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A Sad Childhood Memory.
On February, the 13th 1933, Thomas Lynn (61), an unemployed miner and his wife Mary Jane Lynn (63), were found dead by their son in the upstairs room at 5, Cook's Buildings where they had lived for over 40 years. They were both suffering from terrible injuries. The state of the room indicated that there had been a grim struggle though the neighbours had heard nothing.
Henry Cotterell (21) employed as a putter at Whickham Colliery, occupied the same house as Mr and Mrs Lynn. Henry and his wife returned home about 11 o'clock to find the house in darkness. He knocked on the door but it was not answered, he kicked the door but there was no response. He went to his sister's house, Mrs Howell, who lived a few doors away in the same building. He obtained a key and a knife and returned. With the knife he pushed the key out of the lock but the key he had did not fit.
He then sought out his brother-in-law, George Lynn, who lived in the same street and he also informed Police Constable Atkinson who was on duty in the village. George managed to get the window open and discovered the tragedy.Constable Atkinson then forced the door open.
When Constable Edward Atkinson burst open the door a terrible spectacle met his eyes. Lying face downwards behind the door was the body of Mrs Lynn, she had head injuries caused by a blunt instrument - a heavy poker smeared with blood was found on the floor. In a corner was the body of her husband, his throat had been cut and the main artery severed and at his side was a blood stained table knife.
There were signs of a struggle, broken crockery scattered around the room and other signs of disorder.
It is thought that Mr Lynn was suffering from *nystagmus and had been receiving compensation. He was employed by Whickham Colliery but had not worked for the last two years.
When the funeral took place, Mrs Lynn's body was taken into church and then buried in consecrated ground. Mr Lynn's body was left at the bottom of the steps before the church and was not buried in consecrated ground.
Alma Willis lived near Mr and Mrs Lynn as a child and knew them well, she remembers her father saying at the time, "He didn't murder his wife, he took her with him."
*(Nystagmus Rapid involuntary movements of the eyes, that may be from side to side, up and down or rotary. It may be congenital and is associated with poor sight. It also occurs in disorders of the part of the brain responsible for eye movements and their co-ordination and in disorders of the organ of balance in the ear or the associated parts of the brain.)