I always like to highlight the great things some of your ancestors may have done. Today here's a look at Arthur Harry Corby and Charles Bonny whose determination and quick thinking ensured that a child molester was brought to justice.
The incident occurred in the Spring of 1903. Arthur and Charles were in a relatively new partnership together as coach builders. They were already doing well having supplied the water company and a while later would beat other older firms to win the contract to build a new sewage cart for Marlow too. Their workshop was in Prospect Road a short distance from Arthur's family home in the same street.
Whilst working one afternoon Arthur noticed two children on the nearby footpath on Hanging Hill (alongside the allotments now) collecting flowers. Walking towards them with an umbrella was a man. A horrified Corby saw the man apparently feign the dropping of his umbrella near one of the children Annie Davis, so as to have excuse to pause by her. It then appeared that he "interfered" with her. She struggled from his grip and fled in great distress to Corby and Bonny's workshop. The man adjusted his clothing and continued his way up the path towards Bovingdon Green. Bonny took the girl inside their premises where Corby sought confirmation from her of his suspicions that she had been attacked. While Bonny took Annie home to her mother Corby flew off in pursuit of the offender.
As soon as the child was safe Bonny joined the chase. They caught up with the man, later revealed as a James Pauley, in the stable of the Royal Oak pub at Bovingdon Green. He refused to come with them back to Marlow but strong arm tactics meant he had no chance of escape. They hauled him back to their workshop where they held him while Annie's father went for Sergeant Crook. In the meantime Bonny let him know if it was up to him he would be shot! Pauley tried to feign drunkenness as an excuse for his behaviour.
The judge was having none of that excuse and a sentence of 9 months hard labour was imposed.
Despite their success the partnership between Corby and Bonny broke up within months. The reason is not known by me.
Background:
Arthur Harry Corby was born in Marlow in 1873 to Ambrose and Harriet Corby. He grew up in Prospect Place which in it's early days was called Marefield Place. The historic homes there no longer exist. He became a wheelwright as a teenager before starting the coach building business. In 1903 he and his wife Ada and toddler son Frederick lived with his widowed father Ambrose, a bootmaker. He later lived as well as worked in Prospect Road.
In 1912 he was again a witness in a court when he found one of his Prospect Road neighbours dead in bed. Arthur appeared as a witness at the coroner's inquest.
He himself died in 1957.
Charles Bonny spent his childhood in Canada though his parents were of English origin. He returned to England to live with his maternal grandfather Robert Shaw the Marlow boat builder by the time of the 1901 census. They lived down by Marlow Bridge and Charles was listed as a coach builder then. Following the break up of his partnership with Corby he returned to Canada.
Annie Davis was 9 at the time of the attack. She was the daughter of George and Louisa Davis. She later became a dressmaker. I think she married. George and Louisa suffered another sad event when their disabled young lodger committed suicide - you can read more here
For a post about another local hero, poverty campaigner Andrew Mearns see here
To find every mention of an ancestor on this blog use the Person Index option on the drop down menu. Hundreds of people are mentioned.
Researched and written by Charlotte Day with additional research by Kathryn Day.
©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this research for family or local history purposes. Please give credit to this blog if quoting from this research and link here so that my sources remain credited for the information they provided.
Sources included:
Canada passenger lists at National Library of Canada.
Canadian census from the LDS family search website accessed August 2020.
Other census returns my transcription from census page images on microfilm.
South Bucks Standard 15th May and 3rd July 1903. Paper at the British Library, via BNA. Accessed August 2020.
Great Marlow Parish Registers. Old transcription of mine.
GRO death index on their website, accessed August 2020
No comments:
Post a Comment