A Drama of Unwanted Affection

In 1936, a Toxteth man who pursued a woman who wanted no more to do with him was punched by a male friend of hers and died two days later. The other man was charged with manslaughter but acquitted after a trial. 

George Fowler and Elsie Molyneux courted for a few years before parting company in 1933. Three years later, George made contact again, and Elsie agreed to go to a concert with him for one night only. They did this on Friday 16th October and after returning home to Kingsley Road, she asked a family friend, Francis Rainsford, to go to see George, who lived with his parents in Northbrook Street, and tell him not to contact her again. 

George's grave in Toxteth Park Cemetery
(photo Patricia Heaps)

The following evening, George, a van driver, was back at Elsie's and Rainsford went out to confront him. He was heard to shout "Can't you see you are not wanted. You have asked for trouble and will get it." He then punched, George, who then fell unconscious backwards into the road.

Fowler was taken to the Southern Hospital where he remained in a critical condition with a cerebral haemorrhage.  Rainsford was located by detectives in Knotty Ash the following night. On being arrested he said "I still say this, I haven't done anything to be ashamed of."

Dock labourer Rainsford appeared before magistrates charged with grievous bodily harm on the Monday morning and was remanded in custody for 24 hours. At 11pm that night Fowler died, and the following morning the charge was increased to manslaughter, to which Rainsford replied: "It isn't true, that is all." He was then released on bail after offering surety of £60.

On 19th November, Rainsford appeared at the Liverpool Assizes, where he was defended by Walter Stein. Giving evidence, Miss Molyneux said that she agreed to go out once due to George's pleading with her, then went on to say "I told Frank to say that he was my young man. I knew that could never be but I thought that could influence Fowler." She described how when he came back despite having been warned to stay away, his manner was wild and it made her afraid.

Daily Post 20th November 1936

James Dible, Professor of Pathology at the University of Liverpool, said that the cause of death was laceration of the brain resulting from a fractured skull. He said that George had an unusually thin skull, making it more liable to fracture. Cross examined by Mr Stein, he acknowledged that if the skull was normal, death might not have taken place. Rainsford then gave evidence himself, saying that George was drunk and had the attitude of a dangerous man. Of the moment the blow was struck, he said "He half drew his hand from his right pocket, I thought he was about to strike me so I struck him a light blow in the chest and said 'Stop your fooling'. My only object was to protect myself. I had no intention of harming him and was surprised when he fell."

Addressing the jury, Mr Stein said "This unfortunate episode is a poignant drama of thwarted affection on the part of Fowler. He was admittedly in love with the girl but she did not want him. He persisted in forcing his attentions on her and she called for the aid of her friend, Rainsford, to tell him not to come any more." After a short deliberation, the jury found Rainsford not guilty and he was discharged from the dock.