The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-08 00:00:00

HORRIBLE MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUS-
SELL
CRET,ARY FOR THE COLONIES UNCLE TO LORD JOHES N RUSSELL, SE-
.

(From the Times of Yesterday).
Yesterday morning, about half-past seven o'clock. the in-
habitants residing in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-square
were placed in a state of painful and distressing excitement,
in consequence of a rumour that an atrocious and horrible
murder had been perpetrated that morning on the person of
Lord William Russell, uncle to Lord John Russell, Secretary
to the Colonies, at his late residence, 14, Norfolk-street,
Park-lane, Hyde Park. The report first obtained circulation
from the circumstance of seeing some of the domestics of the
establishment leaving the late noble lord's mansion in a very
excited manner, and who, to the enquiries made, stated that
such was the case. Information was promptly given to the
parochial authorities and the police, immediately upon which
Baldwin and Coal, officers of the parish of St. George,
Hanover-square, proceeded to the house, and were soon
followed by Superintendent Baker, of the C division, accom-
panied by Inspector Beresford, and several Sergeants and
men attached to the same division. By this time a great
crowd had gathered in front of the mansion ; and, as the
report had become widely circulated, several noblemen had
called to ascertain the truth of the report, while some of the
noble deceased's relatives had also arrived, whO were plunged
into the most poignant gilef upon finding that there was little
doubt that a murder had been committed. We have made
enquiries, in which we have been most minute and particular,
and we have been made acquainted with the following
circumstances :
At a quarter past seven o'clock yesterday morning, on the
ousemaid getting up and reaching the passage, she became
alarmed upon observing several packages there. She hastened
to the attic, in a room on which floor the valet slept, and
called him up, as well as her other female servants, who slept
in an adjoining room. The valet instantly rose ; and, on
discovering that, from the appearance of the packages in the
passage, there had been some thieves in the house, he in-
stantly went up to the room where his late lamented master
slept. Upon entering the apartment his suspicions were
more strongly excited that there had been thieves in the
house, and he proceeded towards the bed, when he was
horror-struck upon finding the noble lord lifeless, and his
head deluged in blood. He observed likewise that there was
a most dreadful gash across the throat. He hurried out of
the room and acquainted his fellow-servant with the terrific
sight he had witnessed, and at once ran to the house of Mr.
Elsgood, •a medical gentleman residing in the neighbourhood.
Two of his sons promptly attended. They examined the
nature of the wound, which they found to extend from ear
to ear. It was evidently done with a razor orsome sharp in-
strument. Immediate search was made for it, but none
could be found. His Lordship, we were informed, lay upon
his back, and the appearance of the position he was in would
lead to the inference that when the frightful deed was Com-
mitted no struggle took place. The deceased had been dead
some hours.
Upon the arrival of Superintendent Baker and Inspector
Beresford they instituted the most diligent inquiries and
examination of the premises. They endeavoured to find the
instrument with which the horrid deed was done, but with-
out success. They then searched the room (the front on
the second floor,) when a gold watch was missing. At that
time, 10 o'clock, they had not discovered that any property
was taken away. They next endeavoured to find out by what
means an entrance had been obtained, but here they met with
difficulties, and much mystery was involved as to what way
they had got in. When they reached the back kitchen they
found that the staple by which a bolt had fastened the door
had been wrenched off by a jemmy, but there was a doubt
whether that had bee done for the purpose of effecting an
entrance or for making an escape. There were marks of
footsteps at that door. It was thought possible that the
villains had been in the house previous to the family retiring
to rest. No noise was heard during the night, nor can there
be any cause assigned for the thieves leaving the premised in
the way they did, unless they had been disturbed.
No clue is at present obtained of any person being impli-
cated in the transaction. Mr. Baker is most unremitting
in his exertions ; several policemen were in readiness to pro-
ceed against any supposed party. Baldwin Waited upon the
coroner (Mr. Higgs) to acquaint him with the horrid affair.
The house continued to he visited throughout the morning
by the noble relatives of the deceased and some of his most
intimate friends.
Lord William Russell was in the 73d year of his age. He
was a posthumous child of John, fourth Duke of Bedford.
He has left two sons and two daughters. One of the daugh-
ters married the Hon. Grey Bennet, and the other her cousin,
Lord Wriothesley Russell.

THE INQUEST.
Yesterday evening, at 6 o'clock, a jury composed of 14 of
the principal inhabitants of the parish of St. George, Hano-
ver-square, residing in the immediate neighbourhood, were
empannelled before Mr. Higgs, the Deputy Coroner for
Westminster, at the sign of the city of Norwich, at the corner

...._ ,
of Norfolk-street and North-row, to investigate the circum-
stances connected with the above mysterious and melancholy

occurrence.

--.—___
The names of the jurors having been called over as follows :
—The Right lion. Mr. Dawson, and Messrs. Rowley, Riley,
Carter, ,Garrard, Ingleby, Clarkson, Jackson, Woods, Bur-
nett, Dyer, Morris, Gurney, and Sharp, and the Right Hon.
G. W. Dawson appointed foreman, the jury were sworn, and
they then accompanied the coroner to the residence of the
noble lord to view the body, which occupied them about 20
minutes. . . .

On their return to the inquest-room, and their names
having been called over, the following evidence was ad-

duced

••• ••• •
Mr. Henry Elsgood, surgeon, of Park-street, Grosvenor-
square, examined.—l did not attend deceased before this
morning, when I was sent for about half-past seven o'clock.
I immediately went to the house and found him in bed, lying
partially inclined on his right side. He was in his night
dress, and had been dead about three or four hours.
Coroner.—Do you think he had been dead seven hours?
Witness.—No, not more than three or four. I examined
the body, and found a wound extending from the shoulder on
the left side dowri to the trachea. It was four or five inches
deep and about 7 inches long, dividing the vessels and the
trachea, which must have caused almost immediate death.
It had been inflicted by some very sharp instrument, and
must have been done from the left. I saw no other wound
on the body.
By the Jury.—l saw no wound on either of the thumbs.
The edges of the wound were not jagged. There was a
napkin over the face when I went in. There was a large
quantity of blood in the bed and under the bed, which had
soaked through. The pillow corner was stained with blood.
The carotid artery was wounded, and so was the jugular
vein. The blood had not spirted out, as is sometimes the
case. I saw no appearance of any contusion.
By the Coroner.-1 have not carefully examined the body,
and I saw no mark of a wound on the thumb.
The Jury said they had noticed it on viewing the body.
The ball of the thumb was nearly cut off.
The witness further said, lie considered it impossible the
deceased could have inflicted the wound himself, or after-
war& have covered himself over with the cloth. It was a
chamber towel, that aas placed over his face and head. I
examined the bed, and could find no razor or other instru-
ment with which the wound could have been inflicted. De-
ceased wore a truss, which was removed. I never saw such
an injury inflicted by a party on himself. Had the deceased
inflicted the wound himself, I think his hands must have
been covered with blood.
Mr. John Nursey, surgeon, of Cleveland-row, St. James's,
examined.—l have been Lord William Russell's attendant
for several years. I have heard the deposition of the last
witness read, and from what I observed on my arrival this
morning, I think it correct.
By the Jury.—l observed that the ball of the right thumb
was cut off and hanging to it. I examined with the last wit-
ness the bed and the room, to find if there was any instru-
ment with which the wound could have been inflicted, but
could find none. I am quite satisfied that the deceased
could not have committed the act himself, for three reasons ;
first, that he could not have placed the towel himself; se-
condly, from the extent of the wound ; and thirdly, from the
very nature of the wound, which extended from the cervical
vertebrae to the shoulder. His lordship was feeble, and very
deaf. He was in his 73d year. I had not seen him for the
last three weeks, he having been out of town for the recess.
He laboured under a rupture, and wore a truss. From the
position the truss was found in, in my opinion he had some
slight struggle.
The Coroner.—Can you account in any way for the cut on
the thumb ?
Witness.—l should say it was inflicted in his endeavours
to prevent the action of the instrument by which his throat
was cut. __ . .

Sarah Maneer examined.—l was housemaid in the service
of his lordship. This morning I rose about half-past six
o'clock, which was rather earlier than usual. I came down
stairs about a quarter past seven. I first went into the back
drawing-room, and there I saw his lordship's writing-desk
had been broken open, and a number of his letters and papers
scattered over the carpet and hearthrug. I then went
down stairs, and in the hall, near the street door, I saw his
lordship's large cloak, his opera-glass, and other articles
wrapped up in a cloth. I next went down stairs to the pan-
try and kitchen, where I found the drawers and boxes open,
and several articles of plate on the floor. I immediately ran
up stairs to the front attic to the cook, and told her all the
silver was about. She desired me to call the valet, and on
doing so I found he was dressed, all except his coat. There
were only myself, the cook, and the valet in the house, ex-
cept his lordship. I asked the valet what he had been doing
with the silver. He said, "he had done nothing with it,"
and I told him it was all about. He then ran down stairs
into the pantry, when, seeing the drawers open, he said some
Person had been robbing. When he came up stairs again,
I said, " For God's sake go and see where his lordship is."
He went into the room and opened the shutters. I went in
too, and there we found his lordship.
By the Coroner.—His lordship never locked his room door.
When I saw his lordship had been murdered, I ran out of
the room and upstairs to tell the cook, and thence to the
house of Mr. Latham, opposite, (No. 23,) and told the but-
ler, who went for the police. When I went into the room I
only saw his lordship lying stretched out, and a little blood.
I did not notice any towel over the face.
By the Jury.—The man servant went up with me and the
police when they arrived. He sat in the dining-room, and
appeared not at all alarmed.* The street door was not fas-
tened when I came down. His lordship dined at home about
six o'clock, and did not go out afterwards. I went to bed
about ten o'clock. It was the man servant's place to fasten
the door, and it is usually locked, barred, and bolted. A
number of articles were missing, among which are his watch
and several rings, which were usually lying on his dressing-
table. Ido not know if there were any razors in the dress-
ine-case, as his lordship kept his razors in a little drawer.
By the Foreman.--I heard the cook say, when she came
home, the valet fastened the door after her. The valet had
only been in the family five weeks. I have been there three
years. I believe his lordship was perfectly satisfied with him.
He (the valet) had a male visitor last night to tea, who left
about a quarter to six o'clock. The valet went out with him
as far as the stables. The man had been there once before,
about a fortnight ago, and the valet told me he had been out
of place for a twelvemonth. Ellis, the late valet, was sent
for this morning as soon as Mr. W. Russell came.
By the Coroner.—Any person could have got into the house
by means of the back area. I did not see the back door,
which had been forced open.
By the Jury.-1 did not say that the valet was not alarm-
ed : I said he was very muck alarmed.* Among the articles
I found in the passage was a thimble belonging to the cook,
which had been taken from the kitchen.
John Tedman, inspector of the D division of police, sworn.
—About a quarter past seven o'clock this morning a gentle-
man's servant called at the station-house in Marylebone-lane,
and in consequence I went to Lord William Russell's house,
and first examined the lower part of the house. I found the
valet sitting in a little room adjoining the kitchen, and two
women servants were close bin the passage. I asked them
which way they thought it likely that any person could get
into the house. One of the women servants answered (Ar-
nold, I believe her name is ; I think she is cook) " through
the back door," and showed me a door which leads into the
area at the back of the house. I examined the door, and
found marks on it, as if it had been tried to be opened with
some blunt instrument. It was difficult to say whether it
had been forced from the inside or the outside. The door
and the door-posts were marked. The catch of the bolt was
laid down inside of the house. The bottom bolt would not
fasten at all. It appeared to be a very temporary fastening :
I should think a good push would almost knock the bolt off it.
I then looked round the walls in the area, and could not see
the slightest mark of any person corning that way. We
examined the walls at the back of the stables in the yard :
there was not the slightest scratch upon either of the walls,
or mark of any kind. I then returned into the house, and

* The agitation of the witness probably occasioned this
discrepancy.

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requested the womeri tervants and the valet to accompany
me up stairs, to show the where the bodir lay. We all went
into the room, and found that the bed curtains were half
drawn, and the shutters of the windows were closed. I opened
the shutters. They pulled a towel over his face. I removed
that, and pulled down the bed-clothes a little way, and found
a great quantity of blood in the middle of the bed. It was
running partly from a large gash in the throat, extending
from ear to ear. I then asked the servant if a medical gen-
tleman had been called in before my coming. They an-
swered " No." I said, "Go fetch one immediately ; the
nearest." Mr. Brayshaw came, and a second gentleman
that I sent for, the gentleman who usually attended him.
On the bed I found the miniature of a lady, a small box, and
a purse. There was no money in the box or purse. Shortly
afterwards Mr. Commissioner Mayne came, and requested
the doctor to examine the body closer. He did so, and
found that the thumb of the right hand was cut. A great
quantity of property was in the room ; five gold rings, and
other property ; some were not taken, some were. There
were three gold-topped canes, and a quantity of silver tops
for different things ; some of them belonged to the dressing-
case. I had some conversation with the man-servant. I
asked him " to come on this way and assist me," and he
fell back in his chair, and said, " This is a shocking job, I
shall lose my place and lose my character." I then examined
every room iu the house, and found that the drawers in
every room were partly drawn open, and papers disturbed.
In the front parlour there were some silver articles and some
plated articles laid on the floor. In the entrance hall, close
behind the door, there was a large blue cloth cloak, nicely
packed up, and a small box lying on the top of it. In a
bundle close by, there was a silver tish cover, an opera-glass
gold mounted, a gold pencil-case, a toothpick, and a silver
thimble. I asked the man-servant how he found the door ?
He said he had fastened it himself by bolts and a chain the
night before, about 12 o'clock, and that lie had found it in
the morning on the latch, with the chain down and the bolts
drawn. The lock was also open, and it was only fastened by
the latch.
By a Juryman.—The key was inside the door.
He had since searched the servants' room, and found in
the valet's box a purse, a £5 note, and six sovereigns.
By a Jury main.—ls the bank-note marked in any way ?
Yes, it is, sir ; marked on the back.
I asked the valet where he got the note from ? He said he
gave five sovereigns to Lord William Russell for it some ago
in change. There is one thing I have omitted. I asked if
Lord William Russell was not in the habit of having much
money about him ? He said he saw a £5. note and a £lO.
note in his possession yesterday in its usual place in a box or
something of that kind close by the head of his bed." I said,
" Look if you can find it." Ile-did so, and said " No, it is
gone ;so is also his gold watch." A writing-case in his bed-
room was broken open at the back. The man seemed very
much concerned all day about it, and kept running and drink-
ing water.
In answers to questions by the Jury.—He appears to he
about 25 or 26 years of age. I think he is a Swiss. 1 did
not see the slightest marks of blood about any of these peo-
ple, or in any part of the house. I examined all the places
that I possibly could, and there was not the slightest tinge
about them, on the linen, bed curtains, or any where else in
any part of the house. I searched very carefully to see if
there was any cutting instrument anywhere with which the
wound might have been given, and searched every room in
the house. The water-closet was also taken up by the di-
rections of Mr. Commissioner Mayne, and searched. My
opinion is, that the door has been forced on the inside. I
think that it has been done by a good push without any vio-
lence being used at all. It is the yard door, and opens in-
wards, I mean that it seems as if forced open by a good
pull and not a push. It appears to me to have been recently
done. I should rather think so. I examined all the gutters to
the new coach factory near, but could not see the slightest
mark whatever of any person having been there, or of any-
thing having been thrown.
By a Juror.—You say some of the rings are gone. I want
to know how you know there are some gone ?
The Swiss valet told me that. There were rings and
brooches ; but Mr. Beresford took that account, I did not.
A Juror.—ls it not your duty to make directly to the room
in which a murder or suicide is committed ?
It is, but finding the servants down stairs, I made a little
inquiry.
A Juror.—ls it not your duty to send immediately for a
surgeon to attend the party ?
Witness.—From the account I received, I was told he was
already dead. I should not think I was two minutes before
I went up stairs.
W. Beresford, inspector of the C division of police, ex-
amined. From information I received from a constable
from the Vine-street station, that there had been a mur-
der committed in Norfolk-street, I immediately went with
him to the house. It was about eight o'clock when I re-
ceived the information, and about ten minutes past
when I arrived there. I found the last witness below, and
the body exactly as described. I partially began to take
down an account of what was stolen, but almost immediately
went down to see if I could find any marks to lead to any-
thing, but could not discover any in any part. I then went
up stairs and asked the valet what was stolen, and he
gave me an account of what was gone. The dressing-case
up stairs was broken open, the things were lying in diffe-
rent parts, but nothing was gone. The following's an account
of what was missing :—Two plain gold rings, one gold ring set
with turquoise, one gold repeater watch, and three gold seals.
He afterwards told me that there were three pins on a card ;
one was a union pin. He could not give me any further de-
scription of them ; they were stones, and one a blue stone.
Then from his own pantry the articles of plate which his Lord-
ship had used at dinner the night before were gone : five table
spoons, three dessert spoons, four silver forks, and two tea
spoons. I then went and searched all the three servants'boxes,
the female servants' first, and afterwards the man's. 1 found
in one of the boxes of the valet, about the centre right down,
a chisel. It was a middling sized chisel. I have seen it, and
tried it with the marks in the drawers in the pantry, which
are forced open, and it goes into the impresion made in the
drawers, and fits them exactly. The chisel goes in the draw-
ers in the pantry, where the spoons are taken from. The
drawers were forced down, and the bolt of the lock came
from under the opening, which was made wide enough for
the lock bolt to slip under. I did not put any questions to
him, as I thought it better not under the circumstances. I
afterwards particularly examined the back door, where
the violence was seen, and am of opinion that the marks on
that door were not the means of forcing it open, and I feel
quite certain that the marks which are on the door are quite
from the outside certainly, but I am quite certain that they
are not made with forcing the door open. The bruises on
the door post are not made on the inside, but after the door
had been open. It is my opinion that the marks have been
made with the door open. The socket must have been forced
off with some instrument. I suggested to inspector Pearce
that we should search for it, and on examining the place I
found the poker belonging to the pantry, which was bent, and
the end or point fitted the latch or socket which had been
wrenched off from the door.
Coroner.—Did the point of the poker appear through ?
Witness.—Yes, it did.
Inspector Pearce, of the A division, was then called for-
ward, but had nothing to add to the evidence of the sergeant,
who produced the latch of the street-door, which he found
in the kitchen. (It was a common door-latch.)
By a Juror.—l am not aware that there are any steps
leading from the area to the street.
Mary Hannell.—l have lived in the service of the deceased
as cook. The first person who went down stairs this morn-
ing was the hdusemaid, and after she had remained below
for a few minutes, she came to my room, and told me that
the dining-room was all in confusion. She then went to the
valet's room and called him up, and they proceeded down
stairs together. She then screamed out to me, and I ran
down stairs as soon as I had finished dressing myself. I
met the housemaid and the valet on the stairs, and they told
me that his Lordship was killed. We then went to the
dining-room, which was all in confusion, and then went to
the street door to call a policeman, but could not see one.
Shortly after, however, the policeman came, and went into
his Lordship's bed-room.
Coroner.—Had any person entered the bed-room before
the police came ?
Witness,—Yes, Sir, the valet had been there. After the
policemen entered the room, I went to the foot of the bed
and saw his Lordship lying on it, but I did not go close to
him. I afterwards went down stairs and saw the kitchen all
in confusion.
Coroner.—Did you not miss something from your box ?
Witness.—Yes, Sir ; I missed my silver thimble from my
workbox.
Coroner.—When had you seen it last ?
Witness.—l saw it safe in the box last night.
Coroner.—Do you know where it was found this morning?
Witness.—Yes, Sir ; it was found in the napkin at the
street door with the other things.
Coroner.—There was nothing, I suppose of value in the
box ?

Witness.—No, Sir, there was not.
Coroner.—What time did you go to bed last night ?
Witness.—l think it was about half-past ten.
Coroner.—Who was up then ?
Witness.—His Lordship and the valet.
Coroner.—Do you know when they went to bed ?
Witness.—No, Sir, I do not.
Coroner.—Did you hear any noise during the night ?
Witness.—No, I slept soundly and heard no noise.
One of the jury.—Had you been out during the evening?
Witness.—Yes, sir, 1 had been to see a friend, and returned
home a quarter before 10 o'clock.
Juror.—Who let you in ?
Witness.—His lordship's valet.
Juror.—Did you see any stranger in the house during the
evening ?
Witness.—Yes, sir, a young man, whom I have seen be-
fore, called to see the valet.
Juror.—Was the valet on good terms with his lordship?
Witness.—Yes, sir, as far as I know.
Juror.—His lordship I believe, was a very kind master?
Witness.—lle was, sir, very kind.
By the coroner.—l am not aware that his lordship was in
the habit of keeping money in the house.
In answer to further questions the witness said, that when
she returned borne, at about a quarter or 20 minutes before
10 o'clock the valet:chained and bolted the street door, after
which he fetched her a pint of porter for her supper.
Coroner.—Did he open the door to fetch it ?
Witness.—No, sir, 1 think he went for it up the area steps.
The valet was always last up in the house, as he had to put
his lordship to bed.
Coroner.—Do you know whether or not the candle in his
lordship's room had been extinguished?
Witness.—l do not know, sir.
The witness then signed her statement and retired.
The coroner asked the jury it they thought it would be
advisable to call in the valet and hear what he had to say ?
The jury were of opinion that he ought to be produced.
The valet was accordingly called in, and having been told
by the coroner that he was not bound to make any statement
prejudicial to himself, but that the jury were willing to hear
what he had to say, he gave his name Francois Benjamin
Courvoisier. He then stated, without having been sworn,
that on the previous evening his deceased master came home
from the club at about half-past 6 o'clock, and gave him some
letters to take to the post-office, which witness gave to the
groom in the stables to take there. Witness then returned
home, and his lordship went out for about half an hour
before his dinner.
Witness.—YesCor
Coroner.—Did
I stoppedyotiremainaatthhoommeeaalillotheeeevveenniningtr?
Coroner.—What time did the other servants go to bed?
Witness.—At about half-past 10 or 11 o'clock.
A Juror.—Was the street-door properly fastened by you?
Witness.—lt was, Sir.
Juror.—Did you unfasten it after the cook came home?
Witness.—No, I did not.
Juror.—Did you go out after she came home?
Witness.—No, I did not ; but, now I recollect, I did go out
for a pint of porter for the cook. I went out and returned
by the area steps. He then went on to state that the house-
maid went to bed about half-past 10, and the cook shortly
after. Witness stopped up till about 10 minutes before 12,
when his Lordship, who was in his bedroom, rang his bell for
witness to undress him, and on going to the bedroom he
undressed his Lordship as usual.
Coroner.—ln what state was his Lordship then ?
Witness.—He was in his usual state. After his Lordship
was undressed, I went down stairs until his Lordship rang
his bell for the last time to have his bed warmed. I went up
again and saw him get into bed, and left every thing in the
room as usual. I lighted a rushlight, and I also, at his
Lordship's request, left him a lighted candle and a book ;
after that I went to bed, and heard nothing more during the
night until the housemaid knocked at my door in the morn-
ing. I then began to dress myself, when the housemaid
knocked a second time, and asked me what was the matter
with Lord William. I answered, " Nothing that I know
of." She told me that the dining-room and the house were
all in confusion. I then went down stairs to the pantry, and
found that the plate which his Lordship had used at dinner
was gone.