Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1888-08-04 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE WALTHAMSTOW MYSTERY.  BARBER BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. William Barber, the cbernist'e Wi,Ml.l.lth who is sop. posed to be concerned in the strange death of Mrs. French, at Walthamstow, was arrested by the police just after he had left Hancock's coffee-house at Brent ford on Saturday morning. He was dejected, and miserable in appearance. At the police-station he admitted his identity, and besides handing over to the inspector on duty a written statement relative to the mystery, he made a verbal statement, to the effect that he did not administer the drug to Mrs. French, but that while he was serving a customer in the shop she took a lose out of a bottle to allay het toothache. He added: "I do not think she meant to poison herself—she did not seem to be a woman who would do so. We were great friends, but there was nothing improper between us. I tried to restore her, but failed, and I ran away in the excitement of the moment. I did not exactly know what I was doing." Before leaving 13rentford, Barber was searched, and on him WWI found 2id. in bronze, a pawn ticket relating to his waistcoat, and a bottle of prussic acid. It is presumed from this that Barber contemplated suicide' and that he had intended his written statement to be found on his body when he was discovered dead.  At Stratford petty sessions, on Monday, Barber was charged on suspicion of having caused the death of Annie Mary French by administering to her a noxious drug. The court, which was opened at 10 o'clobk,was crowded long before that hour. There was a full bench of magistrates, Captain Kindersley being in the chair. The accused was placed in the dock, and when the clerk read the charge he sobbed audibly. The husband of Mrs. 1; rench was present. Mr. T. Bore represented the accused. Detective-inspector Glasse informed the bench that he should offer only sufficieat evidence to support a remand until Saturday. Frederick Pbayle was examined and said: I am an errand bob' in the service of Mr. Hamilton, *to is a chemist at Walthamstow. 1 have been employed there for two years. No one but myself and the prisoner. were employed in the shop. I sometimes saw Mit. French, the deceased woman, go into the shop. She used to come twice a day, generally about 11 o'clock. It was during the last nine months that I have seen the deceased call. She came as a customer, and when she arrived the prisoner used to send me out. He always did so when Mrs. French called, but not when other customers came. The deceased and prisoner sometimes sat down in the parlour. I never saw the prisoner take any liberties with Mrs. French. The last time I saw the deceased was Saturday week. It was a quarter past 3 in the afternoon. She had been there the same morning; but I don't know how long she stayed on that eacasion. That day! was sent with a note for the deceased, given me by the prisoner, and I was to go for his dinner at the- same time, The prisoner instructed me to give the note to Mrs. French,bnt not if Mr. French was in the kitchen.! found Mr. French in the kitchen, and I did not deliver the note. The note was sealed in an envelope, but there was no name or address]. I placed it in my pocket, brought it back, and gave it to the prisoner, telling him that Mr. French was in the kitchen. The prisoner then said I was to ,keep. it I back, and he sent me to my dinner. On ply return at 10 minutes to 3 o'clock, the prisoner again sent roe with the note and gave me similar instructions to those given earlier in the day. I saw. the deceased the second time: she was alone in the back kitchen of the house. I gave her a plate which I bad brought back from the prisoner; I also gave her ' the note. I asked," Is 'there anything to go back." Deceased said, "Tell him, yes." I returned and gave prisoner the answer. He said, "That's all I right," and then sent me- for a shillingsworth of brandy. As! was going for it I saw deceased enter 1 the shop. This waa about a quarter past 3. When I came -back the fri,nt door was closed. I do not I know whether it will loeked. I knocked at the side-door. The prisoner told me to do so whenever I fetched beer. When 1 knocked on the present occlslon the prisoner opened the side-door. He seemed rather dull amd strange. • I had observed the prisoner's dulness and strangeness diming the whole day. I bad fetctied liquor for him earlier in .the day. Afteir-delivering the brandy I was sent home. I returned in the evening. The front door was then fastened. • I scaled the back wall and went into the room witere I found the deceased on ,the conch. Her dress was unbuttoned at the top. Besides, her cape at umbrella. I saw a bowl: of water with a cotton handkerchief in it, a syphon of soda-water half-full, ,a,ttirnbter, and alottle in which I had bronght,the brandy. John ines Patchiott, aged 9 years, the son of W. J. rate pO, biatcher, deposed: Last Saturday week, at in the, afternoon, I saw the prisoner at his shop door. I saw him go ,some distance, as far as Mr. Farn;ers...He then returned and locked the-shop door, and then went in thealirection of James-street. The .prisoner was remanded till Saturday. •  ' -TUE FORStER