Arthur Webster Newell, born in Chelsea on January 30, 1854 and
educated in the Chelsea schools, was a first class passenger who lost
his life during the historic night that the Titanic crashed into an
iceberg in the North Atlantic, killing most of its passengers and crew.
The Titanic had been hailed as the greatest and most luxurious ocean
liner ever created, and set sail on its maiden voyage in April 1912,
with Newell and thousands of other passengers.
Newell, a prominent banker at the Fourth National Bank of Boston, was
married to Chelsea native Mary Greely. Their two children, Madeleine
and Alice grew up in Chelsea. The family then moved to Lexington
before the birth of their third child Marjorie in 1889. The Titanic,
thought to be unsinkable, claimed the life of their father and many
others.
Those that knew Newell said that he was a respected and successful
businessman, with a high regard for truth and directness. He had
risen through the ranks from a bookkeeper to top positions, earning a
significant income in the banking business. His daughter Marjorie
reportedly said that her father’s inner clarity of spirit made him a
keen judge of honesty and reliabilty in others. His character
appeared distant in his social circles, and his companions were few,
but close.
Tripple slaying results from a dispute between Sergeant Hannabury
and an officer earlier in the morning.
Mrs. Helen B. Hannabury, 39, is dead and her daughter, Virginia,
14, is dying at the Chelsea Memorial Hospital, (Later died), as a
result of a shooting fray which took place at their home at 31
Lambert Avenue at about 4:45 this morning. Patrolman John A. Price,
46, who went to the home of Sergeant Hannabury and threatened him
before raining death from his revolver, also is dead having been shot
three times by his superior officer. Sergeant Hannabury is reported
to be in a state of collapse and under care of a physician at his
home. Two other children, Herbert, Jr., 15, and Paul, 9 were in the
house at the time of the shooting.
Patrolman Price, who returned to duty last week after a suspension
period for violating rule 25 of the Police Manual, failed to make his
routine box ring to the police station after 12:30 am. He had words
with Sergeant Hannabury a short time before and accused his superior
officer of having turned him in for drunkedness. Sergeant Hannabury
was warned from the police station to be on the watch for Patrolman
Price as the policeman had been drinking and was heard to say he was
going to see Hannabury on business. The police sergeant was sitting
at the kitchen table in his Lambert Avenue home when a short time
later there was a knock at the back door. He opened the door to find
Patrolman Price standing there with his service revolver in hand.
Price is aleged to have said to Sergeant Hannabury “I’m going to
kill both you and the Chief”. The sergeant attempted to reason
with him as the enraged patrolman pushed his way into the kitchen. As
Price lifted his revolver toward his superior officer, Sergeant
Hannabury extinguished the kitchen light and ran to the front of the
house to get his service revolver. There had been loud remarks
exchanged by the two men and Mrs. Hannabury who had been sleeping
with her daughter, Virginia, in an alcove bedroom arose and turned on
the light to investigate the cause of the disturbance. When she did
so she became a perfect target for the enraged patrolman who fired
three times bringing instant death to the 39 year old housewife. At
least two bullets entered her body and a third passed through her
head. The 14 year old daughter, Virginia, sleeping beside her mother
was shot through the head. She later died at the Chelsea Memorial
Hospital. Meanwhile, Sergeant Hannabury retrieved his service
revolver and returned to the scene. Seeing what had transpired he
opened fire on Patrolman Price who slumped to the floor with at least
three bullets in his body. Both Mrs. Hannabury and Patrolman Price
were pronounced dead at the Chelsea Memorial Hospital.