Alice Thompson and Her Husband Charles Salway Thompson, Gardener - Attempted Suicide of Thier Son William Charles Thompson

Monument to Alice Thompson and Charles Salway Thompson, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Alice beloved wife of Charles. S. Thompson died Decr 6th 1918 aged 57 years - God is our refuge.

Also Charles Salway her beloved husband died Feb 5th 1945 aged 88 years - at rest"

Alice Thompson was born Alice Pearce in the February 1861 in Bright Waltham, Berkshire to Charles Pearce, a carter, and his wife Amy Collins. 

Alice first appears on the 1861 Census aged just 1 month, living with her parents and maternal grandparents David and Sarah Collins at Bright Waltham Green.  In 1871 ten-year-old Alice is still living with her grandparents David and Sarah at Bright Waltham Green, however Alice's parents and her younger siblings had moved to Scarlett's Lane in Wargrave.  It's possible that Alice stayed behind with her grandparents to continue her education.

In 1881 Alice is in service as a housemaid for Richard S. H. Jones, a barrister, and his wife Florence at Woodlands, Binfield, Berkshire.  That same year Alice married Charles Thompson.

Charles Salway Thompson was born on 10 January 1857 in Little Dunham, Norfolk to Robert Thompson, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Ann Harpur, a charwoman (house cleaner).    Charles first appears on the 1861 Census, aged 4, living with his parents and siblings at 4 Muffetts Lane, Little Dunham, Norfolk. Chares's father Robert was to pass away in 1870. In 1871 Charles is living with his widowed mother and five siblings in Little Dunhan, Norfolk.  Charles's occupation is listed as a gardener's boy. 

In 1881 24-year-old Charles in lodging in the home of Thomas and Martha Crockford at Bear Hill, Wargrave, Berkshire.  Charles has progressed from gardener's boy to domestic gardener.

1891 finds Charles and Alice living in Gardener's House, part of the North Farm estate in Breamore, Hampshire, along with their four children, Archibald R, William Charles, Theodore V, and Elsie M.  1901 and the family has moved to 68 Powney Road, Maidenhead Berkshire, where Charles is a jobbing gardener, and his sons Archibald and William are under gardeners, and Theodore is a garden boy.

In 1906 Charles's second son William Charles was charged with attempting to murder himself. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on 3rd October 1906:

"PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Wm. Charles Thompson, a young man of respectable appearance, was brought up charged with having attempted to kill and murder himself. 

The Magistrates' Clerk informed the Bench that they had a case of attempted suicide before them a short time since, when the magistrates took a lenient view of the case and allowed the prisoner to go away with his friends. Now that they had another case before them, he should, if the case was established, on behalf of the police ask them to commit the prisoner for trial. 

Charles Salway Thompson, residing at 68, Powney-road, a jobbing-gardener, said the prisoner was his second son and was 22 years of age. Prisoner lived at home with him and was a gardener. On the 11th September prisoner was at home. Witness got up at twenty minutes past 6 o'clock, and prisoner got up at about half-past six. His son sat down and put on his boots and then went into the scullery as though going to wash. He came back to the kitchen as if going for warm water, as he was in the habit of doing and then turned back and went outside to the w.c. Witness twice heard a tapping on the wall, and the second time he went out to the w.c. he found his son on the seat with his head bent over his knees. Prisoner said to him " I've done it now, Dad." He could not see what prisoner had done at first, but when he raised his head witness saw blood coming from his throat. There was blood on the floor and his son said " Clear this away before mother sees it." He called his eldest son and sent him for a doctor. He supported his son until the doctor came. Prisoner said nothing more. He had noticed nothing about his son to cause any anxiety. He had been depressed at times, but had been better lately. 

By the Bench : His son suffered from epileptic fits; he had one a few days before this occurred and had had several since. He was in a regular place at " Lawnfield." He had been attended by Dr. Edge and Dr. Plumbe for these fits. His son had been at work at" Lawnfield" for five years. 

The Magistrates' Clerk : Had he told you anything about having bad notice to leave? --No; he had no worry at all at his place. Dr. John Armstrong Hartley. acting as locum tenens for Dr. Plumbe, said that on Sept. 11 he was called to see the prisoner at about 7.10 a.m. He found him sitting on the seat of the w.c. at the rear of 68 Powney-road. He was suffering from a severe wound in the throat and loss of blood. The deep wound was about three inches long, and there were some lighter wounds, principally at the right hand side. The deep wound was such as might have been caused by a knife such as the one produced (a gardener's knife). It was a dangerous wound, principally from haemorrhage. Prisoner had lost a good deal of blood. He could scarcely speak when he (witness) first saw him. Prisoner was now out of danger. 

By Mr. Simpson: Neither of the main arteries was divided.

The Magistrates' Clerk Is the prisoner of a sane mind? 

Witness: Yes, he is now but he is not when suffering from the fits. I do not know whether he was in a fit at the time he cut his throat. 

Answering the Mayor, Dr. Hartley said he could not say whether prisoner would be likely to commit such an act when in one of the fits. He could not say whether he was conscious or not at such times. The fits he suffered from were a minor form of epilepsy. 

P.C. Walker said that on the 11th of September, at 7.15 a.m., he received information that a man had cut his throat at 68, Powney-road. He went there and saw the prisoner in the kitchen, being attended to by the last witness. After the wound was dressed be assisted prisoner to his bedroom. He then searched the w.c., and found the knife produced in a pool of blood. He bad kept observation on the prisoner every night since. Prisoner bad made no statement to him, and he brought him to the station that morning and charged him with attempting to commit suicide. 

By the Bench: Prisoner had been in his father's house since the occurrence. He had been up a day or two lately, when he was kept under observation by another policeman. Prisoner had had fits while he had been watching him. He had two during last night—one at 2 a.m. and another at 7a.m. Prisoner did not know what he was doing whilst in the fits, which lasted two or three minutes, and he seemed in great pain at these times. Prisoner was cautioned and charged in the usual way, but had nothing to say. The magistrates having consulted, the Mayor told prisoner that the Bench were of opinion that he should be committed for trial to the Quarter Sessions to be held at Reading on 15th October. If he were taken to Reading he would, no doubt, be placed in the infirmary, and proper care would be taken of him and supervision exercised over him. The Bench, however, would like him to say that if the father of prisoner was prepared to take care of him and to present him to the Quarter Sessions, they would be prepared to let him out on bail. His father would see that it was of the utmost importance that prisoner should be taken proper care of. Prisoner's father undertook to take care of his son, and on this undertaking he was liberated on bail —himself in £20 and his father in a like sum. Towards the close of the hearing prisoner had a seizure in the dock, and Dr. Hartley had to be called to him."

William later pleaded guilty to attempted suicide. His father promised to look after him and send him to hospital in London.

On 1911 Census, William can be found living with his parents and elder brother Archibald, at 68 Powney Road, Maidenhead. William was to pass away that same year on September 9th, but I have been unable to find any report into his death. He is buried in All Saint's Churchyard, Boyn Hill, Maidenhead.

Sadly, Alice was to pass away on 6th December 1918.  

On the 1939 England and Wales Register Charles can be found living with his daughter Elsie, who is listed as incapacitated, at 14 Havelock Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Charles was to pass away 5th February 1945.