” he added. The coroner: Why did you say you were not in a position like he was? Witness: Because I could not find the clothes to match him. “We shook hands and parted quite friendly,” added the witness. She saw him again about 12.50 p.m. the next day (Wednesday) in Bedford Street. He then told her that he had not slept all night and that he had procured his father’s revolver and had pointed it at himself. He said that he intended shooting himself during the night, but that he changed his mind, adding, “I will shoot you and then myself.” The coroner: What did you say to that? Witness: I said, “Don’t talk silly! Think about your friends, what will they say?” He said, “It doesn’t not matter about them so long as I know where you are,” He asked me to see him at 7.30 and I said, “No, if you talk like that I daren’t.” He said he was not going to work that afternoon. I told him not to be silly, and he said: “Will you come then? If you don’t come it will be the worse for you.” Witness’s Narrow Escape: Witness agreed to see him that evening, and she went to his home around 7.30. Afterwards, they went to the Magazine Hotel, in order to pay some club money. They each had a port wine. Afterwards, they walked to the London Road tram terminus and when they arrived there, the deceased wanted them to proceed. She refused, however, and they turned back. A few minutes later the deceased turned pale and commenced biting his lips. She said, “What’s your game?” and the deceased put his hand in his waistcoat and pulled something out. She ran away, but he caught her up. And put his arm around her neck. A shot was then fired. Witness ran to a man who was passing along the London Road on a bicycle and said: “Please help me; my young man is going to shoot me!” Other shots were fired, and the man with the bicycle fell to the ground. Witness ran to a motor car, and afterwards she was taken into a house nearby. Later she went to the Police Station. “Was your hat hit by the bullet?” asked the coroner: Witness: Yes: Is that the hat you are wearing? – Yes: Inspector Sturgess pointed out the hole in the brim of the hat. The coroner: You say he was very fond of you? Witness: He always said he was. And I think he has given you presents of clothing and other things: Yes Sir, He was jealous of you? Yes: Asked why the deceased was jealous, the witness said that on Monday she went to the Eight Bells in Bedford Street, and he there saw a man talking to her. She would not have gone to the public house had there been anyone at home when she went for her dinner. She went to the Eight Bells to find the women, who she expected would be at home. Deceased had not found her in the Eight Bells previously. He had not complained to her that she had been going with other young men. She had not been walking out with other young men since she knew the deceased. Before she went out with him, she had walked out with another young man, but not since. That young man did not give her up; she gave him up. She had not seen the man before who spoke to her in the Eight Bells. The coroner: Was he standing you a drink? No Sir, the woman I was lodging with:
The Alleged Threats: … … (continues) … …
The Verdict: The coroner, in reviewing the evidence, said it clearly established the fact that the deceased not only took his own life, but attempted to take the life of the girl Smith. The letters found on him proved that he went out with the deliberate intention of killing Smith and himself. The only reason that could be assigned for the deceased’s conduct was jealousy. Whatever grounds he had for this, he was not, of course, justified in taking his own life and attempting to take the life of the girl. If the jury were satisfied that the deceased was of sound mind, then they would return a verdict of felo de se. The jury found that the deceased killed himself, but that there was not sufficient evidence to show the state of his mind.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0431 Tiverton: Horace Pinsent: 1893 – 1913