DREADFUL MURDER AND SUICIDE AT ISLINGTON.-THE SOCIAL EVIL.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 107, 29 October 1858, Page 4

DREADFUL MURDER AND SUICIDE AT ISLINGTON.-THE SOCIAL EVIL.

{From t/:e MXhing i'hron'-cle,'Juhi'7.) Yesterday another of those dreadful occurrences which have to often of late shocked the public mind in connection with the great question of "the social evil," was brought to light, amd caused a great deal of excitement and: sensation; in the parish of Islington and the immediate neighborhood, it haying, bebome known that a dreadful murder of a, female had been committed by a man who is at present unknown, and that the victim Wits' an "unfortunate," of the name of Miss Phillips, better, known in. the neighborhood as ;V.'Mrs. Cooke,"' residing at. .10 Parkstreet, Bar nsbury-road, a place of apparently great-respectability. ;,';; The circumstances connected with this case are of the most melancholy description, at once showing that the(commission of the dreadful crime was premeditated and actuated by jealously. Tlie unfortunate female was one of that vast number who swell the "social evil" of the metropolis;! but, 'although riot habitually in the ; Habit of throwing herself in the way of her admirers by common: parade* she was, to all intents, one of that number. Shehad made assignations,and thus privatelycarried on her means, of livelihood. . She was about 32 years of age, of somewhat masculine appearance, nothing particularly prepossessing in feature, but dressed fashionably and gaily; and although, it is supposed, under the : care of one gentleman, she received the attention of others. Her house was handsomely furnished, with pianoforte to relieve her dull and monotonous hours. It was not what was generally known as a "common," but as a "gay" house, and the neighbours affirmed that broughams, gentlemen on horseback, and others apparently moving in a, high sphere of society were constant visitors,.and that

a female lodger; had* 'tliere resided about; three months. A'wealthy tradesman: in the neighborhood was alao stated as being one of. her numerous admirers, and it was at first expected that the deceased was his son. A most melancholy portion of this tragic scene is that the male deceased, al-' though his mind must have been fully prepared to commit this dreadful murder and suicide, a short time:previously-to its commission actually accompanied a street-or-gan with his voice in its performance of the ''-Old Hnndreth," at the same time holding in his possession a loaded six barrelled revolver — the instrument with which he intended to carry out his murderous designs, and a new clasp handled knife with blade fully six inches in length. The cause unquestionably of this shocking affair was that of jealousy, as in the pocket-book of the man was found a document, on which the following words were written in a very legible hand :—" I. said it should not. last a twelvemonth. Mr. Elsmore and Mr. Horlicl. are to! blame, and I leave them to the everlasting curse ol» a dying man.'y.On the.back of the document there 'was written, "In Chancery. At the. suit of——/'verifying the supposition that the unfortunate man was attached tothe law. On searching the male deceased, in his pocket was found the portrait; of a, ballet girl, and in his pocket-book several poetical effusions illustrative his of love of female society were also found, as also several recipes and. matters connected with science. He was very fashionably attired, and from the connection of the female with himself, there did not appear to have been the slightest mistrust on her part, as on Thursday next there was an appointment existing.between them for an hour or two's enjoyment at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ptegent's-park. About 12; o'clock yesterday morning Mr. Inspector Judge, of the N division, was informed that something was expected to be wrong at the above house, in consequence' ofthe only other lodger in the house, a female of the name of Sarah Scott, not having seen her landlady, or " her friend,' about during the morning. In the most prompt manner Mr. Judge, accompanied by Sergeant Wiiheriuyton, 24 N, and Policeconstable Ryan,- 175 N, proceeded to the house in question, and, having knocked at the-back parlor door, could not gain admittance. Finding that the door could not be forced the inspector directed the constable to procure a ladder, which having been done an entry by the back parlor window''was effected. In that small room, about 8 feet by 10 feet long, a most horrible sight met their gaze. On the bed was discovered the lifeless body of a young man, fully dressed, with a revo'ver having'still three charges in it, weltering in blood, and by his side the victim of his jealousy,-'dreadfully wounded and quite dead. The top; part of" the bed and - the floor presented a very dreadful appearance, both' being literally covered with blood. """'■' ■''-"'

The only locger at present in the,house, a Mrs. Sarah Scott, who states that she is a married woman, but not residing with her husband, informed Inspector Judge that she only knew the deceased man by hearing the unfortunate female call him " Her dear Henry." Last night he came to see her, and had with them some "old torn." She left, them as usual sitting in the parlor, and then retired to rest, her bedroom being on the floor immediately over that in which the tragical occurrence happened. She being a sound sleeper was nor disturbed in the least during the night, and in the morning got up and and went down stairs about 9 o'clock. She went about the house and did her work in . the ordinary manner, and when she had finished was rather surprised that she had seen nor heard nothing of either party. She knocked at their door for some time, and and not receiving any answer/went up stairs, and feeling alarmed sent for the sister ofthe deceased. The.sister, Mrs. Lorenzo Philips, residingat 19Trinity-street, in the immediate neighbourhood—-a street which it may be mentioned does,not stand in very good repute —shortly afterwards -arrived, and tried to break open the door, but without avail, and the police were then sent for. Although it may be positively stated that i three shots were fired, Mrs. Scott says that she never heard the least noise or disturbance whatever. Mr. Judge at once sent off for medical assistance, and Mr. Wilson, surgeon, arrived shortly after one o'clock, and proceeded to make an examination of the bodies. Mr. Wilson found on the female two pistol wounds above the left ear, each wound being ajxmt'ah inch from the other. There ,\yas ,a .great, amount, of eftusionyof blood under the left eyelid, which caused it to have the appearance; of Ivai'ing received a severe blow, with rigidity of the body, showing the deceased had been dead some hours ; the body, however, at the time being a little warm. On examining the body of the female lie found no; external marks of violence,, although this cannot be clearly ascertained until the post mortem can take place. It may be stated that the deceased had every appearance of being pregnant, although thiscould not be easily ascertained, ias the deceased was lying on her back, and j the police at present could not allow the j bpdies to be removed. On examination of the body of the man, it was discovered that; both his hands were much contracted^ and one of them was blackened by the effects of the jibwdef. : The police took the revolver which was firmly clenched in deceased's right hand, and, on removing it, proceeded to examine the body as to the spot of the mortal wound. .This was. not a matter of much time, for although the escape of blood j presented a frightful appearance, yet its ! source was easily and at orice to" be traced, | a large pistol-shot wound with laceration of ..the. integu.ments. being found in the. Iront of the forehead, the wound penetrating", the skull. Mr. Wilson's opinion is that the deceased.must have placed the pistol direct to.lits forehead, and, without a moment's; thought, have discharged it, the ball passing into the-skull, and^completely shat-

tering the brain. No t mark of the ball could be observed as having passed through the back of the head. The mouth was next. examined, for the purpose of ascertaining whether tho deceased had placed the pistol therein, but from the appearance presented, there is not the slightest reason for so supposing, as the teeth are not the least disturbed, nor the mouth blackened or smelling of powder. There is. every reasonable, belief that the man destroyed himself in the way described, and that deathmust have resulted instantaneously. From the calm and composed appearance of the unfortunate woman, the supposition is that her life was taken during sleep, as she was lying in bed undressed. ~ That the noise of the explosions was; heard is plainly proved by the following statement volunteered by a female residing three doors off, and which was given in.our reporter's hearing. , The deponent said: — "This .morning,: about two o'clock, I was sitting up in bed with the face-ache. It was lightning at the time. I heard a report, vvhi.-h I at first thought was thunder, although it did not sound .sqystrong, and it caused the dog to bark. About two minutes afterwards.l heard; a second'report, and! after the same interval had elapsed T heard another. After that, all wasquiet." ' ,<3ther; and closer neighbors, it may be remarked, also heard the noise of tlie explosions. X,. As the deceased man is not known we; give the following description, of., him,! premising that ; -the^ whole of. his l.inenj is marked: " H.RJI." He isratheiythin,: of light complexion, about 5 feet 10 inches; in height, has 'light and -bushy whiskers,; grey eyes, perfect teeth, and hair light and; and inclining to be sandy. Hewas dressed] in Tweed pepper-and-salt coat,,black Tweed^ waistcoat; and doeskin trousers, with, a; plaid pattern, and stripe down, the side.; J.lis necki ie is what is general ly known as the " Cambridge blue," and; he had a brown tourist's hat without the maker's nfme. ; .- ■ ~y [ The revolver, whi'his not a new one,, is a six-barrel one, also .without theinaker's name.