Burnham.
Extraordinary outrage at Burnham.
Mysterious breaking of Mr A Rome’s windows.
Mr and Mrs A Rome, of Burnham-on-Crouch, have been victims of an extraordinary outrage. On Friday two or three panes of glass were broken in their front room windows, facing the Quay, presumably by stones from a catapult.
During Saturday the smashing of several other panes in the back room windows continued, until at length the town crier was sent round offering a reward for the discovery of the person who had committed the damage.
Instead of improving after this, matters were considerably worse, and in the evening pane after pane was crashed. A crowd assembled round the house, but the work of destruction still went on. All the gardens in the neighbourhood were carefully searched by P.s. Kingbury and others, and the Baptist Chapel, the Schools, the Clock Tower, and other places were examined, but all without result.
Stones of all sorts and sizes were picked up in the yard.
During the Saturday both Mr and Mrs Rome, as well as their servant, were struck with missiles. Just before 12 o’clock at night the bombardment ceased, but it was renewed on Sunday morning, when half a dozen other windows were broken.
A remarkable thing is that (with one exception) all the broken panes are in ground floor windows, while the windows face entirely opposite directions. The total number of panes broken is about 30. The outrage is entirely unaccountable, because Mr and Mrs Rome are the most respected inhabitants of the town, and it is inconceivable that anybody can have spite against them. Naturally this continued persecution is causing them much worry.
Chelmsford Chronicle, 22nd June 1900.
Extraordinary affair at Burnham.
House bombarded with stones.
Where did they come from?
The inhabitants of Burnham-on-Crouch have been much perturbed during the last few days by a most peculiar and mysterious occurrence. It took place at the house of Mr and Mrs A Rome, which stands in the centre of a small garden and faces the Quay. Mr and Mrs Rome, both of whom are over eighty years of age, are greatly respected in the town, where they have resided for very many years; and no motive can be assigned for the persecution they have suffered. Mr Rome was the first member of the Essex Constabulary ever stationed at Burnham; and for a long period, before retiring from the Force, he held the rank of Inspector.
It appears that towards the latter end of last week some panes of glass were broken in one of the front room windows; and it was presumed that this had been done by stones from a catapult. During Saturday other panes in the back room windows were broken; and, although a careful watch was kept, no one could see where the stones came from. More panes were broken at intervals; and eventually the Town Crier was sent round, offering a reward for the discovery of the person or persons who had committed the damage. This did not, however, have the desired effect. Indeed, matters became worse; and stones continued to be hurled at the windows from entirely different directions. During the day both Mr and Mrs Rome were struck by stones whilst sitting in the house.
The climax was reached on Saturday evening, when the “bombardment” was resumed. A large and excited crowd of people assembled outside the house, and everything possible was done to detect the culprit. All the gardens in the neighbourhood were carefully searched by P.s. Kingsbury and others; and the Baptist Chapel, the Schools, and other buildings, as well as the Clock Tower, were explored by some of the inhabitants who thought that, possibly, the stones might have been “shot” at the house by some person concealed in one of those places. But the search proved fruitless; and, even whilst numbers of people were standing int he garden outside the house, more stones were thrown and struck the windows; yet the people were unable to see where the stones came from!
It was not until a late hour that the annoyance ceased. About thirty panes were broken in all; and, with one or two exceptions, all the broken panes were in windows on the ground floor. In addition to the stones, some oyster shells and pieces of tile were thrown at the windows.
Needless to say, the matter gave rise to many theories; and there were those who, for the want of a better explanation, suggested that the damage had been done by a spirit! For the present, the matter remains a mystery; but in the hope of obtaining an elucidation of it, a reward of £10 has been offered.
In a chat with our representative on Wednesday, Mr Rome bore out the above statement, and mentioned that some more stones were thrown into the house on Tuesday. One or two of them fell against his eldest son, Mr William Rome, whilst he was writing at a desk.
Replying to inquiries, Mr Rome, sen., said he was unable to account for the strange affair. He mentioned the name of a well-known gentleman, who, he stated, was firmly convinced that the stones were thrown at the windows from inside the house. He also said it had been suggested that the stones were thrown by a young domestic servant engaged at the house; but she had emphatically denied that she did it. He had no reason to doubt her word, as during the several months that the girl had been engaged at the house, he and his wife had found her truthful and reliable. Mr Rome was highly indignant at certain suggestions put about the town to the effect that the damage was done by one of his sons.
Mr Rome has now had wire frames placed over several of the windows.
Essex Weekly News, 22nd June 1900.
Stone Throwing Mystery.
Supposed solution.
The mysterious stone throwing at the house of Mr A Rome, Burnham-on-Crouch, was resumed towards the end of last week, but as most of the windows have now been covered with wire netting, little or no damage was done.
Mr and Mrs Rome have become so familiarised with the bombardment that they did not take much notice at the resumption, although stones passed through the doorway. The stones were picked up and placed on a shelf in the outer kitchen, and here Mr Wm. Barker, who had been struck by the extraordinary direction from which they must have come, marked them with lead pencil.
On Friday evening after a cannonade the missiles were picked up, and were found to be those which had been marked.
In consequence of this and other circumstances, Mr and Mrs Rome have taken a certain step, and they have not been troubled since.
Chelmsford Chronicle, 6th July 1900.