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| Droxford Village, Hampshire |
Charles Henry Titheridge was born in 1845 in Droxford. He was one of twelve children born to John
Titheridge and Sarah Withers. Charles
married Elizabeth Emery in Alverstoke on 15 September 1864.
Between September 1866 and 1884 they had 10children.
Elizabeth Harriet Titheridge born 1866
Ann Elizabeth Titheridge born 1868 (died aged 3)
Fanny Titheridge born 1870
Harriet Eleanor Titheridge born 1872
Kate Titheridge born 1874
Charles Henry Titheridge born 1875
Lucy Titheridge born 1879
Alfred George Titheridge born 1880
Edith Florence Titheridge born 1881
Annie Eliza Titheridge born 1884
Charles was an agricultural labourer although by 1884 he was a
thatcher,and in 1881 census he lived with his family in Morgan’s Lane,
Shedfield near Droxford. He was known to
be “addicted to the habits of intemperance” and about noon on Saturday 24
October 1885 he went to the Cricketers public house and remained there until
10pm. By the time he left he was drunk
and headed for his home in Shirrell Heath.
About ¾ mile from home he fell to the ground and witnesses left him
there thinking he would go home later. Later he was found by another man who raised an alarm when he could not rouse
him and saw there was a large quantity of blood. At first it was thought that a murder had
been committed.
This account is taken from the Portsmouth Evening News on 26
October 1885
Shocking Occurrence near Fareham
Yesterday morning startling rumours were afloat in Fareham and
neighbourhood to the effect that a murder had been committed on Saturday night,
the body of a man having been found lying in the roadway somewhere in the
district of Droxford, with a wound in his side. The rumour obtained
extraordinary credence, and during the day several well-informed persons gave
it out that a man had quarrelled with some gypsies, being afterwards found
lying in the roadway dead, having been stabbed in the side; however, the
statements are believed to be false, as it has since been conclusively proved
death was caused by the man falling upon a pair of sheep-shearing shears. From
what can be gathered with regard to the unfortunate occurrence, it appears that
the deceased, whose name is Charles Henry Titheridge, aged 40, resided at
Shirrell Heath, was a thatcher, and was addicted to habits of intemperance. He
is known to have gone into the Cricketers public house, Turkey Island, near
Wickham, at about noon on Saturday, remaining in-house until 10pm, when he was
seen to leave, being then apparently under the influence of drink. He proceeded
in the direction of his house at Shirrell Heath, and when about three quarters
of a mile from home was seen by two men named David Osborne and George Winter
to fall down by the side of the road. These men being of the opinion that he
was drunk allowed him to remain, thinking that he would be able to go home in a
short time. When he fell they did not hear him moan or make any signs that he
was injured. About 10:20 a man named Frank Emery passing by, saw the deceased
lying in the road, and endeavoured to arouse him, when saw that there was a
large quantity of blood upon the ground. He turned the deceased over and then
found that he was dead. He at once raised the alarm, and upon assistance
arriving the police and doctor were sent for. Upon the arrival of Constable
Gosney an examination of the deceased and his clothing was made, when the
constable discovered that in an inside pocket of the deceased’s coat were a
pair sheep-shearing shears and a billhook, the former of which was covered with
blood. The shears had been placed in the pocket with the blades pointing
upwards and it is conjectured that the deceased stumbled and fell backwards, in
so doing the points of the shears entering his back, penetrating to the
kidneys, and inflicting a wound about two inches in length, from the effects of
which he undoubtedly died. Doctor Maloney was afterwards called, and he
expressed an opinion that death was produced by the wound, and that in all
probability it was caused by the shears. Upon examination of the spot being
made a piece of string was discovered, which had been used to keep the point of
the shears closed, but the force of the fall had broken it and allowed the
shears to open, thus making the wound larger. The body was afterwards conveyed
home. The deceased leaves a wife and nine children. An inquest will be held
upon the body in due course in the Prince of Wales, Shirrell Heath.
From other reports in the paper it can be seen that two inquests
were held. The one on 28 October was
adjourned and a second held on 30 October.
The death certificate was issued 9 days after the incident and records the cause of death as
“ found dead, death having resulted from the effect of a wound in
the back but how or by whom caused there is no evidence.”
So murder or freak accident? I guess we’ll never know.
