AWFUL DISCOVERY IN LONDON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 138, 12 August 1880, Page 3

AWFUL DISCOVERY IN LONDON.

HUMAN REMAINS CRAMMED INTO A CASK IN A CELLAR. ( From, the News of the World. On Thursday morning (June 4) a horrible discovery was made at the residence of Mr. Enriques, 139, Harley street, London, whose family have resided there for nearly a quarter of a century. The butler determined to clear out one of the cellars wich extend under the street. In this cellar there is a cistern standing upon four wooden legs, and under this there was a light wooden cask, together with a quantity of other lumber. On attempting to remove the cask, which was supposed to be empty, it was found to contain the nf n furmnem-. "pushed in head-foremost, and the legs afterwards pressed below the surface. The body, which was in a state of nudity with the exception of a garter upon the right leg, was very much decomposed, mainly owing to the action of a quantity of quick-lime which had been thrown upon it. It is thought that it must have been where it was found at least three years. Immediately on the discovery being made the police were communicated with, and Mr. Spurgin, the divisional surgeon from Marylebone Lane, was in attendance. The body was afterwards removed to the mortuary. The premises were visited by Mr. Howard Vincent, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard, who made minute inquiries, but failed to gain any information as to any person being missing from the premises. The cellar was only used for lumber, and was not kept locked or fastened in any way. LATEST PARTICULARS. The discovery in Harley street is in many respects on all fours with that which was made this time last year in Euston square, when the body of Miss Hacker was found buried in the coal cellar. In that case, however, the house was let out in lodgings, whereas the residence of Mr. Enriques is entirely a private residence, and is about fifty doors from the house until recently occupied by the Prime Minister. The butler who made the discovery has been in the employ of Mr. Enriques for eighteen months. Ever since he came into the service he has noticed an unpleasant smell emanating from the cellar, which was thought at one time to come from the closet, but this having been repaired, he determined to clean out the cellar. The tub, which has the appearance of an American flour barrel, was piled up with stone bottles. These having been removed, the cause of the smell was discovered. Harley street is one of the best streets in the West end of London.

On Friday Dr. Bond, who is generally called in by the police in such cases, with Dr. Spurgin, made a careful examination of the body, which lasted a considerable time. Dr. Bond likewise took away some portions, so that he might the more care fully examine them and give his opinion as to the cause of death, and also as to how long the body has laid in its late resting place. There is, however, very little doubt as to the remains being those of a women, as in addition to the garter found on the right leg, remains of a chemise and other underclothing have been found in the tub, although in a very decomposed condition. The hair, too, which does not dccompore under the influence of quicklime so rapidly, has been cut off, apparently for the purpose of hiding identification, but it is in one or two patches still on the head. The right leg is bent, and the hand is clenched. The inquest is expected to be opened on Tuesday at the Buffalo, in the Maryle-bone-road, before Dr. Hardwicko. The front teeth of the body found in Harley-street are very peculiar, being unusually short and having blunt ends, as if they had been sawn. The body is that of a woman between 40 and 50 years of age, in poor and probably unfortunate circumstances, of short stature, and having dark brown hair. It has been dead from eighteen months to three years.

[Since the Euston-square mystery was revealed no more shocking discovery has been made in London than the above. As far as the circumstances point to anything they indicate that a horrible murder has been perpetrated, although another explanation of the “mystery” may be yet forthcoming. The police, however, can find no trace of the murderer. It is not unlikely that the remains were deposited in the cellar when the house was unoccupied, possibly during the season when society goes out of town, and a close

scrutiny into the history of the household during the last three years might indicate the time when it would be easy for anybody to gain access to the cellar with the least risk of detection. The fact is cellars are very often, through forgetfulness, left unlocked ; and, if not in daily use, they thus afford an excellent hiding-place for the remains of a murderer’s victim. Discoveries such as those in Euston-square and Harley-street most vividly impress us with the fact that, in a great city like London, the streets may, for aught we know, teem with “mysteries.” Even in the most peaceful and respectable quarters there may be many quiet nooks, where the mouldering remains of some wretched pictim of passion or despair lie mouldering in the dark ; while around and even over the traces of terrible crime the tide of happy human life flows gaily and unconsciously on.]