With his father, the vicar of Pevensey and the surveyor of the levels as character references, he was accepted into the police force in September 1864.
On the 22nd June 1867 he married Fanny Bourne at the Parish Church of St Sepulchre, London. The following April, they welcomed their first child, Frank William, into the world. Sadly little Frank would only have three short years of life, passing away in 1871.
Despite this tragedy, the couple had further children, John Charles, Ernest Albert, Edwin Issac, Ann Ethel Fanny, Caroline Frances and Louise Florence. On 11 September 1881, whilst the family were living at 18 Bull Inn Chambers in Holborn, London, they had their eighth child, Sidney Victor. Less than two months later on Monday 5th December 1881, Frank was dead.
At the inquest, held two days later, Franks lifeless body was laid before the coroner William John Payne and 15 fellow witnesses. The first to speak was Fanny Russell. She described how Frank, who was stationed at the General Post Office, had left for night duty on Sunday evening, returning as usual around 9 on Monday morning. Her husband, she said was very dull, so weary and tired. As he ate his bread and butter and a cup of tea, she asked him what was the matter. 'Oh, something so dreadful. They watch me so! They have been looking through the window all night. They watched me home. They have put that ladder up to look in at the window. Have you ever seen a man up there looking in?'
Fanny replied 'no,what nonsense.' Frank made no answer and sat quietly, unusually taking no notice of baby Sidney, who Fanny had placed on his knee. Returning the baby to her, he rose and exclaimed that he was tired and was going to bed.
At 3 o'clock that afternoon she went into the bedroom. Frank was in bed. She told him about the Dr visiting their poorly eldest son, how he was getting better. Again Frank feigned little interest. When said son came in to go to bed, Frank told him to go into the other room. Realising that he wasn't going to get up, Fanny decided to leave him for a little longer.
At ten to six, she went in to put the baby to bed. Frank was quite restless, getting in and out of bed, asking for water, he'd had a bitter taste in his mouth since the night before. He told her to put the lights out and she left him once more. Soon after six he came out into the living room in his nightdress, going straight to his drawer. He had his back to her so she did not see what he did. He returned to the bedroom and shut the door. Soon after Fanny went into the room. On lighting the candle, she was greeted with the horrific sight of her blood soaked husband.
Next to speak was John Sutherland, City Policeman 345. John lived at Bull Inn Chambers with his wife. He had known the deceased for seven years and had always found him to be cheerful. On the night in question, at ten to seven, he,d heard a tap on the door. It was Mrs Russell. She spoke to his wife and they went off together. He followed them to the deceased home. He went into the bedroom and found Frank lying on his back with his throat cut. He was still alive and could speak. John ran for a Dr who came back with him. Frank died at ten past seven. There was a razor lying in a pool of blood on the bed.
Both Fanny and John said that they couldn't understand why Frank would want to do this to himself. That all had been happy and healthy at home.
Frederick James, Police Constable 341, had known Frank for 2 years. He told the panel that about 18 months previously, he'd noticed Frank in a low state. He seemed to be under the illusion that someone had attempted to put poison in his beer at a public house in Holborn. Frederick told Frank it was a delusion. Frank, he said, had other delusions, over time.
On the night in question, Frederick said that Frank had been very dull at muster call. He was in a bad state and scarcely spoke, which was unusual. He asked him what the matter was, Frank replied with Oh, my head is so bad again. As their night shift at the Post Office went on Frank was complaining that he thought people had left the doors open to entrap him. Franks state worsened further over the hours. He wouldn't eat and was asking for money.
Finally, they heard from Joshua Sparks, Surgeon. He stated that on Monday morning he had been called to the house. He had found the deceased lying on his left side, senseless. Frank had a wound in his throat, an incisive wound from left to right. There was a razor in a pool of blood by his right hand. He died in a few minutes.
The verdict was suicide by temporary insanity.
