October 11th: bail refused

Lancaster Gazetter, October 11^th, 1893.

The Bath Mystery.

Prisoner Further Remanded.

At Weston, near Bath, on Monday, Arthur Stevenson Coombes was charged on remand with the murder of Elizabeth Luke, alias Wilkie, at Hampton Down, in August, 1891.

Mrs Annie Poole, wife of a solicitor’s clerk, residing at Kingsmill Terrace, remembered seeing the deceased in a neighbour’s garden on the morning before her disappearance. She wore a white apron and white cuffs.

Walter Clare, cellarman, stated that on a Sunday morning in July 1891, he saw the prisoner walking through the woods leading to Hampton Down, half a mle from where the body was recently found.

Alfred Phillips, who was with Clare, fixed the date of this occurrence as the last Sunday in July.

Mr. Collings, for the Crown, said he was not in a position to offer further evidence, and suggested a remand. There were many matters which required investigation, and the length of time which had elapsed since the murder rendered the inquiry more difficult, but there was no immediate prospect of the discovery of other material evidence.

Superintendent Rutherford, in reply to the Bench, said the last two witnesses had only been heard that morning. He hoped to obtain further evidence.

Mr. Titley, for the prisoner, opposed the remand. The Coroner, he understood, meant to keep the inquest open for a month. If further evidence were forthcoming, it could be laid before the jury, and the prisoner might be committed on the Coroner’s warrant. The discovery was made on September 23^rd last, and the prisoner had been in custody since the 26^th.

The magistrates having consulted, the Chairman said the fact that two years had elapsed was a reason for continuing the investigation in the interest of the prisoner, as well as of justice. The inquiry was accordingly adjourned till Tuesday next, bail being refused.