The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1904-01-02 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE STORY OF MS CLEEER.  The man Henry Bertram Starr, who woe executed at Liverpool on Tuesday for the termite' murder of his wife at Blackpool, spent the opening years of his life at Birkenhead, and many of our readers will probably be iiitermfrd in a letter which gives the nude features of • isoneeivbet remark. able career. The letter, which is dated December 9th. was written by Starr to his solicitor (lir. J. H. Nee/token, of Fleetwood). who desired information concerning his previous career to guide him in the case which has Pist terminated by the execution of the culprit, and, is ah follows: "Deer Sir,—The /*Downie particulars of be may probably 111170Wer your requirements. Any omission or amplification is left to your judgment `7 wee born in Birkenhead, in Cheshire. January 27th, 1872, living in this town till the death of my father, in 1876. After this went my mother with use went to Maryport, in Cumbertand, where she contiatied to live with her mother for tome time; afterwards in apartments with her two infant children, Albert and Robert, while I was traneferred to the care of an aunt on the maternal side, with whom I spent the greater part of my life.  my mother was born at ILaryport, her family being of Cumbrian extraction. My father was born in London; his relations are at the present time Heine in the South of England the others, with the exception of an uncle. living in the South, are unknown to me. My mother, unfortunately, developed symptoms of insanity oonsequent upon an attack of milk fever, and was ultimately removed to Garlands Asylum, at which institution she was retained until a recent date, and in at the time of writing in the imbecile nerd of Cockermouth Work . Her life since about my eizth birthday has been passe.d in a state of mental darkness. Daring Cam period I have seen her twice, the lad date being, to quote from memory, about 1.103. Prior to the removal of my zeother to Garlands, my youngest brother (Athert) died, he being about four years of age et the time. The only brother I have is ,ti!. prenent.lbroad. .  chooldaya were *pent at Maryport. I pasted the eevezith standard and continued attending school for some time afterwards. My health was fairly good with one particular exception, when I received a wound on the hack of my cranium, and for which the lancet was need on one or two occasions. t may here interpolate the fact that in ii. fancy an injury was received to the frontal bone; both wounds hare left scars. After leaving school, my uncle, with whom I wan brought up, apprenticed me to a M. Thistle, a draper, at Maryport, with whom I worked for nine month*, at the end of which time in, uncle, through money mati-zms—wages—requested me to leave. My next situation was with a Mr. Elliott, a draper, at Cookermouth. leaving here after twelve months through partial colour blindness.  -.;'W7th-. • agencies of various descriptions I have earned my bread for the greater. mash the greater, pert of my days. An agency with the Pearl Life Assurance Company began my career in this busineee. After two years my services were dippensed with— through the habit of drinking, now just beginning to have am influence for evil over my life. My uncle, under whose care I still remained, took me with him to work, he being a master plasterer in business at Maryport. For about two years all went well, when he died somewhat suddenly after a few days' illness. Raving reached my terenty-firet year, and used to keeping my nude's books, etc., in order, together with a certain, though necessarily limited. experience of hie bosinees, 1 nndertool:' with the permiesion of the owner*, to finish the plastering contracts left unfinished. This proved an miwitie proceeding. A considerable sum, about .000, had pone, debts which I could not pay distracted rue, and, of course, the matter could not be adjusted; the end being flight. Again drink was my ruin. "At this time I was greatly interested in theatrical affairs—being a co respondent of the 'Era' (the well-known theatrical publication), and organised a variety company to join the halls. The old story of failure. For come year. I travelled—four or five—for Blackie and Sons, the publishers. Drink bad now complete control over my mind. Unfortunately a young lady with whom I wee on familiar terms drowned hermit I was arrested. tried for murder, and quitted, the jury not leaving the box. At this time my thoughts were centred on literary pursuits. I wee a correspondent to various journals, but the influence of my trial at Manchester Assizes left my mind gloomy. This finished all my writing, and very often melancholy had such weight over my brain that 'Suicide' was my familiar word, with slight homicidal tendencies. A cousin about thin date took his life during temporary insanity, ad au uncle died of coneumption of the brain. "I next travelled with A. and C. Taylor, of London, for five years. Drink again, ruin, disgrace, flight, the gutter--an oritcrist wandering aimlessly through England and Scotland. A andden reformation after a chequered and strange life of ups and downs. 0611145 to Blackpool, married, a happy brief life. Again drink, delirium, madness, murder, trial, condemned to death. The end of a wild, changeful, isad career. May it be truly said, 'After life's fitful lever he sleeps well.' _  -inie above unpremeditated and therefore somewhat disjointed biographical details are respectfully, i&en by yours sincerely, '