Record

Code	DS/UK/3376
Name	Owen; Elsie (16 August 1888-14 January 1941); Welsh violinist, organist, teacher
Variations of Name	Elsie James, Elsie Winifred Owen
Dates	16 August 1888-14 January 1941
Gender	Female
Place of Birth/Origin	Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales (born)
Relationships	Daughter of musician Luther Owen Spouse of Arthur Lloyd James (internationally reknowned phonetics expert, and Professor at the School of Oriental Studies and BBC linguistics advisor. He was found guilty of murdering Elsie in 1941 on grounds of insanity. He committed suicide in 1943 at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum) Mother of David Owen Lloyd James (b.1915-1978)
Biography	Elsie Owen was an organist of Llanelly Presbyterian Church, and a professor of violin at the Royal Academy of Music. She was murdered by the husband in 1941. Professor James is reported to have said 'I thought my powers were failing and I could not cope with my work. Rather than expect her to face a bleak future I decided she should die and not be asked to face it. I thought I would also kill myself... We were so happy. I wanted her to die while she was like that. I have been in a nursing home with a nervous breakdown. We were so happy.' (The Times 16 January 1941). It is reported that Arthur James had suffered severely from shock after a narrow escape from death in an air raid during World War II, where he was serving with the Royal Engineers. The newspaper Corona Daily Independent called this case 'Great Britain's first 'war nerves' murder' (15 January 1941).

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