The Hampton Rocks Mystery.
Resumed Inquiry.
At the Parochial hall, Bathampton, on Tuesday, the Coroner for North Somerset resumed the inquest upon the remains of Elizabeth Luke, alias Wilkie, found in a cave at Hampton Rocks on the 22nd September last. It will be remembered that on the 3rd inst. the inquest adjourned after hearing the evidence of Arthur Stevenson Coombs, the young man against whom a charge was preferred by the police, and who was liberated on the 17th October. Mr. E.B. Titley again appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of Coombs. Capt. Allison, Chief Constable of Somerset, and Supt. Rutherford were present.
Clara Thorne, the young woman whose name occurred frequently in the evidence of Coombs and Miss Sheppard, was the first witness examined. She said she entered service on 2nd May, 1891, at 6, St. James's-square; she was a cousin of Mrs. Elizabeth Coombs, Coombs's sister-in-law. She had seen a good deal of the Coombses, and she was frequently in Arthur's company in the summer of 1891; she went for walks with him.
On Saturday August 1st, 1891, she saw Arthur Coombs, meeting him on the Gravel-walk, near the Brock-street entrance, between half-past three and four in the afternoon. On the Sunday previous she had been with him morning and afternoon. On the Saturday before Bank Holiday they went for a walk along the Canal, and he asked her if she could get leave on the Monday. On the Sunday evening she saw Coombs, and arranged to meet him on Monday morning at 8.30 near the Midland station to go to Thornbury. She did not keep the appointment as it rained in the morning. Coombs came to her house later in the day and suggested that they should go to the Theatre in the evening but she declined. She arranged however to go to his sister's wedding on the following Wednesday. She noticed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd August that he had a bad thumb, and she believed that on the Monday morning he said he had been to Mr. Vigis's the chemist. On Wednesday witness went to St. Andrew's church to Miss Coombs's wedding, and in the afternoon for a walk with Coombs; she noticed nothing different in his spirits or manner.
Mr. Titley, who had been examining the witness, drew her attention to the letter of 19th July, in which Miss Sheppard reproached Coombs for not meeting her on the previous Sunday. - Witness said Coombs was with her on the afternoon and evening of the Sunday referred to.
By a Juror: She had never been with Coombs for a walk through Fussell's wood - leading to Hampton Down - on a Sunday in July. She had been there on other days but not on a Sunday.
By Mr. Titley: She came to Bath from Thornbury.
By a Juror: She had never seen Coombs with Elsie Luke and she did not know her.
Bessie Cole, of 25, Kingsmead-terrace, said she was a machinist. She remembered the week immediately preceding the August Bank Holiday of 1891. She was then living at Hedgmead, and called at Mrs. Coombs's in that week. She saw Arthur Coombs and noticed that he had a bad hand; he told her he could not go to the Volunteer camp in consequence. She remembered the date as Mrs Coombs's sister had died, and she did up a mourning dress for her.
Mary Coombs, wife of William Coombs, coach-body maker, living at 25, Kingsmead-terrace, said her son Arthur Stevenson Coombs had always been a very good boy.
The Coroner: Do you wish me to put that down?
Mr. Titley: Yes, very much.
Witness added that she had never had any fault to find with him. Elsie Wilkie came to their house early in February, 1891. Witness was present when she called. She made a statement to the effect that Arthur had got her into trouble in the Park. Arthur and his father were present at the time. He son denied it. She remained about ten minutes. Wilkie never came to the house again and to witness's knowledge her son never walked out or kept company with Wilkie afterwards.
Mr. Titley: Was there anything in her appearance to corroborate her statement? - No, sir.
Witness said when Arthur came home on Monday, the 27th July, he told her he had got into a little squabble when coming out of the Liberal Fete and had his thumb bitten. She poulticed the wound but it got worse, and she advised him to see someone.
Mr. Titley: Would any juror like to ask her about the brooch, but that seems to be so utterly exploded?
No questions were asked on the point.
Questioned by the Coroner, Mrs. Coombs said at the interview with Wilkie the latter alleged that what she complained of happened about the previous Christmas.
By Mr. Titley: She waited her son in on the Bank Holiday; she never went to bed until he came home. He came in that night about eleven. Witness was aware he had been to the Theatre with Miss Sheppard as he told her when he came home for tea after seeing Miss Thorne that he was going to take Miss Sheppard. She did not hear any disturbance when Wilkie called.
William George Hodges, of 10, Somerset-street, Bath, harness maker, said in 1891 Coombs was to have gone to camp as body servant to Captain Robertson, but on the Thursday preceding the Saturday the regiment left Bath, Coombs called on witness, who was senior camp sergeant of Coombs's company, and said he should not be able to come as he had hurt his hand. Witness noticed that Coombs's thumb was bandaged.
Thomas Lock, carriage finisher, at Messrs. Fuller's factory, said he had always found Coombs a very steady lad. He remembered him telling witness that he should not be able to go to camp and act as body servant to Captain Robertson as he had done the previous year. Witness took the duty himself. He noticed that Coombs had a bad thumb.
William James, secretary of the shop sick club at Messrs. Fuller's factory, produced a book with an entry on Saturday, August 8th, showing that Coombs must have been incapacitated from work six days prior to that date to receive the 5s. paid to him. Had he been taken ill on the Monday he would only have received five day's pay.
By Superintendent Rutherford: They would pay for Bank Holiday.
Superintendent Rutherford: I thought they would not pay for holiday?
Mr. Titley: Another mare's nest, Mr. Rutherford.
Frederick William Commbs, coach-body maker at Messrs. Fuller's, living at 3, Monmouth-place, Upper Bristol-road, said he worked in the same shop as his brother Arthur. He remembered Arthur having a bad thumb in the week preceding August Bank Holiday, 1891.
William Henry Coombs said his son Arthur was a very good boy, and he had never had any trouble with him. When he was between 17 and 18 he remembered him keeping company with Elizabeth Luke. Witness did not approve this connection and had two or three conversations with himupon the subject. Arthur ceased to keep company with her in January or February, 1891. Deceased came to the house in February, 1891. Witness answered the door in consequence of repeated knockings. He had previously met her at the bottom of Trinity-street on his way home. Wilkie, who had a little girl with her, said "I want to see Arthur." Witness said, "You'll not see him, he's not coming out." He then closed the door, but there were repeated rings and knocks. He opened the door again to Luke and asked "What is it you want?" She replied, "I want to see Arthur," and witness repeated "You'll not see him." She said, "I will see him after what he's done to me." Witness said, "If you have any accusation to make against Arthur you had better come inside and let his mother and me hear what it is."
She then charged Arthur with having taken undue liberties with her in the Royal Victoria Park. Witness said, "When did this occur?" and she answered, "Oh, since Christmas," without fixing any date. He said to his son, "What have you to say to this charge, Arthur," and he flatly contradicted it. Wilkie reasserted that it was so, and witness remonstrated with her as being a person much older than his son for allowing him to take any liberties with her. He said, "You appear to be a young woman of five-and-twenty - to allow a boy like that to interfere with you." She said, "A boy you call him!" and witness said,, "He's so in my estimation, he is not 18 until the 19th February." Wilkie disputed his statement as regarded Arthur's age, and his wife said she ought to take the word of the boy's own father and mother. Wilkie said, "Well, I shall go into the Union," and he replied, "There's plenty of time for you to see us, if it is as you say, later on." Wilkie was then shown out of the house. He saw her subsequently in the streets talking to young fellows at the shop, but she never spoke to him.
Mr. Titley: Did you notice anything to corroborate her statement? - Only sometimes I used to fancy there was a bit of a "get up" and at other times it had all vanished. Witness then corroborated his son's and his wife's statements as to how Arthur had his thumb bitten on the night of the Liberal fete. He remembered the date as well as there was a funeral in the house on the previous Saturday. During the Bank Holiday week there was nothing unusual in Arthur's manners, dress or appearance.
Mr. Titley was next sworn, and produced a letter from Mr. W.J. Prosser, headmaster of Bathforum School which he read as follows:-
Nov. 20, 1893.
I have known Arthur S. Coombs for upwards of 13 years during 7 of which he was a scholar in this school. He was a lad of quiet and gentle manners, a very tractable disposition, and I do not recall that he ever gave me occasion for serious remonstrance. My estimate of him is fully corroborated by one of his class fellows who is now a master in this School, and by sundry others of his class mates to whom I have spoken. During the years since he left school I have had very frequent opportunities of hearing and seeing him and I fully believe he has maintained and still does maintain the character and disposition which won for him the kindly regard and esteem of those who were the associates of his earlier life.
W.J. Prosser.
Mr. Titley also read the following letter from Messrs. Fuller, Coombs's employers:-
Arthur S. Coombs has been in our employ since February 1888, and during that time has conducted himself to our entire satisfaction, both as regards conduct and application to his work. We have much pleasure in giving him this letter.
S.&A. Fuller.
Mr. Titley also read the following letter:-
7, Northumberland-buildings, Bath, 26th Nov, 1893.
Private Coombs, -- I beg to certify that during the five years I have known you in the Volunteers I have always found you very steady and respectable in every way, and attentive at your work. I have had some opportunity of observing you as during the camp on Lansdown in 1890, you acted as my servant. -- Yours truly, Arthur Robertson, Capt. 1st Vol, Battalion S.L.I.
The Coroner: I suppose you produce these letters to show that Coombs is not a person likely to commit a murder? Is that your object?
Mr. Titley replied that that was his object. He added that he had a letter from Henry Bevan; he did not know whether the Coroner desired him to put it in. The Coroner understood that the police had been in communication with Bevan.
The letter was then read as follows:-
82, Dongola-road, Plaistow, E., 8th November, 1893.
Dear sir, -- Re Elsie Wilkie, deceased - I have your letter of yesterday. To fully explain, as you put it, my connection with the deceased, and the real reason of her leaving for Bath, would take too long in a letter. The visit I paid her was a friendly one and was made on Easter Monday, 1890, not 1891, and whether at her suggestion or my own I cannot, after this length of time, remember. I returned to London the same day and have not seen her since. The last letter I received from her was, I think, in March, 1891, when she sent me a portrait of herself. When staying near Trowbridge for my holiday in July of last year, I cycled over to Bath with a friend. This and the former occasion I have referred to are the only times I have ever been in Bath. Of course, therefore, I cannot throw any light upon the matter. I should have seen and had a conversation with you had Bath been nearer London. As it is I could not afford the expense of a journey there even were I able to state anything which might be of service or interest in the matter. I should be pleased to hear that the Coroner sees at once that it is not necessary to further connect my name - at any rate publicly - with the matter.
Yours faithfully, Henry Bevan.
Mr. Titley said it might be remembered that a juryman asked a question whether deceased had ever been known to have had any acquaintance with any other man. He produced the letter, not as reflecting on Mr. Bevan at all, to show that in March 1891, the deceased sent her portrait to somebody else.
William Albert Blick, of the Fox and Hounds, Monckton Farleigh, said he was at the George Inn, Bathampton, on Bank Holiday August 1891. He was waiting at the Conservative fete at Hampton on the previous Saturday so he remembered the date. He saw three young men playing skittles at the George and there were two girls there. He did not know any of them personally. He remained about an hour. Coombs resembled one of the young men, but it was so long ago he could not swear to him. One of the girls was dressed in light clothes and the other in dark. They were young people.
A Juror: Did you hear anyone call him Coombs?
Witness: No.
The Coroner: Did you hear any names mentioned.
Witness: Only Dill. Tom Dolman, the landlord's son, pointed him out to me saying "That's Dill the butcher's son who has run through his thousands." He had seen Dill once since then at one of the inquests. No one had prompted him in the matter.
Several jurymen asked the witness questions simultaneously, and
The Coroner remarked: Don't worry the poor witness.
Witness: Oh, I can stand worrying. He added, in answer to further questions, that there were names written on the board in the alley, but it was too long ago to remember them.
Shown a photograph of the deceased, Blick said she resembled one of the girls who was in the skittle alley. A piece of cloth produced by the police, witness said, resembled the material of the dress worn by the girl. He thought the girls could not have much considered the boys they were with as the latter were using very foul language during the game. He noticed that the girl was wearing ankle-jacks (laughter).
The Coroner: What do you mean?
Witness: Ankle shoes. They were new.
The Coroner: How did you notice them? I thought young ladies' dresses generally covered their shoes.
Witness: They generally show their shoes.
A juror (Mr. Norris): It is passing strange that you should be able to give such a detailed and minute description of the girl.
The Coroner: Don't criticise the witness's statement. You may ask any questions you like but do not criticise.
By Mr. Titley: He got to the George at about eleven in the morning and left about twelve.
Elizabeth Lane, widow, of Union-passage, was called and created some amusement by persisting in describing herself as the mother of her grown up children.
The Coroner: It is not sufficient description to say youre a mother, there are so many about (laughter). What evidence have you to give?
Witness: I don't know what you are going to ask me (laughter)
The Coroner: What do you know?
Witness: I don't know what you want to ask me (laughter).
In answer to questions the witness said on the Bank Holiday of August, 1891, she went with her sons and daughter to take tea on the Down past Sham Castle. They went past what her son said was a buttery (laughter).
The Coroner: A battery you mean? (laughter)
Witness: Yes, that's it (laughter). They saw three couples on the Down. The first couple were rather far apart.
The Coroner: What space was between them?
Witness: Like you and I might be (laughter). She noticed that the woman of the last couple was wearing a dress that did not fit her. As she passed them she said "She does not look old enough to be her [sic] mother, and they did not look like brother and sister." The man had hold of the woman's arm. She had on a dress of a drab colour. She thought she wore a black hat with black trimming. Witness said the person with her was a slim boyish looking felllow, but two years and three months would make a boy grow.
The Coroner asked Arthur Coombs to stand forward, but the witness would not look at him, remarking: I shan't have anything more to say about it (laughter).
The Coroner: You don't even wish to look at him?
Witness: No.
Witness, who had given her evidence in a rambling unsatisfactory manner, and at the same time with some humour, which elicited roars of laughter, then left the box. The Coroner, who refused to allow the witness to sign the deposition, ordered the Court to be cleared.
The inquest was then adjourned until Wednesday December 6th, when the inquiry will most probably be brought to a conclusion.
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