The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-02
THE ENGLISH TRAGEDY.
sheahina Story by the Woman Accused 81
Numbering her Mistress.

LONDON, April 1.-The woman Catherine
Webb, now called Webster who was arrested in
Ireland on tho 2Sth ut. for the murder. near
Richmond. Of her Mistress Mrs. Thomas. frag-
ments Of whose remains. wrapped in paper and
placed in a small pine box. were found floating
in the Thames near Barnes terrace Barnes. on
tho 5th ut.. was arraigned at Richmond yestor-
day for preliminary examination. According
to her statement to the detectives Mrs. Thomas
was murdered by man named Church.
while she twebster) was temporarily abb
sent, On her return to tho house, Church,
by threats, compelled her to silence and
to help him in disposinR OF the body
and in removing the valuables. Every
AWAY from RON the the house. They had TsVW wagon 1t at
the door to take the furniture also. but the
naured wSsre Mrs nff Thomas was TRereup1n p
she tWebsterl decnmped to Ireland. agreeing
with Church that they would 20 to America
the keeper OF n beer house In Hammersmth. a
man Of family and heretofore OF good charac-
after Ss Mss %eSra @ 9EfqS Ec f had SfsS sySa
tho police all the aid and Information he
possessed about Miss Webster's behavior and
whereabouts. The circumstances under which
Miss Webster mado away with the remains OF
Mrs. Thomas indicate that her charge against
Church is partly or wholly false. Both prison
ers were remanded. aud the examination was
On March i iS Gr. g. F. Hall, Coroner for the
quest at the Red Lion Inn, Barnes Henry
Wheatley testified to the finding OF the body
am" he said. "a coal porter. and live at
Mortlake. On tho 9Th OF this month found the
box as was driving along in n cart close to the
river bank at quarter before o'clock in the
morning. II was seven yards from the shore.
and the tide was cbbing from tho trunk. which
was stationary. i went into the water and
pulled ii ashore l found that II was tied with
stout ,line, keeping the lid down. for il was
not locked. There were no marks or address
upon 1t. When united the string the box fell
TO pieces. and saw the remains wrapped in
pieces OF brown paper: At tho time foUa1 -
box was merely passing casually on my ordi-
nary business"
DR.. Adams said: q" / practice Mt Barnes. On
the night OF the 9Th OF this month. was called
by Sergeant Giles to the bank OF the river at
Barnes Terrace. found the remains there in
rough deal box. On examination. i found
them to DO the trunk and other parts OF n wo-
man. The heart was in the cavity OF the chest.
and the right shoulder was attached to the
perfect down 10 tho elbow. was detached. The
head was gone
Il should say death had taken place about a
week previously. and the remains had probably
been in the water for two days. The woman /
should think. WIS between Is and 80 years Of
age, and leet inches in height. She had
dark hair. The fractures OF the bones were
made after death. and very unskilfully. Bad
ana blunt instruments had been used 10 make
them. The mutilatiOn must have been n work
OF time. could see no marks on the body that
could have caused death. or that could have
been made while the woman was alive"
As there were no witnesses. the inquest was
adjourned to allow tho police time to make an
Investigation.