Thursday, April 17th, 1876

A MYSTERY. - In the neighbourhood of Chelsea, yesterday it was reported that a robbery and murder had been committed at No.46, Maude-grove, in that parish. This house, it seems, had been kept by a Mrs. Porter, 26, a widow, who, although in good circumstances, has been in the habit of taking in lodgers. For about two months her drawing-room floor has been in the occupation of a Mr. and Mrs. Wallace. On Wednesday evening last Mrs. Porter complained of faintness, but, as she had been subject to fainting fits, little notice was taken of it. She, however, became worse, and Mr. Whitfield, surgeon, of 21, Hollywood-road, West Brompton, was sent for and prescribed for her. On Thursday she was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, the former stating that he was going out of town, and Mrs. Wallace expressing her intention to accompany him to the Charing-cross Railway Station. A cab was fetched, and in the presence of one of the servants the driver was told to drive to Charing-cross. Since then Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have not been seen nor heard of. They took with them several large boxes. Soon afterwards Mrs. Porter was found dying, and with what seemed to be the mark of a blow over her left temple. She appeared to be anxious to speak, but was unable to do so, and died the same night. A large quantity of jewelry was then missed, including a ring taken from the deceased's finger. A gold watch and chain had been taken from her room, besides a Cashmere shawl. Mr. Whitfield made a post mortem examination, but on Saturday night he was unable to certify as to the cause of death and the contents of the stomach have been sealed up to be analyzed. Mrs. Porter's son, aged five, states that just before Mr. Wallace went away he saw him "romping" with his mother. The inquest will be held by Dr. Diplock to-morrow.

Times, April 19, 1876

After the inquest, which was opened yesterday and adjourned for eight days, the circumstances attending the death of the late occupier of 46, Maude-grove, Chelsea, remain as mysterious as ever. The proceedings at the inquest were very brief; the Coroner's work had fallen into arrear after the Easter holydays, and he could not spare much time. The analysis of the contents of the deceased person's stomach had not begun. On Saturday the police made inquiries to find the cabman who drove the suspected persons to Charing-cross Station on Thursday night, and these investigations were successful in an hour or two.
    It is now known that the persons on whom suspicion has fallen, Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace, lost the train on Thursday night. It has also been ascertained that they left next morning at 7.40 for Brussels. The serious character of the occurrence was not appreciated till the father of the deceased made it certain on Saturday that there had been a robbery of jewelry. The following description of the persons suspected has been circulated abroad and at home:- William Wallace and his wife. - 1. Age 42, height 5ft. 10½in., complexion dark, no whiskers or beard, moustache black, hair parted in centre, lost two joints of a third and fourth finger left hand; dress - dark cut-away coat and vest, gray mixture trousers, wears his hat on one side of his head and to the back; rolling gait; an American. 2. Age 30, height 5ft.2in., very stout, speaks with a foreign accent, near-sighted, and wears eye-glasses; dress, black merino, and apron, black hat with feather. The mutilation of the fingers of the left hand will be observed as an important means of identification of William Wallace. At the same time, it will be remembered that the evidence against this person and his wife at present only amounts to a presumption of guilt arising from facts which may possibly be explained.
    The deceased was married in America by her maiden name of Lydia Crosby to J.B.Chapman. Her husband, it appears, is living, and is detained abroad. The place of his detention is said to be Constantinople, and the Foreign Office is to be asked to use its influence to enable him to be released. Before Mr. and Mrs. Wallace lodged with Mrs. Porter, she consulted with her landlord as to receiving them. She said they had arrived from America, with a letter from a friend of hers there, asking her to help them in finding their way about London. They came in, and her father and the landlord say that they agreed to pay a guinea a week for the two furnished ground-floor rooms. Her father says that after coming in they did not pay her a penny in rent, and it is certain that she became anxious to get rid of them. The valuable jewelry which she wore testified to her pecuniary resources.
    Dr. Diplock, Coroner for Middlesex (Western District), opened the inquest yesterday at 46, Maude-grove. A jury of 15 was empanelled. Mr. Greatorex was chosen foreman and the body was viewed. An adjournment was then made to the Wetherley Arms, the space in the house being wholly insufficient.
    William Crosby, the father of the deceased, was the first witness. He lives at 21, Robert-street, Bethnal-green, and is a cabinetmaker. The name of the deceased was Lydia; she was the wife of Joseph Chapman, and 38 years of age. Joseph Chapman was a commercial traveller. Witness last saw her alive on Thursday the 13th, at her own dwelling-place, 46, Maude-grove. She was in bed and complaining of being poorly. One of the servants, or both, entered the room at different times while he was there. Mrs. Wallace while he was there came in and gave his daughter some medicine. She had some beef-tea sent up, and Mrs. Wallace gave her a portion of it. All the deceased said to witness was that she was poorly. He left at 7 in the evening, or it might have been a few minutes later; on recollection, it might have been half-past. It was a quarter to 8 when he took the omnibus home.
    Sophia Harvey was the next witness. She lives at 46, Maude-grove, and is a general servant. She had been in the employ of the deceased for rather better than a month. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace had been there about a week before she and her fellow-servant came. She knew the deceased as Mrs. Porter. The deceased was taken ill on Wednesday afternoon. She complained of sickness and of her head being giddy, but she did not go to bed. She was better towards the evening, but the next day did not get up at all. Witness went up at about 12 o'clock noon to see her. Witness asked how she was, and Mrs. Porter said she felt better. She had during the day some bread-and-milk, which Mrs. Wallace made and took up. That was about 1. After that Mrs. Wallace was up in the room during all the time. Witness did not go up again till about 7, when she took up a basin of beef-tea. Mrs. Porter said she liked it, and that she felt a little better. The doctor brought some medicine about 2 in the afternoon. He was fetched on Thursday morning. After 7 o'clock, after the tea had been taken up, there was a ring at the bell, and Mrs. Clift came to the side door in the front area to see Mrs. Porter. Witness went straight up and asked Mrs. Porter, who said she did not want to see any one, as she felt so ill. She then gave witness sixpence to fetch the evening paper. Before witness left the kitchen to go for the paper Mrs. Wallace went up stairs. When witness came back Mr. Wallace was looking over the landing. "Sophy," said he, "your mistress has had another fit." Witness asked if either of the servants should go up, but he said "No" and that Mrs. Porter was better then. Witness asked where Mrs. Wallace was, and he replied that she had gone for the cab. Witness asked again if they should go up, and he said again, "No." A little while after that Mrs. Wallace came back with the cab. Witness did no go up again till after Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were gone, about half-past 9, or a quarter to 10, as near as she could guess. Mrs. Wallace came running down to the kitchen and stood on the kitchen stairs and said as it was so rough she should go with Mr. Wallace to the station and return by 11.
    The CORONER. - Had their journey been spoken of before?
    Witness. - She said in the course of Thursday that her husband and she were going out for a week's holyday. A four-wheeled cab came to the door, and Mr. Wallace put the box out. When they got outside Mr. Wallace said, "Drive on quickly, for I want to get to Charing-cross." They had not been gone many minutes before the little boy cried out - Mrs. Porter's little boy. He was in bed by the side of his mother. Witness did not go upstairs for about half an hour after Mr. and Mrs. Wallace had gone. When she did her knocks were not answered. Witness went in and laid the paper beside the bed. Her mistress turned her head a little as well as she could; she was not quite dead. When witness got to the door she turned and looked at her again, and she dropped her jaw twice. Witness ran down stairs, and it was some minutes before she told the other servant how her mistress looked. They went up together, but she was dead.
    The CORONER. - Was she lying in bed covered up with bedclothes.
    Witness. - Her clothes were only covered up to her neck.
    The CORONER. - She was lying as a person ordinarily lies in bed?
    Yes.
     The CORONER. - Did you see anything disturbed in the room?
    No, Sir.
    By the Jury. - Mrs. Wallace did not give the deceased any beef-tea. She made the bread-and-milk. Mr. Wallace never attended to her. Mrs. Wallace was attending to her all day, even before 12. Her mistress said she felt sick after the milk. Mrs. Wallace went for the meat for the beef-tea. Witness and her fellow-servant thought it rather strange that they were not allowed to go up. When the little boy cried out, witness did not go up. She thought he was naughty and that his mamma was scolding him. He cried out, "Oh, mamma; Oh, mamma!"
    Was there a strange smell in the room when you went up? - Yes.
    Would you know it again? - Yes.
    Witness did not notice the absence of the rings till the woman was laying her mistress out. In the evening, when her mistress gave her 6d., she had a bunch of keys and a purse and a gold watch and chain under her pillow as she lay in bed. Witness went up with the woman who laid her out. Some chloroform being passed to the witness on a handkerchief, she said that was like the smell in the room when she went up.
    Mr. Thomas Whitefield, M.R.C.S., a registered medical practitioner, of 21, Hollywood-road, West Brompton, was the next witness. He met Mrs. Wallace on the morning of Thursday a little before 11. He had frequently seen her before. Mrs. Porter had been his patient for three or four years. Mrs. Wallace wanted him to go round to see Mrs. Porter, and said that she wished to see him as soon as possible. He went ten minutes afterwards and saw her with a slight cold and a little bilious fever. She was not in the slightest danger. He sent the ordinary medicine he was in the habit of sending her, and did not see her again till just before 11 o'clock at night, when Mr. Clift came and said he thought she was dead. He returned with Mr. Clift. Mrs. Porter was quite dead, lying on the left, with her face towards the door, and her arm slightly raised. He examined her body externally. There were only one or two small marks like bruises on the side of her nose and on her face. The features were perfectly placid; the mouth firmly closed. He made a post mortem examination on the Saturday in company with Dr. Thurston. There was a slight congestion on the brain, and a slight effusion in the ventricle - very slight. The pupils of the eyes were much dilated; the lungs were also congested; the stomach was much inflated, and the contents have been retained for analysis. All the other organs of the body seemed perfectly healthy. In his opinion, death was caused by suffocation, probably by chloroform. He judged from the marks on the nose and on the mouth. But from the other symptoms - the nausea - he was not sure that arsenic or some other irritant poison was not previously administered.
    By the Jury. - He expected their sending for him in the morning was to get his certificate. He never knew her to suffer from a fit. She was a very delicate woman. He ought to have said that her heart was in a very bad state. It was very small, flabby, and weak, and quite empty. She was suffering from heart-disease, and the least shock or fright might put an end to her existence. He never saw so weak a heart. It had no muscular power at all. He wondered how she had lived so long for the matter of that. He went and gave notice at the police station the same night. It was his impression that she had been for a long time under the influence of some irritant poison in order that the chloroform might accelerate her death. After finding she was dead, witness inquired for Mrs. Wallace, and then learnt that she had gone away. He might have given a certificate that she died in a fit if it had not been for the surrounding circumstances.
    The CORONER said he thought there should be a special analysis of the contents of the stomach, and suggested that the jury should address him in writing to that effect.
    The jury assented.
    The solicitor for the landlord, Mr. Clift, expressed his client's readiness to bury the body, if the burial order were directed to him. He added that his client was content to do this, although there was no money in the house, and the husband, who was believed to be abroad, could not at present be communicated with. His client would be compelled to resume possession of the house.
    The CORONER consented to give his order for burial.
    The inquiry was adjourned till Wednesday next at 3.
    The following is a description of the articles missing: - 
    "Two pairs of gold ear-drops, one set with seven small diamonds, one with large diamond in each, claw setting; two gold rings, one half hoop with three small diamonds, one plain, with large diamond in centre; a lady's gold watch, black enamelled back, inlaid with small diamonds; a long gold chair, curb pattern; a large round coral brooch; a camel's hair Indian scarf shawl."

Times, May 2, 1876

The inquest upon the death of Lydia Chapman, alias Porter, was resumed yesterday at the Weatherby Arms, King's-road, Chelsea, by Dr. Diplock, Coroner for Middlesex (Western District), with a jury of 15. Mr. C.M.Elborough, solicitor, appeared for the landlord of the house, 46, Maude-grove, in which Mrs. Chapman was found dead; Mr. Froggatt appeared, having been also present on Friday, instructed by friends of the deceased woman's husband, who is in prison at Constantinople; Chief Inspector Druscovich, Mr. Fisher, Superintendent of the Kensington District, and Inspector Shore, of Scotland-yard, attended on the part of the police. A verdict of "Wilful Murder" was returned against William and Louise Wallace, lately lodgers in the house of the deceased, and the Coroner immediately issued his warrant for their apprehension.
    . . . . Dr. Thomas Stevenson, M.D., F.R.C.P., lecturer on chymistry at Guy's Hospital and registered medical practitioner of 21, Caversham-road, St. Pancras, said that on April 21, 1876, he received from the hands of Mr. Thomas Whitefield, surgeon, the following articles, all carefully sealed, and in jars or bottles:- 1. a glass bottle, the mouth of which was covered and closed with brown paper. This was labelled "stomach and transcolon." The contents were a human stomach and a portion of the colon (large intestine). 2. A jam pot, covered and closed with brown paper, labelled "contents of stomach," which contained a turbid fluid. 3. A similar pot, labelled "liver," which contained nearly 6oz. of liver. He also received a brown paper parcel, containing a basin and dessert spoon, with some remains of food. He subject them to a minute examination and analysis, with the view of detecting the presence of poison or poisons. He could not detect the presence of any mineral poison or noxious substance in any of the viscera nor in the stomach's contents, nor could he detect in the same the presence of any known vegetable poison or noxious substance. He made special analysis for the detection of chloroform and other volatile compounds of a lie nature, but could not find any. But seeing that two days elapsed between the death and the post-mortem examination, and that during six days more the viscera were retained in vessels which would permit the escape of a such a volatile substance as chloroform, the negative evidence respecting the presence of these substances was by no means conclusive as to their non-administration. He had himself detected chloroform in the body of a person 24 hours after his death from the administration of that anaesthetic; but he was not aware that it had ever been detected in the dead body when many days had elapsed between the death of a person and the analysis. The basin and spoon contained a small quantity of adherent food, which was free from poisonous substances, and consisted of bread or toast soaked with beef-tea. The viscera themselves presented no appearances which enabled him to state what was the indisputable cause of the death of the deceased.

Times, April, 1876