Ephraim Quarmby

Ephraim is my Great Great grandfather. He married Sabina BRADLEY 5/Jan/1855 in Hobart Tasmania.He wasnt living with her in march 1863. They didnt have any children but Ephraim had a child with Mary Ann Kingston/Taylor - Henry Francis Quamby 9/Sep/1863 in Hobart Tasmania. The "r" was dropped from the name. Ephraim was convicted of manslaughter of Ann Davidson on or about the 13th April 1891 He died in Her Majestys Gaol 22/Sep/1892 and was buried 24/Sep/1892 in the Paupers Section of Cornelian Bay Cemetery Hobart Tasmania. Mercury Newspaper Saturday 16th May 1891 THE SANDY BAY TRAGEDY,"QUARMBY CHARGED WITH WILFUL MURDER. Ephraim Quarmby, whose connection with the Sandy Bay' tragedy is not yet for- gotten, was yesterday formally charged before Police Magistrate Tarleton with the wilful murder of Ann Davidson, on or about April 13. This is only a preliminary examination, and was conducted in the , coroner's room at the hospital., It was rendered necessary for the purpose of taking. Dr. A. J. Hardy's evidence, as he intends, leaving the colony very shortly ,on a trip to England. Quarmby, whose correct Christian, name has now been proved to be Ephraim, is still, suffering from the supposed self-inflicted wound on the throat. His face is gaunt, and his articulation as yet anything but distinct. He wore the blue flannel coat peculiar to hospital patients, and in reply to the charge said, " I remember nothing at all about it." His interest in the proceedings was not very marked. When, however, the pocket knife, with which the deed was supposed to have been committed, was produced, he raised himself slightly in his seat as though to look at it, whilst a slight shudder passed through his frame Dr. A. J. Hardy stated that he had been attending the late Mrs. Davidson, and last saw her alive on the forenoon of .the 11th April. On the Monday, in response to an urgent message, he proceeded at once to her residence, and on going into her bedroom saw her lying on the ground as described at the time of the occurrence. The wound on her neck was necessarily of a fatal character, and must have caused death, It could not, in his opinion, have been self-inflicted, and to effect such a,, wound a considerable amount of strength would be required. Such a wound could have been inflicted by the pocketknife, produced. The prisoner, Quarmby, was lying on the bed also with a wound in his throat. That, in his opinion, had been inflicted at least l8 or 24 hours, possibly longer. From its position and character he thought it might have been self-inflicted. He dressed accused's wound and saw him safely conveyed in the ambulance to, the hospital, He could speak,a little,but made no statement or explanation that the .witness, could understand,. The only intelligible exclamation was " I can t walk," referring no doubt to his journey to the hospital. Witness noticed the words, " The rine German hav kill you quit," written in chalk on the floor close to the body. Had the deceased been asleep and that sleep rendered heavier by the effects of liquor, the wound could have been inflicted without any great struggle on her part. This evidence was read over to Quarmby, who again repeated his statement that he remembered nothing of it. He was procecdiug to say something further, when the POLICE MAGISTRATE interposed, and warned him of the effect of making a statement. On the application of Superintendent Hedberg the prisoner was then remanded for eight days, on the understanding that a similar further remand will be asked for at the expiration of that period, Quarmby is, now sufficiently recovered to be sent on to gaol, where, of course, he will be a hospital patient for some time to come. He now stands formally remanded until 23rd inst. Mercury Newspaper Thursday 9th July 1891 THE SANDY BAY TRAGEDY. PRISONER AT THE POLICE , COURT. Ephraim Quarmby on remand, was arraigned before Police Magistrate Tarleton at the City Court yesterday, charged with the wilful murder of Ann Davidson, at Sandy Bay, on or about the 12th April last. Quarmby, who has lately much improved in health. was accommodated with a chair near the witness box, being still too weak to stand in the dock He was undefended. Superintendent Hedherg watched the case on behalf of the police.. Rudolf E. R. Herbst, traveller for the, Trade Protection Society, said that on the, 6th of April last he married a daughter of the late Ann Davidson. Prior to that date he was a frequent visitor to the house. He had seen prisoner about the premises He appeared to be on intimate terms, with, deceased. Some five weeks prior to his (witness) marriage, Mrs. Davidson objected to prisoner's coming about the house and ordered him away. Despite this he come again the same night, and at her request witness ejected him, but did not use unnecessary force in doing so. He noticed blood on Mrs. David- son's face, and she, in prisoner's presence, said that Quarmby had struck her, but did; not assign any reason for the blow. Prisoner, however, denied having struck the blow This happened before prisoner came in the second time. Some two weeks' be-, fore witness' marriage he saw prisoner'coming in by the side door, and in the direction of the back door. On asking him. "What he wanted," prisoner answered,' "Nothing at all," and on being ordered off the premises, left without. having any communication with Mrs. Davidson. He appeared to have been drinking, but was not drunk. For five weeks prior to the murder prisoner and Mis. Davidson were not on good terms, After his (witness') marriage he left for the north, and did not return until three days after the occurrence. He was not aware that prisoner bore him any ill will, nor did he remember having, told him he came from the Rhine. He was a German, but could not say that the words, "The rein German,have kilt you quit.", written in chalk on the floor-boards now produced, were intended to refer to him. He could not recognise the writing, although he had seen prisoner's handwriting on a receipt. Another man named Jones was employed about, and lived on Mrs Davidson's premises. Witness had never heard prisoner threaten Mrs David- son. Upon the usual inquiry-' ' Have you any questions to ask witness," prisoner said. ."I never struck Mrs. Davidson, it' was an accident, You never saw it." This elicited, from witness the answer that he did not see . the blow struck. Prisoner also further said, .pointing to the floor boards, " That is not my writing, I never wrote that." , Eliza Walton, sister-in-law to W. H., Lord, said that prisoner had been employed at Bayswater, Sandy Bay, as a kind of handy man.' He occupied a back room in the house, and could leave the premises without difficulty. A few minutes after 5 o'clock on the Saturday previous to the news of Mrs. Davidson's murder; prisoner' said he had done his work and asked if there were any errands he might run before going off for the night. Witness replied in the negative, whereupon he left and went up the main- road in the direction of Sandy Bay. On the .Sunday morning, finding that no fire had been lighted, witness 'and her sister looked, into.prisoner's room, and found the bed had not been occupied. From that night to the. present time he had not returned. Soon after his arrival at Bayswater prisoner asked witness.if his evenings would be free as he, had a"chummy." She replied,'"Oh yes.if you have an old man friend it will be company." Prisoner said it was not an old man, it was Mrs Davidson. Witness could not recognise the pocket knife produced as the property of prisoner. She had seen prisoner's handwriting once, but could not say that the writing on the floor boards was his. The panel (produced) was from the door of prisoners room. It had chalk writing upon it, but she could not say that prisoner had written it The first time she noticed it was the Tuesday morning after Mrs. Davidson's death. The evening she last saw prisoner he was wearing white trousers, probably moleskin, and there was no ap pearance of blood upon them. She never saw him drunk about their premises, nor did he show any symptoms of being of un- sound mind. Witness had not told Sergeant Callaghan that she had heard prisoner use threats with regard to Mrs. Davidson. Prisoner asked no questions.' William Henry Lord, of Baywater, Sandy Bay, said prisoner, Quarmby (he could not say his name was Ephraim) was in his employ about nine or ten weeks prior to the 12th April. He remembered prisoner leaving his premises the Saturday night before he heard of Mrs. Davidson's death. Prisoner left about 5 o'clock, and witness never saw him again until the present occasion. Witness could not say anything positive as to the pocket knife, nor could he throw any light, upon the hand witting mystery. Henry Barker Newman a lad of about 12, said that about three weeks prior to the murder he and another lad named Frederick Grubb were outside the Clarendon Hotel, when prisoner came out and seated himself alongside them. Witness offered to sell him a knife for 6d., and upon his getting half a crown changed paid the money and took the knife. On being shown the knife with which the deed was supposed to have been committed,witness, .said "Yes, sir, this is the knife." The POLICE MAGISTRATE " Your are sure of that." .Witness: "l am, sir, and I am sure prisoner is the man I sold it to." . Prisoner : " That's, not the knife I got from you." Witness: " It is.", Prisoner: "You have made a mistake ,The knife I got from you is down on the mantelpiece at Mr. Lord's." Witness: "The little blade was slightly turned at the point as is this."Frederick Grubb, the. other boy present when the, knife, was , sold, corroborated previous witness statement, and expressed himself certain as to the knife produced being the one sold to prisoner Quarmby. Prisoner : "Was not the knife I bought a new one ?" Witness : "It was an old one and this is it " Prisoner : " You are mistaken my boy " William Haines Garrett, of Montpelier road, said that early, in April,.prior to the I murder, he met prisoner at the Clarendon Hotel. He showed him a pocket knife which he had in his hand, asking witness to open it, as he was unable to do so. It was the small blade he wished opened Witness found it difficult to open, using his own knife to do so. Prisoner said be had bought the knife outside for 6d. Witness: "The knife produced I believe to be the one, but I cannot swear positively to it. It was a knife very much like this one."Prisoner : " It was a new knife, was'nt it, Bill? ' Witness : " I really cannot say, " At this stage the further hearing of the case was adjourned until 10 o'clock next day. There are still many witnesses to be examined. Mercury Newspaper Friday 10th July 1891 THE SANDY BAY TRAGEDY.SECOND DAY'S INQUIRY. At the City Court yesterday, the magisterial inquiry into the charge preferred against Ephraim Quarmby of the wilful murder of Ann Davidson at Sandy Bay, on or about April 12, was further proceeded with by Police Magistrate Tarleton.Jessie Deacon said she was sent for on the 9th or 10th April to attend Ann Davidson, now deceased, as nurse. She was in the house between 3 and 4 o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday. April 11, which was the last occasion she saw Mrs. Davidson alive. Witness saw Quarmby in the house on the Friday evening, and left him in the bedroom talking to Mrs. David- son. They appeared to be on very friendly terms. When witness 'saw deceased on Saturday afternoon she was . perfectly sober, and was in the kitchen. The following morning, Sunday, she (witness) visited the house again, entering by the back door. James Jones, a man she had seen there the previous day, was on the premises. She tried Mrs. Davidson's bedroom door, but found it locked. There was a noise in the room as of some one snoring, and thinking Mrs, Davidson to be asleep,left after informing Jones of what she had heard. James Jones, who for seven years prior to the murder had been employed as man servant by Mrs. Davidson, said prisoner was a frequent visitor to the house. On one occasion, about five weeks before the murder, he (witness) was called into the kitchen by Mrs. Davidson, whose mouth was covered with blood, She said prisoner had struck her, but he denied it. At Mrs. Davidson's request witness went for the police, and when he returned prisoner had left, and he saw nothing more of him that night. On the Saturday night prior to Mrs. Davidson's death he saw prisoner in the kitchen. She also came into the kitchen, but returned to the bedroom with prisoner following closely. Prisoner only remained in the room two or three minutes,and after about another quarter of an hour's stay in the yard, left the premises. Witness was about the place, until 6 o'clock that evening, and then saw Mrs. Davidson alive for the last time. He then went into town returning about 9.30. The house was in darkness, and he went straight to bed in the shed, without trying the back door. The window leading to Mrs. Davidson's bedroom was near enough to the ground for a person to enter thereby if it was opened ; but she always kept it shut, at nights. On the Sun- day morning he made a cup of cóffee which he took to Mrs. Davidson's room, but found the door locked. He heard a sound as of snoring in the room and concluded she was asleep. He then left the house and was absent all day. On the Monday morning he went to see Frank Davidson, and when he returned he had a talk to Constable Driscoll, and together they went to the bed room and finding the door unlocked I entered. They saw Mrs. Davidson lying by the side of the bed bathed in a pool of her own blood quite dead, and prisoner on the bed with his throat cut. Witness described the state of the room, the position of the body, and said the pocket knife pro- duced was lying on a small table by the bedside. It was covered with blood There was also a table knife and steel in the room, but there was no blood upon either. Prisoner was covered with blood. He heard no noise in the room, either during the Saturday or Sunday nights. When he looked at prisoner's throat it had the appearance of having had the blood washed therefrom. It was not bound up in any way. Prisoner said " I didn't do it .- I didn't do it," but he did not, say who did. Witness knew of no liquor of any sort being brought into the house on the Saturday morning. Ho had known other occasions, very frequent ones, when prisoner brought drink to the house. Mrs. Davidson was perfectly sober when he last saw her alive. Clara Roberts, who in April last resided nearby opposite the murdered woman's house, repeated her previous statements as to prisoners coming to the back door of her house on Sunday afternoon, April 12 with his throat cut . He was covered with blood and attempted to speak, but only a few inarticulate sounds came from his lips. She closed the door at once, and from a window saw prisoner cross the street and enter Davidson's house by the back way. She afterwards told Constable Driscoll what she had seen, and he too crossed over to the house, but did not enter. As far as she re- membered the constable afterwards went up the street. She had often previously seen prisoner about Davidson's premises. About half-past 12 on tho Saturday morning witness saw Mrs. Davidson open her front door to admit the doctor, and that proved to be the last time witness saw her alive. George Roberts, husband of the previous witness, corroborated his wife's testimony, and added that on looking out of the window after she had told him what had occurred, he saw a hand beckoning from Mrs. Davidson's front door. Constable Driscoll was coming down the street at the time, and witness informed him what had taken place. He did not, however, see the constable go into Davidson's. Afterwards Driscoll told him (witness) that he had not seen prisoner (Quarmby.) Witness heard no disturbance of any sort in Davidson's, either, on the Saturday night or Sunday. At 1.40 the further hearing of the case was adjourned until 10 o'clock next day. Mercury Newspaper Wednesday 29th July 1891 SECOND COURT. Before Mr. Justice Adams MURDER Ephraim Quarmby, in custody, was placed in the dock on a charge of having, on April 12 of the present year, feloniously, wilfully, and of malice aforethought, killed and murdered one Ann Davidson. Mr. CANSDELL, Acting Solicitor-General, conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr, D. H. CRISP appeared for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Mr CANSDELL, in opening the case for the Crown, said he was glad to know that the prisoner would have the benefit of being represented by able counsel. He asked the jury to disabuse from their minds anything they had heard or read regarding this case, and to let their verdict be in accordance with the evidence which would be adduced that day. He touched on the salient points of the case, and concluded a lengthy address by giving a brief statement of the law dealing with murder. Evidence was then called for the prosecution, The facts adduced, were exactly the same as those elicited at the Police Court, with which the public are already familiar, and there is therefore no necessity to reproduce them. In cross-examination Mr. CRISP endeavoured to shake the testimony of the boys Newman and Grubb, with regard to the knife, which Quarmby bought from the former, but without avail, both firmly adhering to what they had stated in the Police Court. The witness James Jones,' who was employed by Mrs. Davidson as a servant, was also submitted to a rigorous cross-examination. He admitted that he was paid no wages, and said he was merely kept there by Mrs. Davidson. He made no attempt to find out what was the cause of his mistress' non-appearance, although ha had not seen her from the Saturday night till Monday morning, and he would not have done so unless he had been asked to go with the police officer. Mrs. Davidson found him in everything, but paid him no wages. In answer to His HONOR, the witness said he was never on bad terms with the prisoner. William Henry Lord was re-called, and questioned as to a statement he made at the Police Court inquiry to the effect that he did not know whether or no the prisoner had a penknife in his possession yet a few days after the murder he handed one over to Callaghan. He denied positively a statement by Sergeant Callaghan that when that officer came to his house he took out a knife (produced) from his pocket, and handed it over to that officer., At this stage (5.50) the Court adjourned till 10 o'oclock next day. Mercury Newspaper Saturday 24th September 1892 EPITOME OF NEWS.Inquest on Ephraim Quarmby yesterday. Death from natural causes. Inquest At The: Gaol.-An inquest was held yesterday, on the body of Ephraim Quarmby, who died at the Hobart Gaol on Thursday, before Mr. Coroner Belstead, within the precincts of the gaol, Dr, Smart deposed that deceased was received into the Gaol Hospital on May 15, 1891, and had been treated for a selfinflicted wound in the throat, which caused him great diffi- culty in taking proper nourishment. Quarmby had remained under observation since his discharge from the hospital. He was then suffering from diseased lungs and general debility. He had had every medical attention paid to him, and such comforts as his condition required but his death had been expected for some weeks The immediate cause of death was due to disease of the lungs, wasting, and inability to take proper food