October 3rd: details of the hand wound

Star (Guernsey) October 3^rd, 1893. 

The Bath Murder.

The police have obtained some evidence as to a wound from which the prisoner charged with the murder of Elsie Luke, whose body was recently found under extraordinary circumstances in a cave at Bath, is alleged to have been suffering two days after the Bank Holiday of 1891. Mr Vigis, chemist, of Bath, has made known that on the Wednesday in Bank Holiday week a young man came to the shop with a contused hand which required dressing. Mr Vigis says that he distinctly remembers the occasion, and the young man gave the name of Coombes. The debt has never been paid, or he might not have recollected the incident. He had entries both in the prescription book and day book of the transaction, and also of the young man’s second visit on the following day. He was suffering from a rather severe contusion of the forefinger and knuckle of the right hand, marks of which he must still retain. It appeared to be a nasty sore, and caused by a blow and not a cut. He dressed the wound, and in consequence of the inflammation gave him a cooling mixture and a bo of pills. The visitor did not say what had caused the wound, and appeared dressed in good clothes.