Christmas Eve Bloodshed: The Murder of Edward Richards, Trowbridge 1925

A true murder story from 100 years ago

Edward Richards

Our story commences on Wednesday, December 23rd 1925. A travelling salesman for Ushers Brewery, Edward Charles Ingram Richards had spent the evening in Bath, drinking with friends at the Abbey Wine Vaults. Returning late to Trowbridge, he parked his car at the brewery and set off on the 20-minute walk to his home at 11, Victoria Road, Trowbridge.

Edward, or Ted as he liked to be called, was the son of Mr and Mrs W. F. Richards who ran the Ring O’Bells public house at North Bradley, a village close to Trowbridge. Edward’s wife, Dolly (Winifred) and two-year-old daughter were not at home. They had already left to visit her parents’ home in Highworth, Swindon for the Christmas holiday.

Edward, described as tall and debonair, a genial man, ready with a smile and always ready to lend a hand, didn’t know what was about to hit him when he arrived home. His sub-tenant, Walter Stourton, at around half-past midnight, heard Ted calling to him to come down. The back door was left unlocked when anyone was going to be late home, so Walter was at first hesitant, knowing Ted could get in. Ted shouted again, and as Walter made his way downstairs, he could hear a commotion and a rapping sound as though someone was hammering at the back door. He didn’t realise these were shots being fired. A motorcycle was heard driving away.

11 Victoria Road. Photo: Google Street View

Walter found Ted lying on his back outside the back door, clutching a revolver and severely injured. The police were called, and Ted was taken to the local hospital, where bullet wounds were discovered, and sadly, he died shortly after arriving. However, Ted was able to make a statement to the police and gave them the information required to seek out the offenders.

Edward Richards’ Murderer Apprehended

The police got to work quickly to find the guilty men. Both men were soldiers stationed at Trowbridge Barracks. Supt. A. E. Underwood, the Chief Officer for Trowbridge Police, arrested John Lincoln on Christmas Day at a house in Timbrell Street, Trowbridge. This was the home of the parents of Lincoln’s girlfriend, Lilly Brown. Lincoln told the arresting officers that he would go quietly and not break up the Christmas party that was taking place. The second suspect, Ian Ronald Maxwell, was arrested at the barracks.

At the inquest into Ted’s death on January 1st, it was noted that seven cartridge cases were found at the scene. The trial was held on January 20^th. Things moved much faster in those days when it came to justice. During the trial, Lincoln, for his part, admitted that he was the one who shot Edward Richards, and for this, he was sentenced to death. During the trial, Lincoln revealed that the plan to rob Richards’ home had been his companion’s idea, and that they had consumed rum to bolster their courage. Upon their intrusion, Richards had come home and fired at them.

In response, Lincoln had rushed to the front entrance of the dwelling, discharging his weapon through a crevice in the door on three occasions before finally striking Richards over the head with a beer bottle.

Maxwell was found innocent of murder, and a second attempt to give him a substantial prison sentence for attempted robbery with violence failed to secure a conviction. Maxwell did end up in prison when, shortly after the trial, he was arrested for burglary.

It seems that these two felons knew of Ted and that he carried cash and kept it at home. They also knew that the murder victim owned a revolver, and so armed themselves with a gun taken from the barracks.

This case aroused media interest in many countries and was reported on the other side of the world. It’s possible to find online newspaper cuttings from Australia. The story was picked up mainly because of the murderer, John Lincoln, real name Ignatius Emanuel Napthali Trebich Lincoln.

Lincoln was the son of Ignatius Timothy Trebitsch Lincoln, who was a most interesting character. He was a true con artist. Born in Hungary of Jewish descent, he spent much of his time journeying around the globe. Wherever he went, he found a scam to perform. He has posed as a Protestant missionary, an Anglican priest, and somehow managed to become a British Member of Parliament for Darlington. He was convicted of spying and banned from Britain. Later, he became a German right-wing politician, Nazi collaborator, a Buddhist abbot in China, and self-proclaimed Dalai Lama. There were no ends to this man’s talents!

The Execution of John Lincoln 2nd March 1926

John Lincoln, aged 23, was hanged at Shepton Mallet Prison on 2nd March 1926 by the famous executioner, Thomas Pierrepoint. This was also the last civilian execution at the prison.

Ted’s wife, Dolly (Winifred), died in the USA in 1991. His daughter married a G.I. during the Second World War and went to live in America, where Dolly joined her later.

Murder affects so many lives. Edward Richards lost his life, his wife and daughter lost a loving husband and father. Ted’s parents lost a son. More family members too would be greatly affected, along with his friends and colleagues. The two felons, John Lincoln who lost his life and Ian Maxwell, possibly scarred by the event for life.

Edward Richards is buried at St Nicholas’ Church, Church Lane, North Bradley. His headstone, in the form of a cross, is a little overgrown as shown in my photo below.

The burial place of Edward Richards. Photo: Roland Millward

Although a hundred years ago, discovering stories like this brings home just how suddenly life can change for so many. We may wonder how life might have been for Ted and his family had those gunshots, fired and fuelled by greed, not taken his life on 24th December 1925.

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