Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1889-04-20 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE AT KENTISH TOWN. The neighbourheoel of Mansfield-road, Gospel.oak, Kentish-town—the border line between the London north-western districta of St. Pancras and Hampstead—was thrown into great excitement the other afternoon as the news spread of the occurrence of a shocking tragedy which had resulted in the death of two persons. It appears that a few days previously a young couple took apartments in the name of Mr. and Mrs. Evans at 123, Mansfield-road, a house in the occupation of Mr. W. P. Kimlt. The couple were both of very respectable appearance, but do not appear to have lived happily, as quarrels are said to have taken place on several occasions. On the morning of the day in question they were out together, and it is said that angry words passed between them. They returned to their apartments at the above address between half-past one and two o'clock in the afternoon, when an altercation took place between them in the front parlour. Directly afterwards the landlord and some of the neighbours were startled by the report of two pistol shots in rapid succession. Mr. Khult, the landlord, at once made his way into the room where the sounds came from, and there a shocking spectacle met his view. The man was found lying on the floor with a pistol-shot wound in the right temple, and grasping a five - chambered revolver in his right hand. The woman was in a sitting posture close by, with a pistol-shot wound in the left side of the head. Both were bleeding profusely, and the room presented a dreadful appearance. Dr. rimier, of Mansfield-road, was immediately called. Dr. Pepler attended to the wounds of the injured couple, but the man soon expired. By the doctor's orders the woman was taken in a cab to the North-West London Hospital, in the Kentish-town-road, where she died about 20 minutes after admission. Inspectors Davy and Somers took possession of the revolver found in the man's grasp, and discovered that two chambers of it had been discharged. The presumption is that the man shot the woman and then himself. The police also took possession of some photographs of the deceased, both of whom are said to be well-known members of the theatrical profession. The man is said to have been identified as Mr. W. Goldsmith Hunt, and inquiries were being made with a view of discovering the friends of the deceased young woman. Another account says that the murdered woman is believed to have been a member of a well-known theatrical company. It has been established beyond a doubt that the person who took the life of his paramour was Mr. W. Goldsmith Hunt, of 70, Charlwoodstreet, Warwick-square, Pimlico. Mr. Hunt, together with his victim, went and engaged apartments a few days ago in the name of Evans, at the house of Mr. Khult, 123, Mansfield-road, Gospel Oak. They stated they had been recently married, and usually dined at home. They seemed to be on very happy terms, and amongst their other belongings they displayed about their apartments their photographs. Mr. William Francis Khult is the landlord of the house in which the murder was committed-123, Mansfield-road, Gospel Oak, a main thoroughfare leading from the Highgate-road to South Hampstead. Mr. Khult has made a statement to the following effect regarding the occurrence .—About ten minutes to two this afternoon I heard the report of firearms proceeding from the front parlour, and I at once hastened thither. On entering the room I found Mr. Evans, as he was known to me, lying on the floor. His right arm was under him, and he was in a pool of blood. Mrs. Evans was sitting on the floor near the door. Realising the situation at a glance, I sent for the police and Dr. W. H. Papier, of 38, Mansfieldroad, who arrived quickly. Dr. W. H. Peeler, whose residence is nearly opposite the scene of the tragedy, in his statement, said 1 , was called about ten minutes to two to 1 123, Mansfield-road. On entering the diningroom, I found the body of a man lying prone on the floor. The right arm was under him, and he was lying in a pool of blood, with a wound apparently produced by a pistol-shot in his right temple. He died almost immediately from the effects of a pistol shot. When we turned the body over a revolver dropped from his right hand and fell into his hat, which was ,on the floor near him. On another part of the same floor I sow a woman in a sitting posture, reclining between a chair and a couch near the floor. She was unconscious, and was breathing heavily. On examining her I found a bullet wound on the left side of the head. She was still alive, and I dressed her wound, giving her into the charge of Police-constable Millard, 30 Y It, with instructions to convey her to the North West London Hospital, Kentida Town. I am informed that she died about 20 minutes after admission." Inspector Summers, of the Y division, was speedily on the scene of the tragedy, and took possession, on behalf of the Criminal Investigation Department, of everything that might have a bearing on the case. Among these articles were three photographs and the revolver. The photographs were those of the two deceased persons. The one of Mr. Hunt was a large one, measuring about 20 inches by 10, and depicted the head and shoulders of a yciang gentleman with a heavy moustache, and of ram .1 appearance. The other two photos were those of his victim, a young woman, whose age was apparently about seven-and-twenty, dark featured, and intelligent. looking. It was eiident from both pictures that she was a member of a theatrical company, one of them displaying her in n tights," and the other in the costume of a shepherdess. At the bottom of the latter picture was written in ink and in a bold hand the words, Miss Hulse Nilson, in Dorothy." The remains of the victims of this tragedy were removed during the evening to St. Pancras Mortuary in Cambridge-street, where they lay side by side awaiting identification and the inqueft.