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Nellie
died on the evening of Thursday, 29 October 1908, and
the preceding events of that day, morning and afternoon,
were an acceleration and culmination of her boyfriend's
festering thoughts, his bitterness at a waning
relationship. Her death was no spur of the moment,
unplanned, unforeseen tragedy. Horace Larter had
made his mind up.
The victim's
last journey began by tram from Bank Plain. The
Agricultural Hall is on the right.
On the
morning of that day, he told George Howard
(co-incidental name), a cabman on the rank opposite the
Agricultural Hall, that he was having a day off to see
his sweetheart and he got the cabman to look after his
stall while he went into London Street to buy a box of
chocolates. He also went to the cutler's shop of
Pearsons in Bedford Street where he purchased a heavy
spear-pointed clasp knife.
Nellie
had that morning received a letter from Larter inviting
her to meet him in Norwich, little knowing its dreadful
implication. A portion found by the police reads:
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So if we are to part we can
part the very best of friends so do come up, and
we can go to the exhibition together. Hope
to meet you at two o'clock as I shall come to
meet you. So do come up if for the last
time. Glad you like my chocolates.
So do come up to Norwich for the sake of the
time we have had. Hope you have time to write.
My mother would like to see you Thursday, as
father is out, and with my affectionate love to
you, I remain, Horace.
I shall come if you have not
time to write, so I shall meet you coming along.
Start at two. |
Letters from Nellie to Larter were found in his bedroom,
the last, dated 19 October, reads:
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My Dear Horace, just a few
lines to let you know that I arrived home safe
last Wednesday night. Hoping these few
lines will find you well as I am not going out
to service just yet, but I may come up to see
you for the day, that is, if you wish me too.
You promised me you would send me that ring but
you have not fulfilled your promise yet.
Dear Horace, I should very much like to have
some chocolate, as I have not had any off you
lately. It will be a treat for you to send
me some. Mabel sends her best respects to
you. Give my love to your mother. I
now close with fondest love to you - I remain,
your loving sweetheart,
Nellie |
This
letter hardly points to a disrupted love affair and
imminent separation, yet that is how Larter saw their
association.
Early
in the afternoon of her last day Nellie bid her
grandfather goodbye and set off walking to Norwich.
At two forty-five Larter boarded a tram in Magdalen
Street and drew attention when he threw a 'stick' he was
carrying at the side of the tram, following which he
went to the footboard in an excited state. The
conductor asked him to stand inside the tram and he
obliged, saying, `Oh dear! I've been on the juice for
three days.'
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