Runcorn Examiner. — 1893-06-17 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

THE WORMWOOD SCRUMS MURDER.  THE POLICE OFFICER'S CONFESSION.  At the resumed inquest at Hammersmith on Wednesday night concerning the death of the woman found murdered at Wormwood Scrubbs on Wednesday last week, and in connection with which Police Constable Cooke is in custody, Ellen Godman, wife of a house painter at Tottenham, identified the young woman as her daughter, by a former husband. She stated that the deceased was 22 years of age, and was a single woman. —Dr. Jackson, recalled, said as the result of the completion of the post. mortem examination, he concluded that death was due to a fracture at the skull and lacera-• tion of the brain. There was a bruise on the neck, probably caused by the heel .of a boot. —Mr. Haynes, solbitor, here complained that the alleged confession of the person suspected had been circulated. His client instructed him to say that the report was untrue.—Mrs. Kate Robinson, with whom Cooke lodged, gave eviiience that on the day following the murder she saw him burying something in the garden. Witness afterwards removed the earth and saw the truncheon and whistle. The young woman had visited Cooke at her house, and they then seemed on good terms.—The last witness's husband, a policeman, stated that Cooke, had told him that the girl could come in for £3OO. Constable Macdonald stated that on Thursday last Cooke said to him, in alluding to the crime—" They have not yet gtt the instrument with which it was done. It is a good job they did not catch we red-handed."—Subinspector Hatchet gave evidence as to the confession which he said Cooke made to him on Priday last at one o'clock. This was to the effect that 'after remarking "I suppose it is no use trying to get out of it," Cooke went on to say that on the night in question the woman visited him -n his beat, and they had an altercation., He continued :—" Thinking to get out of her way, I went across the Scrubbs, but she followed me. In going across I took my truncheon out of my pocket and put it up my sleeve. When near the spot where she was found, I said Are you going?' She said 'No; I am going to stop and annoy you till Sunday, and then you —yourself.' She then turned her head. I drew my truncheon and hit her on the side cr the head. She felt down and never moved. I then hit her, I think, twice on the head, once under the • jaw. I then • placed my foot on her neck, and kepi; it. there about five minutes. She never mtved, but gave a moan. I then went back to the prison, and saw Officer Kemp, and we were very jolly all night afterwards. I thought nothing of killing her. I have been, haFpier since she has been dead than I was before. She was always annoying me, and I was in misery:" The confession created profound sensation amongst the public assembled in the coroner's court. -Inspector Morgan formally put in the statement made to Hatcher by Cooke' which witness said he received about half-past seven on Friday night last. With rospect to the evidence of identification, witness said that from inquiries made he was positive that Mrs. Godman was mistaken in supposing the deceased to be her daughter.—ln summing up, the Coroner said that Cooke's alleged cozrfession was the most damning piece of evidence, particularly as it showed premeditation.—After the jury had consulted for an hour and a half, the foreman said they found a verdict of wilful murder against Cooke, but that he - had received great nrovocation. There appeared to be some difference of opinion against the jury, and they were directed to again retire. On returning a second time, the jury said that by a bare majority they had found Cooke guilty of wilful murder, but "with great .provacation." 'lbis verdict was recorded.