THE FATAL TURKEY PIE 1836
The account below was taken from Folklore Round Horncastle by Rev James Alpas Penny M.A. former Vicar of Stixwould and Wispington which was published in 1935.
Compiled for the Horsington History Group by Lynette Needham
THE MANSLAUGHTER OF JOHN TAYLOR BY EDWARD BOWERING IN THE ELDER TREE.
A man told me, who was present with others when John Taylor was murdered in the Old Eler Tree (Elder Tree). When he was 20 or 21 years old, nearly 50 years ago, that as they were all sitting drinking beer at the feast of All Hallows, November 1st, the lights suddenly went out, and John Taylor cried out “Someone has cut me but it is nothing” and when the light was relit they saw his trousers, just above the knee were cut, so they all sat down and went on drinking until the lights again went out and John Taylor cried out “Yon devil has done for me” and got up and went home, where the Constable of Horsington was having supper with other friends, who went with his man, to the Eler Tree, and locked the door, where my informant and the rest still were.
On the floor were two knives the murderer had used, one to cut the leg and the other to rip up John Taylor and they both belonged to him, and a few days before he had a new blade put into one of them, he was arrested at once by the Constable, who handcuffed him and took him to another Public House, which is now a farmhouse at the corner formed by Horncastle Road and that which leads to Waddingworth and Minting etc. Here the murderer threatened each of those present at the murder as they passed, to do for them if they witnessed against him. He was tried and found guilty, and transported, not hung as he ought to have been, for poor John Taylor lingered in a dreadful state for a few days after being ripped up. All the provocation he had given was to say to to his murderer, a week before “Don’t have another Turkey Pie at the feast” to which the murderer had made no answer but the next day told a big powerful Stixwould man, well known to me, that he was going to fight John Taylor, and asked him to see fair play, to which the Stixwould man answered “You fight John Taylor. Such a little chap as you are. Why I could not tackle him”. As John Taylor was so Strong. Now the murderer has stolen one of John Taylor’s turkeys and his wife had put it in a pie and taken it to a woman who had a good oven and baked such things for people. She had lifted the crust to see what was inside, and when she heard John Taylor complaining he had lost a fine turkey just before the feast, and wished he knew who had stolen it she said “I suspect who stole it and I know who ate it for I baked a turkey in a pie for Mrs (?) and I know they could not pay for one, but don’t have them up or they will do for me for telling you” Instead of having them up he warned his murderer not to steal another of his turkeys and was brutally murdered for doing so. The murderer was over 50 years old when he committed murder, and never returned from Transportation. On further investigation I was able to gather the following information about his life. Edward Bowering was born in 1805. His Father was William Bowering who died 13th August 1804. His Mother’s name was Francis (nee Shaw) and was William Bowering’s second Wife. On 23rd April 1805 Francis Married John Snowden and left the parish to go with her new husband. Being born in the Parish of Horsington, Edward his brothers Cornelius and William and sister Ann were left to be raised by the Parish of Horsington. There are several entries in the records kept by the Overseer of the Poor in Horsington relating to the children. On 5th May 1829, at the age of 25, Edward married Mary Cook a dressmaker from Lincoln. They lived in Horsington and Edward Bowering was employed by the Parish to dig gravel and ‘stubb’ the hedges of the Poor House Gardens whilst his wife made clothes. An Examination document dated 18th December 1830 states that in 1821 Edward Bowering went to work for William Smalley of Horsington (Farmer), and that Edward Bowering was about 25 years of age and was born in Horsington where his parents were legally settled. They were next heard of on the 5th January 1833 when an order was made for their removal from Bardney to Horsington: Edward Bowering, Mary his Wife, Frances aged 2 years and Rose Ann aged 9 weeks. A Bill from William Gibbons Manager of Thimbleby Workhouse shows that Edward Bowering, his Wife and 2 children where housed in Thimbleby Workhouse from 9th January until 21st February and requesting payment for support for 7 weeks at 3s 4d per week total £4 13s 4d. Once gain the Family returned to Horsington and Edward was again employed within the Parish as a general labourer paying a labourers rent for House and Garden of 4d per week. A report in the Lincolnshire Chronicle dated 7th November 1834 states that… William Bowell and Edward Bowering, both of Horsington, laboures, were fined in the mitigated penalty of 2/- each, and any costs, for using a dog and snares for the destruction of game on Sunday: and in default of payment, were committed for two months to the house of correction at Louth, to hard labour. His third daughter Elizabeth was born 26th June 1836 and it seemed that at that time Edward Bowering’s health was failing because there are several references made by the overseer of the poor of Horsington to payments of 9/- per week paid to Edward Bowering when ill. On 20th November 1836 the event in the Elder Tree Occurred. Below are the reports of his conviction, sentence and Transportation to Australia. He left behind his wife and 3 daughters and never returned to this country although I believe that he has descendants in Australia. EDWARD BOWERING CONVICTION The Prison lists for 1837 shows that Edward Bowering was Committed on 29th November 1837. Offence Malicious Stabbing with a knife. Committed by Henry Dymoke ESQ. He was listed as being held in the infirmary. The Crown Calendar for the Lincolnshire Lent Assizes states that:- On 3rd March 1838 befor Sir James Allen Park. Knight and the Hon. Sir Joseph Littledale , Knight. No 8 Edward Bowering, Read and Write imperfectly. Age 31. Date committed 29th November 1837. Edward Bowering late of Horsington in the parts of Lindsey of this County. Labourer, Charged upon the oaths of Richard Addison of Horsington, in the said Parts, Farmer and others for that he the said Edward Bowering, on 20th day of November last, at the parish of Horsington aforesaid, with a certain knife of the value of sixpence, which the said Edward Bowering in his right hand, then and there, had held one John Taylor in and upon his right side of the belly of the said John Taylor, then and there feloniously, wilfully and with malice aforethought. Did strike and thrust giving to him the said John Taylor, there and then with the knife aforesaid, one mortal wound of which the said John Taylor afterwards towit on the 23rd day of November last died. Justices names:- Henry Dymoke Esq & Rev John Dymoke
Copy of the trial report in the Stamfor Mercury 8th March 1838;
Charge of Murder at Horsington
Edward Bowering of Horsington labourer, was charged with the wilful murder of John Taylor, having, on the 30th November last, cut him with a knife on the right side of his belly, inflicting a wound 2 inches long, 3 inches deep and ¼ inch in width, of which wound the said John Taylor died on 23rd November. Mr Clarke, for the prosecution, informed the jury that the indictment for murder could not be sustained, as doubtless the circumstance occurred in a scuffle. Mr Whitchurch, for the defence, said he was glad to hear his friend make that statement as it would save the court a great deal of trouble; he had no doubt that a public house quarrel arose after a great deal of provocation from Taylor, during which this very unfortunately circumstance occurred. He was quite willing to admit the charge of manslaughter.The judge said it would still be necessary to go into the circumstances of the case, and Richard Addison, Constable of Horsington was called. He said "I was present at Roberts Beer shop on 20th of November, when a scuffle occurred between Taylor and the prisoner: Prisioner was knocked down just as I entered; Taylor said, “Come on my lad, and knock this little devil on the head if you can, for he never was good for anything and never will be”. The prisoner said to Taylor, “You have not forgot the turkey job yet, Mr Taylor". Taylor answered, “No and I never shall; for you stole them, and no one else”.
A scuffle then took place between them but as the room was crowded, I saw no more. In consequence of what I heard afterwards from Mr Taylor’s daughter, I took Bowering into custody, and removed an open sheep-foot knife from his pocket, Mary Taylor, Widow of the deceased, remembered her husband coming home on the 20th Nov: he was in great pain and held his hand to the side of his stomach; witness found a wound on the right side of his stomach, through
which his bowel protruded; there was also another wound in his stomach.
Mr Ward, Surgeon, of Horncastle, stated that Taylor died in consequence of the wound.
Guilty of Manslaughter. In passing sentence the Judge said there was no doubt the prisoner had received much provocation, but he must have known the great danger of using a knife in such a scuffle; if he had taken a stick or a chair, the sentence would have been more lenient; as it was, he felt it was his duty to send him out of the country, - Transportation for 10 years.
