At a nice, middle class home on Glossop Road, Sheffield on morning of Saturday 17 June 1905 a domestic tragedy was slowly unfolding. The occupants of the house were Mrs Clara Turnbull, her mother Harriet and Clara’s sister, forty-six year old Madeline Aspinall. Harriet Aspinall was a widow aged seventy-six years and it seems that her mental health had given cause for much anxiety during the past few years. She had been staying in Manchester when she was taken ill two years previously in 1903, so Clara had invited her to come to live with her in Sheffield. Although Clara had been married and Madeline was single, both had been trained nurses, so they were well capable of taking care of their aged mother.

Sadly however, Harriet’s mental condition had declined to such a point that on Thursday 15 June a decision had been taken to remove her to Wadsley Asylum the following Saturday. So that morning when Clara entered the bedroom which Harriet shared with Madeline, she got a horrible shock. She was unable to rouse either of them from sleep. It appeared that her mother was practically comatose and did not respond to her daughter shaking her. Madeline was slightly easier to rouse, but almost as soon as she had recovered, she became quite hysterical. Two doctors, Hall and Broadley were immediately called in to see to them both.

Only after the doctors arrived did they find that both women were suffering from the effects of laudanum poisoning. Madeline was in a much more serious condition than that of her elderly mother. The previous night it seems that the fact that she was soon to be parted from her had preyed on Madeline’s mind. She had passionately exclaimed to her sister Clara ‘If she has to go away I will do it, I will kill myself rather than let her go.’ Madeline had attempted to commit suicide by taking laudanum, but had taken such a large amount, that its effects were nullified, thereby causing her to vomit copiously.

The family doctor Dr Favell was called and he arrived around 3 pm. As a result of his examination, both women were swiftly taken to the hospital. Soon after this, the doctor was obliged to ring the police to report what had happened at the house. Accordingly Madeline, who had by now recovered from her ordeal, was arrested. She was charged with attempting to kill herself (which was a crime in those days) and the attempted murder of her mother. As soon as she was well enough to leave the hospital on Monday 19 June, Madeline was conveyed to the Central Police Station in Sheffield, where she readily admitted what had happened.

Sadly, Harriet had died that same morning at 5 am, just a few hours before her daughter was brought before the Sheffield magistrates at the Police Court. However it was quite clear that the prisoner was in such an agitated state that she was not placed in the dock, but was seated in a chair in the body of the court, under the close supervision of a female warder. Superintendent Detective Moody prosecuted the case, but he simply asked for a remand to the following Monday, due to the fragile mental state of the prisoner. He also informed the court that an inquest on Harriet Aspinall was due to be held the following day, so the remand was agreed.

Later, that same day Clara Turnbull was interviewed by a local newspaper reporter. She stated that her sister Madeline had always been the emotional one in the family and it was not the first time she had tried to end her life. Clara told the reporter that Madeline’s instability had proved to be of a more violent nature. However she claimed that she had always displayed a deep affection for both her mother and her sister. The inquest on Mrs Harriet Aspinall was held at the West End Hotel on Glossop Road by Coroner, Mr D Wightman on Tuesday 20 June. Madeline did not attend the inquest, but was represented by a local solicitor, Mr Arthur Neal.

Dr Broadley told the inquest that on his arrival he had found Mrs Aspinall in a comatose condition and almost dead, while Madeline was now awake but in a very hysterical state. She had told him that on Friday night, the 16 June at 9 pm she had given her mother four drams of laudanum and had taken the rest of the bottle herself. She told the doctor that she would do it again ‘rather than be separated from her mother.’ The surgeon stated that he had found remains of laudanum in the elderly woman’s stomach and said that without it, she might have lived for some years longer. Dr Broadley concluded therefore that the immediate cause of death was the coma induced by the laudanum.

Another witness was James Street, an assistant at Boots Chemist on Glossop Road, Sheffield who stated that it had been between 3pm and 4pm when Miss Aspinall had bought the laudanum from him. He said that he did not question her as to why she was buying it, as he knew she was a trained nurse. Detective Vollans described arresting the prisoner who, after being told what he was arresting her for, asked him if Harriet was dead? On being told that she wasn’t, the prisoner replied that ‘if mother had been dead, I would have given myself up tonight.’ She was then taken to the Central Police Station and detained in a cell. After hearing from these two witnesses, it was time for the coroner to sum up the case.

Mr Wightman told the jury that their duty was quite clear. After hearing all the evidence they had no option but to send Madeline Aspinall for trial on the charge of wilful murder. There he said ‘the condition of her mind and the whole case, as far as she was concerned, would be considered by a higher tribunal.’ After a short discussion, the jury brought back a verdict that that ‘the deceased had died from laudanum poisoning which had been administered by her daughter Madeline.’ The prisoner was brought before the Sheffield magistrates at the Police Court on Monday 26 June 1905 where she was ordered to take her trial at the next Assizes.

Madeline Aspinall appeared before judge, Mr Justice Jelf at the Summer Assizes held at Leeds Town Hall on Friday 28 July 1905 where she was defended by Mr Waddy. The prisoner was already sobbing as she was brought into the court by two wardresses and placed in the dock. However she soon recovered herself and in what was described as being ‘a husky and halting voice’ she made a plea of not guilty. Prosecution Mr Mellor outlined the case for the grand jury and described the prisoners motives as being ‘passionately fond of her mother.’ He stated that Madeline would sometimes care for her mother for long stretches, which often lasted for as long as 20 hours at a time. He suggested that it must have been very difficult for her as during such times her mother would talk incessantly.

Evidence was again heard from Clara Turnbull and the surgeons involved in the case before Dr Clarke, the medical officer at Wakefield Prison gave his evidence. He stated that Madeline was subject to ‘considerable emotional disturbance and that in his opinion nursing would be the worst kind of career for her. He concluded that ‘in his opinion, although she [the prisoner] knew what she was doing, her judgement was so impaired, and her loss of control so great, that she might not have known that she was doing a wrongful act.’ In his summing up, Mr Justice Jelf stated that ‘this case was one of the most saddest and most pathetic I have ever listened to.’

The jury found that Madeline Aspinall guilty, but added that she was clearly insane when she had committed this terrible act. The judge therefore had no option but to find that ‘the prisoner should be kept in custody as a criminal lunatic until His Majesty’s pleasure should be made known.’