Southend Murder Trial.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 156, 4 July 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

Southend Murder Trial.

Harry Read Deowned.

The body of Harry Read, brother of James Canham Road, the Southern* murderer, baa been found in the Regent's Canal, neat Globe Bridge, Bow. He is supposed to have commuted suicide. After his brother's death he became a 'bus conductor. Hit struggle for a respectable livelihood was severe, and he found ita advisable, to alter hia name to Horace Read. Just as he was beginning to feel confident thab he vras overcoming the obloquy which attached to him over, hia brother's crime, some indiscreet acquaint* ance made his real identity known, and a - loss of situation was the result. Latterly the influence of friends obtained for him * employment in connection with the local ; vestry elections. He is said to have left his lodgings in Skidmore-sbreeb on Saturday in good health and spirits, and did some active work, during the day. Late at nighb he called afc a fishmonger's shop in Canal Road, and the last seen of him was at a point) near the Gun maker?' Arms, Canal Uoad, at midnight on Saturday. When discovered his body was very much mutilated, bub the injuries may have been caused by canal barges. The tragic death of Harry Read closes a grim chapter is modern crime. Harry Read, with his brother, James Canham, played an important part ia what will always be remembered as the Soufchend murder. He it was who walked with Canham from Charing Cross to Whitehall, where the letter te Florence Dennis at Chatham was pasted. Thia was the fateful ■■- letter that made an appointment to meeb James Canham Read at Soufchend, the letter thab drew her there, and that) really sealed her fate. Thoush it was not proved in the trial, it was his violet pencil thab Canham used to indite one of the telegrams produced at the trial, and that helped to forge the chain of guilt around the murderer. When Jamea Canham Read became a fugitive from justice, and went under cover of the night to the little villa at Mitcbam where Miss Kempton lived, it was Harry Read who received the first intimation from him as to his whereabouts, and who was asked by his brother to go to the house in Jamaica-street and destroy the contents of the desk there.

It was Bhown ab the trial that Harry Read was privy to the double life led by bis brother, and that be had himself bean introduced to Miss Kempton ia the name of Edwards, while his brother passed as Mr Benson, a traveller to a firm of tea merchants. There was every reason to suppose thab Harry Read was perfectly well, aware thab hie brother had resided ab Mitcham for some considerable time, and, whether or nob a regular correspondence passed between the two, one letter ab least was produced ab the trial which he, in his assumed name of Edwards, had written to his brother. He was also acquainted with Mrs Ayriss and with "Florence Dennis, bufe ib may be remembered thab James Canham Read was eaid to bava bold his brother, ia reference to a remark concerning hie connection with the Ayrisa family,' Oh, bhab 4s all off now. It has been off for two , years.' ' Harry Read was a lew years younger ' than James, and both were regarded aa eraarb and intelligent men—quite men of the world in their own sphere. Of Canham Read's cleverness there was ample and evil proof, while Harry aa a witness also bore out the general impression entertained of him. He appeared in the box on the occasion of the trial in a new anifa of clothes a pink tie, and a flower in his coab. To hbo, tho expression most in vogue nowadays he was a well-groomed man. He was said bo be a clerk and commission agent). The pistol that played co important a part in the trial ab' Chelmsford assizes in November, 1894, was originally purchased by Harry-Read be shoofo himself. He had — --^ threatened to commit suicide affcor'being dismissed from a situation.