Thomas Bissett and Fanny Wills (Wells) A Victorian Melodrama

Former Police Inspector Shoots Wife and Her Paramour

Around 11am on Saturday 26^th June 1875 several shots were fired inside a house in Pyle Street, Newport. A well known resident was seen staggering from his neighbours' home his face covered in blood. A stranger emerged from the house who fired another shot at his victim. After the police arrived a woman who had been staying with the victim since April emerged. Her face was also covered with blood. She had a broken jaw and would have been in a considerable pain. When the case was heard at the Assizes the jury asked the judge to show leniency. The reason why was due to the actions of the woman stretching back over 20 years. I would like to introduce you to my three times great aunt, Frances Wills.

The events leading to the shootings form a Victorian melodrama. The newspapers dedicated many column inches to the case. This was a crime of passion with a gallant soldier and a disloyal and scheming wife. There was the lover who turned out to be the bigamous husband. He gave evidence portraying himself as an innocent bystander. There was even a posting to one of the hot and sultry corners of the Empire. I have used the newspaper reports to put together the chain of events that led to the shootings on that Summer's day in Newport.

Frances Wills, known as Fanny, was born in Newport in 1829. The press articles about the trial refer to her as Fanny Wells. This is incorrect. Fanny was the daughter of George Wills, a baker, and his second wife Ann Dashwood nee Garnett. Both George and Ann had been widowed and each had children from their earlier marriage. There is not any record of a baptism for Frances. In 1848 Fanny's son, Thomas Pearson Wills, was born in Newport. She married Thomas Pearson Bissett, a soldier, in Portsmouth at the beginning of 1849. In 1851 Fanny and her son were living with George Wills. The census shows Fanny to be married and a seamstress.

Thomas Pearson Bissett was in the 42^nd Regiment of Highlanders. At the time of his marriage the regiment was based at Parkhurst Barracks on the Isle of Wight. He was born n Alloa, Clackmannanshire on 20^th July 1822, the son of Robert Bissett and Elizabeth Wright. Thomas attested at Dundee on the 27^th September 1845. His papers state that he had previously been a groom. In 1848 Thomas had two periods of time in military custody, one of which was for desertion. Although the newspaper reports following the shooting praise Thomas for his military career. The articles also mention Thomas' good character with the majority being biased in his favour.

Frances had a daughter, Clara, who was born in Newport early in 1852. For some reason Clara's birth was registered with the surname Wills. No other surname was entered.

Newspaper reports state that Fanny accompanied Thomas on two overseas postings. The Bermuda posting is listed in Thomas' records. He spent over two years there. According to the reports Fanny's behaviour was so bad that she was sent home. The posting to Demerara mentioned does not show on Thomas' documents. The press reported that Fanny returned home as she was unhappy there.

At this stage it is probably best to introduce James Guy, the third protagonist in this story. According to the census James had been born in Dorset around 1825. In 1846 he married Jane Guy in Whippingham, Isle of Wight. Jane had also been born in Dorset. Their son Frederick was born in 1848. Jane's death was registered in Cowes in 1853. James was a wheelwright. Advertisements in newspapers state that his business was established in 1850. James and Frederick moved to Newport after Jane's death.

Fanny was on the Isle of Wight in Spring 1855 when she married James Guy at the Registrar's Office. In evidence James said that Fanny, along with her children, lived with him for two to three years as his housekeeper before they married. This would mean that they met soon after Jane's death. He also said that Fanny's children were aged about two and four at this time. They would have been these ages around 1854. James claimed he did not ask about the children's father. According to James Fanny told him that she had married a man who already had a wife who was still living. The 1861 Census shows James and Fanny as husband and wife. Fanny was using the surname Guy. Also shown were James' son, Frederick, along with Thomas and Clara Wells. Frederick and Thomas worked as James' assistants.

Thomas Bissett moved to the 72^nd Regiment of Highlanders in 1852. By 1854 he was a sergeant. Despite this his military career was coming to an end. He was invalided out of the army in 1856. Thomas had a problem with his leg which led to him being unfit for military service. He received a pension from the army. The 1861 Census shows a Thomas Bissett born 1824 in Clackmannanshire living in Lanarkshire. This man is described as a coach driver. The 1881 Census for Glasgow shows Thomas' brother, John, to be a coach driver. So, it could well be that he helped Thomas find a job. In 1861 this Thomas was living with Isabella Bissett who was described as his wife. There is not any record of a marriage for Thomas and Isabella. (See updated amendment sheet.) If this is Thomas Bissett it means that he did not enter the Glasgow Police until after 1861. Records for Glasgow Police are available to search at the Mitchell Library. These would give the date on which Thomas became a police officer. He again held the rank of sergeant.

Around 1868 Fanny and James fell out. The argument leading to either one or both of them appearing before the local magistrates. Fanny left James, but returned the following day to collect some items including a watch and chain. According to James Guy it was after this that he was told that Fanny was married to Thomas Bissett. In other evidence it was stated that until 23^rd June 1875 James believed Fanny to be as much his wife as Bissett's. Following this argument Fanny, Thomas jnr and Clara went to Glasgow.

The 1871 Census shows Thomas, Fanny and Clara living in Cowcaddens Street, Barony, Lanarkshire. They are all using the name Bissett with Fanny described as Thomas' wife. Thomas was then an Inspector of Police for the Cumberland, a training ship. Evidence from the trial states that in this role he sometimes had to visit Southampton. Clara was working as a dressmaker. Thomas jnr did not appear but in June 1872 he married Agnes Mcilreath in Glasgow.

James Guy married Jessie Simmonds at St. Thomas' Church, Newport in 1868. At the time of the 1871 Census he was living in Pyle Street, Newport. He was a wheelwright employing eight men and one boy. On the night of the census Jessie was with her parents in Crocker Street. Frederick was living next to James with his wife and children.

Jessie Guy died in October 1874. James claimed in evidence that he had not heard from Fanny since she had left him. In March 1875 he received a message from Fanny through the wife of one of his workmen, Mrs Sarah Hutchings. He was told that she needed money. As the result of which he sent her five shillings worth of stamps. James sent a message to Fanny saying that whilst she remained in Glasgow he would not send her any more money. In a letter from Fanny to Sarah produced in evidence Fanny claimed “bitterly of poverty and bad usage from prisoner, and expressed a strong desire to return to Guy”. Fanny said that she was prepared to travel steerage in order to do so. James did not reply to the letter but sent Fanny a postal order for three pounds to enable her to travel to the Island. James claimed that when Fanny arrived in Newport she looked ill and badly clothed. He reclothed her, inviting her to live in his house as his housekeeper. Whilst Clara remained in Scotland Thomas jnr returned to the Isle of Wight. In evidence James said that he had not given Mrs Hutchings instructions to write to Fanny asking her to return. He also claimed that he did not instigate the anonymous letters two men wrote to Thomas Bissett shortly after Fanny's arrival. Both of these letters told Thomas that his wife (Fanny) was dead.

In 1873 after three years as a drill instructor on the Cumberland Thomas left. He became an inspector with the Glasgow Tramway Company. For two or three months before the incident he had been a patient in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. He was discharged a few days before the shooting. It seems that he had been suffering with his leg again.. Whilst in hospital Thomas' only income was probably his army pension. So, it is likely that he and Fanny were short of money. Before arriving on the Island Thomas Bissett persuaded a gunsmith in London to allow him to purchase two revolvers and ammunition on credit. He did this by explaining his connection to the Cumberland. He later claimed that he had acquired them in Southampton. After his arrest Glasgow Police searched his lodgings and found a bill for seven guineas and eight shillings from a London firm.

On Wednesday 23^rd June James Guy received a letter from Clara. In evidence James pointed out that he had raised Clara. This being supported by the fact that Clara refers to Thomas as “Tom”. In the letter she tells James that “Tom” was on his way to Newport to take Fanny away with him. It seems that James and Fanny quarrelled and James made a “disturbance”. As a consequence of this Amelia Sheath, a neighbour, of James Guy, took Fanny into her house. Fanny spent Wednesday night with Mr and Mrs Sheath. In the week leading up to the shooting a Mrs Woodford had been staying at Guy's house. This seems to be Ellen Woodford of Pyle Street.

Having arrived on the Isle of Wight Thomas went to Cowes to visit his son who was working as an engineer. Thomas spent the Wednesday night with Thomas jnr and his family. As a witness Thomas jnr said that he did not have any reason to suspect his father planned any violence. It was not until after the shooting that he discovered a box of ammunition his father had left behind.

From the evidence various witnesses gave at the magistrates' court and also at the Assizes it is possible to build a picture as to what happened next. I will briefly summarize it here. More details can be found in the many newspaper reports. On Thursday 24^th June a porter from the Bugle Hotel arrived at the Sheaths' with a note for Fanny. In it Thomas asked her to go to him at the hotel. This Fanny did finding Thomas smoking a cigar outside. Thomas asked Fanny how she could have left him and gone “with that man”. Fanny replied that she knew she had “done wrong” and was sorry for having done so. Fanny offered Thomas her hand but he refused to take it. Although he upbraided her several times for leaving him he begged her to return. He asked Fanny if she still had the mark that was said to have been inflicted by James. Thomas told Fanny that he did not wish to hurt her begging her not to leave him. Thomas and Fanny went to the Crown Inn where Amelia Sheath was and asked her to send Fanny's clothes to her there. On the Thursday evening Thomas visited Aaron Sheath at home telling him who he was. The couple spent the Thursday and Friday night the Crown. Whilst visiting Fanny's sister, Sarah Woodford, Thomas said that James had been following him and that he had run away as he did not want a row. Fanny had agreed to go back to Thomas saying that she would go anywhere in the world with him.

On the morning of Saturday 26^th June 1875 Thomas and Fanny walked arm in arm through Newport. They went to the house of Aaron and Amelia Sheath, James Guy's neighbours. Thomas said that he was there to say farewell to them as he was returning to Glasgow. He also said that he had tried unsuccessfully to cash a cheque in Cowes*. He sent out for a quart of beer which they all shared. The articles about the trial differ slightly at this point but the chain of events appear to be as follows. James Guy started calling out to Fanny from the back of the house. Thomas asked if it was James as both he and Fanny wished to talk to him. He said he would write a note. Amelia went out to James. Having found that he had been drinking she told him that both Thomas and Fanny were inside and advised him not to enter. She went back into her own house then went out for a second time telling James that Thomas and Fanny wanted to speak to him. James said that if they wished to do so they should go to his house. James then went into the Sheaths' house. He started rattling a gold watch with some gold and silver coins saying “Gold will win the day”. He offered to shake hands with Thomas Bissett but Thomas declined. James then asked Fanny to return to him. Thomas made Fanny move to another chair putting her further away from James. He also pushed a table against the sideboard blocking her path and dared her to move from the chair. As Thomas turned back to James he appeared to be holding out his hand as if he was going to accept his offer to shake hands. He was holding a revolver which he fired hitting James in the face. Thomas then turned to Fanny firing at her. He would later claim that he had not intended to fire at Fanny but his arm jerked. James ran out to the passage where Thomas fired at him again. James staggered as he got out to the road where witnesses saw Thomas standing over him and firing a fourth shot. Thomas then threw the revolver at James Guy. It hit Ellen Woodford who was outside James' house. She sustained a black eye. When the police arrived Thomas handed over two small revolvers and a box of pistol cartridges. He later told the police that in his room at the King's Head Inn there was a parcel of handbills stating that Fanny was not the wife of Guy with whom she was living. These he had intended to post around Newport.

James Guy’s injuries were detailed in the newspaper articles. A shot entered his mouth breaking a tooth. Two shots lodged in his right cheek, one being just below his eye. Another shot passed through his clothing grazing his arm. James was seen by a doctor in his own home. Fanny’s jaw was broken as a result of the shooting and she was admitted to the workhouse hospital. She had an operation to remove a pellet from her neck and was therefore unable to attend the magistrates' hearing.

I have used the evidence given at the hearings in Newport and at the Assizes at Winchester to write this article. This includes the background of circumstances leading to the arrival of both Fanny and Thomas in Newport in 1875. As well as the events of the 23^rd to 26^th June 1875. I will not repeat this but just concentrate on what happened in each court room.

Superintendent Roos asked that the magistrates’ hearing be adjourned as Fanny was unable to attend. Mr Hooper who represented James Guy objected. He stated that he wished to prove that James Guy and Fanny had been legally married in Newport. Despite Thomas Bissett’s solicitor also asking for a postponement the magistrates decided to hear the case. The doctor advised Guy to rest he but he insisted on giving evidence to the hearing.

The evidence showed that when apprehended Thomas was in an agitated and desperate state. It had been necessary for a police constable to watch over with him all the time. In reply to one question he said that he did not know what the police officers were talking about. He became particularly excited when listening to James Guy’s evidence to the magistrates. When James said that until the 23^rd of June he had believed that Fanny was as much his wife as Bissett's Thomas started to shake holding his face in his hand. He declared to the court that he could not stand Guy. The magistrates in Newport referred the case to the Assizes which were to start in July 1875.

A newspaper report which appeared at the start of the Assizes particularly mentioned Thomas Bissett's case. It made it clear that this was the gravest case before the court and that there was little doubt Thomas would be found guilty. Although it did seem to be sympathetic to his cause. Thomas was described as “an old soldier of a regiment”. Fanny was portrayed in a very bad light and James Guy was said to have provoked the prisoner.

All the newspaper articles referred to the case as a double attempted murder. These articles also show that Thomas Bissett was only indicted for the attack on James Guy. The Western Gazette stated that he was indicted “for feloniously, with a revolver loaded with powder and a leaden bullet, shooting at and against James Guy, with intent to kill and murder him at Newport”.

When Thomas Bissett was brought up before the court to hear the jury's verdict he gave a deep bow to the judge. He was asked if he wished to say anything which might have prevented the sentence being passed. In reply he said that he was exceedingly sorry and that he threw himself on the mercy of the court. The jury found Thomas Bissett guilty of the attempted murder of James Guy. Although the jurors asked the judge to be lenient when passing sentence. Their reason for doing so was the aggravation Thomas had endured over a long period of time. Also, the way in which he and James Guy had suffered because of Fanny's actions. The judge emphasised the severity of the premeditated offence Thomas had committed. Reminding the court that only a few years before attempted murder had been a capital offence. He passed the most lenient sentence the law allowed him to that Thomas Bissett be kept in penal servitude for five years. Thomas Bissett was removed sobbing from the court.

Thomas' military records show that his pension was paid between July1879 and August 1880. By this time prisoners could be discharged early. He had been given a custodial sentence of five years but it seems that he only served four. Thomas died on 8^th August 1880 in the Royal Infirmary Glasgow. He had been suffering with an abscess of the kidneys. His death certificate states that he was a Sergeant of the 72^nd Foot and married to Frances Garnett Wills. His usual address was 7 Eastfield Place, Springburn. The deaths of patients who died at the infirmary seem to have been registered by the Clerk to the Governor. So, Thomas' death certificate does not reveal any clues as to whether or not he and Fanny were reunited.

Thomas Bissett jnr along with his wife and young daughter were living at Mary Street, Northwood in 1881. Thomas was working as an engine fitter. Both Thomas and his wife died on the Isle of Wight in 1884. Their young daughter, Agnes, returned to Scotland.

James Guy was not put off marriage by his encounter with Fanny Bissett. He married Fanny Rowe in 1886 and Ellen Burt in 1894. Fanny Rowe was his housekeeper on the 1881 Census. Her eight children being listed as boarders. It is highly likely that James was the father of Fanny Rowe's younger children. Two more children was born before Fanny's death in 1888. In 1891 Ellen Burt was listed as James' wife, Ellen Guy. James Guy died in 1897.

Clara Bissett married in 1876 in Leeds to Robert Mcmillain Calder. Robert's family having been born in Scotland. On the 1881 Census Robert and Clara were in Leeds living with Robert's father.

They had two sons. Also at the address was Frances Bissett. She is described as a widow, a boarder and a dressmaker. In 1891 Robert and Clara were living in Lanarkshire and their family had grown. Robert died in 1897 and Clara in 1899.

The 1891 Census shows Fanny to be living alone in Lanarkshire. She was 61 years of age, a widow and a dressmaker. She died on May 13^th 1900 in Govan Poorhouse of Bronchitis and Cardiac Disease. She was described as the widow of Thomas Bissett, a soldier. Fanny's death was registered by her grandson's wife. Catherine Calder gave her address as 24 Cook Street. This address was also given as Fanny's former address. So, she had probably been living with her grandson's family. She outlived both her children, her legal husband and her bigamous husband.

*No explanation was offered for the mention of the cheque. I wonder if Thomas assumed Fanny would only return to Glasgow if she thought he had money. A cheque might have persuaded her that he would have access to money in the near future.