The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-08-12 00:00:00

"THE BALHAM MYSTERY."

On Monday (20th day) the inquiry into the circumstances
attending the death of Mr. Charles Delanney Tamer Bravo
was resumed at the "Bedford" Hotel, Balham, before Mr.
Carter, the Coroner, with Mr. Buieigh Muir as legal assessor.
Mr. Gorst Q C., and Mr. 11,1 and appeared on behalf of the
Crown; Sir Henry James, Q.C., and Mr Wron appe.red for
Mrs, Carlia Bravo, the widow of the deceased; Mr. Murphy,
Q C., and Mr. Bray for Mrs. C,.ic ; Mr Seri-ant Parry and
Mr. Archibald Smith appeared for Dr. Gaily ; and Mr.
George Lewis, Jan., watched the casa for Mr. Joseph Bravo,
the stepfather of the deceased, and for the relatiobs of the
deceased..—We take the following condensed account of the
proceedings from the Pall Mall Gazette :-
- -•-• - -

_
Mrs. Helen Harford (of Norwood-hill) was exaz.J.ned Mr,
Murphy, Q C She deposed that the was the nita of Mr Hat,
ford, underwriter to the Ocean liarime Insurance Company She
had known Mrs Cox for noon I twenty years. and had seen
her frequently during the Ins ifour years. Witntss and her
husband had frequently assisted Mrs Cox and had aided In
ge t ing her children into St. Ann's As) turn. •he(witness)had
advised Mrs. Cox to return to Jamaica A fortnight ago
Mrs. Cox made a communication to witness with reference
to Mrs. Brayo's confession of her intimacy with Dr. Gaily.
When asked by Mrs. Cox if she should communicate
that fact to her counsel witness replied that it was not
advisAble. (to Mr. Lewis) : She was surprised at the deceased's
fury at Mrs. Cox receiving a letter from Dr. Gully and insisting
upon seeing it. Witness thought the deceased was jealous,
but had no Idea that there was anything wrong between Dr.
Gully and Mrs. Bravo. Mrs. Cox informed witness that Mrs.
Bravo was ve_ry fond of Dr. Gaily. Witness after learning
about the improper intimacy considered it sl shocking that
she advised Sirs. Cox not to tell her counsel. (To Serjaant
Parry:) Until Mrs. Cox told her about the letter containing
the treatment from Dr. Gully, she (witness) had never heard
of his name. (ro Sir Henry James:) She knew Mrs. Cox
before she was married, and when she was governess to the
daughter of the Rev. John Papillon, rector of Lexden, near
Colchester. Had she known the extent of the intimacy between
Dr. Gully and Airs,Bravo,witnesswould not have expressed sur-
prise at the deceased's fury at seeing Dr. Gully's handwriting.
(To Mr. Gorst :) Although Mrs. Cox promised her aunt to
visit Jamaica, she did not promise that she would stay.
Her aunt said that her niece must not bring her children
out to Jamaica.

Charles Maddox was recalled and examined by Mr. Ser-
leant Parry. He deposed that Dr. Gully dealt at Mr. Smith's,
chemist, of Balham On April 8, 1876, Dr. Gully ordered is
bottle of medicine, and asked either for aqua laurocerasi, or
laurel water. fie did not state for what purpose it was re-
quired. The bottle supplied cintained 240 drops. He re-
quested to be allowed to look at the " Pharmacopada" as he
red forgotton the di se. That bottle was made up according
to the prescription of the " Pharmacopeeia." Laurel-water
was wet externally principally as a lotion, and internally as
a sedative. A dose would be from five to thirty drops, and
would be used in that quantity to produce sleep. It was
rar-ly used as a medicine. The bottle was labelled "Aqua
lauro-cerast," and had the word "Poison" it, and the
name of "Smith, chemist, Balham.' Witness then read the
totiowing entry from Mr Smith's day-book—" April, 8,
1876, Gully, Dr., half-ounce aqua laurocerasi, in stopper
bottle, 6d. Chase's poison, is" The latter was a
beetle poison composed of small balls of phosphorus
which was supplied late in the day to Dr. Gulb's
housekeeper or butler. They had previously had beetle
poison which contained no antimony. (To Mr. Lewis.)
Dr. Gully did not say for whom the bottle of medi-
cine was required. He took it away with him. (to Mr.
Gurst :) The liquid was slightly opaque, and the taste was
aromatic, similar to essence of almonds, and was of no
guaranteed strergth. A medical man could purchase tartar
emetic across the counter, but he would be asked to write an
order for it. If so obtained no record would be kept in the
register of poisons sold. (To Mr. Murphy;) There was no
antimony in the preparation sold to Dr. Gully on April 8,
(fo Serjeant Parry:) Aqua lauro-cerasi was composed of
cherry leaves or the leaves of the common laurel. (To the
jury:) Dr. Gully had not been supplied with any laudanum
or chloroform in April, and he (witness) did not remember
ever supplying any to that gentleman.
Dr. Moore, being then recalled stated, in reply to Sir Henry
James, that some brandy and warm water was given to the de-
ceased. Witness noticed the water-bottle in the room, and
probably used some of the water. Mr. Harrison drank a
tumbler full, otherwise it was not interfered with by any one.
(to Mr. Lewis:) He was aware that there was a grave ques-
tion as to whether poison was administered by means of the
water-bottle. The first time his attention was called to the
water-bottle was after Mr. Harrison's arrivaL He had
heard that Keeber had brought up hot water before
his (witness's) arrival. IN thought he could swear
that itowe, the butler, brought some water in the
room before Mr. Harrison's arrivaL Mrs. Cox asked
that water might be brought. There was only one water.
bottle, and he could not remember if there was a jug or can
of water`in the room. His attention was in &great measure
directed to 11.0 deceased. Al the time witness entered the
room he dii not think that deceased might have been
pcisoned by means of the water-bottle; but when first
examined he thou4ht that poison might have been thus con-
veyed. He was in entire ignorance of what was tAren in the
room before his arrival. (co Sir Henry James:) Eie had
never before or since attended any one at the Priory. He
had no recollection of any one briegieg water into the de-
ceased's sick-room.

Mr. George Harrison, being recalled, was examined 1 y Sir
Henry James, and spoke of seeing an ordinhiy water bottle
in the deceased's room. He felt no ill-tifects irom drinking
some water from that bottle. (to Mr. Gore): A medic4l
man would find no d.fficuly in procuring wi bout a written
order any amount of emetic tartar be wanted. (to Sir
Henry James) : A record would be kept of such a sale as
that,

Helen Stone (cock to the deceased) was then called, in
order, as Sir Henry James remarked, that it should not be
said there had not been a sufticieht inquiry. Neither Sir
Henry .L,mes, however, Mr. Serjeant Parry, Mr. Lewis, nor
Mr. Gorst asked the witness any questions. The coroner
then proceeded to examine the witness as to what she
cooked 1,,r dinner on the day of the deceased's illness.

Mr. George Henry Brooks, solicitor, in reply to Mr. Lewis,
stated, with regard to the marriage settlement which he had
prepared between the deceised and Mrs. Ricardo, that she
had the first life interest in 000 from her first husband,
and in £2O 000 settled hy her father. he had a lease of the
Priory, and had laid out a great deal of money on it. She
was also possessed of the furniture and effects, a pair of cobs,
and two carriage... The drafts contained no settlement of
the hone of furniture received from Mrs. Ricardo. To
settle the lease and effects upon her, they were valued at
about £3,000. Tiae neceased said that if that were
done he c ,uld not sit upon the chairs, because he would
not bs master of his own house, and that he would
rather break off the engagement The furniture and effects
were not included in the draft settlement. Ur. Joseph
Brava covenanted upon the death of himself and wife to
s.ttle the first life intermit of £200,000 upon his son, and
upon his death on his wile. Three or lour years ago witness
prepared a will for Mrs. Ricardo. 1e believed it was
revoked long ago. He did not prepare a second one. She
destroyed it. (To Sir Henry James:) Deceased brou4ht
nothing until the death of his father, and after
Mrs. Charles Bravo's life interest it went back to de-
ceased's father. Had deceased died on April 18 the
leasehold of the Priory and furniture would have
gone to the next of kin. The income of £3,000 a
year came entirely from Mrs. Charles Bravo. When witness
early congratulated deceased upon his intended marriage
with an old friend of his (witness), deceased said,
your congratulations; I only want the money." (To Mr.
Lewis) : At the time of that conversation deceased was in a
hurry and gave witness to understand that his congratula-
tions were an intrusion. Deceased came to inquire about
the money, and at the time knew that witness had filed
a bill in Chace:in, for Mrs. Ricardo against her father and
brother. It was at his (witness's) house that Dr. Gully
and Mrs. Ricardo used to meet. (To the jury): In 1871 there
was a misunderstanding between his wife and Mrs. Ricardo
about Dr. Golly. It referred to a conversation at Mal-
vern. Mrs, Ricardo was very indignant, and Dr. Gaily threat-
ened witness with proceedings for what his wife had said.
Mr. Henry Smith, Fit C.S., the next witness, in reply to Mr.
Murphy, said that he was a surgeon at King's Cross Hospital.
11,s late wife was a !sister of
.Mrs. Joseph Bravo. He had known

deceased from. child. Witness on ihursday, April 20 cliov;
down to the Priory accompanied by Dr Johnsen, from' whom
he learned that deceased was suffering from an irritant
poison. Dr. Johereus led witness to believe that it was a case
of suicide, and with that impression he entered the Pi tory.
For that reason, and because he went down to afford relie
if possible, he did not ask deceased any question about
the poison. Most medical men knew that tartar emetic
would cure persons of drinking propensities, and many
medical men used it for that purpose. Deceased was a very
excitable man. If deceased in a fit ci passion had taken
laudanum, and immediately ef er wards repented of it, aud
had taken a dose of tartar emet:c to clear off the effAts of
the IAII,IBIIIIIII, it would nrodace vomiting to about ten
minuts or a quarter (fan hour. Under such circumstances,
a portion cf the tarter emetic: would ceme away with the
vomit. The post-mortem examination showed that the
greater portion of the tartar emetic had been ejected soon
after belt g taken. Then the fact of calling for hot water
showed that tne deceased had taken something which be
wished to get rid of. There was nottung in the post-mortem
Inconsistent with deceased having taken laudatium and then
tartar emetic to get rid of it. (ro Mr. Lewis :) There was
nothing in the post-mortem which pointed to deceased having
taken laudanum and then having taken tartar emetic to get
rid of it. Ha never heard or read daring his twenty-eight
years' practice of a case of tartar emetic being taken to annul
the effects of laudahum. If a person two hours after dinner
drank from a bottle of water poisoned with antimony, he
would have felt the effects in about a quarter of an hour.
There was nothing inconsistent in the post-mortem with
deceased having taken water from the water bottle. He
never knew deceased in possession of poison and did not
think-him a likely man to commit suicide. Witness had never
known a case of suicide by antimony, but it was frequently
used for murder. After the post-mortem examination Dr.
Johnson's impression as to the cause of the deceased's death
was changed. Witness was the first person to suggest to Mr.
Joseph Bravo that a detective should be employed. (to Sir
Henry James:) The deceased had never mentioned tnat his
wife took Leo much wine, and that be would cure her of it.
Witnilos could not say anythink' about deceased's father.
Ooe of his (deceased's) sisters was deaf and dumb, and the
other was very feeble in mind and body. She generally lived
at Hendon in a convent.

After a few questions from Mr. Gorst, the court adjourned
at five o'clock.

The inquiry was resumed cn Tuesday (21st day). At a
quarter past ten Mrs. Bravo entered the court, accompanied
by her father, sir. Campbeil—lhe following account of the
evidence given by Mrs. Bravo is taken from the GZobe :
She was questioned as follows by Mr. Lewis :
Was )(air hatband in the habit of drinkthg water before
he went to bed ?-1 hirk not.

Did he generally arnik aoything after dinnero7—Coffee,
ger.erall.
Did he drink any coft.e on the night of the seizare?—
No.

_
You told Sir Henry James thst your husband was in the
habit of mentionirg the name of Dr. Gully morning, noon,
and uight?-110 was.
Was that during the whole of your marriage.—Yes.
And you say no one in the house but Iles. Cox heard that ?
—No one.
NVill )ou produce the letters, please?
[Letters produced.]
In February he was absent from you ?—I was absent from
him at Buscot.
In March were you absent from one another while he was
at the sessions April he was at the sessions.
In March were you absent from him ?—I cannot re-
member.
. Were you at Eistbourne ?—I never was at Eastbourne with

him
Is the letter of the 15th February in your husband's hand-
writiug ?—lt
Mr. Lewis then read a portion of the ktter, as follows

"February 15, 1876, 2, Palace-green.
"My Darling Wife,— Though I said I would not write
before to-morrow morning, in the heavinelia of n y heatt I
muat do so to-day."
Mr. Lewis then read several letters written by Mr. C.
Bravo to his wife, which were couched in the most affection•
ate to-rms, and during the reading of whictifthe witness was
Ceeily affected.
Ile tad found fault with your drinking, had he not ?-118
never tutted fault with mo, lie said he thought I should be
better if I drank buri;undy instead of sherry, and lf 1 drank
lexs wise. _

Mr. Lewis then continued reading letters from Mr. Bravo
dated February 16th, 17th, 21st, liarch Bth, 9,h, 101 i, 11th,
12th, in whiai last letter occurs the following passage :7
"Father Joseph says he will give us a barouche if we will
reduce our number of horses. We may get rid of the cobs,
and by knocking cff two boric" and Mrs. Cox We can knock
off £4OO a yEar, and be quite as comfortable."
Mr. 14w13 then read a lttter from Mr. Bravo :

"April 4th, 1578.
"My own d Irling Wife,—Perhaps my heart is far from gay,
but I cannot bear to be away from you. Believe, my darling
wife, that I can never cease to love you. I can never love
you more than I do. I believe it is Impossible for love to be
greater than mina. Take great care ol yourself 1, a. the rake
of your devoted husband, "CHARLIE."
Mr. Lewis also read two letters dated April 6th and 6th,
which were also couched lathe most endearing terms.
YoU mean to say after those letters being read that this
gentleman was always, morn, notn, and night, speaking of
in disparaging term 1" ,? do.
311Yyos. ever tell anybody so in his lifetime l—Yes, Mrs.
CD:
D.ll
bethheeawnoansyamlwoauyselbertinteg.
n u r.
i
And any one else in his lifetime 7—Yes, my mother, at
Buscott
... said
g p the name of Dr. Gully. We went to Buscot two days
log
Christmas, and left on the 6th of January,
in
nt
n January.ot w l ths t a nTdhlante w
his as
promisefore
,h
11 that hitter to Mn, J. 13ravo your handwriting t—Yes,

. .
Mr. Lewis then read a letter written by the witness to Mrs. .
J. Bravo, in which she said, "Charlie and I are as happy as
we possibly can be, and I have never had an unkind word
yet. It made me so unhappy when 1 was at Palace-green
that he should say I ruined him."
Have you any recollection of telling anybody else in his
lifetime of his mentioning Dr. Gully's name ?-No, I have no
recollection.
II ov eOOO after his death did you tell anybody 7-We all
discussed it together.
As a suggestion for his committing suioide?-No.
Was it dircussed to his disparagement i-No; he had
sp,k,n to my to brothers about it.
Did you represent to anybody at that time that you had
told Mr. Bravo thatyou h id had a criminal intimacy with
Dr. Gully?-No.
Did you tell of it to anybody but Mrs. Cox 7-No.
And you had always represented, even at the Treasury,
that tbe I..timacy was innocent7-I had, except to Mrs. Cox.
You have pledged your oath that no intimacy took place
with Dr. Gully dtuicor the lifetime of your first husband !-
Yes.
Was there anything that occnered at Malvern at the time
you wished to be kept secret
No sort of familiarity between you and Dr. Gully you
wighed to keep secret 2-No.
Nothing that you wished the servants not to disclose ?-
No.
That you assert to be as true as that you told Mr. C. Bravo
cf your intimacy with Dr. Gully ?-Yea.
Do you know this haudwritiug ?-Yes: it is mine.
Mr. Lewis then read a letter dated 16th November, 1871,
written by the witness to a maid of hers named Landon, of
which the following is an extract :-" I hope you will never
allude in any way to any one of what passed at Malvern. Let
it be buried in the past, and If any one questions you, please
refwe to answer any questions."
What was it that you wished her'never to tell to anybody 2
-That I had an attachment to Dr. Gully, but not a criminal
love for Dr. Gully. I don't see what this has to do with my
husband's death. I have been sufficiently pained and
humiliated here, and I appeal to the Coroner and the ury,
who are gentlemen, to protect me. I think it is a great
shame. I am willing to answer anything to help you to
find out how Mr. C. Bravo met his death, but with Dr. Gully
you have nothing to do, and I refuse to answer you any
further questions.
You have stated to your own counsel of this connection
with Dr. Gully ?-You have heard it.
What was it passed at Malvern 7-She knew of my attach-
ment to Dr. Gaily. It s -ems to me impossible that a woman
can love a man without doiug what is wrong with him,
acoording to you.
You meant to refer to your attachment 7-So I have told
you.
Sue was married at that time ?-No, she was not. She was
as good as married.
Tbat is your explanation of that letter, Mrs. Bravo 7-It is
Prior to N oremb: r you had been living with your husband
at M iivern 7-I was living in the same house with him.
Was this letter written in November, 1570 -I suppose it
was if you have got it. I went to Buscot in November.
In 1874 and 1875 did Dr. Gully proleuionally attend you?-
He did rot
Did he prescribe for you 7-No, because he knew that I
knew what to prescribe for myself.
Mr. Len is : I call for the prescriptions. Here is a pres-
cripoon from Dr. Gully for Mn. Ricardo 24th 31q, 1874 Is
that so ?-I ha° forgotten it.
It was i October you wrote to Dr. Gaily breaking cff the
acqaaintance ?-lt was.
Had Mr. Bravo commenced his attentions to you 7-11 e bad
waited up and down the Parade. I went to Brighton in
September, and he continued walking up and down.
It was after that you wrote the letter breaking off with
Dr Gully 2-1. don't remember.
You wrote your father the second letter on October 30th,
about your reconciliation ; had Mr. Bravo been attentive to
you then 7-1 think so.
When do you say Dr. Gaily came to Brighton for the last
time ?-I really forget.
Was it before or after the letter of the 21st October ?-
Before.
You say you offered to pay Dr. Gully's rent if he would
leave the neighbourhood 2-in October, as far as I can re-
member.
Was it before or after the engagement ?- After the engage-
ment.
Was it after the confirmation by his family ?-I really can-
not remember.
Why did you send for Dr. Gully? -Because I was unhappy.
Did you tell him so?-1 did.
Whit did you tell Dr. Gully ?-I told him that I had had a
couversation the evening before with Mr. Bravo, and that he
had said that he would not marry me unless everything I
pcoseszed was his absolutely.
Do you mean your money P-No ; furniture, horses, car-
eager, Fawels, clothes, everything.
Did 31c. Bravo mention your jewels 7-No; he said every-
thing I possessed. I tout Dr. Gully I was afraid that Mr.
Bravo 11A married me for what I had got, and not for myself.
tie maid he was very sorry to hear it. He &waxed me to
accede to his wish, and he hoped I should be happy. That
was all that passed.
Who w .s it fetched Dr. Gullye-Mrs. Griffiths.
Were you in ill•heAtli when you wrote to Mr. J. Bravo,
expressing your rotor, ishment at his searching the di ewers in
his chambers P-No. _ . _ _ _ . _

Did it occur to you that his acquaintance before marriage
w. the came of his committing suicide 2--It might have been
cue of the causes.
Did you and Mrs. Cox daring your husband's illness discuss
the cause of his illnese—Yes. It was not then suggested
that it might be suicide. Mrs. Cox never suggested or
i ited it to me that he might have committed suicide out of
j:alousy for Dr. Gully.
When as it she first communicated to you that he had
said, I have taken poison hr Dr. Gully ?"—At Briehton, I
think, after his death. She made the first statement that he
had t Igen poison after S r W. Gull arrived.
Was ic bef"re or after you wrote your first letter to Mr. J.
Bravo that Mrs. Cox made the communication of the full
statement to you ?—Afterwards, I think.
It was on the 2nd of June that you stated that the attach-
ment between Dr. Gully and yourseif was innocent 7—Yes.
In April you took the eitz baths and the spinal washes ; did
you ever in any way suggest to Mrs. Cox that she should get
those 2—No
Was the interview between Dr. Gully and Mrs. Cox. at
which there were recommended, unknown to you? - Quite
unknown.
You had never suggested to Mrs. Cox to make your state
of health known to Dr. Gully, or that his advice should
be sought ?—Never. The meeting itself was quite unknown
to me.
Did you ever direcrlgrs. Cox to obtain laurel water or
any remedy from Dr. GiLly 7—Never; I never heard of laurel
wat.- r before. _ _

Was it in consequence of anything you said that Mrs. Cox
received the laurel water at her house in London?—l knew
nothing of it until it was trought by her.
l lid you ever encourage Mrs. Cox to hold any communica-
tion with Dr_ Gully ?—Certainly not.
To your knowledge was Mr. Bravo ever aware of the
la.urel water or your taking sitz baths on the recommendation
of Dr. Gully ?—f think not.