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Washington "Teacher" Battiste - a top cyclist in later 1920s |
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In 1919 and 1922 Washington Battiste passed Pupil Teacher Examinations, but there is no record of him actually being a teacher, though his well-established nickname of 'Teacher' probably indicates that he did spend some time teaching; the Gleaner's account of his death, in 1934, notes that he had been, for a time, a teacher in Enfield, St. Mary, where he had been born. It seems that he may have also had a link with the local Teachers' Association.
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Gleaner, September 26, 1919 Pupil Teachers Examination results Battiste, Washington a b c f g Gleaner, October 6, 1922 Recent examination Battiste, Washington Constantine Leopold b d e f Annotto Bay Geography with incidental History - a Arithmetic - b Writing and English - c Teaching - d Drawing - e Scripture - f Elementary Science and Agriculture - g |
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THE GLEANER. November 10, 1925. ATHLETIC SPORTS AT KENSINGTON Battiste, practically a new comer, impressed the gathering very much, not alone with his gameness, but also with his real ability. He won the two-mile for non-winners, and did some good pacing in the 12-mile.
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Daily Gleaner, December 24, 1925
The Triumph clique — Bill Johnson, Hall, Aimes, Buckland, McFarlane, Gregory, Battiste and Walsh are simply demons of the road, which give every sign of smashing all old track records and of setting up new ones at this [Boxing Day] meeting. "Effat"
The Triumph clique — Bill Johnson, Hall, Aimes, Buckland, McFarlane, Gregory, Battiste and Walsh are simply demons of the road, which give every sign of smashing all old track records and of setting up new ones at this [Boxing Day] meeting. "Effat"
THE GLEANER, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1926.
SELECTION DAY SPORTS HELD AT KENSINGTON
Our Likely Representatives Against the Panamanians Are in Fine Form.
"Teacher" Continues To Do Great Things: "Bajan" won The 12 Miles Event.
This is about the third meeting in which Washington Battiste, better known as "Teacher" has taken part, and yet he is now ranked with the cracks. Even the "Hooded Terror" cannot afford to entirely ignore "Teacher's" attentions, and some persons are of opinion that it was because of this youth's dashes, why Davis did not make a better showing in the 15 miles which race "Bajan" took unto himself.
SELECTION DAY SPORTS HELD AT KENSINGTON
Our Likely Representatives Against the Panamanians Are in Fine Form.
"Teacher" Continues To Do Great Things: "Bajan" won The 12 Miles Event.
This is about the third meeting in which Washington Battiste, better known as "Teacher" has taken part, and yet he is now ranked with the cracks. Even the "Hooded Terror" cannot afford to entirely ignore "Teacher's" attentions, and some persons are of opinion that it was because of this youth's dashes, why Davis did not make a better showing in the 15 miles which race "Bajan" took unto himself.
Davis and Battiste finishing a race, May 24, 1926: Battiste won, so I assume he is on the right
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Washington Battiste
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Daily Gleaner, December 22, 1926
(By "EFFAT".)
ANNOTTO BAY'S SPORTS.
Annotto Bay will open the 1927 season of athletic sports on the Westmorland Oval Annotto Bay on New Year's Day. This fixture has been long looked forward to, especially as an occasion for welcoming Battiste (Teacher) home after his brilliant achievements at the recent meetings held in Colon. It is indeed a delightful surprise to me when the sports secretary — Mr. V. A. Bailey. informed me that "Teacher" was from Annotto Bay. He (Battiste) is unquestionably one of our foremost wheelmen to-day, and I venture to predict a jolly time in the wav of a reception for him in Annotto Bay on the 1st of January, 1927.
(By "EFFAT".)
ANNOTTO BAY'S SPORTS.
Annotto Bay will open the 1927 season of athletic sports on the Westmorland Oval Annotto Bay on New Year's Day. This fixture has been long looked forward to, especially as an occasion for welcoming Battiste (Teacher) home after his brilliant achievements at the recent meetings held in Colon. It is indeed a delightful surprise to me when the sports secretary — Mr. V. A. Bailey. informed me that "Teacher" was from Annotto Bay. He (Battiste) is unquestionably one of our foremost wheelmen to-day, and I venture to predict a jolly time in the wav of a reception for him in Annotto Bay on the 1st of January, 1927.
the death of "Teacher" Battiste -
Daily Gleaner, July 10, 1934, page 1
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Scene of sensational tragedy: A motor hearse is seen arriving in Luke Lane to convey the body of W. Battiste to the Mortuary yesterday morning. On either side of the vehicle hundreds of men, women and children pressed to have a view of the corpse prior to its being placed in the vehicle. People can even be seen on house tops.
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MAN'S HEAD ALMOST SEVERED BY VICIOUS BLOW FROM CUTLASS;
BRUTAL KILLING IN LUKE LAKE.
Phil Geylord In Jail For Hacking Washington Batiste, Former Cyclist, To Death.
COLD-BLOODED DEED.
Walked Up Behind Victim And Without Warning Chopped Life Out Of Him.
TRAGIC END TQ DISPUTE OVER MONEY BORROWED.
BRUTAL KILLING IN LUKE LAKE.
Phil Geylord In Jail For Hacking Washington Batiste, Former Cyclist, To Death.
COLD-BLOODED DEED.
Walked Up Behind Victim And Without Warning Chopped Life Out Of Him.
TRAGIC END TQ DISPUTE OVER MONEY BORROWED.
"We will have no more communication," said Philip Geylord, then he kissed his wife and left his home.
"I am now satisfied, you can arrest me," he said to Constable Murray later in Luke Lane after the murder of Washington Battiste.
The above statements were made by Philip Geylord, a painter, who is now confined to a prisoner's cell at the Central Police Station on a charge of murdering Washington Battiste, chauffeur, formerly a leading cyclist, who was hacked to death yesterday morning in Luke Lane between Heywood Street and West Queen Street. Geylord, armed with a sharp, pointed, machette, attacked Battiste while the latter was walking down the lane. The first blow struck Battiste at the back of his neck, nearly severing his head from his shoulders. Three other blows with the same instrument were inflicted on Battiste's head and several other wounds on his back, hands, and shoulder. Battiste died almost instantaneously. Blood flowed in a long stream down the lane.
The body of the victim was taken to the morgue, where later in the day Dr. R. H. Davidson, D.M.O. for Kingston, performed an autopsy.
The body was then taken over by relatives and conveyed to his late home, No. 132 Princess Street.
GREAT CROWD ON SCENE.
An immense crowd gathered on the spot and from Heywood Street to West Queen Street traffic was completely blocked for some time. Profound sympathy was expressed on all sides.
Shortly after the news of the tragedy was communicated to the Detective Office, Detective CorpL Gordon and Detective CorpL Beadle motored to the scene and started investigations. There were several eye-witnesses to the crime.
Batttste, who was about thirty-five years of age, was an elementary school teacher at Enfield in St Mary for some time, and shortly before his death he was the driver of a passenger motor bus operating on the Pound Road route.
The accused is about 39 years of age and was living at Waltham Park Road, Lower St Andrew. The parties had known each other for some time.
WHAT LED TO THE CRIME.
According to the allegations, Geylord lent Battiste some money a short time ago, Battiste did not keep his promise with regard, to re-payment and Geylord sued him for the amount. On Saturday afternoon last the two men met In Princess Street and there was a conversation which was not of a pleasant nature over the debt. Heated words passed between them and Battiste struck Geylord with a brick on his head, inflicting a wound. Geylord went to the Detective Office and reported the matter.
BATTlSTE'S LAST WALK
Yesterday morning, before leaving his home at Waltham Park Road Geylord gave his wife an affectionate kiss and left home saying "We will have no more communication." At about 8.15 o'clock Battiste, who was more popular known as "Teacher," was walking down Luke Lane, Geylord a little behind him. About two chains from Heywood Street and just as Battiste was passing a bread depot, the allegations continue, Geylord took the machete from under his jacket unknown to his victim. He gave no warning or made no statement whatever to Battiste, but suddenly he wielded the machete and struck Battiste at the back of his neck, almost completely severing the head: then he dealt other blows in quick succession, threw down the machete and walked down the lane.
People who were near by and saw what happened cried out. The accused however walked along apparently undisturbed until he reached West Queen Street, where he was stopped by Constable Murray. It is said that the prisoner told the constable exactly what had happened and the constable took him to the scene of the tragedy, where Battlste lay dead.
Geylord was arrested on the capital charge and hurried off in a motor car to the
Detective Office.
For several hours during the day considerable crowds gathered in front of the house in Princess Street where the body was taken, greatly handicapping traffic along that route. A man had to be placed at the gate of the home to keep out the people who were trying to get inside to look at the body.
Geylord will be brought before the Court at Sutton Street to-day before His Honour Mr. Raymond Browne, Acting Resident Magistrate for the parish of Kingston, and will be remanded to a date to be fixed, when the magisterial investigation will take place.
Battiste was one of the foremost cyclists in Jamaica some years ago. He won a number of road races, and in 1927, went to Panama with other Jamaican cyclists where he won six out of seven races it which he competed. His name as a cyclist was well known throughout the island.
"I am now satisfied, you can arrest me," he said to Constable Murray later in Luke Lane after the murder of Washington Battiste.
The above statements were made by Philip Geylord, a painter, who is now confined to a prisoner's cell at the Central Police Station on a charge of murdering Washington Battiste, chauffeur, formerly a leading cyclist, who was hacked to death yesterday morning in Luke Lane between Heywood Street and West Queen Street. Geylord, armed with a sharp, pointed, machette, attacked Battiste while the latter was walking down the lane. The first blow struck Battiste at the back of his neck, nearly severing his head from his shoulders. Three other blows with the same instrument were inflicted on Battiste's head and several other wounds on his back, hands, and shoulder. Battiste died almost instantaneously. Blood flowed in a long stream down the lane.
The body of the victim was taken to the morgue, where later in the day Dr. R. H. Davidson, D.M.O. for Kingston, performed an autopsy.
The body was then taken over by relatives and conveyed to his late home, No. 132 Princess Street.
GREAT CROWD ON SCENE.
An immense crowd gathered on the spot and from Heywood Street to West Queen Street traffic was completely blocked for some time. Profound sympathy was expressed on all sides.
Shortly after the news of the tragedy was communicated to the Detective Office, Detective CorpL Gordon and Detective CorpL Beadle motored to the scene and started investigations. There were several eye-witnesses to the crime.
Batttste, who was about thirty-five years of age, was an elementary school teacher at Enfield in St Mary for some time, and shortly before his death he was the driver of a passenger motor bus operating on the Pound Road route.
The accused is about 39 years of age and was living at Waltham Park Road, Lower St Andrew. The parties had known each other for some time.
WHAT LED TO THE CRIME.
According to the allegations, Geylord lent Battiste some money a short time ago, Battiste did not keep his promise with regard, to re-payment and Geylord sued him for the amount. On Saturday afternoon last the two men met In Princess Street and there was a conversation which was not of a pleasant nature over the debt. Heated words passed between them and Battiste struck Geylord with a brick on his head, inflicting a wound. Geylord went to the Detective Office and reported the matter.
BATTlSTE'S LAST WALK
Yesterday morning, before leaving his home at Waltham Park Road Geylord gave his wife an affectionate kiss and left home saying "We will have no more communication." At about 8.15 o'clock Battiste, who was more popular known as "Teacher," was walking down Luke Lane, Geylord a little behind him. About two chains from Heywood Street and just as Battiste was passing a bread depot, the allegations continue, Geylord took the machete from under his jacket unknown to his victim. He gave no warning or made no statement whatever to Battiste, but suddenly he wielded the machete and struck Battiste at the back of his neck, almost completely severing the head: then he dealt other blows in quick succession, threw down the machete and walked down the lane.
People who were near by and saw what happened cried out. The accused however walked along apparently undisturbed until he reached West Queen Street, where he was stopped by Constable Murray. It is said that the prisoner told the constable exactly what had happened and the constable took him to the scene of the tragedy, where Battlste lay dead.
Geylord was arrested on the capital charge and hurried off in a motor car to the
Detective Office.
For several hours during the day considerable crowds gathered in front of the house in Princess Street where the body was taken, greatly handicapping traffic along that route. A man had to be placed at the gate of the home to keep out the people who were trying to get inside to look at the body.
Geylord will be brought before the Court at Sutton Street to-day before His Honour Mr. Raymond Browne, Acting Resident Magistrate for the parish of Kingston, and will be remanded to a date to be fixed, when the magisterial investigation will take place.
Battiste was one of the foremost cyclists in Jamaica some years ago. He won a number of road races, and in 1927, went to Panama with other Jamaican cyclists where he won six out of seven races it which he competed. His name as a cyclist was well known throughout the island.
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This account, in the Gleaner, after his death, gives more information on Battiste's career in teaching -
Daily Gleaner, July 17, 1934
WAS A GREAT CYCLIST. —W. L. "Teacher" Battiste, pictured above, was the victim of a Luke Lane tragedy last week. He was 29 years of age and born at Enfield, in St. Mary. Both his parents were members of the teaching profession, his mother being still in the schoolroom as she is on the staff of the St. Ann's Roman Catholic School. As a boy, Battiste was a pupil teacher at the Annotto Bay Govt. School under the headmastership of Mr. Vivian Bailey. He later on passed the Training College Examinations and became headmaster of the Robin's Bay School in St. Mary. For a short while he acted as headmaster of Gregory Park School, St. Catherine, after which he came on to Kingston and taught for three years as assistant to the late Mr. Harrison at the Providence School in St. Andrew. Battiste left the schoolroom at this stage of his career and devoted his whole attention to cycling. He soon became the "lion" among wheelmen here and his fame when in 1926 he defeated Panamanian invaders, was second to none in the annals of track athletlcs. Soon after Battiste went to Colon where he won six of seven races on the Colon Baseball Grounds. The Panamanians then dubbed him "Little Wonder from the Island of Springs." On his return to Jamaica Battiste became a chauffeur, driving one of several cars owned by him. and at the time of his death he was the driver of motor bus Caledonia on the Pound Road route. The deceased has left a mother, four sisters and two brothers to mourn for him. His family are good Catholics and enjoy a great deal of respect.
Port Maria, 1929
