Dundee Evening Telegraph, Friday January 11, 1924
“I HAVE MURDERED MY AUNT”
Is Statement of Young Man.
Police Make Startling Discovery.
“I have murdered my aunt. I did it so that I can be hanged,” was the startling statement alleged to have been made by Wilfred Sadler (26), to two constables in Liverpool Road, Eccles, near Manchester, last night.
The startled officers questioned him further. Then they went to 39 Chadwick Road, where Sadler’s aged aunt, Miss Elizabeth Sadler, a woman over 60 years of age, lived alone. They found the doors locked and the house in darkness.
In a few minutes, however, they had broken in through the kitchen window. When they struck a light a terrible sight met their eyes.
The old lady was lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with her throat cut from ear to ear.
Near her head lay a bloodstained razor and a scarf. A doctor was at once called, but the woman was dead.
Sadler, who lived with his father, a plumber’s merchant, at Danesbury House, Chatsworth Road, Eccles, was taken to Patricroft Police Station, and this morning was brought before the Eccles Magistrates on a charge of murdering his aunt, and remanded for a week.
Dundee Evening Telegraph Friday February 22, 1924
MURDERED HIS AUNT
And Declared to be Insane,
“He is unable to appreciate the gravity of his position. He is obsessed by past wrongs he thinks he has committed. These ideas are chiefly delusionary. My view is that he cannot appreciate the seriousness of the present or the peccadilloes of the past.”
This was the view of Dr Alexander C. Sturrock at Manchester Assizes to-day, when Wilfred Norman Sadler (26), Danesbury House, Ellesmere Park, Eccles, was found unfit to plead to a charge of murdering his aunt, Elizabeth Martha Sadler (71), of 39 Chadwick Road, Eccles, by cutting her throat on January 10.
He was ordered to be detained during the King’s pleasure.
The Lancashire Daily Post, Friday January 11, 1924
AUNT’S DEATH.
NEPHEW CHARGED WITH MURDER AT ECCLES.
ACCUSED’S ALLEGED STATEMENT TO POLICE.
Said to be a member of a well-known and highly-respected Eccles family, Wilfred Norman Sadler, a married man, aged 26 years, was charged at Eccles, to-day, with the murder of his aunt, Miss Elizabeth Sadler (60)[sic], at her home, 39 Chadwick-road, Eccles, yesterday afternoon.
The young man is alleged to have approached two constables last evening and remarked in staccato accents: “I have murdered my aunt. It was her or me for it. I was up against everything. I did it to get hanged.” He is a motor dealer and driver, and one of a family of young men, well educated, and whose father is an active social and political worker in the district. The accused lived with his aunt for a short time after his marriage. He and his wife had separated, but they came together again. It is also said that he was on most affectionate terms with his aunt.
Little evidence was given to-day. Supt. Yates asking for a remand until Monday. He spoke to the accused approaching the police constables and saying he “had murdered his aunt at her home.” The constables took him to the house and there found the old lady lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen. She was dead, but they send for a doctor to examine the body. There was a gash in her throat from ear to ear, and the constables found a razor and a lady’s hair tidy lying near by. The house door was locked, and the officers got through a back window. In being taken to the police station and charged Sadler said “yes I did kill her, but I would not like to sign anything.”
The inquest has been fixed for to-morrow, and is to be held by the County Coroner.
Accused was remanded in custody until Monday.
The Lancashire Daily Post, Saturday January 12, 1924
AUNT’S DEATH.
‘WILFUL MURDER’ VERDICT AGAINST NEPHEW AT INQUEST.
ACCUSED SAID TO HAVE BEEN PASSIONATELY ATTACHED TO HER.
The Manchester County Coroner, to-day, returned a verdict of “Wilful murder” against Wilfred Norman Sadler at the inquest on Miss Elizabeth Martha Sadler (71), of 39, Chadwick-road, Eccles, aunt of the young man who is in custody on a charge of murder.
Miss Sadler, it will be remembered, was found dead on Thursday evening by the police in the kitchen of her home lying in a pool of blood with a gash in her throat. Sadler is alleged to have approached two constables with the remark: “I have murdered my aunt. It was her or me for it. I have been up against it. I did it to get hanged.”
The father of the accused to-day, gave evidence, and said his son had been broken down in health for some time, and that he recently came home to Ellesmere Park for a rest from Southport, where he had been living. He also said that his son’s marriage had been a failure. His son and the witness’s sister (the dead woman), had always been on the most affectionate terms with each other and were passionately attached. He could not understand his son doing a thing like that, especially to his aunt.
Detective-Inspector Dunbar said that the accused made a statement at Green-lane police station yesterday, without being asked. In this he said, “I do not know what I have done it for. I have ruined all my family through this. I have been up against it. I carried the razor in my pocket for a week with the intention of cutting my own throat, but I could not pluck up the courage to do it. I thought I should not make a proper job of it. I then thought I would do it on someone else. This is what I have done. I cannot quite remember doing it.”
The Lancashire Daily Post, Monday January 14, 1924
NEPHEW’S ALLEGED CRIME.
AUNT FOUND WITH THROAT CUT.
ACCUSED A FORMER SOUTHPORT MANAGER.
The inquest on Miss Elizabeth Martha Sadler (71), who was found dead with her throat cut at her home, 39 Chadwick-road, Eccles, on Thursday, was held at Patricroft on Saturday by the Manchester district coroner. Wilfred Sadler, her nephew, who was in custody on a charge of murdering the old lady, was present during the proceedings.
Wilfred Ernest Sadler, of Danesbury House, Ellesmere Park, father of the accused and brother of the dead woman, gave evidence of identification. He stated that his sister was very fond of his son, and he of her. His son had been married about four years, but the marriage was not a happy one and the couple had separated. They lived for some time with his sister.
About six weeks ago, on a doctor’s advice, his son gave up the management of a motor car business at Southport, owing to a nervous breakdown, and came to live with witness at Eccles. He was usually boisterous and high-spirited, but became depressed and quiet. Witness thought it would be better for him to be employed, and took him into his warehouse at Ardwick. He did his work well, but was always under the impression that he could do nothing right.
In reply to Mr Rhodes, barrister, witness said he thought the statement his son was alleged to have made to the police officer that “It’s her or me for it,” was quite meaningless, and witness was quite at a loss to find a motive for his son attacking his aunt.
Eric Desmond Sadler said his brother was working with him in his father’s office on Thursday afternoon and complaining of feeling unwell and went home.
Detective Sergeant Dunbar stated that when Sadler was brought into the police station on Thursday night he appeared to be collected but was nervous. When he took the accused his breakfast into the cell the following morning Sadler said “I don’t know what I have done for this.” Witness cautioned him as to making a statement and he replied, I have ruined all my family through this. I have been up against it. I carried a razor in my pocket for a week with the intention of cutting my own throat, but I couldn’t pluck up the courage to do it. I then thought I could not make a proper job of it. I then thought I would do it on someone else, and this is what I have done. I can’t quite remember doing it”
The jury, after a minute’s deliberation, returned a verdict of murder, and Sadler was committed for trial on the Coroner’s warrant.
The Leeds Mercury, Saturday January 12, 1924
WOMAN WITH THROAT CUT.
Nephew’s Alleged Confession.
“I WANT TO HANG.”
A motor-car dealer named Wilfred Norman Sadler walked up to two constables at Patricroft on Thursday night, and is alleged to have said: “I have murdered my aunt. It was her or me for it. I was up against everything. I did it to get hanged.”
He had done it, he said, at his aunt’s house at Eccles.
The constables took him to the house and found the door locked
Throat Gashed for Ear to Ear.
They forced the backroom window and in the kitchen found Sadler’s aunt Miss Elizabeth Sadler (60)[sic], with her throat gashed from ear to ear.
Sadler was arrested, and appeared at the Eccles Police-court yesterday charged with the murder of his aunt.
Police-Supt. Yates told the magistrates at the police station Sadler was charged with the murder, and he answered, “Yes, I did kill her, but I would not like to sign anything.:
A Coroner’s inquiry will be conducted to-day.
A Razor Near the Body
P.C. Stockdale said that he found a razor and a lady’s hair tidy on the floor near the body.
Asked if he would like to say anything or whether he had any objection to a remand, Sadler replied: “No, none at all.”
He was remanded until Monday.
Sadler is connected with a well-known Eccles family. His father has taken an active part in the political, social, and philanthropic life of the district, and is a prominent member of the Liberal Association.
Young Sadler, who is well educated, went to work at Southport as a motor driver.
He has been a frequent visitor to his aunt’s, with whom he is said to have been on affectionate terms.
The Blyth News, Monday February 25, 1924
MURDER OF AN AUNT.
Man Declared Insane and Unfit to Plead.
The man, Wilfred Norman Sadler (26), mechanic, of Ellesmere Park, Eccles, came before Mr Wingate Saul, K.C., Commissioner, at the Marylebone Assizes on Friday, on the charge of the wilful murder of his aunt, Miss Elizabeth Martha Sadler, aged 71, at Eccles, on January 10.
The Clerk of Assize, Sir Herbert Stephen, Bart., informed the jury that they had been called to decide whether the prisoner was insane or in a state of mind fit to plead.
Dr Alexander Forsyth Sturrock, neurologist, Salford Royal Hospital, said he had examined the accused on five occasions, the last being on Thursday, and the first on January 11, the day after the crime. All the examinations were long, and witness had formed the opinion that Sadler was of unsound mind, and had not sufficient intellect to prepare his defence, or to instruct his solicitors, or to appreciate the details of any evidence.
MENTAL CONFUSION.
Mr Singleton, K.C. (for the prosecution): What is it which prevents him being in a fit state to instruct counsel? – He is in a state of mental confusion. He does not appreciate the gravity of his position. He is obsessed with past wrongs he thinks he has done, his ideas of which are chiefly delusionary. He has no appreciation of the comparative values of his present crimes and his behaviour in the past.
Mr Singleton: Does he realise that he has killed someone? – He stated that he has killed no one, but that some power inside him killed someone on his presence.
At your first interview with him, did he tell you that he had killed his aunt? – He believed himself to have been the instrument whereby the power made him achieve the death of his aunt. He said he had killed his aunt for a certain motive.
And was that motive one so that he could be put out of existence himself? – That was his motive as expressed to me.
In your judgement is he able now to tell his counsel details of what happened? – No.
“DUAL PERSONALITY.”
Mr P.M. Oliver (for the defence) referred to the “dual personality” of the accused, and asked, “Are there any delusions of hallucinations? – Witness replied: “He has hallucinations of hearing. He states that he hears his aunt’s voice speaking to him. He states he has heard a voice – the voice of a person inside him – telling him to do things. He has had delusion for years that he is being laughed at or jeered at by people in the streets.”
The Commissioner: Were you satisfied after your examination on January 11 that he was insane? – I was.
And is he more insane to-day? – He is more insane to-day than he was on that day.
Dr S.S.H. Shannon, medical officer of Strangeways Prison, and Dr David Orr, Superintendent of the County Mental Hospital, Prestwich, agreed that prisoner was insane.
The Commissioner said the verdict of the jury was required to obviate the injustice which would be done if such a man was tried on such a grave charge when not fit to plead. He pointed out that the evidence by three medical men had not been contradicted by the Crown.
The jury, after a short deliberation, found that Sadler was insane to such an extent that he could not be tried.
The Commissioner: Then I order that he be kept in strict custody until his Majesty’s pleasure be known.
Sadler, who has been given a seat in the dock, seemed to take no interest in the proceedings. At the conclusion he walked quietly to the cells.
Leeds Mercury, Thursday January 31, 1924
‘I MURDERED MY AUNT.”
A QUESTION OF SANITY IN THE CASE OF A MECHANIC.
NEPHEW SENT FOR TRIAL.
On a charge of having murdered his aunt, Miss Elizabeth Martha Sadler (71), which whom he has been on affectionate terms, Wilfred Norman Sadler (26), motor mechanic, of Ellesmere Park, Eccles, was yesterday, at Eccles committed for trial at Manchester Assizes.
Miss Sadler lived alone in Chadwick-road.
On the evening of January 10th Sadler, it is alleged, informed two constables in Liverpool-road, that he had murdered his aunt.
The police officers returned to the house with him, and found the old lady lying dead on the kitchen floor with a terrible wound in her throat.
A Question of Sanity.
At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the nephew, and since that time he had been under medical observation at Strangeways, a question having arisen as to his sanity.
Mr. B.J. Gaywell, who appeared for the Public Prosecutor said the matter has been investigated by the Coroner, with a certain result, and the facts would be in the minds of the magistrates.
Eric Desmond Sadler, of Urmston, general manager of his father’s business, said Wilfred Sadler, who was his brother, has been casually employed at his father’s warehouse for about six or two months.
“Felt Bad.”
“I saw my brother,” he added, “on the afternoon of January 10th, between 4.0 and 4.30 p.m., and he complained of feeling unwell”
Asked if it were stomach trouble, he replied that he “felt bad.”
The trouble with him was mental rather than physical.
He did not seem the same man when he came home. He was very moody and depressed and suffering from delusions.
He was found work to do by his father, so that he would have something to occupy his mind.
“My aunt was devoted to my brother,” Eric Sadler added, “and was very good to him, and my brother was very fond of my aunt.”
P.C. Stockdale said that at 6.15 p.m. on January 10th Wilfred Sadler came up to him and another constable and declared:
“I have murdered my aunt. It was her or me. I was up against everything. If I have done her I shall get hung.”
The constable accompanied Wilfrid Sadler to the aunt’s house in Chadwick-road, and they had to force an entry.
On the kitchen floor lay the dead body of the accused’s aunt in a pool of blood.
The neck was almost severed, and there was a bloodstained razor close to the body, also a lady’s hair tie.
There was no sign of a struggle having taken place. Miss Sadler’s hands lay across her chest.
When charged Sadler replied: “Well, I did kill her, but I would not like to sign anything.”
