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

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 ia 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 :
Right Hon. 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 be 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 down 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 bad been inflicted by some very sharp instrument, and
must have been done from the left. I saw uo other wound
on the body.

By the Jury.—I saw no wound on either of the thumbs.
The edges of the wound were not jaggvd. 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
(11Aedltuaiy.,16.. corner. was stained with blood.
wittusiotL
. • - .• • -

By the Coroner.:--I 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, he considered it impossible the
deceased could have inflicted the wound himself, or after.
wards have covered himself over with the cloth. It was a
chamber towel, that was 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
vertebra' to the shoulder. His lordship was feeble, and very
deaf. He was in his 73d year. I had riot 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, lie 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 hail 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 !yin° 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'cicck, 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 7
table. Ido not know if there were any razors in the- dress-
-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
yea: s. I believe his lordship was perfectly satisfied with him.
tie (the valet) had a male visitor last night to tea, who left
about a quartet to six o'clock. The valet went cut 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.-7 Any person could have got into the house
by means of the back area. 1 did not see the hack 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 in*-11 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 Al arylebone-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 by in the pas Sage. I asked them
which way they thought it likely that any person could get
into the liouse. One cf 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 coining 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 oce,iedoned this
discrepancy.

requested the women servants and the valet to accompany
me up stairs, to show me where the body 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 taker,, 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 in 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 dish 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 he 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 Jurvmatr.—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 tind it." He 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 be
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-
ele• or in nny part of tho erarnined 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) Juror.—You say some of the rings are gone. I want
to lag.ow 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 followingis 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 thethree 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 front. 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 011
the door post are not made on the inside, but after the door
ad been onen, It is my opinion that the marks have been
had tat we should seam) tor it, and on examining the place I
found the poker belonging to the pantry, which was bent, and
the end or point fitted th 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 Jurora-cicatu not aware that there are any steps
leading from the area to the street.
Mary Ham:elk-4 have lived in the service of the deceased
as cook. The first person who went down stairs this morn-
ing was the housemaid, and after she had remained below
for a few minutes, she came to my room, and told me t hat
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.
Coronen—Did you not miss something from your box ?
Witness.—Yes, Sir; I missed my silver thimble from my
workbox.
Curoner.—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 noises.
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.--Hp 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 home, 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?
ti's itness.—l do not know, sir.
The witness then signed her statement and retired.
The coroner asked the jury if they thought it would be
advisable to call in the valet and hear what be had to say ?
The jury were of opinion that he ought to be produced.
The valet was accordingly called in,
,erandheawviinliginbgeteon
heartold
by the coroner that he was not bound to make any statement
prejudicial to himself, but that the jury ,
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
hothe, and his lordship went out for about half an hour
before his dinner.
Coroner.—Did you remain at home all the evening?
Witness.—Yes,
I stopped at home all the evening.
Coroner.—`'hat
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
Witness.—No,ror.—Did
Idid
you unfasten it after the cook came home?
Juror.—Did yod go out after she came home?
Witness.—No, I (lid 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 hell for
uwnitdnreessssett his Lordship
otndressli a
i,saunsdua.oln going to the bedroom he
Coroner.—In 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,
dress myself,
andheardnothing more during the
night until the housemaid knocked at my door in the morn-
ing. I then began to
when the housemaid
knocked a second time, and asked me what was the matter
with Lord Williatn. 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,

Coroner.—Had you not a friend to visit you in the gyening ?
Witness.—Yes; he came at 3 o'clock,. and went with me
to the stables at about half-past six.
Coroner.—What is his name ?
Witness.—His name is Henry Carr. He had been coach-
man to Mrs. Fector, with whom I lived for two years. We.
were fellow-servants there.
Coroner.—Where is Carr now to be found ?
Witness.—He is now, I believe, to be found at the Royal
Exchange public-house, Adam's-mews.
Juror.—Are you quite sure you secured the street-door
after the cook came in ?

Witneis.—l am quite positive that I did.
Coroner.—Did the police-officers find nothing in your box ?
Witness.—Yes, they found a chisel and a purse.
Coroner.—What was the chisel for ?
Witness.—l had it by me for two or three years, and used
to cut wood when I lived at Dover. _ _ _

Coroner.—Are you quite sure that you locked the area-
gate after you fetched the beer for the cook ?
Witness.—Yes, I am quite certain that I did.
Coroner.—Where did you place the key ?
Witness.—l hung it up in the kitchen, as usual.
Coroner.-:—Are you aware that his lordship had any money
in the house?

Witness.—l don't think he was in the habit of keeping
money by him, but about three days ago I remember that
he had a £lO and a £5 note.

The Foreman of the Jury.—Where did you get the' £5
note which you gave to the police-officer?
Witness.—Lord William gave it me about a week ago to
get it changed for him. The witness then stated, that he
missed from the pantry five table-spoons, three dessert-
spoons, five large forks, and one salt-spoon.
Foreman.—Has Henry Carr any situation now ?

Witness.—No. He has been out of place about three
months. About twelve months ago he lived in the service
of a Mrs. Green. Carr is not in reduced circumstances, to
my knowledge.
Coroner.—Would you have nny objection to write' the
name of Lord Canterbury in the presence of the jury ?

Witness.—Not in the least. He then wrote the name on
a slip of paper, and it appeared that the object was to coin-
pare the handwriting with the name of Lord Canterbury
which was written on the £5 note.

Coroner.—Have you any further statement to make ?
Witness.—No, sir, 1 have nothing more to say.
The foreman of the jury then observed, that he thought it
but fair to the witness to state that he had seen Mr. Fector
that day, who gave the witness an excellent character during
the time he was in his service.

Another of the jurymen corroborated that statement.

The witness then w. ithdrew.

The Coroner then asked the jury if they wished to give
their verdict at once, or adjourn the inquiry for further evi-
dence? He observed that it was quite clear from the evi-
dence, that as no instrument of destruction was found in the
bedroom, the deceased could not have committed suicide ;
and it was for the jury to say whether they thought any ad-
ditional light could be thrown on the matter by postponing
the inquest for two or three days. They might now, if they
thought fit, upon the evidence produced, return a verdict of
wilfUl murder against some person or persons unknown.
The Foreman of the jury said, he could not see that any
advantage would be gained by an adjournment. For himself
he was quite prepared to assent to the verdict suggested by
the coroner. By prolonging the inquiry they would only
keep up the excitement which prevailed_ in the neighbour-
hood, and throw out a suspicion, not in the slightest degree
warranted by the evidence, that the deceased had committed
suicide. A postponement would also have the effect, perhaps,
of prejudicing some persons, and, upon the whole, he
thought it much better to come to a conclusion at once, and
allow the police to pursue the inquiry.
The rest of the jury concurred in the view taken by the
foreman, and unanimously agreed to return a verdict of
" Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown."
After the coroner had formally registered the verdict, the
jury retired. A considerable number of persons bad col-
lected in front of the house, anxious to bear the result of the
inquest, and great excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood.