The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF IJEUTENANT
ROPER AT CHATHAM.

On Monday Mr. W. J. Harris, one of the coroners for
Kent, resumed the inquiry into the cause of death of
Lieutenant Percy L. 0. Roper, Royal Engineers, aged 21, who
was found murdered on the stairs leading to his quarters at
Brompton Barracks, on the 11th of February.
Mr. Wontner now appeared on behalf of the War Office to
watch the case.

Among the witnesses examined were the following :

Margaret Cruth, employed at the officers' mess, said
that she left the mess about a quarter to nine on the
evening of the 11th ult. Just before getting to No.
9 house, in which the deceased lived, she heard a crack
as of a stick, and afterwards two or three moans.
She heard a scuffling on the stairs as well. Three
dogs came running out of the house as though they
were frightened.
By Mr. Wontner : She saw no one came out of the
house. Had any one come out she must have seen
him.

James sharp, a sapper, who was on duty at the
back of the quarters, said that about nine o'clock he
heard a sharp crack as of a pistol. The report came
from an open window on a landing in the deceased's
house. Witness watched the window for several
minutes, but did not see any one at the window or
pass by.
By Mr. Wontner He did not leave his post from
the time he went on duty until he went off. He saw
no one enter or leave the gateway leading to No. 9
house. It was possible for any one to have entered
unobserved by hiding in the shadow of the wall and
waiting until witness's back was turntd.
Sapper Thomas Plumbret and Corporal George
Palmer, who were on duty at the main gate, which is
right opposite to the passage leading to the back way
of the officers' quarters, said they did not see any
strangers pass to or from the lane on the evening in
question.

William James, sergeant of the guard, said he went
to the house with a file of the guard just before nine.
They made a thorough examination of the lower part
of the premises, but found no one, nor any traces of
strangers having been there. They did Lot examine
the servant's kitchens, nor an empty kitchen. They
did not know at the time that there was an empty
kitchen in the house.

Lieutenant S. Davidson, R.E., said he was at the
mess on the evening in question and sat at the back of
the deceased. Witness sent a note to the deceased
asking if he would go to the entertainment in the bar-
racks after mess. The deceased sent a note in reply.—
"Dear Sirt—l want to finish a letter, but will be
glad to go a little later.—P. L. 0. R."—Subsequently,
he had a talk with deceased, who said laughingly,
"You had better look sharp, or you'll not get a seat;
don't wait for me." He was of a decidedly cheerful
disposition, and not at all likely to have committed
suicide.

Lieutenant Herbert Stodhert, ILE., occupying a
room next the deceased's, said on the night in ques-
tion Lieutenant Mullaby told him of the occurrence.
Witness afterwards examined his room and found it
in its usual state, with he expeption that the revolver
and case were missing. He had jewellery lying
about, but missed nothing. A short man could not
get the revolver from where it was hanging without
disarranging the bed, but he did not notice that it
was disarranged. A tall man could reach the revolver
without touching the bed. Witness had tiled to get
cartridges for it but without success.

Mr. E. Palmer, gunsmith, Rochester, said about
half-past five on the afternoon of the 11th he sold a box
of cartridges similar to those found on the landing.
He had only one box. The person who bought them
was a military looking man. Witness took him to be an
offioer. Witness had had the box in stock about a
twervemonth. Witness could not identify the person
who purchased them. He had seen photographs of the
deceased, but he was not the purchaser. Only one
chamber of the revolver had been fired. The person
who purchased the cartridges was between 30 and 35
years of age.
Lieutenant Kelly was called to prove that at the
time named by Mr. Palmer the deceased was attend-
ing a lecture at the Royal Engineer Institute.

The jury, after being absent about three-quarters
of an hour, found that "deceased had been mur-
dered by some person or persons unknown," and re-
commended that application should be made to the
Home Secretary to. offer a reward for the discovery of
the murderer.

The Coroner said that steps had already been taken
to that end.