29th September: witnesses speak

The South Wales Daily Post

29^th September, 1893

The Bath Mystery.

An apprentice charged with the murder.

Prisoner before the magistrates.

At Weston, near Bath, this morning, Arthur Stevenson Coombs, 20, an apprentice at Messrs. Fuller’s Coachbuilding Factory, and living at 25, Kingsmead-terrace, was charged with the murder of Elsie Adeline Luke, alias Wilkie, at Hampton Down, between March and July, 1890. Deceased [sic], who is a thin, pale, young fellow, looking older than the age he stated, was in an agitated condition. Hedefended by Mr. E B. Titley, of Bath, who asked permission to reserve his cross-examination.

Supt Rutherford said that when he apprehended Coombs at his work last evening, accused said “I did not do it; I kept company with her after that; I am of no use to you.”

Mrs. Kerry identified the linen produced as her property, and stated she had missed similar things after Luke left. Witness had burned several things, including letters found in a box left behind by the deceased.

John Edwards, fishmonger’s assistant, said he had seen prisoner and Luke together some time ago. He had a conversation with Coombs, who said she ought to be dead or killed. Witness was not certain to whom the accused referred, but he supposed the girl Luke was meant. Edwards was then requested to confine himself to plain, straightforward answers.

Mr. D.S. Smith said he had known Coombs from childhood. Last evening he said to him, “Arthur, I have sad news for you,” and prisoner replied “Not for me, Mr. Smith.” Witness then told him Supt. Rutherford had a warrant for his arrest. The accused asked how they could be sure that the remains were those of Luke. Witness told him of the identification by Mrs Kerry, who employed Luke as a cook.

The witness Edwards, in answer to further questions, said he might have opened a conversation with Coombs by saying “I don’t see you now at the Railway Mission with so-and-so,” meaning Wilkie, but he could not pledge himself to that.

Kate Bullock, fellow-servant of the deceased’s, said Luke was frequently visited by a young man whom she used to take down to the cellar. He was fair and she believed rather curly, but she could not identify the accused positively as the man.

Annie Hayman, engine-driver’s wife, said that she frequently saw the accused and deceased together in the spring of 1891. They were together on the Saturday preceeding August Bank Holiday. Witness saw deceased walking towards the city as late as five o’clock in the afternoon of Bank Holiday. Annie had told her [sic] she was enceinte, and had been so for three months.

Mrs Dillon, with whom the deceased stayed from the Saturday before Bank Holiday till the following Monday, identified as Wilkie’s property the hat picked up on the Downs.

The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday.

The police have found that Wilkie’s step-father is at the Emigrants’ Home, Blackwall, London.