The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-05-17 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

HORRIBLE DISCOVERY IN A COAL  CELLAR IN LONDON.  On Friday morning, at about ten o'clock, the foot of a woman, in an advanced state of putrefaction, was disoovered daring the removal of some coals in a cellar at No. 4, Euston-square, a house in the occupation of a person named Bastendorid. Farther search in the coal cellar led to the discovery of the remains of a female, whose body had, according to the opinion of Dr. Harrison, of Eastonsquare, lain where it was found for more than six mouthy. Quicklime having been used, identification of the remains will be very difficult, and the few scraps of clothing in the cellar are mere rags; Messrs. Peter Fulton and William Routh, sanitary officers of St. Pancras, are in charge of the case. The hands and feet are detached from the trunk, and the stump of the right arm is turned towardi the chin. A little hair remain 6 attached to the scalp, but the skull is almost bare. Strangely enough, there is no unpleasant odour in the cellar. From the fact that a piece of clothes line is tightly knotted round the neck of the corpse it is assumed that a murder has been committed.  The shocking discovery, in such close proximity as it is to the scene of the mysterious murder in Coram-street, and still more recent one in Burton crescent, has created a great sensation. The remains of the deceased person were carefully collected under the direction of Dr. H. P. Davis, who resides near to the scene of the discovery. The great difficulty to be solved is how long the body has been in the cellar. Dr. Davis is of opinion that it has been there some three years or more, whilst others think it of much more recent date. The house was formerly in the occupation of Mr. Milnes, a sculptor. who had previously been for many years an inhabitant of the Euston-road, and was wellknown as a very respectable man. In the rear he built a studio, looking on to Seymour Mews, now occupied by Mr. Bagtendorff as his workshop. About three years and a half ago or rather more Mr. Milnes left, and retired, it was understood, to some property he held in Wales. The house was empty for half a year, between the time of Mr. Milnes' leaving and Mr. Bastendorff taking possession. Should, therefore, the theory of some of the medical gentlemen prove correct, that the remains have been in the cellar three or four years, then, it is more than probable, was the period when the crime was committed.  The body was removed from the house to the parochial mortuary, with the understanding that so soon as the warrant of the Coroner for Central Middlesex (Dr. Hardwicke) was received, a minute medical examination of the remains should take place. This was effected on Saturday by Dr. Davis and his sons, in the presence of Mr. J. N. Jakins, of Osnaburgh.street. Regent's Park, the divisional surgeon of the S division of police, in whose district the remains were discovered. There appears to be no doubt that the remains are those of a woman between fifty and sixty years of age, and therefore the rumour that a young woman who used to sit as a model has been missing forsome time is disposed of. Another distinctively marked feature in connection with the remains is that the deceased was afflicted with spinal curvature. Judging from the appearance of the remains when placed in proper position, it is the opinion of the medical gentlemen that she must have stood even with the curvature, lift. 7in. or sft. Sin. One foot is entirely gone, and both the bands, although some few of the hand bones have been collected. The arms and legs were dissevered from the trunk, but in the latter there was a considerable portion of the internal vicera remaining. In reference to the use of quicklime, there is not the shadow of doubt upon that point, as, in addition to its hanging about the joints, a great quantity was found deposited in the eye sockets. Great crowds still continue to assemble in front of the house, requiring the attendance of two or three constables. The sanitary authorities of the district have inspected the place, but there is nothing of an offensive character to be discovered. Nothing at present has transpired to give the slightest clue to the mystery, and it is scarcely likely there will be before the inquest, which has appointed by Dr. Hardwicke to open yesterday (Tuesday).