THE ELACKHEATH MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8878, 14 May 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ELACKHEATH MYSTERY.

OPENING OF THE INQUEST.

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.

Mr. Carttar opened an inquest ab the Green Man Assembly Rooms, Blackheath, on March 27, on the human remains found buried under a laundry at Dartmouth Hill House, Blackheath, and thought to be those of a Mrs. Eliza Smith or Flabbell, who mysteriously disappeared at Christmas, 1870. Recently, in excavating for building purposes, some workmen found a skeleton, which was taken charge of by the coroner's officer, Police-constable Hayward, awaiting inquiries which have been made during the past few weeks, with the result that the coroner ordered an inquest. The woman, whose remains those discorered are supposed to be, was the wife of a gardener named Smith, who lived in a cottage in the grounds of Dartmouth Hill House. She mysteriously disappeared, and subsequently her husband advertised in the daily papers for her. A letter and a telegram from Brighton were received, purporting to come from Mrs. Smith, but) it was stated that the woman who handed in the telegram did not resemble Mrs. Smith. The ekeloton is in a state of excellent preserration. Before taking evidence the coroner and jury proceeded to view the remains, which were lying in a greenhouse near the place where they were found. Benjamin Budd, 73, Dacre-streot, Lee, gave evidence of the discovery of the remains. Ho did not recollect the date when he found the bones, but it was about two months ago, when ho was digging the foundations of a house. Ho laid the bones aside, and told hi? employer, Mr. Kennard. The house had not been taken down, but a brick wall remained on either side of the place where he found the bones. Ho dug Aft deep. Questioned by the coroner, witness said ho believed he saw Smith in Greenwich twelve years ago. The man had a peculiar walk—one leg being shorter than the other •—the result of an accident. Reginald Stirling, florist, of Mordenhill, Lewi?ham, said he knew Dartmouth Hill House, which was recently demolished Mrs. Cut bill vras the last tenant, and died six years ago. He had looked after the Premises. Mr. Cbill died in 1865 or ISO 6. 'here were three maid servants, and a gardener who lived in a cottage in the grounds. He knew him as Fred Smith, and had known him two or three years prior to 1870. Ho knew Smith's wife, but not so well as Smith. He believed he saw the latter twelve or thirteen years ago at Greenwich, but it was at night, and he was not certain. He recognised him by his peculiar gait. He last saw the wife in December, ' IS7O, in a yard adjoining the premises they occupied, and throe weeks or a mouth beforo her disappearance. Mr. Stirling added that Mrs. Smith's disappearance ! created surprise at the time, and the police j made a search of the ground?. He believed Mrs. Cutbill objected to a further search of the premises. He never addressed Smith on the subject of his wife's disappearance, and Smith never mentioned the matter to him. Smith left Mrs. Cutbill's in February, 1871. On February 6th last he went with a friend to Dartmouth Hill House, and the friend's dog began scraping the earth, and picked out a bone, which ho believed was the lower part of the backbone. Bones of the right arm, ribs, side, and right shoulderblade were also found. The police came and continued the search, discovering more bones. They appeared to be in fairly good order. The house was 150 years old. A - thoroughfare known as Back Lane or Cutthroat Lime ran at the back of the grounds of Dartmouth Hill House. Smith would have the run of the place night and day, and by placing a short ladder and crossing the flat roof of the scullery could gain access to the laundry containing the copper. He never knew of any quarrels between Smith and his wife. He could not say that he could recognise anyone in court as answering the description of Smith. Ha heard that Smith and his wife did not live happily together. Mrs. Cutbill lived in comparative seclusion. Smith kept several pigs. Eliza Ann Thomas, the wife of a labourer, of 38, Little Queen-street, Dartford, said that her mother lived at Dartmouth Hill House in 1870, having married a second time four years previously. Her husband was Frederick Smith Flabbell, the gardener to Mrs. Cutbill. Witness did not reside with them, but paid frequent visits to their cottage. At Christmas, 1870, she received a letter from her mother, asking her to go and see them during the holidays. On December 27 witness went, and found that her mother was not at home. Her stepfather said that she had gone away for a week's holiday, which the witness thought was extremely strange. About a week later her stepfather called on her and said his wife " had taken her hook," and that he was going to look for her. On January 5 witness received a letter from him saying : " I received a letter from your mother this morning. She says she shall never come back, but I think she will. If you hear anything of her let me know at; once." During the next month several letters reached her from Smith, who informed her that he had advertised in the Times and the Telegraph, but had heard nothing of the whereabouts of his wife. Her mother used to wear large beads round her chignon, and on the coroner producing a string of beads witness at once identitied them as being similar to those worn by her mother at the time of her disappearance. Henry Goodwin, of 77, Albyn Road, St. John's, a retired detective-sergeant, stated that at the time Mrs. Smith disappeared he made inquiries into the matter. He ascertained that quarrels had frequently arisen through jealousy. Mrs. Smith accused her husband of paying too much attention to one of the other servants. Witness interviewed Smith, who said that on Christmas morning, about two o'clock, he was returning from seeing to the fires at the ferneries when his wife met him with a naked sword in her hand, and said, "I thought I might catch you with that b—. If I had I would have run this through you." A struggle ensued, and his wife fell to the ground. Next morning he found her missing, and did not know where she had gone. Witness searched the house, examiner! a bloodstain on the floor, and the blade of the sword also had blood upon it. Later on Smith said that he had received a telegram from his wife, who was coming home. Witness replied that he should be very glad to see her, but was afraid he should never see her alive again. The telegram was as follows :— "From Mrs. E. Smith, Brighton, to Miss Harrison. Dear Sarah,—Please ask Fred to forgive me. I shall be up in a week or so, and I will then tell you where I will meet you." A lob of correspondence ensued, •which merely resulted in the postmaster of Brighton saying that he believed a woman handed the telegram in. Witness was of opinion that he should be able to recognise Smith if he saw him, but failed to identify him as being in court. James Miller, of 26, Essex Place, Blackheath, stated that he was frequently employed by Mr. Cutbill prior to 1873, and new tho Smiths well. Mrs. Smith was a very good woman, and one that nobody could find fault with, but Smith was not a very good character. Witness last saw Smith alive about eighteen years ago, when he had his face injured, and accounted for it by saying that it had been done by some of the lunatics at Brentwood. The witness was requested by the coroner to look round the court to see if he could see Smith. After gazing about the witness said, " Well, 1 should not like to swear to anybody, but that is a good representative of him over there," at the same time indicating the witness John Smith. Questioned as to his reasons, the witness said thabhe recognised Smith by his general appearance and limping gait. William Gotta, of 1, Scrooby-street, Catford, formerly a coachman, stated that he bought eight chairs, a sewing machine, a clothes-basket, and sundry crockery from Smith after his wife's disappearance. Witness noticed the bloodstain on the bedroom floor, and also that the side of the bed was bloodstained. Witness went several times to the house to buy the furniture, and noticed that a lot of rags and paper appeared to have been burnt in the grate. Witness once heard that a wedding ring was found in the grate. Smith was a very passionate man, and once picked up a chopper and killed a pig because it was 4 ? rooting" about. Witness could not see Smith in court. . George Thomas, of 38, Little Queen-street, Dartford, a general labourer, deposed that Smith was his father-in-law. About a fortnight after Mrs. Smith disappeared witness asked Smith whether he had seen his wife, and he replied that h© had nofcj &nd did not

expect her to come back. Some days later Smith said to witness, " What do you think about mother ?" and witness replied, "There's only two know where she is, and that is you and the Almighty." Smith buried his face in his hands and sat silonlly by the fire, Police-constable Frank Hayward, 412 R, coroner's officer, deposed to the finding of the bones, which he kept in his possession until Wednesday last, when they were examined by Dr. Garson on behalf of the Home Office.

John Harrison, house decorator, of 20, Maxdale-street, Spepherd's Bush, deposed I that Mrs. Smith was his aunt. On the Sunday after she was missing Smith called on witness and asked if his wife had been there, saying, in excuse, that they had had a few words, and that she had left in a tiff. Later on Smith spoke about putting an advertisement in the Times to see if he could trace his wife. From that day to this witness had never seen anything of Smith, but was sure he could recognise him. ]No one in court bore any resemblance to Smith. On the 31st of March, IS7I, witness received a hamper containing various ornaments, but that was the last he heard of Smith. The jury decided to adjourn for a fortnight. I