The Adelaide Arcade - Part V:
Anglo The Murderer
On 27 February 1904, Florence Horton was shot dead in Rundle Street near the entrance to Adelaide Arcade. Her murder was committed by her husband, Thomas Horton, better known to Adelaide audiences as "Anglo the Juggler."
Moments before the shooting, Mrs Horton had been walking
through Rundle Street with two friends when her husband, from whom she had
separated only two weeks earlier, approached from behind. He asked her to
accompany him down a nearby lane, claiming he had a present for her. Florence
refused.
Thomas then asked one of her companions
to persuade his wife to go with him. Florence responded with chilling words
that would soon prove prophetic: "I'm not going down there with you. The
present you've got for me is a bullet."
Standing behind her, Horton drew a revolver from his hip
pocket and fired three shots into her back. Mrs Horton staggered from the
roadway onto the pavement before collapsing. She was carried into Solomon's
Tobacco Shop within Adelaide Arcade where, according to reports, she uttered
her final words: "My God."
As soon as he had shot his wife, Thomas Horton fled down
Charles Street towards North Terrace. Several men pursued him, but he managed
to escape.
An official police report was published in The Advertiser,
Monday 29 February 1904, page 5
"Sub-Inspector Burchell reports that about 9.15 pm
on Saturday Florence Horton, aged about 22 or 23 years, who resided with her
mother, Mrs Lovell, at No. 15, Rundle Street, Kent Town, was shot dead by her
husband. Thomas Horton, in Rundle-street, Adelaide, opposite the corner of
Charles Street. Horton is a shoemaker by trade and resides with his mother at
Chief-street, Brompton, and he was aged about 24 years. He fired at his wife's
back, and after doing the deed bolted, through Charles-street to North-terrace.
A lot of young fellows followed him but did not succeed in catching him.
Mrs.Horton at the time of the occurrence was walking between two young
women—Nellie Linnett, single woman, residing with her parents at No. 3,
O'Halloran street, and Bella Smith, single woman, residing with her parents at
49, Gilbert-street. The Hortons were married on November 5, 1903, and resided
in a little street off Carrington street east until about a fortnight ago, when
she left him and went home to her mother, in consequence of threats used by her
husband towards her. Dr J. C. Verco, of North-terrace, was called and examined
the deceased, who had been taken into a shop in the Arcade. The body was
subsequently removed to the city morgue."
There is a considerable amount of information available
through contemporary newspaper reports detailing the tragic events that led to
Florence Horton's murder. The following summary brings together some of the
most significant details reported at the time.
Thomas Horton was a well-known Adelaide entertainer who
performed under the stage name "Anglo the Juggler." Prior to his
marriage to Florence, he had been married to Julia Chapman and had fathered
three children. Following Julia's death, two of the children were adopted by
his step-sister, while the youngest daughter was cared for by his mother.
Thomas's family history was troubled. His father died in the
Parkside Lunatic Asylum, and his mother had also spent time there as a patient.
As a child, Thomas reportedly suffered both severe heatstroke and a significant
head injury after falling from a tree approximately thirteen feet high. He was
also illiterate and had a pronounced stutter.
Florence Horton (née Lovell) had a child
from a previous relationship and remained on friendly terms with the child's
father.
Thomas married Florence on 5 November 1903. The couple established their home
in McLaren Street, which runs off Hutt Street in Adelaide's south-east. Unfortunately,
the marriage quickly deteriorated.
Contemporary reports suggest Thomas became obsessively
jealous of Florence's continued friendship with the father of her child and
convinced himself that the pair were involved in a relationship behind his
back.
According to witness testimony and
Florence's own written statements, these suspicions fuelled a campaign of
intimidation, violence, and abuse. Evidence provided by Florence's friends,
Nellie Linnett and Bella Smith, together with Florence's own written testimony,
paints a disturbing picture of the final months of her life.
A letter written by Florence Horton was published in The
Advertiser, Monday 29 February 1904
I am writing this letter in case of anything happening to
me (Mrs. Horton). If ever such a thing happens me it will be by no other hand
than Mr Horton. He has threatened my lifetimes out of number for no just cause.
We were married on November 5, 1903. The same night he accused me of adultery
with his mate ——, who was at the wedding. I am admitting I had a child before
marriage, but he knew everything beforehand. He wanted me to give her away, and
I did not think it was a right thing to do. If I was to be a mother to his
three children I thought he could be a father to one of mine. I told him I
would not get married on those conditions, so he decided to take her.
On the nineteenth of November two lady friends, came to see me. They knew he
was brewing for a row, so they went. He had me by myself. Then he made the most
cruel accusations. One was that I let the green-grocer come to the door and let
him take me in the bedroom—instead of paying him. On November 27, 1903, I went
to town, intending to go to Dr. ——, but changed my mind when I got in town. I
told Mr. Horton I was suffering from severe pains and had a good mind to go to
the doctor. The answer I got was that he 'was not going to have a doctor
pulling his wife about. They all do what they like to the women.' On the Friday
fortnight before Christmas, as near as I can remember, he came home from work.
I was lying down. He asked me if I had just let a man out of the back when he
came in the front. I said, 'No, but if I had the name I would have the game.'
He told me to go to bed, as he had sent for a doctor. Dr Bonnin, of Hind-marsh,
attended me for just on a fortnight. I was in bed over a fortnight. He came up to
town on Saturday, then came home and started a row. I was too weak to row with
him, so I said nothing. He got worse. He told me that every time he went out he
got hold of a nice little girl and had all he wanted. I made no answer at
first. Then he said, 'Why don't you answer me? Why don't you tell me you have
men in the house when I am, at work? I am not frightened of you. I have got my
pretty woman.' So I said,'Good luck to you; have as many as you like. I don't
care. And when you have got cause to accuse me of such things you are quite at
liberty to do so; but not before. I'll leave you first.' Then he said he did
not mean it, and asked me to look over it, so l did. Then he would not let me
go to my own people's place without him, or to do any shopping. He would say,
'Where did you go? Did you stop long? Was it an old or young man? Did he have
much, to say?' I said, 'Do you think everyone is like you?' He said, 'I'd, get
another man like him.'
On December 28; 1903, I was in bed asleep, when I heard a bottle go smash. It woke me. I asked him what he was doing. He said, 'A bottle fell down.' Just on that, another went smash. He said, 'That will keep you awake.' I said, 'You had better be careful, or perhaps I can smash too. Don't you think you can frighten me.' With that, he rushed into me, caught me by the throat, and left marks of his fingers, which his own mother has seen. He said he would never do it again if I let him off. So I did.
On December 23, 1903, I went to Hicks' grocer's shop at the corner of Compton and Wright streets, with some coupons in the afternoon. Took one of his children with me, and left him with the two younger ones, which he was quite willing I should do. I caught the quarter to 4 tram from Bowden, and went the shortest way to Hicks'. My brother waited on me. I told him I was going out to see mother. So he said, 'Leave the parcel and I'll take it out for you." I got out home about 5.30. By 7 o'clock Horton was out after me. He said he came to help me with the parcel. As soon as we got out of the train at Bowden he told me he had 'foxed' me everywhere. 'You never went near Hicks', but straight into a brothel. I'll blow your brains out when you get home. Just as I got in the door—his mother was minding the children he left home—he said, 'Mother, I have caught her this time going in a brothel.' I could not stand it any longer, so I hit him first on that occasion. But he soon sent me senseless to the ground. He promised to be everything a woman could look for if I didn't summons him. I said, 'No;' but his mother begged me to stop. I gave him another trial. Then his mother said she could not put up with him any longer, and he would have to go out of her house. But he wouldn't. Next, she sent a lawyer's letter to him to go. Still, he would not. I said I would go without him.
On that, one of Singer's machine travellers came round. I
wanted one, so I took it in and was to pay the deposit in a fortnight's time.
Horton came home and saw the machine, and wanted to know what it was doing
there. I said I was thinking of having it. He said, 'Where did you get the
deposit?' I said, 'You had better ask him when he comes again and your mother
as well.' Then we moved into town to McLaren-street, off Regent-street,
Adelaide. The machine did not exactly suit, so I told the gentleman when he came.
He said, 'Come round and pick one for yourself. 'But I could not leave the
children. I told Mr. Horton that he had asked me to go and pick one that would
suit. That stirred him up again for the time. He said he was not going to have
a butcher, baker, or green-grocer, or grocer calling at the house. I said,
'What about the milkman?' He said 'I'll get one that calls before I go to work,
and I'll take it myself.' I said, 'I was not going to go out shopping when I
could get served nearly as cheap at the door.' Then things went on all right
till January 25,1904. I said I was going to the races with my sister and would
take two children with me. He was willing to go. Then his mother came up, and
about 1 o'clock my sister came. Then his mother went, and Horton followed her
to the door and asked her for some money. She would not give it to him, so he
came in and we had dinner. After that, I went to clean the children. He said,
'You need not take them; I'll mind them for you, and we will go out together
tonight.' I did not say no to that. So I cleaned myself, and he came into the
bedroom and said. 'What time will you be home?' I said, 'After the races are
over.' Then I went to get my hat, which was missing. I asked him, where it was,
and he said he had not seen it. That caused a fair row. I knew he had locked it
up in his trunk. I said I would batter it up with the axe, which I tried, but I
failed. About 6 o'clock my sister went. We had tea, and things got a bit quiet
till10 o'clock. He said, 'You wait till the turn of 12, and everybody's in bed.
I'll shoot you stone dead.' He knocked me right and left till I was senseless.
I did not wake till morning. I looked over it, or he would not have got to
work.
We went on all right till January 30, 1904. That Saturday night we went up the
street together. Going home we saw the father of my child. He said, 'There goes
Tot's father. ' I said, 'Good luck to him.' He said, 'Curse him.' I said, 'He
has done you no harm. When he has, it is time for you to curse him.' Then he
said, 'Don't you wish you had him instead of me?' I said, 'I would be better
off if I did I would not get knocked about, and accused of things you accuse me
of." I said, 'You have no right to mention this sort of thing if I don't?'
There was no more said till we got home and in bed. He said,'Now I've got you,
I'm going to bring men down for you, and knock off work and make you keep me.'
I said, 'You won't get the chance; I am going to leave you. Then you can get
whom you like to keep you.' He said, "Where will you go to?' I said 'Home
to my mother's.'He said, 'Your mother will not have you or your kid.' Then I
pushed him out of bed. He put the lamp out and kept punching at my head and
face till I fainted. When I came to he said, 'Would you like some more?' I
said, 'It wouldn't be well for you. I will call for assistance.' He said,
"I will stun you" then I will be able to do what I like. I have only
got to die once.' Then he started punching again till I had to call for help,
but no one came.' He said,'Shut up, or l'll punch your brains in.' I sang out
again. He gave me three knocks in the left ear. I do not remember any more till
morning. When I woke I could not move. My lip was cut and swollen,and I was
black and blue on the head and chest and arm. He asked me to forgive him. I
said, 'Never as long as I live. I am going to leave you today.' Then he locked
all the windows and doors, and took away all my clothes. I knew I could not get
away while he was in the house, so I said, 'I will look it over,' to get him to
go to work while I cleared out, as I think I was mad if I put up with it any
longer. So I managed it all right, and am deter-mined never to go back to risk
my life. He said he would torture my eyes, and then he would shoot me dead, and
put the revolver in my hand, and they would think I did it; or he would make
out that he was very sorry when it was found out that I was shot and swear we
lived happy. Any-body who knows us knows different. And say, 'The only one who
had me set through jealousy was ——.' I have got in my possession four
cartridges and things to take the place of a revolver I managed to get from
him. Then he said he would drive me to Torrens, and push me in, and then sing
out for help and say I did it myself. So I think I could not do any worse than
write this letter in case of anything happening. I think you could get further
particulars at the Hindmarsh police-station, because his own mother has been to
the station several times for protection and also Mrs. Ashby, the lawyer, knows
a good bit. His mother told me he would do for me. He has accused Dr. —— of
misconduct with me also the gentleman who delivered the machine; even to the
young grocer boy, who is about 17 years of age. He has threatened me to my
face, and my sister, my several friends, who if necessary will gladly appear if
anything happens me. This letter is for the protection of myself and others,
who he said he would blame for it. It will be by no other than Mr. Thomas
Horton, false name Anglo, the juggler, Chief-street, Brompton, late
McLaren-street off Regent-street, Adelaide. This letter will be produced on
sudden death. Others will not suffer for him.
There would never be any trouble with him. I would never do risky work, such
as murdering someone, and draw false will,and me to sign it, or let him start
making false coins and me say nothing about it. He said he would do anything
for money, and if he gets caught he would make out he was mad. I was to say the
same. But I said I would report any false work he started. He held me down with
a knife, but I got away from him. Then he said he would give me an overdose of
ether, and go for the police, and swear he found me like it. I hop if anything
does happen, and you read this letter, that you won't bring it in that I am in
an unsound mind. Everything I have written is true,and I know what I am doing.
I am get-ting two witnesses to sign this letter as soon as I have written it,
and will leave it in the possession of Miss Nellie Linnett, 0'Halloran street
off Gilbert-street, Adelaide. The murderer will be Mr. Thomas Horton, juggler,
at present living in McLaren, otherwise Mr. Anglo, off Regent-street, Adelaide.
Witnesses (no names are given).—I am, believe me, Mrs T. F. Horton. In sound
mind. 2/2/1904."
The letter reveals a woman living in constant fear.
Throughout its pages, Florence documented repeated threats, assaults,
accusations, and acts of intimidation. Most chilling of all, she explicitly
named Thomas Horton as the person she believed would eventually kill her.
Tragically, her fears proved justified. Long before the
revolver was produced in Rundle Street, Florence had already placed on record
the dangers she believed she faced. The three shots fired outside Adelaide
Arcade merely brought to a tragic conclusion a story that had begun months
earlier behind closed doors.
Next Week:
Adelaide Arcade - Part VI: Horton Hears His Punishment
Featuring the post-mortem examination of Florence Horton,
the capture of Thomas Horton, and the punishment handed down to Adelaide's
infamous "Anglo the Juggler."
© 2012 The Haunts of Adelaide
Written and researched by
Allen Tiller
Great to read thank you Allan.
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