Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Thursday 26 October 1893.
The Hampton Rocks Mystery.
Resumption of the Coroner’s Inquest.
Coombs Desires to Give Evidence.
At the Parish-room, Bathampton, yesterday morning, Mr S
Craddock, coroner for North Somerset, resumed the inqueset concerning the death
of Elizabeth Luke alias Wilkie, whose
remains were found in a cave at Hampton Rocks on the 22nd September
last. This was the fourth sitting of the jury, and particular interest attached
to the day’s proceedings from the fact that Arthur Stevenson Coombs, who was
discharged from custody on Tuesday week, was present to give evidence. Coombs,
accompanied by his father and mother and Miss Pollie Sheppard, arrived at the
court early in the morning.
At the opening of the proceedings, Mr E.B.Titley said he had
already intimated to the Coroner that Arthur Stevenson Coombs himself desired
to attend before him and the jury to make a statement of such facts as were
within his knowledge. Up to the present time, according to the rules of the
English courts, his mouth and also, as regarded his defence, the mouth of his
advocate, had been closed. He took the first opportunity of clearing himself so
far as he had not been already cleared by the magistrates’ inquiry of the
charge which was preferred against him by the police. He desired to give
evidence on his own behalf, and he was willing at any time the Coroner might
think convenient during that inquiry to place himself in the witness box to
tell them everything he knew. He might also say that Coombs’s father and mother
were there and Miss Sheppard. He had already given the Coroner a list of the
witnesses he had proposed to call in case Coombs had been called upon for his
defence before the magistrates, and he should be pleased if the Coroner called
any or all of these as he might be pleased in his discretion to examine. It was
for the Coroner to say how far it was necessary to call them.
P.S. Edwards informed the Coroner that he served a subpoena upon Miss Sheppard the previous
day.
Mr Titley: There was no necessity to mention that. I have
already told the Coroner that Miss Sheppard is present and willing to give
evidence.
P.S.Edwards said he was unaware of that.
Mr Titley: It was a work of supererogation on your part.
In answer to Mr Titley, Coombs’s father said his eldest son,
Frederick, who had been asked to appear, would be present later in the day. None of the other witnesses warned by the
police to attend being present; the Coroner sat waiting for their presence, the
proceedings of the Court being delayed for an hour and a quarter. At 10.30, Kate
Bullock, formerly a servant at Cheriton house with the deceased, entered the
Court. The Coroner said he would proceed with her re-examination. Other
witnesses should be out of Court. P.S. Edwards: There are no others here. The
Coroner: There is Miss Sheppard and Mr Coombs who has volunteered his evidence.
Mr Titley also advised Mr and Mrs Coombs to leave the Court,
because the Coroner might examine them. After a juror who had left the Court
had been re-called, Miss Bullock was examined. She was asked by the Coroner to
see what time she was told to attend on the sub
poena. The witness said it was 9.20. The Coroner: It is now 10.40. I shall
fine you and every witness who has been late. I am sorry to be obliged to do
it, but you have kept me and the jury waiting for an hour and a quarter. I
cannot allow such contempt of court to be shown by the witnesses, and I shall
have to fine you everyone. I must have the conduct of this Court upheld.
Bullock in answer to the Coroner said when Wilkie left Mrs
Kerry’s she left a box with some clothes in it. There were also some letters
which witness did not read.
You remember the last time Mrs Dillon was here. Did you and
Mrs Dillon have any conversation about this inquiry? – I went home with Mrs
Dillon.
Did Mrs Dillon caution you in any way as to giving evidence.
Tell the truth now. You’re on your oath and you must do it. Did she caution
you? – No, sir.
Did she tell you not to say too much? That you should leave
it to the police to find out? – yes sir, she did.
Tell me the exact words. (To the police) bring Mrs Dillon in
that she may face the witness.
Mrs Dillon having entered the Court the Coroner said to her:
Listen to what this girl is saying. She tells me after the last inquiry some conversation
took place between you. (To the witness Bullock). Did Mrs Dillon tell you that
she knew a great deal more than she had said? – Yes, sir.
Than she had said before me? – Yes, sir.
Mrs Dillon (excitedly): Oh that is wrong. I never said such
a thing.
Miss Bullock: Yes, you told me so.
The Coroner: Did she say anything further on the point. Did
she say to you “Take care not to say too much” or something of the kind. Please
remember, I want you to remember the exact words. – She told me she knew a lot
more, but was not going to tell. She also said that the police were paid to
find it out and they must do it.
The Coroner: She distinctly said she knew a good deal more
than she had stated before me. Witness: Yes.
The Coroner (to Mrs Dillon): You hear that.
Mrs Dillon: I did not say it. I might have said that the
police told me I knew more, because Sergt. Smith said so to me.
Miss Bullock, replying to further questions, said that there
was no one else present when Mrs Dillon made this statement. She told her first
outside the inquest room, and again at her house in Kingsmead-terrace. As to
the clothes passed by deceased to someone over the wall, witness said she did
not know who was the person receiving them.
Had you any suspicion? – I heard it was Mrs Dillon’s
daughter brought the things back, but I could not say it was correct.
The witness and Mrs Dillon left the court together. Mrs
Kerry was next recalled and told that like the previous witness, she would have
to be fined for not being present at the time mentioned on the summons. Witness
said the deceased’s box left at her house contained odds and ends of no value –
old underlinen. There were also some letters, about 40 or 50.
Did you open them? – I looked at the top of one or two.
There was nothing to interest me at all.
Did you see who they were from? – I don’t remember. I didn’t
read enough for that.
Can you call to mind anything you saw in them? – No.
Were they in a man’s handwriting or a woman’s? – They were
mixed, all sorts.
You never read them? – No.
Or any portions of them? – I’m not quite sure about that. I
cannot recollect.
What did you do with these? – After a time when I found she
did not return I burnt them all.
How long after? – I believe it was two or three weeks after
she left.
Miss Marguerite Kerry, daughter of the previous witness, was
also re-called and said she went for walks once or twice with Wilkie in 1891.
They passed Kingsmead-terrace once but did not call there; once they went to
the Railway Mission Hall.
Mrs Dillon was then re-examined. The Coroner (to the
witness): You must remember you are on your oath? – Yes, sir.
You are bound to speak the truth and the whole truth and
keep back nothing whatever? – Yes, sir.
You heard what Kate Bullock said? – Yes. She’s mistaken.
The Coroner: She gave her evidence very straight. I shall
have to deal with it accordingly. I shall have to deal with it by-and-by.
In answer to questions Mrs Dillon said in addition to the
nightdress which was returned to Mrs Kerry there was left a shabby black dress,
a comb bag, a comb and a hand-glass.
Did you offer any clothes for sale at the Golden Lion in
Southgate-street? – No, sir.
A Juror: You did not take a pair of boots there? – No sir.
A juror suggested that it was not much good asking the
witness anything else.
Mrs Dillon: As regards what Miss Bullock said, Sergeant
Smith said I might know more than I had said. That is all. He said it once or
twice.
Lily Agnes Dillon, daughter of the previous witness, said
she had never taken any of Wilkie’s clothes away from Cheriton-house. She only
took back the night dress, a comb, comb-bag and hand-glass to Mrs Kerry’s.
There was also an old pair of shoes in the parcel, but they belonged to her
mother and were returned.
Mr Titley asked if the brooch found in Coombs’s house was
there. Superintendent Rutherford said it was not in Court. He believed D.S.
Smith had it and he was ill.
In answer to Mr Titley, Miss Dillon said it was on a dark
damp night, early in 1891, that Wilkie made a scene outside Coombs’s house in
Kingsmead-terrace.
Mrs Hayman, re-called, said she wished to correct a date.
When she returned home from the last inquiry her husband reminded her they did
not know Wilkie personally when the outing to Conkwell Woods took place. That
was in 1890. She did not know Wilkie to speak to before May 1891, and from then
till she disappeared she saw her several times a week. She saw her at the
Mission Hall several times in the summer of 1891.
Superintendent Rutherford, re-called, said he found the
letters produced among others in a bag found in Coombs’s bedroom. Mr Titley
asked witness to let the jury see what number of letters the bag contained. The
Coroner said they might take it there were 195 letters in the bag. Witness said
he had not personally selected the letters. By Mr Titley: He had no
communication from Mrs Morement, of Sheffield, referring to Wilkie’s connection
with a Mr Bevan, of Barnado’s Home. Niehter had he any communication from Mrs
Goodrop, of Southgate-street, with reference to the statement of her servant as
to Wilkie’s relations with a young man whose Christian name was Harry. Have you
heard anything of it? – No.
Witness said he remembered the disappearance of a chemist’s
assistant from Mr Partington’s in 1892. His dead body was found in the river
near Bristol. He had never heard that that man was in the habit of haunting
Hampton Down. He was only in Bath for a short time; he came up from Plymouth or
somewhere else.
Mary Louisa Sheppard, servant to Mrs Arthur Titley, of
Melrose, Wells-road, said her acquaintance with the deceased began in 1890,
when Wilkie was keeping company with Coombs. She believed the deceased’s
acquaintance with Coombs ceased in January, 1891. Witness became engaged to
Coombs in February, 1891. Practically immediately after he ceased to walk with
Luke? – Yes.
Do you recollect the last time you saw Luke alive? – No,
sir.
She recollected meeting Luke on one occasion when she was
walking with Coombs. It was outside Melrose. She shouted to both of them, but
witness could not remember what she said. Wilkie appeared to be angry. When
witness met her alone she always shouted at her, but she could not make out
what she said. Deceased struck her once; she did not speak before she knocked
her. Witness walked on and said “What did you do that for?”
Do you recognize that bundle of letters? (pointing to those
produced by Superintendent Rutherford).
Witness (after looking at them): Yes, I do.
They are all in your own handwriting? – Yes.
The Coroner then perused the letters, and said there is one
bearing date February 2nd, 1891. That is the day after you were
engaged. – yes.
I notice a reference to Elsie Wilkie. You say “I’m wondering
whether you have heard from Elsie Wilkie. I’m longing to see you. I will tell
you all news when I see you.” Did the latter part the news relate to Elsie
Wilkie. – No.
To what did it refer? – I don’t know.
You were longing to see Coombs simply from the fact that he
was just off with the old love and on with the new eh. Is that it? A bit of
jealousy going on, eh. – Witness smiled but made no answer.
You begin a letter on February 5th “I suppose you
think I’m a bother to you.” Five days after you were engaged (laughter)! “Really
I feel so dreadfully sorry you was upset. Don’t think more about her. She’s a
beast of a girl.” – They refer to Elsie Wilkie. I don’t know what made me write
them.
Further questioned as to the allusion about Coombs being
upset witness said she believed it referred to Luke’s visit to Coombs’s house.
Why did you call her a beast of a girl? – Because she was not very nice.
Did she anything about you? – I don’t know that she had.
It’s a rather strong expression. – Yes, sir.
Then you go on to say “Of course it cannot be true what she
said as it was nearly six months ago she left Dykes.” –He told me she had been
to his parents and told them he had ruined her.
The Coroner then read the whole of the letter which has been
previously published. By the Coroner:
She did not notice anything the matter with Wilkie. Had she been enceinte for six months she should have
done so.
In a letter on March 11th, you say “Fancy that
Elsie Wilkie showing herself down your way. I should think she was ashamed to.”
What does that allude to? – I believe it was one day when he was going home to
dinner.
It did not allude to the cause of the previous disturbance? –
No.
She could not remember the time when Luke’s disappearance
was brought to her notice. Didn’t you ever talk the matter over with Coombs? –
I don’t know who first told me.
Further questioned: In July, 1891, when witness returned to
Bath from a visit to Margate she heard Coombs had been out with a Miss Thorne,
and she did not see him so often. She was a bit upset about it. On August Bank
Holiday, 1891, she went to the Theatre with Coombs. They had a short walk
first. They reached the Theatre soon after seven and went into the pit. She did
not think she saw Coombs again until the following Friday. Did you write to him
in the meantime? – I don’t know.
It was a very long time wasn’t it? (laughter). From the 3rd
to the 7th of August did you hear that he had been walking with Miss
Thorne? – I don’t know. During August were his visits to you less numerous? –
Yes, and during the latter part of July.
The Coroner said the witness must make sure as to the dates
when she went to Margate and returned. Witness said she didn’t know if Coombs
wrote to her in the first week of August. She had some letters from him but she
could not answer that question now. I believe no letters have been found from
you to Coombs from the beginning of August up to two or three weeks after this
woman was supposed to have gone. – I can’t say whether I wrote or not.
Were you annoyed with him for walking with Miss Thorne, and
that was the reason you did not write? – I was annoyed.
Very much annoyed? – Yes.
The Coroner then referred again to the letters and alluded
to the one in which witness spoke of Wilkie’s visits to the Railway Mission and
her “conversion” which she described as “wretched mockery.” Did witness, he
asked, think that Wilkie had become religious again in order to recover Coombs?
– Witness did not answer.
Did you think it? – I might have said it.
You felt it? – No answer.
The Coroner referred to a letter written by witness on July
19th, 1891, in which he remarked she pitched into Coombs. She
accused him of having deceived her, and said she was sorry she ever knew him.
She remarked “Not many girls would be fooled as I have. There’s some as would
make you pay dear, but that’s a thing I should never like to trouble to do. If
you go on serving girls as you have served me, you will get yourself into a
scrape.” That, remarked the Coroner, was very good advice. It was a very strong
letter. Did witness recollect what induced her to write it? – I was told he was
walking out with Miss Thorne.
You say, “I would not be such a coward to take any notice of
her. I’m not afraid of her.” Who does that refer to? – It refers to Wilkie.
What happened to induce you to write that letter? – I heard
he was flirting again.
With Wilkie? – Not with her.
What made you write that? – I cannot remember.
You must try and think. It’s a most important point. Think
the matter over. Witness was then given time to peruse the letter and by the
direction of the Coroner remained in Court during the interval for luncheon in
order that she might endeavour to recollect to what the letter referred. Upon
resuming the hall was crowded. Miss Sheppard’s examination was continued, and
she was aksed by the Coroner whether she had arrived at any conclusion whether
the letter referred to Miss Wilkie or Miss Thorne. How far did it refer to Miss
Thorne? Witness said the letter referred to Wilkie after the remark about “passing
you on the terrace.”
Mr G.Shackel, who had been assisting the Coroner in perusing
the letters, said the next letter with any reference had the post-mark torn
off, and there was no date. In it she said she was glad Coombs’s father would
not let him go to camp – on the Saturday before Bank Holiday, and she did not
think he ought to rough it. There was no other allusion to Wilkie in the
letters he had before him. From a conversation which occurred it appeared that
no one was certain whether all the letters found in the bag had been gone
through. The Coroner told Superintendent Rutherford they must all be examined
and numbered before the Court sat again. He should leave the letters at that
point.
Miss Sheppard further examined said she remembered Coombs
having his hand bound up. He said to her “I hope you won’t mind. It looks
rather unsightly.” He said a man had bitten his thumb at the Liberal fete at
Kensington. She did not remember seeing Coombs on the Sunday preceding Bank
Holiday. By a juror: After the Theatre on Bank Holiday Coombs took her home to
Melrose; they arrived home about eleven. By Mr Titley: She was not aware that
there was any more than a nodding acquaintance between Coombs and Wilkie after
he was engaged to witness. On the way to the Theatre she met Mr and Mrs Ernest
Eyres and Miss Shaw.
Mrs E.B. Titley said she was at the Theatre with her husband
on the evening of August Bank Holiday, 1891, and saw Mary Sheppard there. She
mentioned it to her husband at the time. She did not recognise anyone with her.
Mrs Ernest Eyres, living in Bloomfield-avenue, said she saw
Sheppard with a young man going to the Theatre on the same evening. She did not
know the young man and took no notice of him. By a juror: She did not see them
in the Theatre.
Miss May Shaw, of Orchardsley, Wells-road, gave similar
evidence.
The inquest was adjourned until Friday, November 3rd,
when the Coroner said he would examine Coombs.
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