Edgar Bindon - girlfriend murder and a failed suicide attempt.
19 year old Edgar Lewis George Bindon shot his neighbour and estranged girlfriend, 20 year old Maud Mulholland in Cowbridge Road in Cardiff on the night of Sunday the 9th of November, 1913.
Bindon was a well known and talented amateur footballer. Maud’s parents didn’t approve of the relationship. Maud was a shop assistant and sang in the church choir. She lived next door to Bindon at 80 Theobald Road, Cardiff, South Wales and the couple were rarely seen apart. He was very possessive and infatuated with Maud but she found this relationship stifling and so she soon ended it and started seeing Bernard Campion.
On the evening of the 9th of November, she had been with Bernard and at around 10 p.m. she offered to accompany him to the tram stop to catch his ride home. Maud started her own homeward journey along a side street before turning into Cowbridge Road. Here Bindon caught up with her and started shooting at her with a revolver he had purchased the previous day.
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The attack was witnessed by 15 year old Randolph Howe who heard a shot and then looked out of his bedroom window at around 10.50 p.m. to see Bindon chasing Maud and firing at her. John Hoskins and Henry Griffiths also witnessed the murder from Cowbridge Road. His last shot was fired as she lay wounded in the road. Three bullets had hit Maud, including the fatal one to her heart.
Bindon didn’t attempt to escape and was arrested at the scene by PC Ford, to whom he said “I have killed my girl.” He further admitted the crime at the police station, telling officers “It’s alright. I have had my revenge and will die with a good heart.”
When asked by his solicitor, Mr. H. M. Lloyd “Why did you do it?” he replied “Without Maud life has no interest for me whatever.” “Then why didn’t you shoot yourself and so save all this trouble and anxiety to your people?” Bindon replied “I fully intended to do so, but somehow the moment I shot her I had the overpowering desire to see my mother again and I simply couldn’t do it, so I ran away and gave myself up.”’
He then talked about Maud “I was the last to speak to her and kiss her. When I had shot her and she was lying on the ground, I knelt down beside her and kissed her goodbye. Forgive me Maud I said, I’ll soon be with you.”
Bindon was tried at Cardiff on the 6th of March 1914 before Mr. Justice Rowlatt. Several letters were read out including one from Maud to “Dear Edgar” making at tryst “to meet at 10.30 on Sunday night” at St John’s Church, just a few yards away from the lane where she was found dying.
The letter continued: “I don’t think I shall be going out tonight unless I make an excuse. Then kiddie, if you wish to say goodbye to me, it will be by St John’s Church at the time named. I hope this will suit you and I hope to see you there. I remain yours, as always. Maud.”
Another letter, this time from Bindon, was read out to the jury. Addressed to his mother it stated “I will see her tonight at 10.30. I have got a seven chambered revolver, fully loaded, in my pocket. It will be the last goodbye she will ever wish anyone”. Another note suggested that they planned to die together and wished to be buried in the same grave.’
Strangely the jury made a strong recommendation to mercy, but as this was a case of deliberate shooting there could be no reprieve. Bindon did not appeal and was duly hanged by John Ellis and William Willis at Cardiff prison at 8.00 a.m. on Wednesday the 25th of March 1914. He reportedly walked to the gallows with a firm step. He weighed 167 lbs. and was given a drop of 6’ 6”.
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