September 30th: the inquest is opened

Hampshire/Portsmouth Telegraph, 30^th 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 25^th.

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.