Page 31 - link magazine

See us on the net @ www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine • January 1999 31
Clues for murder mystery sought from u pit r Systems

swindonlink internet site
Through our swindonlink web site, we have been asked to help piece together information about thu
descendants of Swindon Mayor Edwin Jones and murderer Charles Everard Canham.
Dan and Kathy Blanchard e-
mailed us from Richmond, Vir- ' y#.^_^*
ginia, to ask if anyone could help I^' t = a
with their family history quest. _ '''^^ Website Design,
They told a tragic and tangled tale ¢ ^,
of events dating back to the begin- Setup &
ping of the century. Maintenance
Kathy's great grandparents were T
Charles Everard Canham and ,, Call Mark Hodgson on
Hepzibah (Effie) Clara Davie (01793) 879381
Canham (nee Davie). They had
eleven children, including John www.swindonlink.com
Howard Canham, Kathy's grand-
father. From photos they appear
respectable, even distinguished.
Kathy believes that they lived in-
termittently in Swindon from the Main picture taken about 1890, the future Mayor Swindon Edwin Jones, far
mid-1800's. Effie's eldest sister right, wife his wife Mary sitting centre, and her sister Effie, standing right.
Mary was married to the Mayor of For all your
Inset, Effie and her husband Charles in 1900, just before he murdered her
Swindon, Edwin Jones. PC Upgrades
At the turn of the Century, the On 29 November 1900, the ve- children. Kate and sister Florence
family was living in Nottingham, neer of respectability was torn were taken into care in 1908, their Phone For A Free Quote
where Charles was district man- away when Charles Everard father by this time dead and their (01793) 485750
ager to the Gresham Assurance Canham battered his wife to death mother dying. Anytime
Company. He was described as 'a with a coal hammer and slit the Kathy and Dan are trying to lo-
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most devoted father and affection- throat of three year old son, cate any descendants of the and installation
ate husband'. Donald. He also tried to gas the Canham, Dickson/Dixon or the
rest of his family whilst they slept. Jones families.
Swindon's blind Mayor Charles was sent for trial at Not- You can contact them by e-mail
Edwin Jones, was elected Mayor tingham Assizes. His defence was at [email protected] or write to
of Swindon in 1920. that the crime was committed un- them at 431 Montour Drive, Rich- Visit our website at:
Llanelli born Alderman Jones der the influence of epileptic ma- mond, Va. 23236, USA.
had been an engine fitter with the nia. He was found guilty but crimi-
Great Western Works until he was nally insane and sent to
blinded by a blow to the eyes Broadmoor.
from a chip of a steel bolt in 1876. By 1900, the two eldest children CAESAR
After his accident he opened a had left home. But the remaining
business, later turning to postal eight were taken into the care. It
work, civic and religious duties was in a National Children's ;^ Y '] CERAMICS
as a prominent figure in the Homes orphanage that John
Wesleyan Church. He became a Canham met Kate Lily Dickson or
Justice of the Peace in 1916. Dixon, Kathy's grandmother. The Tile Specialists
In August 1921 the blind mayor Strangely, Kate had experienced
made history by setting the new similar tragedy in her family. Her
press rolling at the Swindon mother, Margaret Freda had set -:* Wall & Floor tiles
Evening Advertiser following a about her husband, Thomas, with
large extension to its works. a poker after he attacked one of the v Slate
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world wide web. 872282 for details. at Unit 20, The Orbit Centre
Ashworth Road, Bridgemead, Swindon
Alt natively, a page on the site costs
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