ELIZABETH  1839-1906

'Murder Most Foul'

Roedd Elizabeth, neu Lisa fel y gelwir, yn drideg a phump pan priododd James Thomas ar y 17^ed o  Awst 1874. Fe’u priodwyd yn y swyddfa gofrestru yn nhref Caerfyrddin. Tan hynny fu’n byw gyda’i rhieni yn Ty’r Tranch. Crydd o fry oedd James, a mab David Thomas, crydd uchel ei barch  o bentref Pont Antwn, ar yr hewl o Gaerfyrddin i Lanelli. Bwthyn bach  yn Llan, yng nghanol Llangyndeyrn oedd eu cartref cyntaf, fel y gwelwn yng nghyfrifiad 1881:

Llangyndeirne – Llan  138/ page 13    # 35. 

Erbyn 1891 roedd y teulu wedi symud i ‘Ty’r Walks’¹, ym Mhont Antwn. Erbyn y cyfrifiad yma roedd y ddau fab, Thomas a John, wedi gadael cartref. Mwy na thebyg eu bônt wedi dechrau gweithio gan fod Thomas yn14 a John² yn 13. Erbyn cyfrifiad 1901 dim ond James, Lisa a Hannah oedd ar ôl yn y cartref. Roedd Hannah yn un ar hugain. Disgrifir James nawr fel ‘shoe and boot maker’, ac yn ddiddorol iawn, ei fod yn dod o blwyf  Llandyfeilog yn enedigol, yn hytrach na Llangyndeyrn fel y nodir yn y cyfrifiad blaenorol.

            Yn ôl cofnodion y plwyf, bu farw Lisa ym 1906 yn ‘Ty’r Walks, Pont Antwn. Roedd hi’n 66 mlwydd oed, ac yn mynd i osgoi y digwyddiadau erchyll a fyddai’n effeithio’r teulu. Bu farw James yng nghartref ei fab John yn 8, Woodland’s Terrace, Blackpill, Oystermouth, yn 88 mlwydd oed. Credaf fod John yn ‘Station Master’ gyda chwmni rheilffordd L&N.W. Roedd John yn ddi-briod, a fu ei chwaer Hannah yn gofalu am y cartref a’u tad. Teimlaf fod llofruddiaeth Thomas druan wedi effeithio’r teulu yn enbyd tan ddiwedd eu hoes. Dyma'r hanes trist:

Thomas Thomas (1877-1921)

“Murder Most Foul”

"On Saturday night February 12^th 1921, Thomas Thomas, manager of the Star Supply Stores, a well-known chain of shops, was bludgeoned and stabbed to death for the contents of the safe. There is no evidence that the murderer was ever caught. Two detectives from Scotland Yard investigated the crime according to the practice of the day. They were Inspector Nichols and Sargeant Cummins. An inquest was also held.

            The Star Supply Stores was said to be three doors from the Coronation Arcade in Garnant, and the rear of the premises was opposite the G.W.R. branch line.  The assailant was thought to have gained entry through the rear door.

            Thomas had worked for the Star Company for about fifteen years in a similar position at their Llandeilo and Bridgend branches. He was single and lodged with Mr & Mrs Stephens at Park View, Horney Road. He was well thought of and was described as an industrious manager. He was known to be of “delicate health” and was described as being “quiet and inoffensive”. He was a native of Llangyndeyrn parish and his father was a well-known shoemaker in Pont Antwn. His only brother John gave evidence at the inquest. He was a stationmaster for the L&N.W. Railway Company and lived in Mumbles Road, Blackpill, Swansea.

Several hundred people attended the funeral and all businesses closed for the day in Garnant and Glanamman. After a short service at Horney Road conducted by the Rev. John Thomas pastor of Bethesda, Glanamman, the cortege comprising of a motor hearse and up to twenty cars left for the burial service at Llangyndeyrn parish church. The vicar of Garnant, the Rev. William Williams also attended. The hymn sung was “Yn y dyfroedd mawr a’r tonnau”. The main mourners were his brother John Thomas and a sister named only as Mrs. Thomas. The bearers were all members of the Star Supply Company staff inspectors.

Brother John speaking at the inquest said of his brother: “He was never very robust, he was stone deaf in one ear and had little service in the other. He suffered from headaches and varicose veins and he had been operated on for nasal problems in Swansea”.

 His simple epitaph at Llangyndeyrn reads: