Remembering Miss Evelyn Morris…
Almost 20 years ago, I received a small leather briefcase holding bundles of letters saved from a house clearance. Having placed them to one side I revisited them recently and my interest was renewed. I needed to know more about the woman whom the letters of condolence were written. She was Evelyn Jane Morris, owner of a Drapery Shop at 97 Pearse Street, Cavan and daughter of Mr John Joseph (Jack) Morris, a plumber who lived on McDermott (Church) Street, Cavan. Her mother Fanny Morris neé Cartwright died many years earlier in 1913.
On Thursday evening, May 17, 1934, Evelyn was returning to Cavan from Dublin and was lucky to get a lift with Duncan Fraser, a chauffeur who drove Captain Webster’s Fiat touring car. Fraser had 27 years’ driving experience with Webster of Arnmore House. That evening there were three passengers in the car. They were Mr Coleman Russell Gray in the front seat, and in the back seat was Miss Morris and Mrs Godfrey Webster (sister of Mr Coleman Russell Gray).
At 4.50 pm, the car left Dublin. Later near Tara, close to Navan, the driver Fraser spotted a hay cart about 300 to 500 yards away and according to the Irish Press it approached on the correct side of the road. However, what came from behind the hay cart caused devastation; for without warning, a bus pulled out from behind the cart travelling in the same direction towards them. The car was within fifty feet of the bus and to prevent a head-on collision Fraser drove up on a ‘head of shingle’ along the roadside. The bus then crashed into the back part of the car on the right-hand side where Miss Morris was seated. The paper recorded that she was ‘killed almost out right.’ She was just forty years old.
The bus driver Edward Wickham was charged with manslaughter at Trim Court, but he pleaded not guilty and was afterwards acquitted. From behind the hay cart, Mr Wickham had not seen the approaching car and when he pulled out, he jammed on the brakes but said ‘the motor struck his bus.’ The road was greasy, adding to its slipperiness at the time of the crash. The bus driver and the passengers got off the bus to help remove Miss Morris from the back of the car, but she was already unconscious. Wickham saw hay on the front engine of the bus and told the court he had driven no faster than twenty miles an hour. Russell Coleman Gray emphasized that Webster’s car was driven carefully by Duncan Fraser. The inquest found that Evelyn’s death was the result of a broken spine.
Letters and memories
The leather case held over fifty letters addressed to the Morris family. Many of them offer us a glimpse of Evelyn’s personality. For example, a letter from Willie Crothers of Beachside Terrace, Lisburn, sent to Herbert Morris, Evelyn’s brother, on May 25, 1934 reads: ‘I can scarcely believe that Evelyn is gone. The last time I saw her was in Portrush three or four years ago and she was the life of the house that fortnight. I’m glad I have a snap taken with her on that occasion. Many times, since I heard the dreadful news, I have looked at it ‘in the pattern He has planned.’ Mabel joins me in sending our sincere sympathy and we trust and pray that God himself will comfort and strengthen you to come through this awful trial.’
On May 18, 1934, Sarah McCarren of Brookvale, Cavan, wrote: ‘Dear Mr Morris, Mr McCarren and family join with me in sending our condolences to you and yours in the great sorrow that has befallen you on the death of your dear daughter.’ Another letter to Evelyn’s brother George, from Mr G.A. Pollock of Church Street, Cavan, said:
‘Since you and I are very sorry indeed at learning such terrible news yesterday, it came as such a shock to the whole town, and you have the sympathy of us all.’ Ruby G. Brown-Lee, Latt House, Cavan, also expressed her grief having known Evelyn ‘since school days.’
Ella Whyte of Cornacrum, Ardlogher P.O., Belturbet, wrote to Miss W. (Winnie) Morris, a sister of Evelyn, to express her sorrow and said how much she wished to ‘comfort’ her in ‘her great trial.’ Ella added, ‘I got a great shock when I heard about your sister especially as she was the last person I spoke to when leaving Cavan… I know you will bear up for her sake as you well know she is very happy now, and you have many friends to comfort you and especially the great Comforter who never fails those who call upon his name.’
F. Violet Smith of Annsley Terrace, Cavan, said she did not know her ‘sufficiently well’, but she knew Evelyn ‘was one of the best and kindest souls in the town.’ Then Eva Smith, joined by husband Bill, of Whitlas Brae, Larne, who usually got the ‘Celt’ by Monday recalled her admiration for Evelyn who she said: ‘looked after you all, when her mother was taken.’ Evelyn had also been Eva’s bridesmaid and remembered: ‘we were all so happy that day.’
Mrs M. Peel, Dublin Road, Lisburn, wrote to Evelyn’s brother Herbert telling him: ‘Bobby bought all the papers to see when the funeral was to take place, but could not find it in any. I have not broken the news to my husband yet as he’s just recovering from double pneumonia and last week, he was at death’s door himself, but is now making a remarkable recovery, and as you know Evelyn was always a great favourite of his, and the news would upset him very much.’
Sr Mary De Sale, St Joseph’s Abbey, Cavan, informed Mr Morris: ‘Poor Evelyn was such a friendly, obliging person we shall miss her very much. It is a crushing blow to you, but your good sense, resignation to God’s Will in all things will help console you. May God give you strength to bear your heavy cross. You have all the sympathy and prayers of all your old friends in St Joseph’s. With much sympathy. May God comfort you as He alone can.’