Charles Masterton (1852-1916)
Suspected Murderer (deemed a lunatic)
Genealogy sometimes uncovers a few skeletons in cupboards. Charles Masterton was arrested on 6th May 1886 and charged with fatally assaulting John Barry at Burntisland in Fife. The evidence was later deemed too slender to convict but Masterton was then handed over to the Aberdour parochial authorities as a pauper lunatic. He died in 1916 in Fife and Kinross District Asylum, near Cupar. His wife Margaret died in Easter Aberdour in 1931 at the age of 85.
In his younger days he had been imprisoned for breach of the peace.
Genealogy
Charles Masterton was the son of Charles Masterton (labourer) and Elizabeth Barnes, as recorded in Charles' marriage and death certificates. In 1877, Charles married Margaret Reid and in 1881 they were resident in "Ground Floor" Aberdour with a daughter Margaret. They lived below Sophie Masterton a retired cook who was the unmarried daughter of David Masterton and Elizabeth Cooper. No relationship between Sophie and Charles has however yet been established. The 1881 Census has Charles' occupation as Agricultural Labourer and his birthplace as Broxburn, Linlithgow. In the 1861 Census, there is a Charles Masterton, Agricultural Labourer, aged 61 living in Broxburn with Elizabeth "Barron", housekeeper aged 57 and two children: Janet aged 11, and Charles aged 9.
In the 1841 Census, Charles senior is listed in the same property as Janet Barclay , aged 74, pauper, and Margaret Thomson aged 30. This establishes a connection between Charles senior and the birth recorded in Bathgate in 1799 to parents William Masterton and Janet Barclay who were married in 1794. Fuller details of the extended family of Charles Masterton can be found in the following link.
The Falkirk Herald
LINLITHGOW:- John Cameron and Charles Masterton jun., labourers, Broxburn, charged with malicious mischief and breach of peace by breaking windows and annoying parties at Stewartfield and Greendykes during the night on 9th and 10th inst., pled guilty and were each awarded one months imprisonment.
The Falkirk Herald
17th December 1870
Aberdeen Press and Journal
THE MURDER NEAR BURNTISLAND.- The Fife county police yesterday took into custody a quarryman named Charles Masterton, under a charge of assaulting and robbing John Berry, who died in Kinghorn Poorhouse on Saturday. Masterton, who is married, resides at Aberdour, and is subject to mental aberrations. He was absent from home most of the night of the occurrence, and returned in an excited state, and in almost nude condition. He appears after the assault to have leaped into an adjoining field and divested himself of his clothing. Some of his clothes have since been discovered and identified, and bear marks of blood. The property stolen from the deceased has also been found, and contributes to the evidence implicating the accused. Masterton was conveyed from Burntisland to Cupar by the forenoon train, where he will be judicially examined.
Aberdeen Press and Journal
Friday, 7th May 1886
The Scotsman
THE BURNTISLAND FATAL ASSAULT CASE -- Charles Masterton, the Aberdour labourer, apprehended on a charge of fatally assaulting John Barry at Burntisland on the 27th ult., was taken to Cupar in custody of the police yesterday. He was brought before Sheriff-Substitute Henderson, but his Lordship was of opinion that the prisoner's mental condition was such as not to warrant a declaration being taken from him in the meantime. Masterton was committed to prison.
The Scotsman
Friday, 7th May 1886
Edinburgh Evening News
CHARLES MASTERTON, the Aberdour labourer in custody, at Cupar, on a charge of fatally assaulting John Berry at Burntisland, on the 27th ult., has been declared insane.
Edinburgh Evening News
Friday, 7th May 1886
Fife Herald
THE FATAL ASSAULT AT BURNTISLAND.- In the case of Charles Masterton, quarryman, Aberdour, who was recently apprehended, charged with an assault upon John Berry, which ended fatally, an enquiry took place under the Lunacy Acts before Sheriff Henderson in the Sheriff Court, Cupar, on Tuesday. Masterton is a strongly built man of 37 years of age, with dark hair and bronzed complexion. Mrs Margaret Reid, his mother-in-law, deponed that prior to his apprehension, Masterton had torn down the curtains of his bed and endeavoured to assault his wife. Inspector Hunter and Sergeant Walker of the County Constabulary, as well as Mr Swinton, chief attendant at the Fife and Kinross District Asylum, described the difficulty they had in apprehending Masterton, being obliged, in addition to the usual precaution of handcuffs, to strap his legs. Dr Turnbull, of the Asylum, spoke of the man's present condition, and all agreed in saying that he was and is a lunatic and dangerous to the public. After the statements by these witnesses, the Sheriff said he was quite satisfied that Masterton was a dangerous lunatic, and, on the motion of the Procurator-Fiscal, he granted warrant to commit him to the Springfield Asylum, therein to be detained until cured.
Fife Herald
Wednesday, 19th May 1886
The Scotsman
THE CASE OF HOMICIDE NEAR BURNTISLAND -- In the case of Masterton, who is alleged to have killed the old man Berry at Kirton of Burntisland on 27th April last, the Cupar criminal authorities have found the evidence too slender to convict. Masterton has consequently been handed over to the Aberdour parochial authorities as a pauper lunatic.
The Scotsman
24th May 1886
Fife Free Press
The recent case of Homicide - In the case of Masterton, who is alleged to have killed the old man Berry at Kirkton of Burntisland on 27th April last, the Cupar criminal authorities have found the evidence too slender to convict. Masterton has consequently been handed over to the Aberdour parochial authorities as a pauper lunatic.
The Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian
29th May 1886