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

' THE BALHAM MYSTERY."

On Morday, for the fifth time, the jury impannelled
to inquire into the manner and weans by which Charles
Dalauney Turner Bravo, bakri6ter-at-I,aw, late of the
P.tkry, Balham, came by his death, assembled at the
Bedford Hotel, Balham, under Mr. William Carter,
one of the coroners for Surrey, assisted by Mr. Bur-
leigh Muir as legal assessor. Mr. Gorst, Q.C., and
Mr. Poland appeared on behalf of the Crown; Sir
Henry James, QC., and Mr. Biton appeared for Mrs.
Charles Bravo, the widow of the deceased; Mr.
Murphy, Q. 0., for Mrs. Cox; and Mr. George Lewis,
jun., watched the case for Mr. Joseph Bravo, the step-
father of the deceased, and for relations of the de-
ceased.—The following account of the proceedings is
taken from The Times of Tuesday :
The whole cf the day was occupied in the examination of
one witness, the butler to the late gentleman. The witness
spoke in so low a tone that the questions had to be repeated,
and time was thus lost. This witness was

Frederick Henry Wing Rowe, who, Ex. mined by the coroner
said,—l was butler in the service of Mr. Bravo, at the Priory,
Balham, and was in the service of Mrs. Bravo a month before
her marriage' with Mr. Bravo, when she was Mrs. Wearer°.
Mrs. Cox was then residing with Mrs. Ricardo as companion
and housekeeper. I had to discharge the duties of butler, to
wait at table, and to decant wine for daily use, and fulfil
the ordinary duties of butler. I had not the ordering of
wines, but I am aware of where they came from.
Tod Heatley supplied Burgundy—Mr. Bravo being in
the habit of drinking this wine, though not con-
stantly—drinking it fur a week together, and then
having other occasionally. When he stopped at home for
luncheon he generally drank Buegundy. I will undertake to
say that when he stopped at home in the last week of his
life, before he was taken ill, he drank that wine at luncheon.
The wine was always decanted, and, as a rule, a little time
before dinner. I sometimes asked Mr. Bravo if I should
decant some Burgundy, and sometimes he would say, "Yes"
or "No." If I saw the decanter empty, I used to decant
some He used to drink about a bottle a day, but it any was
left at night it was placed in the cella' ette in the dininiaroom,
and would be used next day. The oellarette was not under
lock and key, but was alweys unlocked. Anybody had
access to it. Mr. Bravo always seemed to me to be in good
health and spirits. I saw a good deal of Mr. and Mrs. Bravo,
and they always appeared to me to be very happy together.
I never heard them quarrelling, but the only thing which
I ever saw or heard which appeared to be a dispute
between them was that Mr. Bravo was not always disposed to
write checks which Mrs. Bravo wanted. I believe Mrs. Cox's
Christian names are Jane Cannon. I never heard of any
difference between Mr. and Mrs. Bravo in regard to Mrs.
Cox. I did not myself understand that Mrs. Cox was absut
to leave the Priory. It was part of my duty to keep a cellar
book of wine receive-A and used. Speaking from memory, I
think that on the 18th at April (on the night of which eir.
Bravo was taken ill) I decanted two bottles of sherry, a
boWle of Marsala, and a bottle of Burgundy. I waited at
table on that day assisted by the footman, whose name is
smith. There sat down to dinner only Mr. and Mrs. Bravo
and Mrs. Cox, and dinner was served at 7.10. Mr. Bravo
seemed to be very stiff, as if in pain, and during dinner he
appeared to be in pain. He had been out that nay, leaving
home about ten o'clock in the morning, In the carriage, ac-
compauled by Mrs. Bravo, who returned in time for luncheon
at one o'clock, which she took by herself, Mrs. Cox, who
usually took luncheon with her, having genie to Worthing. I
saw Mrs Cox at breakfast time, and I did not see her a gale until
after seven in the evening I opened the door for Mr. Bravo on
his return between tour and five o'clock. He asked me where
Mrs. Bravo was, and I said "In the morning room." He
afterwards came to me for some pilchards and bread and
butter for Mrs Bravo, and they were served in the morning.
room • but Mr. and Mrs. Bravo were not there when I
took them. I served no wine then. Mr. Bravo after that
—about five o'clock—asked me for his riding breeches. Mr.
Bravo had gose to town in the clothes he was married in,
and when he came home he changed his coat; but I did
not see him go out Jules riding breeches, nor did I see him
return. I went up afterwards, near dinner time, to the
morning-room, and I save him there leaning forward in his
chair, and Mrs. Bravo was on the sofa in an inner room.
I had opened the door quietly to look at the fire, not
desiring to disturb Mrs. Bravo in care she should be teere,
and I saw Mr. Bravo was there—he looked wretched
and ill. I was in the habit of acting as valet to him; but
I had not on that day assisted to dress him to go out, and
at this time, when I opened the door quietly, about seven
o'clock, he had his riding breeches on. I went out as quietly '
as I had entered, soon after he rang the bell and oratred a
bath. I asked if I should light a tire in his. bedroom, and
Mrs. Bravo answered, "Yes, of course." I did not see az y
wine or glasses on the table. Mr. Bravo got up at the
time and went upstairs with me, telling use as he went up-
stairs that the cob had bolted with him. He evidently was
in great pain, putting his hand to his side and crying out,
and he looked exceedingly pale, paler than he usually did,
for he generally was pale. When he told me the cob had
bolted with him, he said, " the cob bolted with rue all the
way to Iditcham-common, and before I could get seated
properly again she bested back." I said, "I hope it didn't
throw you Sir," and Mr. bravo turned round, smiling,
and raid, 'Oh no, it didn't throw me." I don't know
where Mitcham is or how ler from the Priory, or indeed,
whether there is such a place. When I had gone into the
morning-room at the summons of the bell be was telling
Mrs. Bravo of the cob bolting. In the bathroom I assisted
Mr. Bravo to pull off his boots, and he said in regard to
the water in the bath, "Tell Mary Anne that will do for.
the morning." At dinner I assisted Mrs. Cox to whiting,
lamb, eggs on toast, and vegetables; there was no spinacla.
Mr. Bravo had lamb and afterwards .eggs on toast. The
wines on the table were Burgundy, sherry, and Merlotti.
Mr. Bravo drank only Burgundy when I was in the room,
and i.e was not in the habit of mixing his wine—taking more
than one kind. 1 poured out for him three glasses. There was
dessert, but I did nut, I am 'sure, pour him out a glass of wine
before I left the room. I cleared the table afterwards, but I
cannot say how much Burgundy was left, but some was, for I
should have been much surprised if Mr. Bravo had taken a
whole bottle for dinner, and must have noticed it. Whatever
was left was placed iii the cellarette in that room by myself.
I was not struck by any peculiar appearance of the wine.
The glasses which had been used were taken to the pantry,
where the footman washed them and 1 wiped them. I no-
ticed nothing unusual about the glasses. It was customary
to have a bottle of water on the dining table, but 1
cannot remen.ber if he took any during dinner. No
water was kept in the morning-room for use. I was not re-
quested by Mr. Bravo on that day to bring soda or seltzer
water. A bottle of each used to be kept in the dining-room,
but I do not remember if any was used that day. At the
dinner Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Bravo both partook of fish, while
Mr. Bravo did not. Mrs. Cox and Mr. Bravo both partook
of eggs and toast, but Mrs. Bravo did not. I carved the
lamb upon a side table. The eggs and toast were served by
Mrs. Bravo. I cannot swear that there was any Burgundy
left, but I should have been sure to have remembered if
some had not been left. What of the wine was left was
placed away in the cellarette. After dinner Mr. Bravo
went to the morning-room, but I cannot say if he pa:sed
from one room to the other alone, for I did not see him
go into the morning-room. They left the dining-room about
20 minutes to 9. After dinner Mr. Bravo did not appear
to be in pain. Soon after they went into the morning-
room, where they all three went together, I went. I
saw Mr. Bravo seated in a chair very near to Mrs. Bravo.
After that I next saw Mr Bravo in his bedroom, at
half-past 10 or a quarter to 11 that night. I had before
that been sent by Mrs. Bravo for some one —a doctor—to see
Brava and 1 brought Dr. Moore. I had not before I
went to Dr. Moore heard Mr. Bravo calling out, but I had
seen Mrs. Cox running about the lower part of the house
and calling for one of the servants. I did not hear hot '
water called for. Mrs. Cox had pushed open the pantry
door and said, "Tell Parker (the coachman) to go for Mr.
Harrison. Mrs. Bravo is ill." At least, I thought she said
"Mrs. Bravo." I went and told the coachman to go for
Mr. HarrisCie and on my returning from the lodge where
the coachman lives Mrs. Bravo, who crying as she came,
called out to me to fetch some one quickly, and it was thus
that I went to Dr. Moore. When I returned with Dr. Moore
i saw Mr. Bravo in a chair in his bedroom insensible, Mrs.
Cox and Mrs. Bravo being present. I assisted in
plachig Mr. Bravo on the bed, and Dr. Moore was told by
Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Bravo about the pony having run away
with air. Bravo, and Mrs. Bravo mentioned about Mr.
Bravo having the neuralgia. Mr. Harrison afterwards came,
and two other doctors came early in the morning—Mr. Bell
and Dr. Johnson. These bad been sent foe by Mrs. Bravo, and
I took the note from her to the coachman to go for Mr.
Royes BelL The medical men in the night were supplied
wish sherry, brandy, and c, flee I don't know if Mr. Bravo
had any. When he recovered his consciousness he thanked
me for my help; but did not say anything as to the cause of
it. He often spoke of the pain, and he likewise, in my hear-
ieg, spoke of death. He never in my presenoe, or in my
hearing, accounted for his conditiou or made use of the word
" poison." He only said that he had taken laudanum. The
wine book (produced) shows that I decanted on the 13th
two bottles of sherry arid one of Burgundy. I opened one
bottle of sherry to fills flask for Mrs. Cox before she went to
Worthing that morning, but I do not remember when I
decanted the other and tee Burgundy—at what time of the
day. •

Questioned by Mr. Lewis, the witness said,—Bargundy
was the wine which Mr. Bravo usually took. Elt) would
semetimes say "Have you deCauted any Burgundy,
Rowe ?" and if I told him I had not, he would say, " We
will have champaene toeoight." He drank but little sherry,
now and then a glass. My, wine book was made up once a
fortnight. In the fortnight ending the 11th of March there
were opened, according to the bo. k, one Marsala, 16 bottles
of sherry, one of oldeport, one of common port, two pints of
champagne, four quarts of the best champagne, five of claret.
There was no Burgundy; it had not come. In the next fort-
night, from the 12th of March to the 25th, there were
opened ten bottles of Marsala, 17 sherry, tree of port, two
pints of champagne, two of claret, live bi Burgundy, and
live quarts of champagne. From the 26th of March to
the Bth of April there were opened three of Marsala,
sixteen of sherry, one pint of champagne, seven quarts of
champagne, three of claret, and four of Burgundy. From
the 9th to the 18th of April there were opened twelve of
sherry, no Marsala, two of champaghe, one of port, four of
other sherry, and seven of Burgundy. Mr. Bravo was an
abstemious man. When he was at home for luncheon he
used to have two glasses of wine, Burgundy, and for dinner
about four—the bottle of Lurgundy the day. He was cheer-
ful on the day of the 18th. Ile was always lively in com-
pany, but I used to think he ieoked sad sometimes when he
was alone. I never heard him say anything sad; but I
think he used to be " bothered " about stock going
down; he used to speak about such things—about the
"Egyptians," I think. I am staying at the Priory now,
though my time was up to go a fortnight ago. He was a
fwoirthonhim the nligwhats,
n n very kind, considerate gentlemEih—one of the kindest
i not amwya rm le
that he had
gentlemen I over knew. His illness was fully accounted
I hi the cobsuffered
from away
neu-
ralgia, and the only bottle in his room was camphor linament
I smelt it once, and quite started back by the sraelL The
housemaid used to fill his water-bottle in the bed-room. The
dinner lasted more than an hour—till nearly 9. When Mrs.
Cox first came into the dining-room on the 18th, Mr. Bravo
asked her about the house she had taken at Worthing. She
began to describe the house she had taken, and Mr.
Bravo asked Mrs. Cox if they, the people of Worthing,
knew the name of "Bravo." He appeared to know the
'lace at Worthing spoken of by Mrs. Cox, and she showed
tem a photograpn of the house. In the photograph there
was a trap snown standing at the door, and he threw the
picture down as if disgusted, and said, "the usual thing'
He appeared displeased with the place. He said, "I shall
riot be there," or "I shall not see it." I was trying to under-
stand the matter, as they had talked of going abroad, and
Mrs. Cox looked over her glasses, as 11 speaking to him, and
said Oe." Be appeared, greatly put out by everything. Lie
said in the counts of the dinner something about a letter
"from the Governor" he had had! Mr.. Cox had spoken to
me about a check supposed to have been posted at Balham
for a tradceman at Ti.otieg, and missing. I desired to speak
to her about it, and was watching for an opportunity to
speak to her after the dinner ab3ut it. As to farther conver-
sation at the table, they als ept ke aboot haying visit a's
coming. I made a statement at ah. Tre.sury, but I said
nothing about Mr. Bravo saying or muttering "I shall
not be there" or I shall not see it." I did not, because
the gentleman at the Treasury seemed bored by what
I told him. I did not either sneak at the Treasury about
the letter which Mr. Bravo had said he had received from
his father. I think I sail at the Treasury that Mr. Bravo
liked the arrangement in regard to going to Worthing
"very much." I recollected these things I have now told
afterwards. I did not hear any of the tht-cc go to bed. My
inipreanfon is that some of the Burgundy was left. The
cellarette was always unlocked. I was asked that night by
the doctors how much wine Mr. Bravo had drunk, and I
said "three glasses." I cannot. swear whether I did or did
not see the remains of that bottle of Burgundy after that
night, If the same wine was used day after day I did not
wash the decanter, but if not so daily used I washed it.
I do not remember when I last washed the decanter before
the 18th of April. As to the Burgundy left from that
bottle, I think I placed it out when Mr. Royes Bell came,
knowing he took Burgundy when he came. I find by the