Harold Carnegy Capel

Born on 11 June 1868 in South Kensington, Harold Carnegy Capel was baptised at Stephen’s in Paddington on 11 July 1868. He was the third son of Arthur Risdon Capel and Mary Anne Jemima née Carnegy. His father, a tea broker, was for many years the Treasurer of the London Orphan Asylum at Watford; he later changed his name to Arthur Risdon Capel Carnegy Arbuthnott.

When the census was taken in 1891, he was living with his parents and five siblings at 9 Bramham Gardens, Kensington. The household also included six servants. Harold gave ‘Member of [the] Stock Exchange’ as his profession.

On 28 July 1895 in Marylebone he married Eileen Kil Murray, who was born at Tralee in County Kerry. Their marriage produced one son, Arthur Harold Capel, born on 13 May 1896 at Montagu Mansions, Portman Square.

In 1901 Harold and his family were living at 24 Sussex Square in Bayswater. Harold gave ‘Stockbroker’ as his profession. Also present on the night of the census was Hugh Bernard O’Rourke, a Roman Catholic priest, who was recorded as a ‘Visitor.’

In 1911 Harold and Eileen were living at 3 Harcourt Buildings, Temple. Once again, Father O’Rourke was visiting the couple.

In fact, Hugh O’Rourke lived with the Capels. At least he was living with them in 1914, when Capel and O’Rourke ended up in court together at Hendon Petty Sessions, facing charges of assault. By then this curious ménage were occupying the upper part of a house at Eastclife, Hermitage Lane, Child’s Hill, an area in Barnet. Also in court on the same charges were their landlords, William Abel and his wife. The four had come to blows when the ceiling in the Capel’s flat had fallen down. During the fight, O’Rourke is supposed to have thrown both the Abels down the stairs. According to Mrs Abel, ‘her husband was pushed downstairs. O’Rourke then took hold of her and first hit her head on the bannister and threw her down the stairs.’ The court was told that Capel drank regularly and that the police had been called before. The Bench managed to sift through all the conflicting evidence and dismissed the charges against everyone except Capel, who was fined 20s and costs, in all £4. At no point does the report mention O’Rourke’s priestly status, so presumably he and the Church had gone their separate ways by this point (Hendon and Finchley Times, 17 July 1914).

Harold Carnegy Capel died, aged 67, on 27 May 1936.