Uncovered details of the horrific 'West Marsh Murder'

-Credit:Copyright unknown
-Credit:Copyright unknown


Tragedy struck Grimsby just over 124 years ago when a man strangled his wife in bed as her child lay between them in what was referred to at the time as the 'West Marsh Murder'.

Shocking and grim details of the horrific crime were published in the 'Grimsby News' newspaper following the tragedy, which happened in September 1904 in Freshney Street, which no longer exists.

Agnes Turner, 23, was discovered dead in bed by her sister Annie Dixon at around 7am that morning, after Agnes' husband, George Archibald Turner, also 23, told her he had 'something to show her'. Agnes' illegitimate child, a daughter aged just five, had been laid between the couple when the violence took place.

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An excerpt of the 'Grimsby News' article from September 1904 reads: "A terrible tragedy, full of all the sordid details of life, came to light on Tuesday morning, when it was revealed that a woman had been literally strangled to death in bed by her husband in Freshney Street, and that a child had probably been the living witness of the awful deed. The murdered woman is Agnes Turner, 23, and she is the wife of George Archibald Turner, 23, a seaman employed on board the Great Central Railway Company's liner City of Leeds.

"They had been married for about three years, and had lived comfortably and happily until about three weeks ago, at No. [redacted] Trinity Street. Then a quarrel arose, the husband alleging that his wife had been unfaithful while he was at sea. The woman denied it at first, and there were taunts and high words, the result of it being that Turner told his wife to clear out.

At the top of the picture, houses on the West Marsh can be seen -Credit:Grimsby Telegraph
At the top of the picture, houses on the West Marsh can be seen -Credit:Grimsby Telegraph

"She did so, though not until after a week had elapsed, and then probably betrayed her guilt by going straight to No. [redacted] Freshney Street, the scene of the awful tragedy. There Mrs Turner cohabited with a fisherman named John Brown, who is employed on the steam trawler Pearl. For a fortnight nothing further occured, Turner making his trips as usual to the Continent, whilst the deceased woman who was his wife, lived in Freshney Street, where was also her illegitimate daughter of five years and her sister Annie Dixon.

"On Monday about noon, Turner, who had just returned from Hamburg, went to Freshney Street, though whether with the grim intention of this bloody deed cannot now be said, for at first all seems to have been peaceable. There were a few words between the husband and wife at first, naturally, evidently not of a very angry nature, because they soon became consoled, and Turner stayed for dinner and tea.

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"At 9.30pm the two went to bed together, taking the child with them, and leaving Annie Dixon downstairs. There was no suggestion of crime or hatred. For a time they were talking in bed; in fact they were heard up to one o'clock, and at that hour Annie Dixon knocked on the door and asked if everything was alright. She believes they both replied 'yes' and she returned downstairs and went to sleep on the couch."

At 7am the following morning, Annie was awoken by Turner calling her name.

The article continues: "She was awoken by Turner calling downstairs, 'Annie, I want to show you something'. She went upstairs into the bedroom, and there met a terrible sight. Prisoner was sitting in bed with the child between him and the woman, who was lying on the bed dead. Turner said: 'There is your sister. I have killed her.'"

Annie "begged" Turner to hand over the child due to his "peculiar frame of mind" and being "out of his wits", but he refused, so she ran out of the house and alerted police to what had happened. When officers attended the scene, Turner had taken two ounces of the poison laudanum.

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The police officer administered an emetic in the form of mustard and hot water, and he was taken to hospital. He said he had bought the laudanum with the intention of taking both of their lives, but that it "did not come off".

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A doctor subsequently determined that Agnes had been strangled "some five or six hours" before her body was discovered.

"The awful deed was committed directly after Annie Dixon returned to the couch downstairs, and Turner and the child must have slept beside the dead body for five or six hours," the article continues.

"As Turner came to recognise the full force and character of the terrible deed he gave way entirely to grief, and bitter remorse attacked his mind, and gave him no rest. Since he recognised his position he has wept almost continuously."

At the subsequent inquest proceedings, a coroner's jury delivered the verdict of "wilful murder". He was subsequently convicted of manslaughter.