The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-06-15 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE WORMWOOD SCRUBBEI MURDER.  At the West London Police-court, on Friday, Tolice-constable Grow Semit..l Cooke. 335 ti, 2/ years of age, was brought up in custody charged with the wilful murder of a woman known by tho name of Maud Smith by kl,.•kite4 her on the had or striking her with some instrument, between the hours of 10 p.m. on the 6:11 inst. and 5.45 a.m, on the 7th, at Wormwood Scrubbs. The accused, a tall man, entered the dock with a smile, and gave a glance of recognition towards some policemen in court. He afterwards leaned forward with his Arms folded, and had a very careless air. Mr. John Haynes, solicitor, appeared for his defence.  Detective-inspector Morgan asked the magistrate to take jolt sufficient evidence for a remand.  Henry William Kimberly said that on Tuesday night he was engaged in watching sheep at Worm. wood Scrubbs. At a quarter to 6in the morning Iv was coming along from Old Oak-common, when he Raw the body of a woman lying about 100 yards from the lane leading to Scrubbs.lane, and about half a mile from the latter. One side of the face was covered with blood. The other side Wit? smashed. He could see one eye—he believed it was the left—smashed in. Tile head was lying immedi• ately towards the range of the butts, about 50 yard, from the rails. Her dress was scarcely disarranged at. all. The bodice across the breast was split as if it had been cut. The body was cold, and he formed •.,•• e.pinhon immediately that the woman was dead. 11:.r handkerchief and sunshade were lying close ...Aber about six feet from her head.  Mr. It. A. Jackson, police divisional surgeon, deposed that he was called to Wormwood Scrubby, and found the deceased in the condition described by the last witness. There was blood on the face and forehead. Her head was lying in a clot of blood.! He made an examination at the time. There were two fractures of the skull, right eyeball smashed, two fractures of the lower jaw. Both Lauda were clenched and there was blood on the ight. The injuries were caused by direct violence. Ir might have been done by kicks, or a heavy stick or blunt instrument. He (.w tness) had examined some police uniform, boots and trousers, shirt, tunic, and helmet, everything shewn to him by Inspector °Wham at Nottiegdale-station. He found some stains on the inside of the left boot and left leg of trousers, between the foot and knee. Inspector Morgan stated that on Thursday morning he chewed the prisoner a number of statements he had taken from various persons, and said there were some very suspicious circumstances concerning his conduct in connection with the murder, and he was going to ask him for an explanation, and to ake it down in writing. He said, "I find on the night of Tuesday you were on duty round the prison alone, between 10 and half-past 11." Ile eplied, "Yes, it was so." Witness said, "Mrs. Robinson, your landlady, and several constables have been to the mortuary and identified the body of the woman found dead on the Scrubbs as that of a woman who visited you at your lodgings, passing in the name of Maud. I said, "Who is the person?" He replied, "I have known her twoand.a.half years. I met her in the Strand. The last time I saw her was on Saturday evening last, when I met her with a soldier named Atkins. I don't know his address or the regiment he belongs to. He wore spurs. I last heard from her on Tuesday last, asking me what time and place I c-uld meet her at.on Tuesday evening: that she would come to the Scrubbs station, but I did not see her that night. I burnt the letter. I intended to reply to it, but I did not do so." Witness read the statement of Police-constable Rosewarne, and said, "Roaewarne has identified the body at the mortuary as that of a young woman who saw Rosewarne at Nottingdale-station, about 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening, and asked what duty Police-constable Cooke, 385, was on." She was told night duty. She said, -I know where he lives, in Silchester-road." —ln reply the prisoner said, "A little girl called at my lodgings on Tuesday night about 9 o'clock and told me a lady wished to see me near the Feathers, a public-house. I went there, but saw no one I knew, and I went on duty at the station at p quarter to 10."—Prisoner was remanded.