Death of the Sudell Sisters
A Personal View
David Ibberson puts the subject into perspective
July 2014
Illustration left courtesy Mike Lyons
shows Box Church in about 1790 and, to the right,
the vicarage allegedly burnt down
Introduction
I was first introduced to the story outlining the deaths of the Sudell sisters in the nineteen-eighties by the then Vicar of Box, the Rev Tom Selwyn Smith. He showed me an article from the Bath Evening Chronicle to which he had made some contribution. The article's author seemed unconvinced as to the cause of death but did, if my memory serves me well, state that samples from the ladies' stomachs were sent, by train, to London for forensic analysis.
And so it was, in my mind, a mystery unfolding which I recorded in the book Vicars of Thomas a Becket. At the time we had no ready access to the internet and relied heavily on information presented by others. John Suddell's thorough research confirms some aspects I was already aware of, significantly adds to my knowledge in others and highlights areas I had not previously addressed (descendents of Dr and Mrs Horlock) and for that I am extremely grateful. However, he has unwittingly made me revisit the mystery and perhaps change my views.
I was first introduced to the story outlining the deaths of the Sudell sisters in the nineteen-eighties by the then Vicar of Box, the Rev Tom Selwyn Smith. He showed me an article from the Bath Evening Chronicle to which he had made some contribution. The article's author seemed unconvinced as to the cause of death but did, if my memory serves me well, state that samples from the ladies' stomachs were sent, by train, to London for forensic analysis.
And so it was, in my mind, a mystery unfolding which I recorded in the book Vicars of Thomas a Becket. At the time we had no ready access to the internet and relied heavily on information presented by others. John Suddell's thorough research confirms some aspects I was already aware of, significantly adds to my knowledge in others and highlights areas I had not previously addressed (descendents of Dr and Mrs Horlock) and for that I am extremely grateful. However, he has unwittingly made me revisit the mystery and perhaps change my views.
Something to Talk About
The sudden death of people in mysterious circumstances inevitably leads us to speculate as to the cause. If we conclude, as we often do, this was murder most foul we must now seek out motives and means. Even if none exist, our minds attempt to create them. When there is a big social divide between the unfortunate victims and the local population, then a mysterious death is likely to become even more sinister. The deaths of Elizabeth and Alice perhaps illustrate this.
The conversations in The Bear and other ale houses must have been dominated by the deaths and given rise to much speculation. Evidence presented at the inquest turned what might have been a straightforward case of food poisoning into something far more sinister adding more material on which to speculate.
The sudden death of people in mysterious circumstances inevitably leads us to speculate as to the cause. If we conclude, as we often do, this was murder most foul we must now seek out motives and means. Even if none exist, our minds attempt to create them. When there is a big social divide between the unfortunate victims and the local population, then a mysterious death is likely to become even more sinister. The deaths of Elizabeth and Alice perhaps illustrate this.
The conversations in The Bear and other ale houses must have been dominated by the deaths and given rise to much speculation. Evidence presented at the inquest turned what might have been a straightforward case of food poisoning into something far more sinister adding more material on which to speculate.
Dr Horlock
Dr Horlock remains a man of mystery, his relationship with his family is likely to have been the stereotypical Victorian father: remote, aloof and dictatorial. He was also a scholar, a man of great learning and an author of religious texts that are still available today.
Few of his congregation would have much more than a basic education. Dr Horlock, therefore, given his privileged upbringing and education, must have been even more remote to his congregation and was perhaps, disliked. However, I do not believe he was dishonest or had any criminal intent. Why did he leave Box? I believe he could no longer sustain the lifestyle to which he had become accustomed. Leaving the village may have been simply to reduce his living costs without losing face. Before leaving he did purchase Mead Villas as a replacement vicarage for the one that burnt down and sold the advowson to the father-in-law of Dr Horlock's successor, the Rev Gardiner.
Dr Horlock remains a man of mystery, his relationship with his family is likely to have been the stereotypical Victorian father: remote, aloof and dictatorial. He was also a scholar, a man of great learning and an author of religious texts that are still available today.
Few of his congregation would have much more than a basic education. Dr Horlock, therefore, given his privileged upbringing and education, must have been even more remote to his congregation and was perhaps, disliked. However, I do not believe he was dishonest or had any criminal intent. Why did he leave Box? I believe he could no longer sustain the lifestyle to which he had become accustomed. Leaving the village may have been simply to reduce his living costs without losing face. Before leaving he did purchase Mead Villas as a replacement vicarage for the one that burnt down and sold the advowson to the father-in-law of Dr Horlock's successor, the Rev Gardiner.
Monkey Business
The issue of monkeys or, as John suggests, slaves in Box House is interesting only in as much that there are tentative links to the slave trade or the use of slaves but not directly to the Horlocks of Box House although he did employ a footman born in Jamaica.
Dr Horlock's great-great-great grandfather's brother lived in Jamaica in a trading capacity and his great-great-great grandmother's mother was a member of the Codrington Family who certainly made a fortune from plantation ownership. Also, his brother married Pheobe Boode, granddaughter of a man reputed to use 2,000 slaves on his coffee plantations.
However, the monkey story might well be true since folklore tells us that a monkey came down the chimney of the Catherine Wheel Inn at Marshfield having escaped from the Manor where one of the Horlocks was staying. But let us be realistic, I would suggest that many of the families, if not all, who boasted of significant wealth, did so with the knowledge that there was perhaps tainted money in their family.
The issue of monkeys or, as John suggests, slaves in Box House is interesting only in as much that there are tentative links to the slave trade or the use of slaves but not directly to the Horlocks of Box House although he did employ a footman born in Jamaica.
Dr Horlock's great-great-great grandfather's brother lived in Jamaica in a trading capacity and his great-great-great grandmother's mother was a member of the Codrington Family who certainly made a fortune from plantation ownership. Also, his brother married Pheobe Boode, granddaughter of a man reputed to use 2,000 slaves on his coffee plantations.
However, the monkey story might well be true since folklore tells us that a monkey came down the chimney of the Catherine Wheel Inn at Marshfield having escaped from the Manor where one of the Horlocks was staying. But let us be realistic, I would suggest that many of the families, if not all, who boasted of significant wealth, did so with the knowledge that there was perhaps tainted money in their family.
The Sudells
Did the Sudells have enemies? Almost certainly, but in general this was a highly regarded family, reputed to be a good employer and a great benefactor to the town of Blackburn; so it is likely they had as many friends as enemies. As a business man and land owner Henry Sudell would make enemies but I doubt that they would wish to kill. What of creditors? Debtors prison was sufficient motivation to encourage debtors to pay off debts as speedily as possible, Henry or his family must have done so.
Did the Sudells have enemies? Almost certainly, but in general this was a highly regarded family, reputed to be a good employer and a great benefactor to the town of Blackburn; so it is likely they had as many friends as enemies. As a business man and land owner Henry Sudell would make enemies but I doubt that they would wish to kill. What of creditors? Debtors prison was sufficient motivation to encourage debtors to pay off debts as speedily as possible, Henry or his family must have done so.
Death of the Sisters
What of the deaths? I believe these can be explained as a tragic result of food poisoning due to poor hygiene. What was eaten that day or at the meal itself, history does not record, nor do we have any facts as to who dined at Box House on that fateful day. We can be sure a lot of meat, fish, poultry and pies would be eaten, but I suspect, little or no water was drunk, wines and spirits being the favoured tipple.
The very fact that some servants were reported to be ill suggests that some food or water was contaminated. Typhoid and cholera along with other gastric conditions were often grouped together and described as gastric fever. Centres of population were frequently visited by such diseases; Bath for example had a severe outbreak of cholera in 1849. It was widely understood that such diseases were the result of poor hygiene and often spread by water contaminated by human excrement. The Rev Patrick Bronte father of the Bronte Sisters pressed for improved drainage in Haworth as it was believed that seepage from the graveyard was contaminating the water supply and contributing to the death of rather too many young people. This seeping from graveyards, was a popularly-held belief perhaps prompting Mr Holland to recommend cessation of burials in Box Churchyard.
The two sisters died within a week but they were not taken ill at the same time. This is not unusual in the case of bacterial infections such as those associated with food poisoning. Further, Alice showed signs of improvement after a couple of days and then relapsed. Food poisoning often improves after a day or so but equally, can relapse if the body's natural defences are overcome. Bacteria discriminates and takes out the weakest.
The foregoing is the conclusion of someone, I might add, with little or no medical knowledge and I would be happy to be challenged.
What of the deaths? I believe these can be explained as a tragic result of food poisoning due to poor hygiene. What was eaten that day or at the meal itself, history does not record, nor do we have any facts as to who dined at Box House on that fateful day. We can be sure a lot of meat, fish, poultry and pies would be eaten, but I suspect, little or no water was drunk, wines and spirits being the favoured tipple.
The very fact that some servants were reported to be ill suggests that some food or water was contaminated. Typhoid and cholera along with other gastric conditions were often grouped together and described as gastric fever. Centres of population were frequently visited by such diseases; Bath for example had a severe outbreak of cholera in 1849. It was widely understood that such diseases were the result of poor hygiene and often spread by water contaminated by human excrement. The Rev Patrick Bronte father of the Bronte Sisters pressed for improved drainage in Haworth as it was believed that seepage from the graveyard was contaminating the water supply and contributing to the death of rather too many young people. This seeping from graveyards, was a popularly-held belief perhaps prompting Mr Holland to recommend cessation of burials in Box Churchyard.
The two sisters died within a week but they were not taken ill at the same time. This is not unusual in the case of bacterial infections such as those associated with food poisoning. Further, Alice showed signs of improvement after a couple of days and then relapsed. Food poisoning often improves after a day or so but equally, can relapse if the body's natural defences are overcome. Bacteria discriminates and takes out the weakest.
The foregoing is the conclusion of someone, I might add, with little or no medical knowledge and I would be happy to be challenged.
Poison Pen or a Threat
This brings us to the rather bizarre letter written to Mr Aust. If indeed, the writer was serious in his intent to kill the Sudell sisters, exposing the details in writing is not the modus operandi of a murderer since it is just the evidence needed to send them to the gallows.
The letter is curious on several accounts. The writer makes reference to the sisters visiting Ashleigh. Did they still own it? Was it written before Henry Sudell died or was it rented from a Mr Russell? Whatever the case, the writer appears to have been familiar with the family. He seems to have some knowledge of the sisters wills knowing that Dr Horlock was not a beneficiary.
Why suggest blowing up the house to kill the sisters; surely better to leave the method to the killer, after all, using explosives is dangerous in the hands of an amateur and a quarryman might have a been a better choice than a joiner?
The most telling sentence in my view was reference to the vile Doctor. The writer had a grudge against the whole family and he writes that, with the Sudells dead, he (Dr Horlock) would spend the rest of his life working in poverty. It suggests the Horlock lifestyle was supported by the Sudell fortune. Another point to note: is the letter written by someone who had received an education beyond that expected by attending a village school; very possibly, a professional person? I put to the reader, the real mystery in this tragic story is not what killed the Sudell sisters but rather who was the author of the letters, why did they write them and what did they know about the lives of those residing in Box House that prompted them to write these poisonous letters?
This brings us to the rather bizarre letter written to Mr Aust. If indeed, the writer was serious in his intent to kill the Sudell sisters, exposing the details in writing is not the modus operandi of a murderer since it is just the evidence needed to send them to the gallows.
The letter is curious on several accounts. The writer makes reference to the sisters visiting Ashleigh. Did they still own it? Was it written before Henry Sudell died or was it rented from a Mr Russell? Whatever the case, the writer appears to have been familiar with the family. He seems to have some knowledge of the sisters wills knowing that Dr Horlock was not a beneficiary.
Why suggest blowing up the house to kill the sisters; surely better to leave the method to the killer, after all, using explosives is dangerous in the hands of an amateur and a quarryman might have a been a better choice than a joiner?
The most telling sentence in my view was reference to the vile Doctor. The writer had a grudge against the whole family and he writes that, with the Sudells dead, he (Dr Horlock) would spend the rest of his life working in poverty. It suggests the Horlock lifestyle was supported by the Sudell fortune. Another point to note: is the letter written by someone who had received an education beyond that expected by attending a village school; very possibly, a professional person? I put to the reader, the real mystery in this tragic story is not what killed the Sudell sisters but rather who was the author of the letters, why did they write them and what did they know about the lives of those residing in Box House that prompted them to write these poisonous letters?
The Death of Henry Jnr
There is one final death to address: that of Henry Jnr. I would disagree with John in as much that a walking stick was an essential accessory for a gentleman and farm workers would often carry a stick for use when herding animals. In Henry’s case, I think we can conclude, he died from a minor injury that became infected. This was a world without antibiotics.
There is one final death to address: that of Henry Jnr. I would disagree with John in as much that a walking stick was an essential accessory for a gentleman and farm workers would often carry a stick for use when herding animals. In Henry’s case, I think we can conclude, he died from a minor injury that became infected. This was a world without antibiotics.
Conclusion
We will never know why the Sudell’s died or by whose hand if it was foul play. We do not know what relationships existed within the household, between the Horlocks and Sudells and between Dr Horlock and his parishioners. What we do know is that this a story of two dynasties who in the space of two or three generations knew great wealth then, lost it. Is this why in another generation we will still be seeking to find the answer as to why, two sisters are buried, perhaps prematurely, in Box Churchyard. John's research greatly extends the story and provides us with hours of speculation and counter-arguments.
Thank you so much, John.
We will never know why the Sudell’s died or by whose hand if it was foul play. We do not know what relationships existed within the household, between the Horlocks and Sudells and between Dr Horlock and his parishioners. What we do know is that this a story of two dynasties who in the space of two or three generations knew great wealth then, lost it. Is this why in another generation we will still be seeking to find the answer as to why, two sisters are buried, perhaps prematurely, in Box Churchyard. John's research greatly extends the story and provides us with hours of speculation and counter-arguments.
Thank you so much, John.