Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1879-03-29 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE BARNES MYSTERY  SOLVED.  • AN OLD LADY MURDERED AND BOILED. '• It will be remembered that a box was a short time since found on the foreshore of the river near Barnes, containing portions of a human body. At the coroner's inquest an open verdict was returned, and the matter both before and since has been made the subject of inquiry by the local eeteative police, and also by the officers of the Oridiinal Investigation Department at Scotland - yard. It was at first thought the body had been put into the 'river by medical students after dissection, but Within the last few days information has come to hand leaving tittle or no doubt that a shearing crime has been committed in the neighbourhood of Richmond. It appears that for some years past an elderly woman of eccentric habits, whose name is for the present kept a secret by the police, had a servant known in k the neighbourhood by the ;name of late Gibbs or I Gibbins, both being used. For •Alie last few weeks the old lady was not seen-out:or the house, although her servant paid in 'tee .oatne, and generally transacted matters as if whe were there. Some weeks since the servant sold, some of the property in thus house for the sum elf • Ana she then left the place, taking with her spine plate and anything of value on which she could lay her hands. Soon after this inquiries were set on Mot to trace the missing woman, and a boy made a statemebt to the detective police that about three weeks or a month since a woman -asked him to help her carry a box. He agreed to do no; and when they came to the river bridge she threw it dver, gave him sixpence for his trouble, and then went hurriedly away. It was dark at the time, and no one else was near when the box was thrown over. The police showed the boy the box in which the remains were found, and he immediately identified it as the one he had assisted to carry. lie /ikewi-e identified a photograph of the servant Gibbs as a likeness of the woman whom he accompanied. Further inquiries resulted in the fact being ascertained that this woman has been seen about Hammersmith very recently, but she has hitherto avoided apprehension, and is believed to have left the neighbourhood ro no no Ireland, accompanied by a boy about 5 years of age, stated td be her son. She is a native of that country, and a, very tall, powerful woman. The human remaina ' have been shown to Dr. Bond, the police surgeon, who states that there can be little or no doubt but that the woman to whom they belong was first murdered, and that the body was then boiled whole, !le as to facilitate its being cut up for the purpose of removal. The doctor states his. opinion that the boiling of the bodY, accounts forks parchment-like appearance, and the theory is strongly supported by the fact that the copper at the back of the deceased's house is covered with Tat ' arid that there is evidence of recent use. Inspector Shore, of Scotlandyard, and Inspectors DowdWiftl, Robson, and Lan. downe have the inquiry ifi hand, mid one of these officers will at once proceed to Ireland to e'ffect the arrest of the alleged murderess. She is described in the police informations as—" Wanted, for stealing plate, Sm., and supposed murder of her mistress, Kate —, aged about 32; fire feet • five .iv inches high; complexion sallow; ' Teeth  • slightly freckled. rather good ;• prominent. 17sually dressed in dark dress, jacket rather long, and trimmed with dark fur round pockets, light brown satin bonnet; speaks with an Irish accent, and VMS accompanied by a boy, aged 5, Complexion rather dark, hair dark; was lost seen at Hammersmith! Since this description was given she has been traced to a railway station, where she took tickets for herself and child to Liverpool. It is believed that robbery with a view of obtaining the necessary funds to get back to Irelaud wag the motive for the mime.  THE FLOODS AT BgEGEI)IN.