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Record #3309
Name :
: John Frederick William PAYNE (1908 - 1924)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1908

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 24 Jan 1924   Notes : Suicide
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Middlesex, Marylebone, London
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Ontario, Toronto
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 27 Mar 1921
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Scandinavian

Placement Family
: Fee
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesA birth registration was found for John Frederick William Payne: Year of Registration: 1908; Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep; District: St Marylebone (1902-1977); County: Greater London, London; Volume: 1a; Page: 496.

In 1921, John F. W. Payne, 12 (along with his brother, George Edward Payne), arrived at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, with a group of 133 children en route to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

John was placed as a farming assistant with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fee, of Omemee, Ontario, Canada around 1921. He worked for Mr. Fee for 2 years, 9 months.

On January 24, 1924, John Payne ingested Paris Green, an arsenic based pesticide. He died in the doctor's office (Dr. Clark of Lindsay, Ontario, Canada) a few hours later. His death certificate stated he was a ward of Barnardos Homes, located at 538 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Canada.

John Frederick William Payne was buried in Emily Cemetery, Omemee, Ontario, on January 27, 1924.

MANITOBA FREE PRESS, WINNIPEG THURSDAY JANUARY 29, 1924

Funeral held of Barnardo Boy Who Committed Suicide

(Canadian Press Despatch.)

Omemee, Ont., Jan. 28 -- While six of his Old County companions stood by with heads bowed, the body of John Payne, the Barnado [sic] home lad, who on Thursday took his life, was yesterday placed in a lonely grave here.

The last person to leave the freshly turned mound was George Payne the 14-year-old brother of John, who drove from Petersboro and reached here just in time for the funeral. With the tears streaming down his face, he stood there, a pathetic figure, until the kind hand of Inspector John Stanners led him back to the sleigh.

An inquest was called to determine the cause of the suicide of the boy. The evidence presented to the coroner's jury by a dozen witnessed showed that John had read in the newspapers about the suicide of another home child (from Marchmont homes), Charles Bulpitt, two days before. The jury found this, combined with an alleged threat by Mrs. Fee that he would be sent back to the Barnardo home if he did not mend his ways, were the only causes they could determine for the suicide. It was true that on the day he killed himself, Mrs. Fee had given him a slap on the face and called him a liar, but the coroner's jury still found that no blame was attached to anyone for his death as his death came by his own hand. Mr. and Mrs. Fee were exonerated in his demise.


Toronto Star
Monday, February 4, 1924

BOY WAS THREATENED WITH RETURN TO HOME

Wife of Farmer for Whom Johnny Payne Worked Tells of Remonstrance

INQUEST ON TO-DAY

Every Effort Made to Save Boy's Life After He Took Paris Green

Special to the Star by a Staff Reporter.

Omemee, Feb. 4.--To what extent were weather conditions responsible for the death of 15-year-old John Payne, the Barnardo Home boy who succumbed to paris green poisoning on the farm of Wm. Fee, near Omemee, on January 24th and why should a normal boy under normal conditions so do away with himself? These are two of teh questions Crown Attorney Ernest Anderson and Coroner Dr. Clarke will try to clear up at the inquest into the lad's death at Omemee this afternoon.

Writhing in pain bu silent as to its cause, Young Payne was found by his employer in his bar about 11 o'clock on the morning of January 24. Payne steadfastly refused to tell what was wrong, but gradually grew worse until Fee, becoming alarmed, sent for neighbors. Their questioning as to what ailed the boy was no more successful than that of Fee. However, one of them observed a few dabs of green powder on the lad's black shirt and immediately suspected poison and this suspicion was later confirmed when the boy vomited, disclosing streaks of green poison in the stomach contents. It was then about two o'clock in the afternoon. The office of Dr. George Earle at Omemee was instantly communicated with by telephone, but the doctor was out on his circuit, not to return until evening. Other medical men at Lindsay, Peterboro and Millbrooke were called by none could respond.

Boy Refused Antidotes

From Lindsay or Peterboro to Omemee is a two-hour drive in the best of weather. On the day of the fatality a raw, biting wind howled down from the north, driving fine, drifting snow before it, filling in the roads and blocking the railways. Travel was almost impossible. Nevertheless Fee, becoming desperate over the increasing gravity of the boy's condition, took a chance and drove to Omemee.

En route he was compelled to remove fences and pick his way over plowed field, scarcely able to see through the blinding snowstorm, only to find himself too late to save the boy's life. Johnnie Payne passed away in the doctor's office late that night refusing to open his mouth drink antidotes, and not admitting until near death that he had taken paris green.

Had weather conditions permitted his earlier removal to the doctor, or made the roads impassable for the medical men, the little fellow's life might have been saved.

Following death, the coroner, police constable and crown attorney each commenced separate investigations as to the treatment of the boy and the circumstances leading up to his rash act. All came to the conclusion that the Fees were in no wise to blame and had given the boy a splendid home.

Tells of Minor Quarrel

When the Star reporter visited the well-kept hundred acres on a hill overlooking the village he was met at the door of the splendid nine-roomed house by William Fee and inside by Mrs. Fee, who cannot discuss the tragedy without bursting into tears. About the house played three chubby blue-eyed, blonde haired children of the Fees. Bessie, Annie and Elgin, while neighbors came to comfort Mrs. Fee.

On the morning of the fatality, it was explained, Mrs. Fee wished to wash some of the children's clothing but could not find a certain pail always used for this work. After several moments' search the pail was located outside the door filled with potato peelings. Annoyed at this, as the pail was never used for anything but the washing, she enquired of young Payne whether he had put the refuse there. He denied any knowledge of the potatoes so Mrs. Fee queried her husband, who also protested his innocence.

To Send Boy to Home

Well, it was one of you," exclaimed Mrs. Fee.

"You're a liar," exploded the boy walking away. "As he passed me I cuffed him on the ear," explained the worried mother.

"Later I told him we had had enough of him and were going to send him back to the home. This did not seem to worry him so I showed him the clothes I had ready to return to the home with him and he walked away without saying anything. Later he was found doubled up with cramps in the barn."

John Payne came to the Fee home in March, 1921, following request by letter to the Barnardo home, Toronto, in which Mrs. Fee described the type of lad she wanted.

"When I saw him I took to him at once and certainly thought they had sent just what I wanted. He was a find little chap, but six months ago seemed to change and got very saucy," she told The Star.

The boy was 15 years old last August. He was paid $75 a year besides board and clothing. This money was for full time work, but taking a personal interest in the lad and realizing his possibilities, Fee sent him to school at his expense and did the farm work himself except after school hours. The boy also attended the Methodist Sunday School.

Routine of Farm Work

His day, when not at school, consisted of rising at six and building the fire. Next 22 cattle, 3 horses, six sheep and two pigs were fed and the cows milked. Then came breakfast and Johnnie helped Mrs. Fee wash the dishes. After breakfast, the stables were cleaned and the stock let out to water, a stream passes through the Fee property so it was not necessary to pump water but sometimes ice had to be cut. Odd jobs about the house and barn and a little wood chopping filled in the day, until the stock were fed and bedded, and the cows milked again before supper. The boy was ready for bed at seven or eight, but seldom retired untoil [sic] much later, preferring to sit up and read. He was also well acquainted in the neighborhood and frequently visited other homes boys in the vicinity.

At meal time when visitors were in the home the boy invariably got a place at table in preference to the Fee children, sometimes before Mrs. Fee herself. His bedroom was well furnished and warm enough to grow a whole window full of potted flowers. On the the bed was a feather mattress.

"He was a bright lad. I was shocked and sorry when he died," concluded Mr. Fee. "We treated him as one of the family and never whipped him. Sometimes I criticized him, of course, but I cannot understand whatever made him commit suicide. Only God knows that, but He knows we have done th right thing by the boy."

Mr. Fee added that while he himself had never before had a home boy, his parents had had many. I was practically brought up with them and they were always treated as one of the family," he said.


Toronto Star
Tuesday, February 5, 1924

FEES ARE EXONERATED BY VERDICT OF JURY

No Blame Attached to Employers of John Payne, Barnardo Home Boy

OUT FORTY MINUTES

Believe Goderich Case and Mrs. Fee's Threat Influenced the Lad

Special to the Star by a Staff Reporter.

Omemee, Feb. 5--That 15-year-old John Payne, Barnardo Home boy, came to his death by self-administered parls [sic] green, that no blame whatever attached to his employer, Wm. Fee, who had given the boy a good home and done all he could to save his life after realizing the danger, and that the case of a home boy's suicide near by which had influenced him in taking his life, was the finding of the coroner's jury at the inquest into the lad's death here yesterday. The jury which returned the verdict after forty minutes' deliberation also considered that Mrs. Fee's threat to send him back to the Home if he did not mend his way also influenced the boy's action.

Realized He Was Poisoned

Continuing his evidence, William Fee testified that he did not miss the boy until between 10.30 and eleven when he went to the house to help Mrs. Fee hang out the clothes.

"she asked me where Payne was because he was away a long time without a coat or hat. I called him in the barn but couldn't find him so I hitched up and visited the neighbors to see if he was there. I thought he might have been frozen. I couldn't find him. When I went back to the barn I looked into the straw mow and found him lying on the ground. I called but he did not answer. His hands were locked behind his head. I said: 'What's the matter; this is not the way to do your work, come on down. If you don't want to help with the wash go on with the stock'."

"What time of day was this?" "About noon. After that I asked why he had not his coat or hat on. He said: 'I know, but you don't.' I went and go this hat and coat, but he wouldn't put them on. He said: 'I feel sick' and I told him to go in and get some medicine. I thought he had eaten something that didn't agree with him.

"He didn't go to the house but started to vomit. He said he didn't want to make a mess in the house by vomiting. He followed me to the house and Mrs. Fee noticed he was looking sick but he wouldn't say what was the matter."

Fee added that he offered a change of clothes to the boy but he only asked for a glass of milk. This was given with a little liniment. This brought further vomiting and the paris green was discovered in the stomach contents. Mrs. Fee had instantly realized the boy had taken poison.

Getting Medical Aid

"What time was this?" "Getting up to 2 o'clock. I went to the neighbor's and tried to telephone, then get my brother Frank to call Dr. Earle at Omemee, Dr. Cameron at Peterboro advised giving oatmeal water. That was after three."

"How far is it from your famr to Lindsay?" "Sixteen miles."

"How far to Millbrook?" "Twelve miles."

"How far to Peterboro?" "Thirteen miles."

"How long would it take to drive?" "Up to three hours with a single horse; less with a team."

"What about the doctor?" "the one at Millbrook said he had another case, the others were out. I hitched my own horse and rushed the boy to Dr. Earle in Omemee."

"How about the oatmeal water?" "He clenched his teeth and wouldn't take it."

"Did he go to the doctor quite willingly?" "No, he was forced to by Mr. Magee, a neighbor."

"What time did you get to Omemee? "Six o'clock. If he had been my own child I could not have done any more."

"Was Dr. Earle home?" "No, he was expected any moment, so I waited and hwas shortly in.

"How far on the road to Peterboro would you have been if you had taken that route rather than to Omemee?" "Half way."

"Then you think going to Omemee was the best thing?" "Yes."

"Did you ask the boy if he had taken poison?" "No."

"Did he ever admit taking poison to you?" "No."

"Did you discover any vessel containing Paris green?" "Yes, a cardboard box in the woodshed. I found that before I found the boy."

"Did you see any Paris green on his clothing?" "Yes, on his sleeve and shirt." Witness added he found a spoon covered with Paris green on a cupboard in the summer kitchen.

"Did the boy ever threaten to take his own life?" "No."

"Ever say anything about taking poison?" "No."

"Would it have been possible to get a doctor from Lindsay, Peterboro or Millbrook quicker than you got on to this boy?" "No, the roads were impassable."

Doctor Testifies

Dr. George Earle, of Omemee, who attended the lad prior to his death, said he first saw teh boy at 6.15. He was beyond medial aid and the doctor could only administer morphine and send for a clergyman. He died at 10.15. The doctor added the poison effect was a burning and the boy admitted he had consumed a quarter of a cup of Paris green. This quantity would be fatal in any case.

"I asked when and why he took the poison, and he refused to answer either question. He only asked me if I could ease the pain more and died in terrific agony." The doctor added that the roads were in a terrible shape and almost impenetrable because of snow.

Mrs. Frances Fee sister-in-law of Wm. Fee, had done the actual telephoning for medical assistance, calling doctors Earle of Omemee, Rich of Lindsay, Turner of Millbrook, and Cameron of Peterboro. She had been talking with Dr. Turner of Millbrook and he, after hesitation, said he had to make a call in Peterboro. He advised some home remedies. Dr. Cameron of Peterboro suggested the boy be brought into a hospital there. "I thought it would be quicker to be in the office of Dr. Earle at Omemee when returned. Dr. Cameron advised oatmeal water." Mrs. Fee could not give the time but it was about mid-afternoon.

John Magee, a neighbor, said the boy had always been well-treated. He learned of his illness between three and four in the afternoon of the 24th. The lad was lying on the floor beside a lounge when seen by Magee. I said to John: "Did you take the Paris green." He answered: "No sir," and blocked us from getting his clothes on to take him to the doctor's. The boy was carried to the cutler.

Miss Irene Clement, local telephone operator, fixed the time of the long distance telephone calls at 4.15. She had overheard the conversation with Dr. Turner of Millbrook when he said he was busy.

Harry Brown, an 18-year-old intimate acquaintance of the dead lad, said the boy had never complained and was never mistreated and James Bannon, another neighbor of Fee, gave similar evidence.

Had Tried to Pray

Rev. E. W. Powland, Methodist missionary of Omemee, was summoned to the office of Dr. Earle on the evening of the tragedy. The lad had tried to pray, but was in such pain he could not carry on. The boy and preacher had repeated the 23rd psalm together. The boy had not said what he had done.

Mrs. Wm. Fee, owing to her condition of health, asked that her evidence be taken in private. This was done in the village home of her brother and he said the boy was excellent until the last six months of his stay, when he used bad language.

"Did he ever go away for a holiday?" "He was at the Omemee fair, that's all."

"Did he seem contented?" "We thought he wanted no other home. He never threatened to leave."

Mrs. Fee repeated the story told by her husband of the baby tub incident and subsequent face slapping. "He told me I was a liar and I said I had been too good to him to accept that."

"Did you ever hit him before?" "I tried to once, but the boy fought me."

"Just a Cuff"

"Did you hit him hard?" "No, just a cuff on the cheek."

Witness added she had demonstrated on that occasion that the boy's stay at the Fee home was over and he was to be returned to the home.

It was about 10.30 when he left the house and Mrs. Fee called him two hours later. "I thought he had only gone for a drink," she explained.

Mrs. Fee's evidence of the finding of the sick boy and subsequently sending for doctors, corroborated that of her husband. Upon his return to the house the boy was shivering very much and a huge fire was built for his comfort. The boy hugged the floor and refused to drink any of the preparations offered, except oatmeal water. The rad of the Bulpitt case in Goderich before bringing the paper home. Mrs. Fee had said after herself reading the Goderich case: "How would you like those hours John?"

"Someone will pay for that," the boy had answered.

Should Have Received Money

Inspector John Stanners of the Barnardo Home, Toronto, said that in his investigation he had found one man who thought Payne should have been given money for tobacco.

George Boyne Smart, federal child immigration inspector, outlined the work of his department, showing that this particular boy had been visited and well reported upon.

Crown Attorney Anderson summed up the evidence briefly, pointing out that in fairness to the dead boy and Fee the jury should mention in their verdict whether or not the lad had been well treated. "This case is of almost international importance," he said, "and comes on the heels of another similar case in Goderich. This will effect immigration from England.

"there are three questions you gentlemen must answer. Were the Fee's to blame? If so, I want you to say so. If not, in fairness to the Fees I wish you to say so, and I want you to say whether the punishment was merited and reasonable.

"You have heard of the boy's development, his recent change for the worse, and the Fee's threat to return him to the home. Did this cause him to commit suicide, or did the Goderich incident influence him and prey on his mind until he followed in its steps?"


In 1925, a report by church persons stated:

Conditions...described by Eyewitnesses.

Q- Age 16 years--Born in England. This is one of the two boys who recently committed suicide--Was employed on a farm--Was homesick and lonely. It is said to have been drilled into him, from the time the Agency received him, that the most disgraceful thing that could happen to him was to be returned to the Agency for any cause. On the farm the boy was accused of lying and was told that he would be returned to the Agency unless an apology was offered. This was the second farm on which he had been placed." 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-03-10 11:53:10 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-01-22 17:23:51 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  30 Entries        
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 417 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3020 ABBOT, Alice1877ENG, MDX, Islington Oct 1893 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
3035 ABBOTT, Geoffrey Robinson1898ENG, MDX, Paddington Mar 1912 : Empress of Britain CAN Sailing Alone  
3036 ABBOTT, George1894ENG, MDX, London Jul 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
27033 ABBOTT, Harry Franz1917ENG, MDX, Hendon Oct 1928 : Beltana AUS Fairbridge Homes  
3038 ABBOTT, Herman Henry1882ENG, MDX, Hoxton, London Apr 1895 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
3082 ABEL, Walter John1869ENG, MDX, London Aug 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
3133 ACLAND, Arthur Edward1874ENG, MDX, Holloway Apr 1886 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
5391 AKERMAN, Martha Rosina1891ENG, MDX, St. Giles Sep 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
9843 ALBON, Frank Baldwin1889ENG, MDX, Staines Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
4649 ALBON, Mildred Margaret1891ENG, MDX, Teddington Jun 1905 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
16328 ALLMAN, Sophia Mary Ann1875ENG, MDX, St. George in the East Jun 1885 : Lake WWnnipeg CAN Middlemore  
3517 ALLUM, Jessie Maud1899ENG, MDX, Hillingdon Heath May 1908 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
10946 ALLWRIGHT, Bertha Isabella1869ENG, MDX, Mile End Old Town Jun 1879 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
10947 ALLWRIGHT, Phoebe1871ENG, MDX, Poplar Jun 1879 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
7528 ALVAREZ, Florence Rebecca1862ENG, MDX, Hackney Nov 1869 : Hibernian CAN Maria Rye  
3801 ANSELL, Alan Joseph1894ENG, MDX, Whitechapel, London Oct 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3800 APPLEBY, Nelson F.1910ENG, MDX, Lewisham, London Jun 1924 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
2934 ARMINGER, Eleanor Florence1886ENG, MDX, Mile End Old Town Mar 1895 : Mongolian CAN Maria Rye  
22113 ATKINS, Valentine1915ENG, MDX, Edmonton May 1931 : Duchess of Bedford CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
3080 AUBURN, John George1855ENG, MDX, London May 1872 : Varuna CAN Shoe Black Brigade  
3680 AYRE, Arthur1896ENG, MDX, Stoke Newington, London Jul 1909 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
3681 AYRE, Elsie1892ENG, MDX, Islington, London Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3682 AYRE, Maud1893ENG, MDX, Stoke Newington, London Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
3687 BAILEY, Emily May1897ENG, MDX, Edgeware Aug 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3969 BAKER, Alfred Augustus1886ENG, MDX, Whitechapel, London Jul 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
16181 BAKER, Edward George1909ENG, MDX, Staines Jun 1921 : Scandinavian CAN Barnardos  
17321 BALE, James Arthur1896ENG, MDX, London Jul 1905 : Lake Champlain CAN Bristol Emigration Society  
14741 BALL, Frederick Phillip1878ENG, MDX, London May 1892 : Numidian CAN Childrens Aid Society  
22014 BAMFORD, George Joseph1897ENG, MDX Jul 1907 : Kensington CAN Barnardos  
10259 BANKS, Constance1899ENG, MDX, Hendon Aug 1913 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 417 Entries        
Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  30 Entries