Hampshire/Portsmouth Telegraph, 30th September,
1893.
A gruesome discovery.
Supposed murder near Bath.
A sensational discovery which has just been made near Bath
points to the perpetration of a murder. On Saturday the police removed from a
cave on Hampton Down the remains of a young woman which had been discovered
there by a son of Commander Brand, R.N. , and another boy during their
explorations. The corpse, which was well-nigh reduced to a skeleton, had been
covered over with stones. The skull had been fearfully battered in, and the
assumption is that the victim was first murdered and then dragged to the cave,
which is situated in a very secluded spot. Part of the scalp remained on the
right side of the head, to which a small quantity of brown hair was adhering.
This was plaited. The woman had an excellent set of teeth, only one, on the
upper jaw, being missing. The remains were placed in a sack and removed to the
George Inn, Bathampton. A singular fact in connection with the affair is that
about two years ago a watch and chain and a pair of blood-stained cuffs were
discovered near the mouth of the cave. The police on Saturday night obtained
possession of these articles, which were in exactly the same state as when
picked up. Though the materials to work upon are slight, it is understood that
the police are not without hope that they will be able to clear up the mystery.
On the feet of the female were a pair of small Oxford shoes, which were
slightly rat-eaten, but were otherwise in good preservation. It was one of
these shoes protruding above the ground which attracted the attention of the
lads and led to the discovery of the body.
Mr Craddock, County Coroner, opened an inquest at
Bathampton, near Bath, on Tuesday, on the remains of the woman found last week
in a cavern at Hampton Rocks. The Coroner, in commencing the proceedings, said
it was evident that a horrible and villainous murder had been perpetrated, and
he asked the Jury to devote a patient investigation to the case, in order, if
possible, that the murderer might be brought to justice. Evidence was first
given by Cecil Brand, son of Commander Brand, as to the accidental discovery of
the remains.
The police-sergeant who removed the skeleton was next called,
after which William Henry Dill, describing himself as an accountant, deposed
that about two years ago, in the summer time, he found a woman’s blood-stained
handkerchief and cuffs on Hampton Down. One cuff was on the edge of a disused
quarry several feet deep, in a cave of which the body was discovered, and the
other cuff and handkerchief were in some nettles just below. A gold watch and
chain were near the first cuff. Witness, continuing, said he showed the cuffs
and handkerchief to a constable, who attended the inquest now, but this was
denied by the policeman referred to. Witness, continuing, said that he kept the
watch and chain, hoping a reward would be offered. Some time after he found the
broken walking stick produced in another part of the down.
Dr Charles Harper, who had examined the remains, said they
were those of a young woman from 19 to 21 years of age, and about five feet two
inches in height. There was a large fracture of the skull, which could only
have been effected by terrible violence. One foot was dislocated. He
conjectured the woman was thrown into the quarry, and that she was either
killed by the fall or was first killed on the edge, and then thrown down and
dragged into the cave. On the band of her underlinen was the name Kerry, corresponding
with the name on the handkerchief found. – The Coroner adjourned the inquiry
until October 25th.
The remains have been identified as those of Elsie Luke, a
domestic servant, whose former sweetheart, a young man named Coombs, was
arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of having murdered her. Coombs was
remanded yesterday.