Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-08-09 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY IN SOUTH  LONDON.  A startling discovery was made on Friday night at New Cross, when the wife of Dr. Knowloon Townsend, of 168, Lewisham High•road, was found lying dead at 14, Park-road, Amersham-road, New Cross, by the side of the dead body of Mr. De la Motto (whose name, however, does nob appear in the Medical Register). Some years ago Dr. Townsend, who is • handsome and robust man, took a medical practice at the corner of Manor-road, New Cross, living there in apparent comfort with his wife, and making himself personally popular throughout the neighbourhood. His was a well-known form in New Cross, and his company was welcomed in many local circles. Mr. De la blotto is a comparatively young man, of fair complexion, clean.shaven, except in respect to • reddish moustache, and of somewhat stout build. A familiar visitor to Dr. Townmend's house, he was regarded more like a brother than a stranger. Dr. Townsend's two boys, aged 9 and 11 respectively, testify to this by the freedom with which they were wont to treat him. ~)r. Townsend had, however, recently determined .0 retire from medioal practice in this country, and to leave, with his wife, for the United States. Dr. Ezard then occupied the house in the Lewisham - road, and attended Dr. Townsend's patients. About 13 weeks ago, when this arrangement Was made, a suite of rooms Was tsken by Dr. Townsend in the house tenanted by Miss Ann Cracknell, 14, Park-road, in which he and his wife were to reside until their depaiture. Here they lived until Friday evening, when the doctor left home in the best of spirits to join the steamship Ludgate Hill, which sailed for New York the following morning. Mrs. Townsend was to remain behind in older to see the baggsge safely despetolied, and to go on board on Saturday. An hour after the doctor had left two men drove up to the house in a cart—one a carman, and the other a friend who bad come over to assist with the boxes—for the purpose of conveying the luggage to the Albert Docks. On making their business known they were at once admitted, and proceeded under directions to the back bedroom on the first-floor. Upon entering the room, the carmen noticed Mrs. Townsend lying on the bed fully dressed, but apparently asleep, and De Is Motto in an insensible condition half - way under the foot of the bed. One of the men called attention to the peculiar colour of Mr. De la Motte's skin, felt his pulse, which was still, and expressed the opinion that he was dead. An attempt was then made to arouse Mro. Towns, nth but it was unsuccessful, and the fact then dawned upon those present that they were in the presence of death. Dr. Mitchell, who Ikea at the owner of Park-road, was at once sent for, but was not at home. In his absence Dr. Ezard Was summoned, but what opinion he expressed as to the cause of death has not been divulged. Poison, it is believed, was used for the commission of the crime, as there were no marks of violence observable on the bodies and no indication of • struggle in the bedroom. As soon oaths tragic occurrence was known the police were communicated with, and pmisession was taken by them of tine room._  It appears that upon Dr. Townsend leaving his wife on Friday afternoon he did not proceed to London, but went to 127, New-cross road, at which Mr. De Is Motto and se oral gentlemen who were friends of his and Dr. Townsond lodged. Here Dr. Townsend met some of his friends from the country. He saw Do la Motto at the house at half-past 5 o'olock, and thus, while Dr. Townsend was under De la Motto's own roof, De la Motto went forth on the visit to Mrs. Townsend 1% hich had so fatal a termination. It was at this house that Dr. Townsend received the first news of the death of his wife and Mr. De is Motte. For the pieeit he and his children have taken up their residence in the house in which De la Motto lived.  On Saturday afternoon Mr. E. A. Carttar, coroner for Wes! Kent, opened his inquiry at the Brown Bear, High-street, Deptford, the names of the deceased having been returned to him as Louise Townsend and William De la Motte. The bodies were viewed in the mortuary dose by. It was noticed that they presented similar morbid app :trances, datk violet markings being observable upon the chest of the man and the face and neck of the womm, and behind the ears of both. The woman, who was 33 years of age, was of medium height, dark and handsome, and the man, who was five years her junior, had been apparently of fine physique, and prepossessing. Formal evidence of identity having been given, the inquest was adjourned for a post-mortem examination of the bodies.  On Monday, Dr. Forsyth, of Greenwich, conducted a post-mortem examination upon the bodies of Mr. De la Motte and Mrs. Townsend at the mortuary, Deptford. There were also present the North Kent coroner (Mr. Gaither) and Die. Ezard, Roper, Shunt, and Taylor. The coroner said he must decline to allow anything to go forth till the resumption of the inquest. The affair seems to be now generally regarded as a double suicide, and the further investigation is aft in the bands of the coroner's officer, who is making such inquiries as will enAle lum to put all possible facts before the coroner at the adjourned inquiry. With a view to the discovery of letters or any other material document, it is intended, it is stated, before the resumption of the inquest, to open Mr. De la Motte's boxee, which are at present under lock and key.