Ellen Houghton was a forty eight year old woman who lived on Tusmore Street, Rotherham with her husband and her eight year old son called Maurice. No one knew the reason why in January 1922, she decided to end her own life and take her beloved son with her. Ellen had run an ice cream business which she sold from a stall in Rotherham Market. The business was doing alright, but it would be fair to say that Ellen had no business head on her shoulders. Consequently she continually worried about money, and whether the family would be able to manage just on her husbands wages as a labourer in order to survive the winter.
It affected her so much that she became terribly depressed. On top of this, poor Ellen had also been subject to terrible headaches, no doubt due to her constant worrying and gradually she became more and more morose. Whatever the reason, at 8 pm on Sunday 8 January she took Maurice by the hand and they went to visit her sister Eliza. However when the reached the house, Eliza was not at home, so they walked back towards Effingham Square, where mother and child boarded a tram which took them to Parkgate. When they got off the tram, Ellen told Maurice ‘I am going down here to do something.’ Still holding him by the hand they walked together to the side of the canal.
Mother and child stood at the edge of the water contemplating its murky depths, when suddenly and without warning she jumped into the water pulling Maurice with her. As she hit the water she automatically screamed at its icy depth. Thankfully her screams were heard by two brothers Harry Swift aged thirty years and his younger brother Ben aged nineteen. They were passing over the canal at the Rotherham Road Bridge. They ran towards the tow path from where the screams had emanated and there they saw two bodies in the water about eight yards away. Harry Swift saw his brother Ben immediately jump into the water and he did the same.
He swam towards the two figures and as he got close he felt the woman reach out for him. Emma took hold of Harry as he dragged her towards the edge of the canal. At some point she became unconscious and he had the greatest difficulty in pulling her out of the water. Then he saw his brother had taken hold of the young boy. Ben managed to get Maurice out of the water, but both men now saw that the woman, whose name they did not know, lay unconscious on the towpath.
Harry ran for a constable, whilst his brother did what he could to help the woman and the boy.
When Ben returned, he had with him Police Constable Green who he had found on duty in Parkgate. Thankfully by this time, the woman was beginning to come around. When P C Green asked her name, Ellen gave it to him, but she cried piteously as she said ‘I am sorry I got into this state, I am very depressed and have been for a month or more. The business worries me and I went in the water with the purpose of putting an end to it all.’ Ellen was removed to the Parkgate Police Station. To her complete shock she was charged with not only trying to commit suicide, but also on the more serious crime of attempting to murder her son, Maurice.
Upon hearing this, Ellen cried as she told the arresting officer that she did not want to kill her son. Nevertheless, on Tuesday 10 January 1922 Ellen was brought before the Rotherham Borough Court where it was reported that the prisoner had to be assisted into the courtroom by a police matron. Throughout the hearing of the evidence, she appeared to be in great distress. Holding a handkerchief to her face, she listened in horror at the events taking place before her. The Chief Constable prosecuted the case, and he relayed the gallant rescue which had taken place. PC Green told the court that thankfully the boy was now out of danger and was recovering well.
The bench consulted for a while before remanding the prisoner to Armley Gaol for eight days.
On Wednesday 18 January 1922 Ellen was brought back into court, where the first witness was her own son Maurice. The boy appeared to be very mature for his age as he gave his evidence, continually looking at his mother for re-assurance as he did so. He described the tram ride with her, before she jumped into the water pulling him in with her. The next witness was Harry Swift who told the court that he lived at Gratton Street, Kimberworth and worked as a carter. He described the rescue and said that when they saw the woman and the boy struggling in the water there was no hesitation.
He described how the prisoner had grasped him by his neck tie and he had the greatest difficulty in getting her to let go. His brother Ben then told the court that he worked as a miner and lived on St John’s Avenue, Rotherham. He corroborated his brother’s account in every detail. Then the court went completely silent as Ellen’s husband stepped forward to give his evidence. He gave his name as George Houghton and he stated that his wife Ellen had never been in any trouble before. The witness categorically said that she had never spoken to him about wanted to commit suicide, although he knew that lately she had been troubled in her mind.
In answer to one of the magistrates he said there had been no domestic troubles that he was aware of, and that as far as the family was concerned, Ellen had always been a good wife and mother. The witness said that they had always lived companionably together so this had been a total shock to him, as it had completely come out of the blue. George Houghton said that his wife ran the ice cream business well and there had been no financial debts to account for making her want to take such a drastic step as this. Finally the two Swift brothers were re-called back into court before the magistrate, Mr Hastings then addressed them and complimented them on their brave actions.
He told them:
‘I have to say that as soon as you heard the screams, you rushed to the canal and without the slightest hesitation jumped into the water, notwithstanding the cold weather. In that way you were able to bring the woman and the boy safely to the bank. I have do doubt that your heroic deed will be brought before the notice of the Royal Humane Society. I trust with the result that your bravery will be acknowledged by them.’
Ellen Houghton was brought before Commissioner, Mr A J Ashton at the West Riding Assizes at Leeds on Thursday 16 March 1922 where she was described as being ‘a frail looking woman.’ Mr Paley Scott prosecuted the case and he described the events which had taken place. He described the two young men who had risked their lives to save the woman and the boy as being ‘two men of courage and resource.’ They were the first witnesses and were followed by PC Green. He told the court that the female prisoner had always been a most respectable woman who appeared to have a happy and contented home life.
Then an unnamed Police Surgeon told the Grand Jury that the prisoner had suffered from acute mental depression and loss of memory whilst she had been in custody in Armley Gaol. He said that in his opinion she did not quite know what she was doing at the time. Then incredibly, it was turn for little Maurice Houghton to give his evidence, where he was described as being ‘a rosy cheeked little boy of eight.’ Looking older than his years, the young witness seemed bright and intelligent for his age. To put him at his ease, Mr Commissioner Ashton moved nearer to him.
The boy described what had happened and said that his mother ‘looked funny’ at the time. He said how he cried out when he was pulled into the water, but he did not remember anything else.
The jury took quite some time to deliberate on this most difficult case as it was later confirmed that they could not bring in a majority verdict. Finally they succeeded in returning a verdict that Ellen Houghton was not guilty of the charge of attempted murder, but she was guilty of attempting suicide. They also adding a strong recommendation for mercy. Thankfully the Commissioner also took the same view, as he told Ellen that she would be bound over for twelve months.
Thankfully, the two Swift brothers’ courage was also not forgotten. On the evening of Friday 28 April 1922 the Mayoress of Rotherham, Mrs K W Fieldsend presented them both with Certificates from the Royal Humane Society. It was stated that at the point that the two young men entered the water to save mother and son, the canal was, seven feet deep and 60 feet wide. The newspaper reported said that ‘great credit was due to the rescuers, who in addition to the certificates had each been awarded £1 each.’ So ends the tragic story of Ellen Houghton, it is hoped that she lived out the rest of her life free from worry with her beloved son Maurice.