DEAD IN HER BATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

DEAD IN HER BATH

Coroner Recalls Notorious Crimes

fpHE "brides in the bath" murders were recalled by the South London coroner, Mr. A. Douglas Cowburn, at. a Cambenvell inquest on a woman who, wearing a nightgown and with a scarf tied tightly round her neck, was found dead in a bath full of water at her home. Mr. Cowburn told the jury: "These cases are very important. Whenever a person is found dead in a bath the most stringent inquiries should be made, and there should be the closest examination of everyone concerned. "It may perhaps be within your memory that one of the most notorious criminals of the twentieth century managed to dispose of several women in baths before he eventually and happily was brought to justice." A verdict of "Suicide while the balance of her mind was disturbed"

was returned on Mrs. Elizabcth Acnia Baker, aged 59, known as Clark, Qi Comber House, Comber Grove Urnberwe 11. the jury adding tlwt the?wer< satisfied there had been no foulp'ay. Mrs, Elizabeth Annie Steednian, _ Brixton said that about two I s ca J S i.„f rt her mother hurt her arm, and had beett receiving hospital treatment , since. It was always causing her gr pain, and made her depressed and ried. Her mother received lUs weekly from the relieving officer. Mr. Cowburn: Slio was in no Man cial want? —No, • "Stupid Idea" When a policeman said that the bath had no overflow outlet, Mr. Covbu commented, "What a very st p C Charles Baker, of Cambenvell, said that lie and his wife had decided « part mutually because there was noi enough room in the house for tn solves and their .childron. lhev u on perfectly good terms, and he used see her every da v. Answering Air. Cowburn, lie saw that ho did not think his wife com mitted suicide. He. said that his vnf alwavs woro a scarf indoors. Evidence was given that after w»te had been seen coming: through * ceilings below Mrs. Baker s l flat, t caretaker's wife was called.' and sji found the woman submerged m batlf. Water was overflowing. Ihe scarr was bound round Mrs. Baker s »ec several times and tied tightly. ■ Recalled, Sirs. Steedman said Jba® her mother had an insurance pchevt lr £9 12s, which was taken out inl Mr. Cowburn commented, In t other caso it .was found instiran policies had been taken out oil til lives shortly before death, but t policy is in a different category, • - causes it was taken out in 1920. I J . . not leave a stone unturned in case" - - Dr. A. R. Moore, police surgeon, saiathat he found no marks Made bv scarf, but in the front of *^ rtrtS there were four or five sharp abrasion? as if an attempt had been made w. cut the throat. .I..™;**, On making a post-mortem - tion, he found evidence of a stro * irritant like carbolic having been taM?« shortly before death. The "Brides in the Bath" during the present century. "C Joseph Smith was executed ™ A 4 - 13, 1915, for the murder °f Beatrig Munday, and he had committee •. . least two other similar.crimes. ,