The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-03-13 00:00:00

A LONDON MYSTERY.

was Owen.

On Thursday mornint4 in last week, a double murder
was discovered at Poplar, near London, of which tragic
deed, the following are the particulars:—
In High-street is a confectioner's shop, for some years
occupied by a Mrs. Brown, aged TA who had been separated
from her husband for the last 20 years, but who °mitt ived to
maintain herself and her daughter, aged 23, who lived with
her, from the profits of the business. Both of them were
seen in the shop by neighbours on Tun lay evening last. On
Wednesday morning some astonishment was felt at the shop
not being opened at the ordinary hour, and as it reinained
closed throughout the day several persons knocked, but
could not succeed in obtaining an answer. On Thursday at
noon it was still closed. A brother and sister of Mrs.
Brown's called upon Mr. Binders, boot and shoemaker, of
267, High-street, two doors from Mrs. Brown's shop, and
asked permission to pass through his back premises. On-
tabling a ladder, they got into the house, and upon going
down stain into the back parlour and opening the shutters,
a most horrible spectacle presented itself. (in the table the
supper cloth was spread, and this and the various articles
upon it, such as plates, glasses, knives and forks, were
covered with blood. Oil the floor of the room, near the
piano, lay the lifeless body of Mrs. Brown, with her throat
cut in the most frightful manner. Beneath her was found
the sheath of a clasp-knife. On returning to the room
above, through the window of which admission had bees
gained, and making an examination, the body of Miss
Blows, the daughter, was discovered in bed, her head
being almost severed front the body. She was clothed in her
night dress cnly, except that a flannel petticoat was partly
wrapped round her head, and she was lying on her right side
with her right arm extended. The bedclothes and bedding
were saturated with blood. It appears that Sirs. Brown
and her daughter were at the time of the murder the only
occupants of the shop and 'itemises, but that an engineer
named rtradshaw, aged forty, had been preciously lodging
with then, for a considerable time, and had only left a fort-
night since. In the course of the day it transpired that the
police had received information to the effect that an engineer
answering the description of Bradshaw had committed
suicide by cutting his throat on Wednesday morning, at a
house in Bow. This turned out to be true, and an inquest
on the body of the supposed murderer was held on Friday,
when
thirrlet Emberson, a goodlooking young woman, said she
lived at 8, Archibald-street, Bromley. She had bees & do-
mestic servant, but left her situation to go and live with de-
ceased. He was a marine engineer, and was forty-one years
of age. She lived with him five weeks as his wife, under a
promise of marriage. The deceased, who was out of work,
left home about eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning, and re-
turned between twelve and one next morning. She was up
when he came home, and he appeared to be quite 5010... lie
got out of bed at a quarter to seven in the morning, his usual
time of rising being a little after eight, lie was intim
during the night, and got up once while she was awake.
She went out for something for breakfast, and when she
came back she saw him coming down stairs. Us went up-
stairs again, saying he was ill, and shortly after she heard
groans proceeding from the upper back room. She entered
the room in which he was, and found him bleeding from a
wound. She could not see where the wound was, but she
perceived blood. They had no quarrel that morning nor
the night previously. She made his aomalittance six years
ago, and he was then living at Mrs. Brown's, in Poplar. Ile
left Mrs. Brown's to go to the house in which they lived.
She never heard him threaten to take his own isle.
George F. Bradshaw. a clerk, living at Grantham, said the
deceased was his brother. lie last saw him alive a fortnight
ago at Grantham. The deceased was then in good spirits,
and made no mention of a design upon his life. Ile did not
know that his brother was on terms of intimacy with any
member of the Brown family. His mother died two years
ago in a lunatic asylum. The deceased was a man of violent

temper.
After some other evidence had been taken, the jury re-
turned a verdict of fele de se.

The inquest on the bodies of the murdered women was also
held on Friday, and after some preliminary evidence had
been taken it WU adjourned until Saturday.
Meanwhile, the mysterious circumstances connected with
the double murder and suicide were very considerably
deepened by the fact that the day before the tragedy was
enacted a family residing in the East India-road received
two packages of letters. On the outaide of one of the
packages was printed the words "Steam Navigation Cont-
pally. When one of the ladies in the house opened the bundles
she found that they contained some very affectionate letters
, to Mr. Bradshaw.

On Saturday, when the inquest was resumed, Mr. Marsh,
solicitor, watched the proceedings in the interest of Mrs.
Littlepage, who was the supposed writer of the letters
alluded to, which had got into the hands of the police, and
which formed matter of inquiry in the course of the pro-

ceedings.
Ann Munroe, of 294, High-street, Poplar, said she lived
with her mother, who kept a baker's shop which was directly
opposite to Mrs. Brown's. At 20 minutes to eleven o'clock, on
The:44 night she heard the shutters of Mrs. Brown's shop
being put up. It was earlier than they were usually put up.
She saw a man standing in the parlour at the back of the
, shop about two o'clock in the afternoon. She knew that
Bradshaw had lived there. The person whom she saw had
his back to her, and, consequently, she did not know
who it was, but she believed from his appearance that it was
Bradshaw.
Sinclair Raymond, a young woman, stated that she kept
the baker's shop. On Tuesday, in the middle of the day, a
boy, who said he was sent by Mrs. Brown, came and purchased
some bread. It was very unusual for Mrs. Brown to send in
that way.
John Nicholls, gasfitter, knew Bradshaw perfectly well,
and a family named Owen only by repute. Miss Brown, OR
last Sunday night at his own house, where she was from six
to eleven o'clock in the evening, told him that Bradshaw had
received letters from Mrs. Littlepage, who, before her mar-
riage, was a Mies Owen. He used to throw the letters, she -
said, on the table, In order that she might see them. A.
portrait was enclosed in one of the letters. Bradshaw had
put the letters to a packet, and after ailing four stamps to
them he addressed them, and requested her to pet them.
She refused to post them, saying she did not wish to be mixed
up in anything of the kind, and be put them im his pocket, ,
saying "Never mind." She quoted several passages from the
letters, and also told him about the quarrel in Much the coral
was smashed.
ky Mr. Marsh : Mrs. Brown told him that the letters were
from Mrs. Littlepage. She did not say she knew as an actual
fact they were in Mrs. I-Miami's handwriting, but she
know that Mrs. Littleme frequently went to her mother's
'hop inqwhing after
Kate Uttlepsate, 11v1mg at 19, Harldng-road, was the mist

witneu. She was dreesed In mourning, and had over her
face a heavy black crape veil In answer to the Coroner, she
said she was a married woman, and that her maiden name

The Coroner: I am going to put to you some questions
which are somewhat painful and may appear to you unneces- •
sary, but which I deem it nevertheless my duty to address

_
to you.
The witness, in reply to the Coroner's questions, said she
mrnotggitr,aatwedtfifeolq her hus.banantk
saw last at e kne
bins on w
week, at No. IS, Barking-road, at her own house. Witness
corrected her first statement as to her address, saying that
her mother lived at No. WI Bradshaw was • friend of her
family. He left about two o'clock in the afternoon. She
paid the rent and taxes of No. IS, but while her husband was
away she lived with her mother. It was at her own house
she saw Bradshaw.
The Coroner asked the witness if the letters placed in her
hand were in her handwriting. Witness, in an indignant
tone, replied that they were not.
The letters were read, and were as follows:

" Bromley, K, Jam 14, 1869.
" Dear Mr Bradshaw,-1 thought you would have been
round this evening, but out of eight out of mind. Will you
come round and dine to-morrow to meet Mies Grub? Mitre

--
Arnold cannot coolse. I had a letter !rem Mr. L. the same

as usual. Joey called at Brown's to-night to see it you n ere
in. I must now conclude.—B ith hind regards, yours sin-
.... -
cerely.

" KATZ."
"19, Barking-road, Bromley, E.
" Dear Mr. Bradahaw,-1 cannot imagine bow it ia our

,
messages are not given to you, but wlll you come round to
tea this afternoon, for we want to talk to you about Joe. If

it is fine I will go out for a walk, Excuse haste.—Yours
truly. "KATE.
" Joe has been round twice for. you::

" Bromley, K., J.. 16, 1869.
"Dear Mr. Braderaw,—lf It does not pour witßraln 1 ahall
. .

go to town on Monday. I will be at the station in E. L
road by about half-past eleven. I hope you have sustained the
disappointment at not seeing Martha, but you must console
yourself that you have the pleasure in store. llow early you
departed last night r I told mamma you were jealous of the
dog. Excuse more, as this Is the third letter I have written.
From yours sincerely.
The Coroner You see one Is :Wed from your house, IS,

RaVil'n-g7ro—aTt'tLiiiin'ess : 1 don't ; 1 know it is not my

writing.
In reply to further questions the witness said she dill not
know in whose handwriting they were She had a sister-In-
law named Mrs. M'lnnes. She was her husband's sister. She
. . . . . . . •

T7a7l7;e7l`.i:e;h'lwTiii7!g, bt_sit coal! not
.!wear to it. She

knew 0 photograph produced (a photograph of the witness'.
It was taken out of her album by Mr. Bradshaw on Friday
week. She did not know Mr. Bratishaw's handwriting. She
did not think to her knowledge she had seen it. She had
three brothers. one named Joseph was the one whom Mr.
Bradshaw interested himself in to get articled. She never
sent this brother or anybody to Mr Bradahaw's house.
The Coroner It is somewhat of a pilule, but perhaps you
can explain it. The letter I put into your hands is dated
front your mother's house, 19, Barking-road, and it refers to
your brother Joe, whoni, you admit, Mr. Bradshaw in-
terested himself in to get a situation. Now, if I understand
you rightly that it is so, I want to know front whom this
letter possibly comes other than from yourself, which deals
with your brother Joe 7—Witness It is not in my power to
inform you.
The Coroner Then I may take it that you know nothing
at all About the letter with reference to your brother ?
—Witness: Nothing whatever.
The Coroner Did you at any time promise you would
have your carte de visite taken to give to Mr. Bradshaw.—
Witness No.
The Coroner: Well, now, Mrs. Littlepage, I must trouble
you to try to assist the ends of justice. You Mid letters
dated from your owu house, and signed with your own
name, and dealing with your own brother, for whom Mr.
Bradshaw you yourself state was interesting himself to get
him a situation. I think you must be able to give some in.
fonoation as to whose handwriting you believe those letters
to be in. The facts are so patent that you must be able to
fonts some opinion as to whose handwriting it is.—Witness
made no reply.
The Coroner: Will you state as far as you can what is your
belief in the matter 7—Witneas I don't know; I have never
seen them before.
The Coroner Then you persist that you cannot throw any
light upon the question as to who it was that wrote in your
name with reference to your brother and from your own
house?—Witness I would immediately if I could, but I
have not the slightest idea. I know Miss Grubb and Miss
Arnold. Mr. Bradshaw one evening was at our house when
a letter came from Miss Grubb, and he took up the envelope
and upon a piece of paper imitated the writing, and he said,
" You see I can copy writing." That was at supper-time.
The Coroner again varied the form of the question, ask-
ing her if she could possibly conceive ally person capable of
taking the liberty of writing in her name and from her ad-
dress, at the same time knowing several members of tier
acquaintance, and especially of the circumstance of Mr.
Bradshaw interesting himself 011 behalf of her brother.
The witness replied The only person I ':ould say I think
had done it would be Mr. Bradshaw himself, for he was seen
copying writing at our house, and he was the only one who
heard the names of thme two young ladies mentioned.
The Coroner Did he pare the Sunday at your house a
' short time ago 7—Witness No; I had not seen him, until
last Friday, since the 15th of February, when my mother
' and I met him at the Broad-street railway.station.
The Coroner: Do you remember his passing a Sunday at
your house 7—Witness: He dined at my mamma's. I can't
exactly swear to the date, hut I believe was about the
end of January.
In reply to further questions, the witness said she was in
mourning for the death of her father, and that she used in
her correspondence paper with a black border, but a border
a great deal deeper than that of the paper on which these
letters were written.

The Coroner Assuming your supposition to be correct
that Bradshaw wrote these letters, can you assign any reason 1
why he should write letters to himself dealing with your
own name, your husband's name, your brother's name, and
your friends' names 4—Witness No.
By Mr. Marsh She had never been alone in Mr. Brad-
shaw's company. lier mother or sister was always present.
Mr. Bradshaw volunteered to get her brother a situation.
She had never met him by appointment alone, but she had
casually, when with her mother, met him at the Broad-
street station. and oil another occasion she and a friend were
accosted by him in the street, and he accompanied them
home, holding his umbrella over them, as it was raining.
A juryman asked the witness if Miss Grubb and Miss
Arnold came to tea as invited. Witness said they had never
been at her house.
The Coroner asked if they had been at her mother's. Wit-
ness replied in the negative, adding that Miks Arnold was
at the present moment dying of consumption, and unable to
leave her home.

_
Cu reply to further questions from the Coroner, she said
she never In her life left ally message for Bradshaw at Mrs.
Brown's. Miss Grubb's name was Martha. Witness had no
dog at her house, nor hail her mother 0110. Her brother, who
resided in High-street, Poplar, had a large dog, but it had
only been once at her mother's house and this was last
Sunday week.
The Coroner, once more put the question as to whether
witness could throw any light on the mystery, but she Illnill-
tained her former assertion. The Coroner called her atten-
tion to the dates of the letters (including some that were
not read, and which it was unnecessary, therefore, to hand to
the press fer publication., and asked her if she thought
Mr. Bradshaw was mousing himself by writing the letters to
herself over a period of two months, from December to the
24th of February. Her answer was that this was the only
inference she could draw.
A person who gave the name of Alfred Watkins, and said
he lived at Bow, came forward and voluntem ed the informa-
tion that Bradshaw, wht,in he knew well, was a tolerably
good writer for a man of his class, but was not able to spell

correctly.
Mrs. M'lnnes, having been sworn. deposed that she had
received the lettere by post. They were us a large envelope.
She knew the handwriting of them ; it was her brother's
wife's, Mrs. Littlepage. Before this inquiry she went down
to her cousin, a Mr. Beaumont, and showed them to him.
She thought It an act of foolishness on the part of Mrs. Lit-
tlepage to write the letters to Bradshaw, and it was that
feeling which prompted her resolution not to say or do any-
thing in the matter until her brother's return from sea. The
envelope containing the photograph she received separately,
but by the same post. She had no knowledge from whom
they came.
By Mr. Marsh: Mrs. Littlepage had been married to wit-
ness's brother fifteen months, and witness knew her shortly
before the marriage. A short time after the marriage there
was some little dissension between witness and Mrs. Little-
page, and they had since been on unfriendly terms. Wit-
ness had never seen Mrs. Littlepage in the act of writing.
She had none of Mrs. Littlepage's writing by her, and spoke
from memory solely. She never saw Mrs. Littlepage with
Bradshaw alone, but about the time when, according to one
of the letters, Mrs. Littlepage appointed to meet him at the
station, witness saw her and her mother pass her house In
Bradshaw's company Witness resided oil the East India-
road. She had not volunteered to show the letters to a
gentleman of the Press, but a gentleman of the Press had
called upon her, and asked to see them, Mid she let him see
them.
By the Coroner She had no Idea of doing wrong when
she did so. She did not know what paper the gentleman
represented. She had no knowledge when her brother, Mr.
Littlepage, would be at home. Mrs. Littlepage had kept
her husband's address from her friends, who knew nothing
of him, other than that he was regpilarly remitting money
home to his wife.
Henry Owen, a brother to Mrs. Littlepage, put a question
to Mrs. Witines, asking when it was that she had her last
communication by letter from Mrs. Littlepage. Mrs.
bl'innes answered that it was shortly before her brother
went to sea, which was about twelve months ago.
henry Owen, at his own request, was sworn, and he stated
that he was a grocer and cheesernonger out of business, and
living with his soother at 19, Barking-road. The leters were
not in the handwriting of his sister. Ile had often spoken to
Bradshaw, and once, on going past Brown's, he shook hands
with hbii, seeing him standing at the door.
George Binden. shoemaker, carrying on business in High-
street, immediately opposite to where Mrs. Littlepage, when
bliss Owen, bad resided, said he had seen her call at Mrs.
Brown's. There was not the least mistake in the world about
It. He knew her perfectly well, lie had seen her both go in
and leave the shop, not alone, however, but accompanied by
her younger sisters.
John Fishpanuel, grocer and teadealer, said to the best of
his knowledge and belief the letters were not in Mrs.
Littlepage's handwriting, which he knew well, having
received at different times two notes from her when she
was Miss (liven. He did not know ass fact that the notes
were writtee by Miss Owen, but they were in her name.
After the police had given their evidence as to the finding
of the bodies of Mrs. and Miss Brown, the Corcner proceeded
to sum up at great length, after which-the jury found a
verdict of •• Wilful Murder" against Bradshaw, appending
thereto an expression of their admiration of the completenesx
with which the police hail got up the case, and of the
promptitude and dexterity manitested by them in a most
dillicalt and painful duty.