Arthur Rendle Short
Encyclopedia
Arthur Rendle Short was a professor of surgery at Bristol University and author. During that time, he briefly employed the suspected serial killer
John Bodkin Adams
.
, the son of E. Rendle Short, the director of Fry's chocolate. Arthur's academic achievements included a First class honours in geology, anatomy and also obstetrics.
Short wrote various medical books, and many books on Christian apologetics, with a special interest in creation and evolution. He was a member of the Plymouth Brethren
and also a much-in-demand speaker in Brethren and InterVarsity Fellowship circles. He was ex-Hunterian professor of the Royal College of Surgeons and was Professor of Surgery at the University of Bristol until he retired in 1948. The Times goes on to describe him as "a simple-minded man, in the sense that he never saw evil in anyone.
Like his father, he became a member of the Plymouth Brethren
. Arthur was also the founder of the "Inter-Varsity Fellowship", a worldwide Christian organisation for University students. Whilst visiting European cities for medical conferences he also often took the opportunity to speak to students about his Christian beliefs.
The Times describes him as being a "clear thinker, with quick perception", very direct in his manner, and someone who loved the countryside.
, County Antrim
. It was attended by a young John Bodkin Adams
, also a Plymouth Brethren, who was studying medicine at the University of Belfast. His uncle John Bodkin
had been a famous missionary and later mandarin
in China
. Hearing of this connection, Rendle Short offered Adams a position as assistant houseman
at Bristol Royal Infirmary
. Adams however did not prove a success.
One Sunday in 1922 at a Brethren meeting, Rendle Short handed Adams an advert his wife had seen in a Christian weekly - a position as a general practitioner
in Eastbourne. Reluctantly Adams took the hint, applied and was hired. Adams would go on to develop a successful career there, specially in treating ageing widows, and allegedly became the richest doctor in Britain.
In 1956, 4 years after Rendle Short's death, Adams was arrested in Eastbourne for the murders of Edith Alice Morrell
and Gertrude Hullett
. He was tried on the former count in 1957 but controversially acquitted, the Hullett case was then dropped. Adams was charged on 14 minor criminal acts and struck off the medical register later that year. He was reinstated in 1961. Despite never being found guilty of murder, Home Office
pathologist Francis Camps
suspected Adams of killing 163 patients.
FRCP, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Queensland
and specialises in child autism
. He spells his name with a hyphen.
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster and suspected serial killer. Between the years 1946 and 1956, more than 160 of his patients died in suspicious circumstances. Of these, 132 left him money or items in their will. He was tried and acquitted for...
.
Biography
Short was born in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, the son of E. Rendle Short, the director of Fry's chocolate. Arthur's academic achievements included a First class honours in geology, anatomy and also obstetrics.
Short wrote various medical books, and many books on Christian apologetics, with a special interest in creation and evolution. He was a member of the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
and also a much-in-demand speaker in Brethren and InterVarsity Fellowship circles. He was ex-Hunterian professor of the Royal College of Surgeons and was Professor of Surgery at the University of Bristol until he retired in 1948. The Times goes on to describe him as "a simple-minded man, in the sense that he never saw evil in anyone.
Like his father, he became a member of the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
. Arthur was also the founder of the "Inter-Varsity Fellowship", a worldwide Christian organisation for University students. Whilst visiting European cities for medical conferences he also often took the opportunity to speak to students about his Christian beliefs.
The Times describes him as being a "clear thinker, with quick perception", very direct in his manner, and someone who loved the countryside.
John Bodkin Adams
In 1920, Rendle Short gave a lecture at a missionary study-class conference in LarneLarne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. It was attended by a young John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster and suspected serial killer. Between the years 1946 and 1956, more than 160 of his patients died in suspicious circumstances. Of these, 132 left him money or items in their will. He was tried and acquitted for...
, also a Plymouth Brethren, who was studying medicine at the University of Belfast. His uncle John Bodkin
John Bodkin
For the suspected serial killer, see John Bodkin AdamsJohn Bodkin, Roman Catholic Warden of Galway, died 1710. After his death, his body was said to have been the subject of a miracle because it was thought to have not decayed.-Life and Death:...
had been a famous missionary and later mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Hearing of this connection, Rendle Short offered Adams a position as assistant houseman
Houseman
Houseman may refer to:*House officer, a junior doctor in a British hospital*Useful man, a grade of domestic servant below footmanPeople whose surname is or was Houseman include:*Edward Houseman , English cricketer...
at Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Infirmary
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital situated in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in...
. Adams however did not prove a success.
One Sunday in 1922 at a Brethren meeting, Rendle Short handed Adams an advert his wife had seen in a Christian weekly - a position as a general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in Eastbourne. Reluctantly Adams took the hint, applied and was hired. Adams would go on to develop a successful career there, specially in treating ageing widows, and allegedly became the richest doctor in Britain.
In 1956, 4 years after Rendle Short's death, Adams was arrested in Eastbourne for the murders of Edith Alice Morrell
Edith Alice Morrell
Edith Alice Morrell , was a resident of Eastbourne and patient of the suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams. He was tried for her murder in 1957 but acquitted...
and Gertrude Hullett
Gertrude Hullett
Gertrude "Bobby" Hullett , a resident of Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, was a patient of the suspected serial killer Dr John Bodkin Adams, who was charged with her murder but never tried for it.-Jack Hullett:...
. He was tried on the former count in 1957 but controversially acquitted, the Hullett case was then dropped. Adams was charged on 14 minor criminal acts and struck off the medical register later that year. He was reinstated in 1961. Despite never being found guilty of murder, Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
pathologist Francis Camps
Francis Camps
Francis Edward Camps, FRCP, FRCpath was a famous English pathologist notable for his work on the cases of serial killer John Christie and suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams.-Early life and training:...
suspected Adams of killing 163 patients.
Family
He married Helen Case, and they had one son and two daughters, all of whom became medics. His son Tyndale John Rendle-Short AMMaster of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
FRCP, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
and specialises in child autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. He spells his name with a hyphen.
Beliefs
Rendle Short had many problems reconciling the discoveries of Darwin with his beliefs as a Brethren member. His son wrote:- ‘How could the Fall of man have brought sin and death into the world, if the fossils were showing a creation ‘groaning’ for millions of years before man? How could man be both a rising ape and a fallen image? These were agonizing questions for my father.’
Published works
- The principles of Christians called "Open Brethren", by a younger brother, (1914) Glasgow, Pickering & Inglis
- The Historic Faith in the Light of Today, (1922)
- Young believers and assembly life, etc, (1925) London, Pickering & Inglis
- The Bible and Modern Research, (1933)
- Why Believe?, (1938/1951)
- Modern Discovery and the Bible, (1942)
- Wonderfully Made, (1951)
- The Bible and Modern Medicine, (1951)
- Archaeology gives Evidence, (1951)
- The Rock Beneath, (1955)