The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-11-11 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE BATH MYSTERY.  The inquest was resumed on the victim of the Bath mystery, Elizabeth Luke, otherwise Wilkie, who was formerly a domestic servant at Bath, and whose remains were found in a cave on Hampton Down, after having been there two years. Mr. Titley represented the young man, Arthur Stevenson Coombs—who at one time kept company with the deceased, and was arrested on euspicion of having committed the murder, but dimoharged by the magistrates. There was a crowed court, and the proceedings were additionally interesting from the fact that it was known that Coombs would tender himself as a witness.—Coombs was called after his present sweetheart, Miss Sheppard, and other witnesses bad been examined, and, having been cautioned, he told the story of his acquaintance with the deceased, which commenced in 1890. He said he kept company with Ivir for a time, but was not formally engaged, while she was in service in Clifton. In January, 1891, he wrote her a letter saying he did not wish to keep company with' her any longer as he had heard something about her. He was told, on good authority, that to obtain her situation she had forged a character. —The Coroner Whom did you hear that from?— The witness: I think Miss Sheppard told me. He added that his parents wished him to :iiscontinut keeping company with her, and that was why he wrote.—The Coroner: Do you recollect whether she replied to that letter ?—The witness: I think she came over from Clifton to see roe. She asked me why I cave her up and I told her. I told her about the character, and that I had been made aware of her having been to Limpley Stoke Reformatory. She falsely represented herself to me. She said elle was a young lady, and that her father was superintendent of the Emigration Home at Blackwell, London. She also said he had £l,OOO a year from that institution, and that he was conneoted with another in Germany which brought him in £750 a year. When I first made her acquaintance I spiked her what made her leave her home, and she said that her step-father struck her. She said her people were in the habit of sending sums of money to her every fortnight.— The Coroner: Was your acquaintance broken off after that interview? The witness : Yes, after it I never kept company with her.—Do you remember her coming back to Bath? Yes, she was walking about fur same time and oould not have been in a situation. The witness explained that he injured his thumb in 1891 by having got into a row and another men biting it, and he related his movements at various periods.—Questioned about the letters which the deceased sent to Misa Sheppard's parents, the witness said they were love letters.— Did you ever in any of three letters lead her to suppose you were engaged to her? The wituess No.—Continuing, he denied that he was ever guilty of improper conduct with the deceased. He became acquainted with her at a Mission Hall, where she was regarded with some suspicion. He further stated, in reply to his solicitor, that he was not in any way concerned in the girl's diaryI pearence.—The inquiry was again adjoursed.