In the year 1898, Augustus John Penny joined the Royal Navy as a stoker. He would serve his country in this way until 1911, forming part of the crew of ships such as the Victory II, the Barham, the Duke of Wellington and the Drake. In all that time, Penny was only ever in trouble on a couple of occasions and always for relatively minor offences.
The same could not be said for Penny’s mother. Mary Matilda Light had married George Penny when she was twenty-two and very soon afterwards she became addicted to drink. Between 1895 and 1901, she had no less than eight convictions recorded against her, all at Lyndhurst. Of these eight offences, five were for drunkenness, one for using obscene language, and one for common assault. The remaining conviction was for cruelty to her son, Augustus.
It had come to the notice of the authorities that Mary Penny had assaulted her son on 15 November 1896. Both parents were summonsed to appear in court to answer that charge, even though the father, George, had moved out of the house in 1893. In the course of the investigation, officers visited their home at Pollard’s Moor, Copythorne. They found the children badly nourished, the floors awash with grease and the house in a generally filthy condition. The stench, it was said, was unbearable and the investigators had to leave the house in order to gulp down some fresh air. In the event, after the evidence had been heard, George Penny was found not guilty but Matilda was convicted and fined. She was also ordered to clean the house up as a matter of urgency. It was hardly surprising then, that Augustus Penny should seek a life away from his mother, her mistreatment of him, her love of drink and the filthy home he had known.
When Augustus Penny left the Navy, however, he had little choice but to return to his mother’s house in Copythorne. From 1911 onwards, there were thus three people living in a somewhat cleaner cottage: Augustus, his mother Matilda and his brother, George Henry. The three operated the farm and the two brothers worked as labourers for their mother.
Matilda, however, had little real interest in the farm and preferred to spend her time drinking. It was perhaps to raise extra cash to fund that habit that, in January 1913, Matilda drew up a document letting all of her land to George, in return for the sum of £12 a year. There was no mention of her other son and naturally this angered Augustus. He made no secret of his disappointment and anger but there was nothing to be done. The deal had been signed but it did nothing to make for a happy household.
On the morning of Sunday, 22 June 1913, George Henry Penny rose from his bed just before 6.00am. At that time his brother was not in the house but he returned soon afterwards and they sat down to eat breakfast together at 8.00am. Three hours later, at 11.00am, George left the house and did not return until 6.00pm. At that time, Matilda asked him to give her sixpence so she could buy some stout. George gave her the money and, soon afterwards, left the house again. He did not return for the night until 11.00pm, by which time it was quite dark.
Without lighting either a lamp or a candle, George made his way to his bed. In order to reach his bedroom he needed to pass through the one occupied by his mother. He crept through very quietly so as not to wake her and as he walked through, he could see the shape of her body in her bed. George’s room was now to the left whilst his brother’s was to the right. The door to Augustus’ room was open and George could see him lying on his bed repeating over and over just two words: ‘Oh dear!’ George thought nothing of it and retired for the night.
On Monday, 23 June, George rose somewhat earlier, at 5.30am. Once again, Augustus seemed to be already out of the house and, as he passed through his mother’s bedroom, George discovered why this might be. His mother lay dead in her bed, an empty quart bottle on the floor nearby. This was not, however, a case of too much drink, for Matilda had been shot and her blood and brains were spread along the walls and ceiling. George ran off to get help.