October 28th: Coombs released from custody

Illustrated Police News, October 28^th, 1893.

The Bath Mystery.

At Weston, near Bath, on Tuesday, Arthur Coombs, coachbuilder’s apprentice, was again charged, on remand, with having murdered Elizabeth Luke, alias Wilkie, on August Bank Holiday, 1891. The court was again besieged by the public, who crowded it. Mr Canning Collins prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. Titley defended.

Alfred Phillips, clerk, said he saw prisoner and Wilkie in the wood leading to Hampton Down on Sunday, July 26^th, 1891. He fixed the date by  knowing that on the following Bank Holiday he appeared as clown in a gymnastic display.

Edwin Dyke, who was a fellow-apprentice with Coombs in 1891, said that on the Saturday preceding August Bank Holiday in that year he noticed nothing wrong with prisoner’s hand. In reply to the magistrates witness said Coombs did not go to camp with the Volunteers that year.

Mr. Collins said that as Mr. Titley had suggested that Coombs’ hand was injured at the Liberal fete in 1891 he proposed to call police present at that meeting to show that no disturbance occurred.

Mr Titley objected, but the Bench admitted the evidence. A sergeant and several constables were called to show that no disturbance took place.

Mr. Collins said that was all the evidence he was in a position to offer. He had carefully considered the statements of other persons, but did not think it would be advantageous to call them. He did not think he should be justified in asking the Bench to commit the prisoner for trial. If he went to trial and the evidence was found insufficient the matter would be closed for ever, whereas if a different course were taken, at any time, if important evidence was discovered, Coombs might be called upon to answer the charge.

Mr. Poole, magistrate, said they had determined to call Miss Polly Sheppard, the girl with whom the prisoner had been keeping company, and whose letters to Coombs had been read. The prosecution were bound to lay before the court all the available facts and evidence that could assist them in coming to a right decision. They should not suppress or refrain from calling witnesses who might throw some light on the case.

Miss Sheppard, in her examination, said she had known the prisoner since February, 1891. She knew Wilkie through having seen her with Coombs. Wilkie followed witness about and annoyed her, and she struck her on one occasion. Wilkie complained to Sergeant Smith. Witness was engaged to Coombs in March, 1892. Sheppard was closely questioned as to the letters written by her to Coombs. She said she knew deceased had gone to prisoner’s parents to make a noise, and alleged that Coombs had got her into trouble. One of her letters, an angry one, was due to unpleasantness she had had with Coombs on account of a report that he had been going out with another girl, but not with Wilkie. She did not on any occasion persuade Coombs to give Wilkie up, because she knew he was not walking with her. Coombs had nothing whatever to do with Wilkie after he walked with witness. She had complained to Coombs of Wilkie’s behaviour to her. Her impression was that Wilkie’s object was to break off the engagement if possible. When she charged prisoner with behaving in an underhand and two-faced manner she did not refer in any way to Wilkie. She had kept some of Coombs’ letters to her, and Mr. Titley had had them.

Mr Poole: Did Coombs ever say anything about Wilkie? No; he did not say any more than that he judged she had gone away. We heard that she had stolen some things, and that the detectives were after her.

By Mr. Titley: She was engaged to the prisoner, and they were to be married soon after he was out of his apprenticeship. She hoped to be married to him on August Bank Holiday, 1891. She went with Coombs to Bath Theatre to see “The Dancing Girl,” prisoner calling for her between five and half-past in the evening. His thumb was tied up with rag, and he said he had injured it at Kensington, where there had been a little fight. – I suppose you had found him like other young men of between eighteen and twenty – led away occasionally by other young ladies of good looks, eh? Yes. (Laughter.) – And you were, like most other girls, inordinately jealous? Perhaps.

The chairman said that although the prosecutinglicitor had made out a case of strong suspicion, the magistrates felt that they were not justified in keeping the prisoner any longer under restraint, and the case would be dismissed.

There were deafening cheers in court as Coombs stepped out of the dock and kissed his father. The cheers were renewed as he drove away in a cab with Miss Sheppard.

Since his release from custody Coombs has been the recipient of hundreds of letters of congratulation and sympathy from all parts of the country. When Dr Craddock reopens the inquest to-day at Bathampton, in all probability Mr Titley, Coombs’ solicitor, will offer him as a witness.