Thomas Weldon Atherstone Explained

Thomas Weldon Anderson (1862 – 16 July 1910), known professionally as Thomas Weldon Atherstone, was an English music hall star and victim of an unsolved murder. His body was found in a backyard, at the base of a staircase leading up to the flat of his former lover, at Clifton Gardens, 17 Prince of Wales's Road, Battersea - now Prince of Wales Drive - on 16 July 1910.^{[1] [2] [3]} In 1888, he married the Irish actress Monica Kelly in Salford.^[4]

Career

Atherstone was born Thomas Weldon Anderson in Liverpool in late 1861 or early 1862.^[5] He was a classically trained actor who became prominent in music halls during the early 1880s and 1890s, although by the turn of the century his presence in vaudeville had been considerably reduced with the exception of occasional performances, such as poetry readings. Atherstone separated from his wife around the turn of the century; she resumed her career in Dublin after their separation. He then began a relationship with American actress Elizabeth 'Bessie' Earle at a flat in London's Battersea around 1899.^{[6] [7]}

While Atherstone's career continued declining over the next decade, Earle retired from the music hall and turned to teaching. From 1907, he and Earle had regular quarrels based on his jealousy - he accused Earle of seeing another man, and resented her success as a drama teacher.^[8]

Murder

Earle remained on friendly terms with Atherstone's elder son, Thomas Frederick Anderson, and when visiting her on the evening of 16 July 1910 for supper, they said they heard gunshots from the yard downstairs. Thomas investigated and saw the body of a man who had been shot to death. After calling for the police, it was discovered to be the body of Atherstone, who had been shot twice - once in the lip, and once through his left temple.^[9]

Although an investigation found several witnesses who claimed to have seen a man jumping over a back wall fleeing the scene, police believed Atherstone had been spying on the two when he encountered a burglar who shot him and fled the scene. However, the murder remains unsolved.^[10]

Further reading

• Whittington-Egan, Richard. Mr Atherstone Leaves the Stage... The Battersea Murder Mystery: A Twisting and Tragic Tale of Love, Jealousy and Violence in the age of Vaudeville London: Amberley Publishing, 2015.
• Macnaghten, Sir Melville Leslie. Days of My Years. London: Edward Arnold, 1914.

Notes and References

1. News: The Battersea Flat Murder. Evidence At The Inquest. 25 July 1910. The Times. 4; Issue 39333; col B. ...resumed the inquest on the body of Thomas Weldon Anderson, aged 47, an actor, who was found shot at a back of a flat...on the night of Saturday, July 16..
2. News: 23 July 1910 . Battersea Murder Mystery: The Coroner's Inquiry . 7 . Globe . 12 October 2022.
3. Web site: Bondeson . Jan . 12 March 2021 . Shot twice in head, his eye hanging out . 12 October 2022 . London News Online.
4. GRO, marriages for Salford registration district, July-September quarter of 1888 (ref 8d 184).
5. His birth was registered in the Prescot registration district in the January-March quarter of 1862 (GRO, ref 8b 523).
6. Elizabeth Earle was born c1875 in Tarrytown, New York state, but was living in London by 1891 (see 1891 census for 57 Edith Grove, Chelsea). Her mother, Josephine, was an actress who later became a 'teacher of expression' and a costume designer (1891 census for 57 Edith Grove; 1901 census for 61-70 Parliament Hill Mansions, St Pancras).
7. Accounts differ as to when their relationship began. Elizabeth Earle insisted that their relationship started after the breakdown of Anderson's marriage, but said she had known him for eleven years, ie since 1899 (Faringdon Advertiser, 24 September 1910, p.3)
8. News: 24 September 1910 . The Flat Tragedy: No further light on mystery . 3 . Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette .
9. News: 23 July 1910 . Battersea Murder Mystery: The Coroner's Inquiry . 7 . Globe .
10. News: The Battersea Flat Murder. An Open Verdict. 19 September 1910. The Times. 3; Issue 39381; col A. The jury at once returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against some man unknown".