The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-09-20
TRUE
by vsnos o Puoic hS'
The Case of Hannah Brown


the finding of the trunk of body
In Paddlngton, London. on the day aft.
er Christmas. 1896.
That CHASTITY thing meant nothing,
and In those days there was no organ
lied or specialized police force to run
down crime.
Constable Haines went on the job.
however. with all OF the enthusiasm
characteristic of Nineteenth-century
Sherlock Holmes.
On the following day he found hui
man head in the Regents canal. Next
pair of legs were discovered and
finally two arms.
All of these parts, II was found. be-
longed to the same person. and that
person woman.
The head was plnced in alcohol, in
glass case, for purposes of identlti.
cation.
1t had been on exhibition for many
weeks when a workman named John
Gay strolled into the impromptu
morgue.
His sister. Hannah Brown. had dis
appeared the day before Christmas,
and had not been seen since.
This typical cockney took a look
at the head preserved In alcohol. and
then exclaimed. with true lowerclass
British stolidity:
"Well. I'm bowed II 1t amt Han
nah"
Constable Haines then busted him
self In running down the life story Of
Hannah Brown.
He found a man named Harry Davis
who recalled the woman.
Davis said Hannah had called on
him on the day before Christmas and
told him that she was engaged to mar
~ James Greonacra, who lived near
Kensngton.
That was good enough clew for
Haines.
He started for that neighborhood at
once, and eventually located Green
acre on the Surrey side of the Thames
In the parish Of Camherwell.
He was living with woman named
Sarah Gale. who had young daugh.
ter. Greenacre stoutly denied any
knowledge of Hannah Brown
He said he had never met the wom-
an, much less promised to marry her.
But while HaInes was talking to
| Greenacre he noticed significant
| glance pass between the suspect and
the woman.
| He Saw something else.
/ It was a dress the child Was wear,
Ing.
The material of which this WAS made
correspondent with the stuff they had
| found wrapped around the trunk Of
Hannah Brown when II, was discov
| cred In paddlngton.
Being a very conscientious as vel
as very direct person, Constable
| Halnes arrested James Greenacre anf
Sarah Gale, and left the matter o
their guilt to be decided by the cor
oner's inquest
The coroner turned the case over t
the court and the trial took place In TIN
Old Bailey, adjoining the annex Z
Newgate prison.
II Is interesting to note that Chic
Justice coleridge presided.
A witness appeared who testife'
that he had seen Greenacre going In
to the house OF Sarah Gale with
woman on the day before Christmas
This woman was tal and In ever
particular resembled Hannah Brown.
He also swore that some time after
ward Greenacre left the house carry
Ing bulky and heavy bundle In
large blue merlno bag
Two other witnesses testified thu
they had heard quarrel going on
the house during the time Hanna
Brown was there.
There was a scuffling and niue
noise, and finally sound OF some on
dropping to the floor.
1t was proved that Sarah Gale wa
seen scrubbing the floor immediatei
after Greenacre left. and detective
completed the capstone OF evidence D
testlfying that birthstone had bee
} used In the house for the purpose
fumlgation.
Two motives were assigned for I'll
crime.
First. jealousy on the part OF Sara
Gale, and secondly. robbery. becaus
Hannah Brown had not only bee
killed but robbed.
The jury convicted Greenacre, al
before he was executed he confesst
his guilt.
There was doubt about Sarah Gal
and she was merely transported Il
life.