The Northern Guardian. — 1893-06-15 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE WORMWOOD SCRUBBS MURDER.  THE CONFESSION.  VERDICT; WILFUL MURDER.  At the resumed inquest at Hammeramith yesterday, upon the body of the woman found murdered on Wormwood Scrubbs on Wednesday last, and in connection with which a policeman named Cooke is in custody, the Coroner read a letter from the manager of the Peacock Inn, Islington, denying a statement made to the effect that he was the father of the child to which the woman had given birth.—Ellen Godman, wife af a house painter, Tottenham, identified the deceased as her daughter (22) by a former husband , named Lockley. She was single.—Dr. Jackson, ' recalled, said as the result of the completion of the post-mortem he concluded death was due to I fracture of the skull, haemorrhage, and laceration of the brain. There was a bruise on the neck, probably caused by the heel of a boot.—Mr Haynes, solicitor, here complained that the alleged confession of the person suspected had been circulated, and that his client instructed him to say the report was absolutely untrue. He trusted, therefore, the Coroner would direct the jury to take no notice of it.—Mrs Kate Robinson, with whom Cooke lodged, gave evidence that on the day following the murder she saw him burying something in the garden. Witness afterwards removed the earth, and saw a truncheon and whistle. Deceased had visited Cooke at her house, and they seemed on good terms.—The last witness's husband, a policeman, stated that Cooke told him he had picked the girl up in the Strand when she was leading an immoral life and that she would come in for £3oo.—Constable Macdonald stated I that on Thursday last, in the charge-room, Cooke said to him, in alluding to the crime: "They have not yet got the instrument with which it was done. It is a good job they did not catch me red-handed." Sub-Inspector Hatcher gave evidence as to the confession which, he said, Cooke made to him on Friday 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 on 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 can yourself.' She then turned her head. I drew my truncheon and hit her on the side of the head. She fell down, and never moved. I then hit her, I think, twice on the head, once under the jaw. I then placed my foot en her neck, and kept it there for about tea minutes. She never moved, but gave one gurgle. I then went back to the prison and saw P.C. Kemp, and we were very jolly all night. Afterwards I thought nothing of killing her. I have been happier since she has been dead than I was before. She was always annoying me, and I was in misery." The above confession created profound sensation amongst the public in court.—lnspector Morgan said Mrs Godman was mistaken in supposing deceased to be her daughter.—ln summing up, the Coroner said Cooke's alleged confession was a 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 murder against Cooke, but that he received great provocation. There appeared to be some difference of opinion amongst the jury, however, 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 of the woman, with great provocation. This verdict was recorded.