The Sun. — 1870-01-20 (London, England)

FINSBURY MURDER.  EXTRAORDINARY FRAUD.  After the account of the murder of Cecilia Aldridge had been published in the papers no fewer than 20 young women, whohad evidently read the details, called at the scene of the tragedy and represented themselves to be sisters of the murdered young woman. This singular circumstance attracted the attention of the police, and they thoroughly investigated every case of alleged relationship with the deceased, and in each instance the result of their inquiries clearly proved the fact that every one of the 20 persons who claimed the relationship had intended to commit a fraud, and that their statements were entirely false. The most remarkable case, perhaps, was one practised by a young girl on Monday evening. On that day she entered the Windmill public-house, Castlestreet, Finsbury, and after inquiring as to whether that was the place where the inquest would be held on the body of the murdered young woman, Cecilia Aldridge, she stated that she was the sister of the deceased, and she said that she was a native of Liverpool. While she was speaking she wept bitterly—at least, those who saw her state that she did so—and she said that she Was not responsible for the misfortune of her sister, or for the course of life she had adopted. When her statement was brought under the notice of Colonel Henderson, the Commissioner of Police, he ordered that all the circumstances connected with it should be thoroughly investigated ; and, in consequence of the young girl having carefully abstained from mentioning tier name when she called at the Windmill Tavern, it was very difficult for the detectives who were instructed to discover her whereabouts to ascertain anything about her. Last night, in consequence of information that they received, they were led to believe that she lived at No. 4, Wakefield-place, Bunhill-row, St. Luke's, which is situated within 200 yards of the Old-street Police-station. They at once went there, and the following statement made by the mother of the girl will show that the whole story told by her daughter is false from beginning to end. Upon being questioned, she said, "My daughter is named Matilda Chamberlain. She is 18 years of age, and from her childhood she has given me a great deal of trouble, for she has been given to telling stories. On last Monday I thought she had gone to work at her work-rooms in the City, but I have since learnt that she did not go there, and on Monday night she returned home. Shortly afterwards several people stood in front of our house, and I, not knowing what was the matter, threw up the window, and asked them what they wanted. I was then told by some neighbours that my daughter had said that she was the sister of the murdered woman, and upon my asking her whether she had done so, she said, Yes, I know that I have done wrong.' -I then said to her, 'lf you get yourself or me into any trouble about this I will murder you,' and I felt so excited that I felt as if I could kill her. Ever since then she has been attacked in every way, and the next morning when she went to her work she was followed by a crowd of people, who kept shouting after her, and I am determined that if I can manage it nobody shall see her again." It may be stated that after Matilda Chamberlain left the Windmill public-house on Monday evening, she cried so bitterly in the street that a crowd gathered round her, and upon some persons asking her what had happened she said, "I am the sister of the girl that was murdered in Finsbury-square." She then went, followed by a bodysh e of was her then sister, shown crowd, to the St. Luke's Workhouse, and upon being questioned by the gate-keeper she said she wanted to see theus e. who was lying in the dad into the dead-house, and after viewing the corpse she said, dead-house. That is my sister." She then left, crying. She i was dressed in a hat and feather, a black jacket, a blue dress, and she carried a black muff.