The Tootell Murder at Maidstone  26 February 1904

“Indescribable is the feeling of consternation and horror which has overcome the people of Maidstone by the terrible tragedy enacted in their midst during the early hours of wednesday morning. The gloom which has overspread  the town at the close of last year by the sudden death of three of its foremost men has but partially passed away before the inhabitants have been horror stricken by an appalling event, compared with which any previous occurance in the domestic life of the borough pales into insignificance from its distressing effects.” This was the opening paragraph in the Kent & Sussex Courier on 26 February 1904, when reporting the triple murder and suicide that had taken place in the town on 24 February, Mr Charles Tootell, a respected gentleman of the town had  killed his wife and two daughters, and then committed suicide in the River Medway.
“When it first became known that in the town  during the early hours of the day that Mrs Christine Tootell and two of her daughters had been found dead in their house in London Road, lying in bed with their throats cut in a ghastly manner and that Mr Charles Tootell was missing, so incredible did such a horror seem to those who knew the family that they failed to give credence to the report and the illimitable possibilities of tragedy, seemed for a brief period to have been forgotten. They were, however swiftly brought to light in their bare nakedness by the alarming facts which became known in the afternoon.”At the time of the report, no one was able to attribute a motive for the unexpected triple murder and Charles Tootell was one of the last men thought to be capable of such a horrible crime. The report states he was of a genial disposition, shrewd, even-minded, self-possessed gentleman of more than usual ability, happy in his domestic relations. The junior of two brothers and partners in the oldest auctioneers’ firm in Maidstone, his father was Mayor of the borough.  After visiting the County Club, In Week Street on tuesday, he returned to his residence “Harestone”, situated at the corner of Bower Mount Road and London Road. In the evening his sister had dined with the family and Mr Tootell was in good spirits. Nothing during the evening had alarmed the servants and the exact time of the murder was unknown, however three members of the family were attacked, whilst sleeping, as they were found in their night gowns in their beds. The servants alerted Joseph Tootell in the morning, when the family failed to respond to a call to breakfast, and the bedroom doors were forced, discovering the horrific tragedy. As soon as the discovery was made, the whereabouts of Charles Tootell, become of concern. His dressing gown was found hanging behind a door and a blood stained razor was in a pocket. He had put on his clothes over a nightdress and  his overcoat, he had left a letter behind, which led to the dragging of the River Medway.  Irene Tootell, another daughter was a way at boarding school in Folkestone, so escaped the fate of her sisters. There did not seem to be a clear motive for the murders, the Kent and Sussex Courier of 26th February 1904 stated “Mr Tootell, who is 45 years of age, some years since underwent an operation for the removal of a bone in his head and we learn that as recently as Monday last, consulted Dr Strouts as to the condition of his nerves, which he stated were causing him some trouble.” The family had only recently moved into Harestone House and a considerable sum of money had been spent on altering and improving the property.  Harestone House was described as a fine mansion standing in its own grounds, and from it’s windows commanding a fine view of the surrounding  county. He was also under stress at work, having recently undertaken a reassessment of Maidstone for rating purposes for the Maidstone town council.

At the inquest, more details of the murders  were revealed; before the coroner Mr Tatham. The  inquiry was held to establish the cause of death of Mrs Christine Tootell, aged 45 and her two daughters Evelyn aged 20 and Audrey aged 13, who were all found in their beds with their throat cuts and Mr Charles Tootell aged 49, whose body was found in the River Medway. There was a crowded attendance at the Town Hall, with the Chief Constable Mr Mackintosh observing the proceedings on behalf of the police, and Mr Monckton representing  the family. Jospeh Tootell, brother of the deceased, identified the bodies and stated he had last seen his brother alive, on tuesday afternoon, at about half past four. He had shown no signs of ill health, however was not a strong man and had suffered from influenza. He had undertaken an operation for an abscess in his ear and a portion of bone had been removed, some years before. He had not shown any signs of weakness of intellect, but was irritable. The witness,  said he had been informed by the gardener at his brother’s house, that an incident had occurred at the house and he was told that the servants were unable to awaken their Master and Mistress, and he was asked to go to the house. He had entered Mrs Tootell’s bedroom, and found her deceased. The police and Doctor Gibb were summoned and it was subsequently found that the two daughters were also dead. Police Constable Hodges of the Maidstone Borough Force, stated he was called to the house and on entering the bedroom of Mrs Tootell, had found her lying on the bed, dead, with a large wound to her throat. The bed clothing appeared to have been thrown over her after death. No weapon was found in the room. In an adjoining room, he saw the body of Evelyn Tootell, and in another on the same floor, was Audrey Tootell. He made a search of the house and found a razor in the pocket of a dressing gown, belonging to Charles Tootell. His bed appeared to have been slept in. Inspector Waghorn gave evidence as to finding four razors, one of which was broken and bloodstained. A broken piece of razor was found in the throat of Audrey Tootell.  In each room, there was evidence of someone having washed their hands and the towels were blood stained. The condition of the rooms, in which the two daughters were found, indicated a struggle had taken place. In a room downstairs, a pair of blood stained slippers were found and a letter addressed to the sister of Charles Tootell, Letitia Tootell was found.  The letter stated “My dear Let, I have made a terrible mistake and I cannot face it. Forgive me. All I have is yours. Take care of my dear Irene. Get her away and try to forgive me. Let Bill (another brother in London) see to things. My mind is gone. I do not know what will happen.”

Ada Relf, a servant stated that on the tuesday evening, the family were all together and she had retired to bed at ten o’clock. With the exception of the two daughters, the family had not retired to bed until later. She had not heard any quarrelling or any disturbance, during the night. In the morning, it was the custom for her to take tea to Mr Tootell, at seven o’clock. She had knocked at his door and placed the tea tray on the mat outside. She later found the tea, had not been taken in and was informed by another servant, that neither Mr or Mrs Tootell were awake. She went to Evelyn’s room and found the room disarranged and Evelyn lying on the bed. She informed the gardener and he returned to the house with her. The gardener had entered the bedroom, and quickly left, stating “I must go for help”.  Joseph Tootell, Letitia Tootell, the police and Dr Gibb were summoned. The gardener Eiwen Haisman stated he had entered Mrs Tootell’s bedroom and saw blood on the pillow and felt a body under the coverlet. He had informed Joseph and Letitia Tootell and then fetched the police and doctor.

Dr Gibb stated that on arrival at the house, he found Mrs Tootell in bed with a blood clot on the side and wound in her throat, the wound, in his opinion having been inflicted by a razor. Death in his opinion had occurred five hours, prior to him examining the body.  Mrs Tootell’s hands were clasped and blood stained and there was no evidence of a struggle. The wound was a terrible injury and would have resulted in almost instantaneous death. He described finding the bodies of the daughters, Evelyn’s hand was jammed between the bars of the bed and her throat cut, from ear to ear, severed to the vertebrae, the wound inflicted with great force, Audrey’s throat was cut in a similar manner and there was evidence of a great deal of struggling, in both cases. Evidence was given in the case of Charles Tootell.  Joseph Tootell identified his brother’s body, whom he had last seen on the tuesday afternoon, he stated Charles had no business worries, and had just completed a valuation of the parish and but had complained of overwork. His books were straight and he was not in any financial difficulty and his relationship with his wife was satisfactory.  Police Constable Westfield, said he found a fully loaded six chambered revolver  in on of the pockets of Mr Tootell’s clothing, after his body was recovered from the river Medway. He had no collar on and was wearing patent leather slippers.  Dr Strouts stated Mr Tootell had complained of sleeplessness and appeared to be worrying himself, somewhat. He gave no indication of having any fear of any serious trouble. Dr Johnson, who examined the body, said the death was the result of suffocation and he had made an examination of the ears, and found no sign of disease or anything affecting the brain to cause derangement.  Dr Gibb said in his opinion, Mr Tootell was in a subconscious state when he committed the act, but then recovered and having recalled what he had done,  written the letter and then committed  suicide.

The Coroner, in summing up, commented on the sad nature of the case, and the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Charles Tootell in the case of his wife and two daughters and found that he had committed suicide, whilst temporarily insane.

On the day of the funeral, snow was falling as four hearses conveyed the bodies from Harestone House, direct to the Maidstone cemetery. The streets were thronged with mourners and at the cemetery gates, the officers of the Borough police guarded the entrance, the public being excluded from the cemetery. Charles Tootell and his wife Christine were laid to rest in one grave, whilst the daughters were laid side by side, in another grave. Each coffin was of polished oak with brass furniture, each with inscriptions of their names and date of death. The mourners were Joseph Tootell, Rev J Tootell, Percy Tootell, William Tootell (brothers of the deceased, Mr George Haynes (brother in law of Mrs Tootell), George and B.W. Haynes (nephews of Mrs Tootell) Mr T Green (business partner), Walter and Herbert Secretan (brothers of Mrs Tootell) Members of the Trustees of the Poor, together with the Clerk, were also present at the graveside. There were many floral tributes and amongst them a cross from the last remaining daughter Irene, which bore the inscription “In loving memory of my Darling Mother, Father, Evelyn and little Johnny (the family’s pet name for Audrey Tootell).”

The surviving daughter Irene was living with her aunt Letitia Tootell in Ramsgate in 1911, the family living on ‘private means’.  Charles Tootell’s  estate of £9041 4s 1d was left to his brother Joseph Tootell and his wife Christine’s estate of £735, 1s 8d was also left to Joseph Tootell, so he may have been the source of income for the ‘private means’  of Letitia and his niece Irene. In 1916,  Irene married Julius Tindall Pynn at Christ Church, Hougham. Julius Tindall Pynn, was the son of Montagu Charles Lamb Pynn.

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