Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-08-04 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE WALTRAMSTOW MYSTERY. ARREST GE VIII MAN 'BARBEE. About half-past nine on the morning of July 28th 'Bolice-constable Lye, 459 T, who was Ott point duty at liew-bridge' was informed that he was required at a coffee-shop kept by William G. ECancock, at 379, Old Brentford. Police-constable Lye, who was in conversation with Police-constable Rice, 131 T, immediately proceeded to the spot, but found on arriving that the proprietor had called in Police-constable Buchanan, 512 T, having communicated with the police 'for reasons explained below. On the preceding Tuesday evening, about seven o'clock, a man dressed in a dark grey cashmere coat and striped grey trousers, and wearing a hard round felt hat, came into Hancock's shop, and requested to be served with a cup of coffee and a slice of bread and butter. He presently asked whether he could be accommodated with a bed, and, on being answered in the affirmative, he went out for a short time, and returned at nine o'clock. Next morning he had breakfast. and left the house. The landlord's suspicions were aroused at the strange behaviour of his customer, who took the darkest seat in the room, and appeared to watch everyone who entered. Hancock also noticed that while the man ostensibly read the advertising sheet of one of the newspapers, he was in reality eagerly reading the news columns. Aboutnine o'clock on the Saturday morning the suspected man walked into the shop again. Hancock requested a gentleman who was passing to fetch a constable, as he had in his house a suspicious character; but, Police-constable Buchanan happening to pass in the meantime, he was called in. On seeing the constable the man immediately rose and walked away towards Old Brentford Church, but was followed; and, in reply to Buchanan's question as to who he was, immediatly replied, "Yes, I know who you want; I am Barber." While at the station he said that he did not adminster the drug to Mrs. French, but that she took a dose out of the bottle while he was serving in the shop, in order to relieve an attack of toothache. She did not seem to be a woman who would commit suicide. Be added, with great earnestness, that there never had been any improper relations between them; but on finding that she was unconscious from the effect of the chloroform he endeavoured to escape. He was brought before one of the local justices' and was formally remanded into the custody of Inspector Glasse, who conveyed him to Walthamstow. Barber, who was in a deplorable condition, unshaven and untidy, and without his vest, which he had pawned, on being searched was found to have only 2.1,4. in bronze upon him, besides the pawn-ticket of his waistcoat. On a further careful examination, however, Detective-Inspector Glasse discovered upon him a small bottle of fluid, which was afterwards stated to be prussic acid; and as with this he also had a written statement containing his version of "The Walthamstow Tragedy," it is thought that he contemplated committing suicide. The two statements made and the one found on the prisoner were taken charge of by Detective-Inspector Glasse, who, after the usual formalities, conveyed his prisoner to London by the earliest train, and thence to Walthamstow. On his arrival at the Lea Bridgeroad Police-station he was formally charged on suspicion of having sassed the death of Mrs. French by administering to her a noxious drug.