The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1879-05-13 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

THE EUSTON-SQUARE MYSTERY.  The shocLing discovery in Euston-square on Friday morning, in euch close proximity as it is to the scene of the mysterious murder in Ceramstreet, and, still more recent, one in Burtoncrescent, has created a great Remotion in that neighbourhood. The house in which the discovery was made is No. 4, Euston square, in the occupation of Mr. Sawerin Bastendorff, a manufacturer of fancy cabinet work. The remains of the deceased person were carefully collected under the direction of Dr. U. P. Davis, who resides dear the scene of the discovery. It is evident that the use of quicklime has been resorted to in order to conceal identification. There were no papers or anything discovered to lead to identity, the only imperishable article being a common metal brooch, which dropped from the shawl. That, as well as the rope found round the neck of the deceased. was taken possession of by Inspector Hogan. Mr. Bastendorff states that he has occupied the house about three ' years, and, although many tons of coal have ben thrown into the cellar, and his servants and members of his foully have gone into it repeatedly for coals, no bad smell had been reported, or anything been seen. This discovery, however, led the servent girl to recollect that some few days ago, in 1 shovelling up some coals, she found a bone or two 11 amcngst them, but, being black and dirty, she took them for some ordinary meat bones, and threw them into the dust-bin. They were at once searched for and found, and are believed to be part of the missing foot of the body. 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. Mimes, a sculptor, who had previously been for many years an inhabitant of the Euston-raad, and was well known as a very respectable man. In the rear he built a studio, looking on to Seymour-mews, now occupied by Mr. Bastendorff as his workshop. About three years and a half ago, or rather more, Mr. Mines I. ft, and retired, it was understood, to some property he held in Wales. Tke house was empty for half a year, between the time of Mr. Milnes' leaving and Mr. Bastondoril taking possession. Should, theref:re, the theory of some of the medical gentlemen prove correct, that the remains have been in the cellar three or four years. thin, it is more than probable, was the period when the crime WAS committed. _ .  The brely was remowil frm the 1161.1g0 to the par° mortuary, with the understanding that so soon as the warrant of the coroner f T O•ntral Middlesex, Dr. Hardwicl:e, was rei eircrl, a tel lute medical examination of the remains shoald take. place. This was effected on Saturday by Dr. Davis and his sons, in the presend of Mr. J. N. Jakins, of Osnaburgh-strect, Regent's Park, the divisional surgeon of the S. division of police. in whose district the remains were discovered. There appears to he no doubt that the remains are th of a woman between 50 and GO years of age, and therefore the rumour that a young woman who teed to sit as a model has been missing, for some 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 pl iced in proper position, it is the opinion of the medical gentlemen that she must have stood, even with the curvature. oft. 7in. or sft. Sin. One foot is entirely gone, and both the hands, al:hough some of the hand bones havo been collected. The arms and I.:gs were dif-s2tered from the trunk, hut in the Litter there was a considerable portion of the internal viscera remaining. In reference to the use of quicklime, there is rot the shadow of a doubt upon that point, as, in addition to its hanging about the joints, a great quantity was found depo.dted lathe eye sockets. Of course no conclusott can be positively come ts as to the cause of death, but inasmuch as it is affirmed when found the rope was twice turned round the bones of the neck, the assumption is that deceased was murdered by strangulation.