THE CHELSEA MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10319, 19 December 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CHELSEA MURDER.

JURY RET URN, A VERDICT OP "WILFUL murder." The circumstances disclosed at tlio inquest into the mysterious death of ' a ; yoUng woman named Francos Caroline Mortimer, of 290, King's Road, Chelsea,'were of a peciilial' and pailiful description. Slie was the daughter of the Into Air. Mortimot, a civil and military engineer, whose widow now resides at 25, Bryniistoi) street, Portmail Souaio, but for some unexplained reason she left her home three or foUr years ago, with the intention of earning her own living. Shu was by ( turns a music teacher, a masseuse and mariicurisb, "super" at Dnity Lane Theatre, and a clerk at a music and dramatic Agency carfied oil at 33, Strand. The inquiries prosecuted by Scotland Yard also discloses that she had at the same fciino for several months lived with a Japanese, known us lvatioku, at Chelßea. They parted towards the end of last year, and she went into lodgings at 290, King's Road. She took with her a quantity of furniture, .Which she had obtained oil tho hire system, and for which Mr. Jackson, and of the proprietors Of the music arid dramatic agency where she secured employment as a chirk, became surety. In August slio left thu'i situation, and thou her. peonniary position became parlous. Site fell in arroar with her rent, and had it not been for tho kindness of her landlady would often have gone without good. On Oebober 1 slio fell ill, but for .some time refused medical assistance. .Eventually she consented to see a doctor, and namod Dr. fiUinloy, who . practisos in King's Road, That gonblemmi told tho coronor that lie was surprised to find in his patient ono who had, Rome eighteen. months previously, been introduced to. him by KaMoka at the Cafe Royal, Regent-street, as Mrs. Howard. She told him that she had had a fall in the Hay market a short time before, which had had serious results upon her condition, and when death occurred two days after lie certified that slio had died from peritonitis, arising therefrom. Acting upon secret information, "Police - sorgoano Adie (tho coroner's olfiuor), however, steppod in, discovered the collided body at an undertaker's, and stopped the funeral until a post-mortoin had boen held. Dr. Pepper, tho specialist in feminine complaints, con--1 ducted this, and oaino to the conclusion that death had resulted from an illegal operation. Dr. Luiuloy, who was present, agreed with this conclusion, and expressed to the coroner his regret that ho should have been led into committing an error. A commercial traveller namod Tomlin came forward to state while residing at 32, Shaftesbury Avonuo, he saw Miss Mortimer visit Dr. Lnmley, whooccupiod a flat there, _on sovoral occasions, somotimes with Katioka, and on others alone. Dr. Lumloy told him tho lady lived at Fiilham, and he had visited her there. Dr. Lumloy, on the other hand, denied tho accuracy of this statement. A photo of the young woman, depicting licr roolinitig in an armchair in a luxuriously-furnished apartment, was produced, and tho doctor denied that a somewhat indistinct portrait hanging over the mantolpieco in tho picture was in* tended for him. A gentleman known an " Mr. J." was spoken of us having called at Miss Mortimer's lodgings, once during her lifetime and .twico since her death, and Sergeant Auio said ho found him to bo Mr. Jackson, tho • surety for tho furniture. When he called at tho offices to secure this Mr. Jackson's attendance at the inquest the pirtnor told him that he was at Cambridge superintending the production of a new play, The coroner thereupon lined Mr. Jackson £3 unless ho could givo a reasonable exouse for his non-attendance. The jury eventually returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against eome person or persons unknown," and the coroner emphasised tho necessity of tho police vigorously seeking to unearth the placo where it was evident illogal operations wore being regularly performed, this being tho second death from tho causo in Chelsea alone within tho short spaco of two months,