The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-26 00:00:00

Murder and Suicide,

Yesterday the police received information that a murder
had been committed in Smith-street, Somers-town, and
upon proceeding to No. 15 in that street they found that
their information was correct. In a coal cellar in a back
kitchen the body of a woman had been found concealed,
and in the last stage of putrefaction. It appears that for
some years past the woman, whose proper name was Reellla
Bishop, had been living with a man named James Brown,
a carpenter. This man, although merely a journeyman,
had saved money and was proprietor of several houses in
the neighbourhood. He was about 50 years of age, while
the deceased was only about 35. They lived in the above-
named house as man and wife, and occupied the two par-
lours and back kitchen, the front kitchen and firet floor be-
ing let off to lodgers. They had been in the habit of drink-
ing and quarrelling. On Tuesday morning last both of
them were seen about together, and they were then appa-
rently on the best terms. A short time afterwards they
were heard quarrelling in the back kitchen. The deceased
was heard to scream as if in great agony, and then to fall
heavily. This did not create any surprise, and, in fact, one
of the next-door neighbours remarked that the quarrel be-
tween Brown and his wife was soon over, and that they had
soon made matters up, as all was quiet. Brown was seen
about the house as usual that day and the next. He said
that he and his wife had had a row and that she had left
him. No notice was taken of the fact that the man did not
return, as he had given out that he had Kot work at the
docks, and he had before been known not to return till the
Saturday night. On the Saturday night he returned. His
son, a youth, called to see him, and they, it is stated, had
supper, and then retired to rest, both of them sleeping in
the same bed. At the usual hour on Sunday morning both
got up, and as it was supposed that the murdered woman
did not intend to return, Brown was invited to take dinner
with his lodger on the firstfloor, and he did so. Before dinner
he was asked why he did not return sooner, and he replied
that he did not like to do so, as he thought he would give
his wife an opportunity of coming back, and was surprised
that she had not done so. He ate a hearty dinner, and late
on Sunday night retired, as it was thought, to bed, he at
the time being as cheerful as usual. Yesterday morning an
old woman who occupies the front kitchen noticed a strong
smell in the house, which apparently had its origin in the
back kitchen. About 12 o'clock a neighbour came in, and
in speaking about the smell remarked that it was strange
that the deceased woman had not been seen since the day
her screams were heard. She suggested that the deceased
had been murdered, and that the bad smell arose from the
body. She tried the back kitchen door, and finding that she
could not get admission there she and the lodger went into
the yard and looked into the room. Everything appeared
to be in proper order, but, the woman's suspicions being
aroused, she determined on entering the room. Th 3 window
was forced and the woman entered, and found, on opening
a door, the dead body of the deceased crushed into a small
closet under the stairs, with the head downward. The police
were sent for, and Inspector Gibson, of the S division, and
Police-constable Woodrow, 165 S, immediately attended.
The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, but
an examination of it by Dr Sutherin, of St. Pancras-road,
and Dr Jackson, of Brewer-street, showed that a deep wound
had been inflicted on the bank of the head before death. In-
spector Gibson, finding both parlour doors shut and locked,
proceeded to break open the door of the front parlour. On
entering he was surprised to find the body of Brown hang-
ing close to the folding door, Round the neck was a clothes
life. The Inspector immediately cut down the body and
the doctors pronounced that the deceased had been dead
many hours. The murderer, although only a few inches
from the ground, had to hang his head on one side to make
the rope tight. By some it is supposed that the wound
which killed the woman was caused by a kick, and by others
that it was done by some blunt instrument. This latter
notion was formed by the police ; but, although a strict
search was made, no instrument calculated to produce the
wound which caused the death of the deceased was found
that had the least trace of blood on it. A small knife, how-
ever, was found smeared with blood, but that was not the
weapon that inflicted the wound. The man, when hanging,
had no boots or coat on, and on the police examining the
coat ho wore at dinner yesterday with the lodger they found
marks as of blood on it, and in the pocket a case containing
two razors which had apparently been recently sharpened.
The deceased woman is described as having been of very
prepossessing appearance and of the most cleanly habits, as
her dress and the appearance of the house generally de-
noted. It is stated that she was a married woman, that her
husband is alive and rasides and works at Birmingham, and
that she has had no children, The murderer is also said to
have been married, and it is stated that his wife and family
are now living.
Dr. Lankester, the coroner, has been informed of the
discovery of the bodies, and it is stated that, owing to the
decomposed state of the woman, the inquest will be held
this day (Tuesday),