The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-22 00:00:00

to Mrs Bravo, the executrix of Mr. C. Bravo. In a drawer
of a table In his chambers he found some letters.

Sir H. James, hail's 1 ted from Mr. Brooks the fact that
the following letter w the hadAriting of Mrs. Florence
let
Bravo, read as follows :
"113, King's-road, Brighton, Oct. 21,—My dear Charlie
After serious and deep consideration, I have come to the con-
clusion that if you still hope and wish to gain my love we
must see more of each other, and be quite sure that the
solemn act of marriage will be for the happiness of both.
This is what I think you ought to tell your mother. I would
never enter any family where I was not welcome. I
have no fear of not gaining her affection, bat, of course, she
must know me and judge for herself. All I can say
is that you have ly;haved in the noblest manner, arid
that I have no doubt of being happy with lon ;
, but, of course, before giving up my present freedom I must
be quite convinced it would he for our mutual happiness.
Need I tell you that I have written to the doctor to say I intit
'never see his face again. It is the right thing to do in every
respect, whatever happens. Whether we marry or whether
we do not, l_sissli ever have a great regard for you and take
-laiep.iiiterest in sour welfare, for I think you are a very
good man. Write and tell me what you think of this letter,
and with every kind wish, ever your sincere friend,
"FLoßmiLipitlguato—
..
—"efir-zzOrecitirse this is sacred. I remain here till
Monday." .
Kefinktealleti, said she had left MK Bravo's service but
had gone back to the Priory while this inquiry wasitaking
place. She entered Mrs. Ricardo's service in Febrnari,lB74.
From the date of Mrs. Ricardo's return from Brighton,'where
she met Mr. Bravo, she did not see Dr. Gully again. When
Mrs. Cox returned from Worthing she went into Mrs. Bravo's
dressing-room, and expressed surprise that she was dres-
ing for dinner, and Mrs. Bravo said, "I Should
like to stop down to dinner to-night with Charlie, hut
I have prombed Charlie to go to bed directly after
dinner if he will let me stay down." Mrs.' Cox then said she
must be very tired, as she had been up all day, There hid
then been no lady' maid for some time, witness having
assisted Mrs. Bravo at her toilet. She always found Mrs..
Bravo very considerate. When she took Mrs. Bravo some
Alarsala the small tumbler was about half fulL ; Mr.
Bravo saw her taking some wine upstairs. Nothing had
occurred to cause her to think -he would be annoyed
at her taking wine up to his wife. She thought
he looked different to what she had ever seen him before.
He looked very pale, and the appearance of his face was
different. She saw Mr. Bravo at the open window leaning
out, and that must have been the time he vomited,
because he did not get up afterwards. She looked out
of the window on the following day and saw the vomit
jest outside the window. On the Monday Mrs.
Bravo had her Ginner in bed. Dosing the day she had
been with Mrs Cox to St. Anne's in a carriage, and that
was the first time she had been out after her
. illness. When witness went to tell Mrs. Bravo that Mr.
Bravo was ill she appeared to he asleep. She seemed very
'anxious indeed that medical assistance should be procnred as
, quickly as possible. Witness noticed no trace of her feigning
• or acting anything in her conduct; she was crying bitterly.
Daring the whole of his illness Mrs. Bravo appeared to be
bitterly grieved and distressed at his condition.
The Court then adjourned.

Before the court assembled, on Wednesday, the corine
and jurymen, and several of the legal gentlemen engvled in
the case, went to The Priory, the residence of the deCeased
gentleman, so that they might view the premises and be the
better able to understand the relative position of the rooms
referred to in the evidence. The house is situated on
Balham-hill, a few minutes' walk from the" fordl" Hotel.
The house is enclosed, is three stories high, contains fifteen
rooms, and is built in the style-of imitation Gothic. The
grounds are prettily laid out, and with a meadow in the
rear, consist of about eight acres. The inspection of the
premises occupied about three-quarters of an hour, and at a
quarter past eleven the court was opened. —The following
account of the evidence given is taken from the Globe :
The examination of Mary Ann Keeber, housemaid was
continued. Questioned by Sir, H. James, she said the jury
had seen the water-bottle knd tumbler which was in Mr.
Bravo's room on the night of his attack. (Bottle and glass,
both of the ordinary character were produced). He was Ire-
quently in the habit of cleaning his teeth, and he generally did
so when dresiing for dinner. She did not know whether he
was in the habit of drinking water at night. A carafe of
water was kept in the dining-room. The bottle holdi about
three glasses. She did not notice the state of theThottle
on the night of the seizure She did not know whether hot
or cold water was used with the brandy administered to Mr.
Bravo. Brandy was taken to the room, but the did pot
know whether any of the medical gentlemen drank some.
When Mrs. Joseph Bravo arrived on Wednesday afternoon
she with her Odd, Mrs. Bust ell, took principal charge of
Mr. Charles Bravo. After Mrs. Charles Bravo's return from
the Brighton visit witness never saw Dr Gully at the Priory,
nor did she know of Mrs. Bravo having any communication
with him.

By Mr. Murphy: Mr. Bravo, after his marriage, always
showed the greatest kindness to Mrs. Cox. she did not so-
member how Mrs. cox addressed him. Oa the M niday
aefore his death Airs Cox's two boys arrived at The Priory
and played lawn tennis with him. Mrs. Cex and Mr. Bravo
breakfasted together the morning, she believed, beton Mrs.
Cox went to Worthing. Witness was dressing Mrs. Bravo
when Mrs. Cox came into the drawing room after her return
trent Worthing Mrs. Cox was very oistressed and anxious
about Mr. Bravo's condition, and did the utmost in her
rower to assist him. When witness set the room tidy on
Wednesday morning, about nine o'clock, Mr. Bravo seemed
very friendly towards Mrs. Cox.
By Mr. Lewis: She thought the photograph produced
something like Mr. Bravo.
By Mr. Gont : She lived a Very short time wittetirs Bravo
at screathani. When . she entered ' the service all Mrs.
Bravo's friends were strangers to her. She could not tell
whether Dr. Gully was at that time a constant visitor of Mrs.
Bravo or not. Before his fatal illness Mr. Bravo had not com-
plained of any fatal illness to her. She had made a kind of
bandage to put around his loins, Mrs. Bravo telling her that
Mr. Bravo had complained of rheumatics. That was during
Mrs. Bravo's illness. Mr. Bravo generally went to bed be.
tween nine and ten o'clock; he was an early man. When
witness took. the warm water into Mts. Bravo's dressing-
room on Tuesday night 'Mrs. Bravo was ready for bed.
Mrs. Bravo gave witness the small tumbler to fetch the
marsala ; it was generally kept on a small tray in the dining.
room. Alter Mr. Bravo went into his wife's drersing•room
wituess heard voices, which were in the ordinary tone.
When Mr. Bravo went to his own room she went to Mrs.
Bravo's dressing-room, where she folded up and put away
Mrs. Bravo's clothes. She then went to Mrs Bravo's bed-
room, and asked if anything more was wanted. Mrs. Cox
then said something about fetching the little tray which was
In the room, and which witness believed she had previously
taken 'up there. When Mr. Bravo called cut be called
lousily, impatiently. When she gave the ald.rm in Mrs. Bravo's
room both M.s., Bravo and Mrs. Cox were in the zanier posit ion
as when witsiesi-bad left the room Sne thought Mrs. Bravo 11
was asleep, because if she had sic t been she would have got
up immediately Ole gave the alarm. Mrs. Cot ran first to
Mr. Bravo's room. The window in the deceased's room was
generally kept open. When Mrs Cox went to Mr. Bravo at
the window he agate called out for hot water, and witness
'fetched some from the kitchen. When she returned Mr.
Bravo was sitting on the floor in an unconscious state.
-She believed the mustard and water was given to Mr.
stravo before the coffee. It was given to him out of the
bedioom tumbler, and Mrs. Cox mixed it Warm water
was used. She could not be sure whether Mr. Bravo
was sick after the mustard and water or after the coffee.
Witness held the basin in which he vomited. She did
not thick it had been used. She got the tumbler in
which the mustard and water were mixed: she did not
notice that the tumbler had been used. He did not vomit
a great deal; it looked like food, and was of a dark colour.
She did not know whether Dr. Moore had been sent for at
that time. Witness asked Mrs. Cox what the was ts do
with the vomit, and Mrs. Cox told her to put it
away. She put it down tte sink in the housemaid's
closet, and washed the basin. She was with Mrs. Bravo
in the hall when Rowe was sent for the doctor. There was
a fire in Mr. Bravo's room that night. It was not
large; there were bright embers. Mr. Bravo had no socks
or slippers on;. his feet were bare. She did not -think
the bed had been disturbed. She remembered- the Lon-
don doctors arriving, and witness and the ladies were
turned out of the room. They all went to Mrs. Brasio's
.bedroom. She did not g 0 into Mr. Deavo's room again until'
she went in to assist Rowe to change the best clothes: She
thought she remernered seeing Mrs. Cox and Mr. Royes Bell
go along the landing together, and she believed they had
ueen in Mrs Bravo's dressing room. She did not hear that •
night that Mr. Bravo had taken poison, or any talk about
it. She had talked to Mrs. Bravo at Brighton about Mr.
Bravo being poisoned.- Mrs. Bravo said that Mr. Bravo had
been poisoned with antimony, but she could not account for
it.
Mr. Gorst : Did she say how he got it?

to I In Tu 1

Sir 11. James: What do you mean. Do you mean how he
progured it, or how it got into the body?

Mr. Gent objected to being interrupted by his, learned
friend, and remarked that Sir it. James bad no standing
there, and that if his question was no; intelligible, the fore-
man of tile juraeor the coroner could stop him.
. .
Mr. Gorst : Did you say at the Treasury, "Since we went
to Brighton we have seen by the papers that it is said he died
from taking antimony, and Mrs. Bravo said to me, If that
was so, he must have taken it himself." You say now that
Mrs. Bravo said that to you ?—Yes.
Where did he take the brandy and water you spoke about
on Sunday night?- in his bedroom ; I found the tumber and
spoon there on the following morning.
Witness continuing: She put the night-shirt taken from
Mr. Bravo with the other dirty linen She saw the vomit
outside the window on the Wednesday. She forgot who
first asked her about the marsala. She did not rerhember
ever saying that it was a bottle of sherry which was taken
up into the room. She never told Mr. W. Campbell that
Mrs. Bravo had sent her for a bottle of sherry. She did not
remember saying that an altercation in French took place
between Mr. and Mrs. Bravo. The coachmen's name was
Parton, mid he had been there about four or live months.
Griffiths was the regular coachman before Parton. •
. By. the Jury When Mrs. Cox sent her to fetch .the
mustard she did .not assign any reason to witness for giving
Mr. Bravo an emetic. He was insensible at that time. Not
a word was Said about Poison then. The distance between
Mr. and Mrs. Bravo's rooms was extremely email; they were
adjoining. He called out very loud. Mrs. Cox did not at-
tempt to wake Mrs. Bravo when witness gave the alarm.
Mrs. Cox did not tell her to wake Mrs Bravo. She did not
hear Mr. Bravo speak before he became insensible.
.By Mr. Lewis: She might have expressed an opinion
about the case outside the Priory. When Mrs. Bravo went
to Brighton before she become engagsd to Mr. Bravo,
witness knew that Mrs. Bravo had her hair dyed. It
was originally light, and the dye made it a little darker.
She did not know who prepared the dye The hair
was now growing the original colour. She had seen
some hair dye on the washstand far her to use if she
wanted it. Mrs. Bravo used to have some prescriptions
made no by Mr. Smith, of Bahama. Witness believed
they were Mr. Harrison's prescriptions. She knew that Mrs.
Bravo had a miscarriage in January, and another In April.
Mr Royes Bell attended her for her lAA illness. Witness
could not tell whether bottles of medicine were taken to Mrs.
Bravo's room shortly before her second Iniscairiage. She took
some bottles oh medicine to Mrs. Bravo's room. Mrs Bravo
oceasionally took medicine between January and April She
was not aware of any one beside a chemist's or surgeon's boy
calling at the house with medicines. She did not remember
that Mrs. Bravo ever accounted to witness for the illness
before the first miscarriage.
By Sir H. James: Witness thought Mrs. Bravo had the
hair dye whilst she was at Brighton. When Mrs. Bravo re-
turned from Brighton she brought the bottle of hair dye
with her, and her hair was changed in colour. The bottle
was kept in Mrs. Bravo's bedroom, and she believed it was
there now. (A. policeman was sent to the house to fetch the
bottle) Sometimes Mrs. Bravo had some of Mr. Harrison's
prescriptionsmdens. up et the
dCiocionpoortatniovewSutosereishienhLondon.
She believed t
The laundress lived on Streatham-common.
After the adjournment for luncheon, three bottles contain-
ing liquids for the hair were produced and identified by wit-
ness as belonging to Mrs. Bravo. The names of chemists were
on the bottles. She never knew that Mrs. Bravo prepared
any of the hair dye herself, but she believed that it was
always bought.
The esidence of this witness was then read over to her, and
she signed the deposition.
Charles Parton, coachman at the Priory, said he had been
in Mrs. Bravo's services since the 3rd of February, and he
was in the habit of driviog Mr. and Mrs. Brave out. He
remembered 'the day Mr. Bravo was taken ill, and on
that day he. drove them to town in a landau. They left
home soon alter ten in the morning. He drove to a
hole in. Stratford-place, where Mr. Bravo got out,
went into the bank, and, returned to the carriage; be
then erove to a 'jeweller's in Bond-street ; in .lertuyii-
street Mr. Bravo left Mrs. Bravo, it wes at to 'I 4: lash
baths. The next time he saw Mr. Bravo was in , theT,
stable-yard in the Priory, about half-past • six o'clock tire
same eventrig. After Mr. Bravo left the carriage he
drove Mrs. Bravo to the stores in the Haymerket.
alra Bravo got ont of the carriage at the stores. From
the stores he drove to the Priory, which was reached about
two o'clock or a quarter past two. Mr. Bravo was in the
stable-yard when he came in from riding, and that was where
witness next saw him, and he told witness that the cob had
bolted with him, and had gone 'our or five miles with him.
Witness said the cob ought to be . ,den with a curb bridle.
The groom got the cob ready for him. When he got off the cob
Mr. Bravo said his limbs were all 01 a shake, and that a feather
would have knocked him down. Witness had never seen
Mr. Bravo since that time. Mr. Bravo was very pale when
he was in the stable-yard, and seemed unnerved; there was
a little du id on his hat, and he said his hat blown oft He
did not Bar he had been thrown.
By Mr. L9Will : He did not hear any quarregor high wordi