The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-17 00:00:00

DREADFUL MURDER AND SUICIDE AT

ISLINGTON.

Yesterday another of those dreadful occurrences
which have too often of late shocked the public
mind in connection with the great question of "the
social evil," was brought to light, and cause great
excitement and sensation in the parish of Islington
and the immediate neighbourhood, it having be-
come known that a dreadful murder of a female had
been committed by a man, who is at present un-
known, and that the victim was an "unfortunate,"
of the name of Phillips, better known in the neigh-
bourhood as "Mrs. Cooke," who resided at 10,
Park-road, Barnsbury-road, a place of apparently
great respectability.

The circumstances connected with this case are
of the most melancholy description, at once show-
ing that the commission of the dreadful crime was
premeditated, and actuated by jealousy. The un-
fortunate female was one of that vast number who
swell the " social evil" of the metropolis ; but al-
though not in the habit of throwing herself in the
way of her admirers by common parade, she was,
to all intents, one of that number. She made assign-
ations, and thus carried on her means of livelihood.
She `teas about 32 years of age, of somewhat mas-
culine appearance, nothing particularly prepossess-
ing in feature, but dressed fashionably and gay ;
and although, it is supposed, under the care of one
gentleman, she received the attention of others.
Her house was handsomely furnished. It was not
what was generally known as a " common," but as
a " gay" house, and the neighbours affirmed that
broughams, gentlemen on horseback, and others
moving in a high sphere of society, were constant
visitors, and that a female lodger had there resided
about three months. A wealthy tradesman in the
neighbourhood was also stated as being one of her
numerous admirers, and it was at first thought
that the deceased was his son. A most melancholy
portion of this tragic scene is that themale deceased,
although his mind must have been fully prepared
to commit this dreadful murder and suicide, a
short time previously to its commission actually ac-
companied a s'reet organ with his voice in its per-
formance of the " Old Hundredth," at the same
time having in his possession a loaded six-barrelled
revolver—the instrument with which he intended
to carry out his murderous designs, and a new
clasp-handled knife with a blade fully six inches in
length. The cause of this shocking affair was pro-
bably jealousy, as in the pocket-book of the man
was found a document, on which the following
words were wril ten in a very legible hand :—" I
said it should not last a twelvemonth. Mr. Els-
mere and Mr. Horlick are to blame, and I leave
them to the everlasting curse of a dying man." On
the back of the document there was written, "In
Chancery At the suit cr very.'" The supposi-
tion is that the unfortunate man was attached to
the law. On searching the male deceased, in his
pockets were found the portrait of a ballet-girl, and
in his pocket-book several poetical effusions, illus-
trative of his love of female society were also found,
as also several receipes and matters connected with
science. He was very fashionably attired, and from
the connection of the female withlhimself there did
not appear to have been the slightest mistrust on
her part, as on Thursday next there was an ap-
pointment existing between them for visiting the
Royal Botanical Gardens, Regent's-park.
About 12 o'clock yesterday, Mr. Inspector Judge,
of the N division, was informed that something
was believed to be wrong at the above house, in
consequence of the only other lodger in the house,
a female of the name of Sarah Scott, not having
seen her landlady or "her friend" about during the
morning. In the most prompt manner Mr. Judge,
accompanied by Sergeant Witherington, 24 N, and
Police-constable Ryan, 137 N, proceeded to the
house in question, and having knocked at the back
parlour door, found they could not gain admittance.
Finding that the door could not be forced the in-
spEctor directed the constable to procure a ladder,
which having been done, an entry by the back par-
lour window was effected. In that small room,
about eight feet wide by ten feet long, a most hor-
rible sight met their gaze. On the bed was disco-
vered the lifeless body of a young man, fully
dressed, with a revolver having still a charge in it,
weltering in blood, and by his side the victim of
his jealousy, dreadfully wounded, and quite dead.
The top part of the bed and the floor presented a
very dreadful appearance, both being literally
covered with blood.

Mr. Judge at once sent off for medical assistance,
and Mr. J. W. Wilson, surgeon, of 22, Brunswick-
place, arrived shortly after one
o'clock, and proceeded to make an examination of
the bodies. Mr. Wilson found on the female two
pistol wounds above the left ear, each wound being
about an inch from each other. There was a great
amount of effusion of blood under the left eye-lid,
which cause] it to have the appearance of having
received a severe blow, with rigidity of the body,
showing the deceased; had been dead some hours ;
the body, however, at the time being a little warm.
On examining the body of the female lie found no
external marks of violence, although this cannot be
clearly ascertained until the pest mortem examina-
tion takes place. It may be stated that the deceased
had every appearance of being pregnant, although
this could not be easily ascertained, as the police
at present could not allow the bodies to be re-
moved. On examining the body of the man, it was
discovered that b )th his hands were much con-
tracted, and one of them was blackened by the
effects of the powder. The police took the re-
volver, which was firmly clenched in deceased's right
baud, and on removing it, proceeded to examine
the body as to the spot of the mortal wound. This
was not a matter of muoh time, for, although the
escape of blood 'resented a frightful appearance,
yet its source was easily and at once to be traced,
a large pistol shot wound with laceration of the in-
teguments being found in the front of the forehead,
the wound penetrating the skull. Mr. Wilson's
opinion is that the deceased must have placed the
pistol direct to his forehead, and without a mos
meet's thought h ve discharged it, the ball passing
into the skull, and completely shattering the brain.
No mark of the ball could be observed as having
passed through the back of the head. The mouth
was next examined, for the purpose of ascertaining
whe her the deceased had placed the pistol
therein, but from the appearances presented there
is not the slightest reason for so supposing, as the
teeth are not in the least disturbed, nor the mouth
blackened or smelling of powder. There is every
reasonable belief that the man destroyed himself in
the way described, and that death must have
resulted instantaneously. From the calm and com-
posed appearance of the unfortunate woman, the
supposition is that her life was taken during sleep,
as she was lying in bed undressed.
The only lodger at present in the house,
Mrs. Sarah Scott, who states that she is a
married woman, but not residing with her
husband, informed Inspector Judge that she
only knew the deceased man by hearing the unfor-
tunate female call him " her dear friend Henry."
Last night he came to see her and had with
them some " old Torn." She left them, as
usual, sitting in the parlour, and. then retired to
rest, her bedroom being on the floor immediately
over that 'in which the tragical occurrence hap-
pene']. She, being a sound sleeper, was not dis-
turbed in bed during the night, and in the morning
got up and went down stairs about nine o'clock
She went about the house and did her work in the
ordinary manner, and when she had finished was
lather surprised that she had seen nor heard any-
thing of either party. She knocked at the door
some time, and not nceiving any answer went up
stairs, and f eling alarmed sent for the sister of the
deceased, Mrs. Lorenza Phillips, residing at 19,
Trinity-street, in the immediate neighbourhood.
She shortly afterwards arrived, and tried to break
open the door,, but without avail, and the police
were then sent for. Although it has been previ-
ously stated that three Shots were fired, Mrs. Scott
says that she never heard the least noise or disturb-
ance whatever.
That the noise of the explosions was heard is
plainly proved by the following statement, volun-
teered by a female residing three doors off, and
which was given in our reporter's hearing. She
said :—" This morning, abut two o'clock, I was
sitting up in bed with the face-ache. It was light-
ning at the time. I heard a report, which lat first
thought was thunder, although it did not sound so
strong, and it caused the dog to bark. About two
minutes afterwards I heard a second report, and
after the same interval I beard another. After
that all was quiet." Other and closer neighbours,
it may be remarked, also heard the noise of the
explosions.
folAloswtihnegddeecesearzedt.man is not known, we give the
iinipe ion of him, premising that the
whole of his
0;,-1
light complexion,
"H. R. H.
is rather thin,
N,iit).,tcomplexion, about five
feet ten inches in
perfectt hast light and bushy
whiskers, grey eyes,
ii;etb, and hair light
and inclining to be sandy.
Tweed.. waistcoat, is dressed in Tweed
liepper-and• silt coat, dark
and
dceskili treuseis, with a small
stripe down the side. H s PI
pattern and
necktie •
is what is
generally known as the "Cambricloebl
ne,' and he
had a tourist's brown hat without the maker's
name.
The revolver, which is not a new one, is a Six-
barrel one, also without the maker's name.
Great praise is due to Mr. Inspector Judge for
the cool and deliberate manner in which he carried
out his arrangements, and for the efforts he made
to identify_ the body of the deceased man.
The inquest will be held, it is stated, on Satur-
clay morning.