Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1890-11-01 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

OILLION I'OL ICY. "  THE H  TRAGEDY.  WOMAN AND CHILD BRUTALLY MURDEIHRD. The body of a woman was found at Hampstead on Friday evening of Mat week bearing signs of brutal butchery, and alarming rumours at first spread that 6' Jack the Ripper" had been at work in the locality, and had cut off a woman's head. Inquiries made, however, seemed to show that this atrocity was not perpetrated by the Whitechapel assassin, though the details were of a horrible nature. It appears that as Mr. S. Macdonald, a young gentleman residing in 13•Isim-puk, Hampstead, was going through Crossfield-road, Eton-avenue, on his way home just after seven o'clock at night, he noticed a woman lying at the side of the road. It is a dark and lonely thoroughfare, only partially built upon, and has no public lamps. At first, he paid no particular attention to what he had seen, but continued his way homewards. The thought, however, occurred to him that the woman might be ill, and he, therefore, retraced his steps. The woman, whose face he could not see, was still lying at the same spot, quite motionless, and he therefore hastened off in search of a police-constable. Near the Swiss Cottage, St. John's Wood, he found Police-constable 6:ardiner, 634 S, on duty, and he Mformed that officer that he had seen a woman lying in a fit in Crossfieldroad. The constable wect at once with him to the place indicated, and found the woman there, her head covered over with a man's sleeveless Cardigan jacket. On removing this her face was seen to be bloodstained, and, by the light of a match, it was further discovered that her throat was cut. Mr. S. Macdonald was despatched for a doctor, and the constable blew his whistle loudly for further assistance. Constables Stalker, 617 5, and Alger, 543 S. were thus , attracted to the spot, as was also Mr. h. C. Fox, a medical student residing in the Adamson-road, near by. This gentleman examined the body, and pronounced life extinct, as did also Dr. Poulett Wells, Of Belsise-park, who, on being called by Mr. S. Macdonald, was in prompt attendance. Meanwhile, intelligence of the discovery had been conveyed to Hampstead Police-station, and Inspectors Wright and Collis, S division, with other officers, quickly arrived on the scene with the police ambulance. The body was conveyed thereon to Hampstead Policestation, where Dr. Poulett Wells, Dr. Ilerbert Cooper, the police divisional surgeon, and Mr. A. C. Fox, together made a full and complete external examination of the body. This showed that the deceased had sustained a compound comminated fracture of the skull, evidently produced by a powerful blow with some heavy, sharp, and penetrating weapon, probably • pickaxe. There were other wounds on her head, and her throat had been cut in such a determined manner that her head was nearly severed from her body, both the windpipe and the spinal column having bun divided. There were also bruises on her right hand and on the right side of her chin, and her face was covered with blood. Colonel Monsen, the District Chief Constable of Metropolitan Police, with Chief Inspector Cole (S Division), and Detective-Inspector Bannister, of the Criminal Investigation Department, afterwards arrived at Hampstead, having been apprised of the occurrence by telegraph, and joined Inspectors Collis and Wright in diligent inquiries in the neighbourhood where the body was found, in quest of a clue to the murderer. In searching near the spot about midnight a bloodstained brick was found, with which it is thought the deceased woman may have been first stunned. There was also a theory, which soon found favour with the police, that she might have been murdered elsewhere, and conveyed to this spot. This theory received support by the discovery next morning of a blood stained businette perambulator at St. John's-wood. The deceased is described as about 32 years of age, height Mt. sin., dark complexion, dark hair, blue eyes. She had no money in her pockets, and was without bat or bonnet. She was wearing an imitation astrachan jacket, a black cashmere dress, two petticoats, a white woven underbodice, blue woollen stockings, and her linen was marked "P. H." in red cotton. She a'so wore a metal brooch in the shape of a "true lover's knot"