The Notting Hill Mystery Read online

  "The number and contents of these phials correspond exactly withthe prescriptions, &c., furnished by Messrs. Andrews and Empson,[3]and after the most exact analysis I have been unable to detect theslightest trace of either arsenic, antimony, or any similar substance. "I have the honour to be, "Your most obedient servant, "THOMAS WESTMACOTT, "Analytical Chemist."

  5.--_Statement of Henry Aldridge._

  My name is Henry Aldridge. I am a clerk in the employ of Messrs.Simpson and Co., City. In the summer of 1856 I came to lodge at Mrs.Brown's, in Russell Place. I did not come there first as a lodger, butas a friend of her son. I had known him in Australia. We were togetherin the same store in Melbourne, and got to be great friends. We did notcome home in the same ship. That is a mistake. I came home some weeksbefore he did, and was in Liverpool when he arrived. I think he came inthe Lightning, but cannot be sure. I used to board so many ships thatI can't call to mind. I was in a Liverpool house then for a time, andit was my duty to board every ship as she came up. I agreed to go withhim to London. I could not go directly, as I had to give notice to myemployers, but I was to follow him. He asked me to stay with him forhis wedding at his mother's house, and I did so. That was how I firstcame to Russell Place. After that he arranged with his mother for meto take a room regularly, and I was to pay so much a week, and so muchmore when I got a situation. I was not aware of the Baron making anyobjection. I saw very little of him. I slept on the floor above, andwas always very careful not to make any noise on account of Madame R**.She was ill, and I took particular care not to disturb her. I usedsometimes to be out late. I have been intoxicated in my life. Not veryoften. Not at all while I was in Russell Place. I have been out to myfriends while I was there, and have drunk wine and spirits, but neverto be the worse for it. I may have been merry. I don't say I have notbeen once or twice a little excited with wine. What I mean is, that Ihave never been in such a state as not to be quite conscious of what Iwas doing, and quite able to control myself. I am quite certain thatI never made the slightest disturbance, or could have done so withoutknowing it. That I will swear to. I believe the Baron accused me ofit to Mrs. Brown. He spoke to her several times about it, and wishedher to turn me out. She said she had never seen anything wrong, andcouldn't say anything till she did, because I was her son's friend.At last he got her to do it. The reason was that I was found by apoliceman on the doorstep at about twelve o'clock one night insensible.The policeman knocked and rang, and woke up the house, and the Baronsaid I was drunk. I was perfectly sober. I had had nothing whateverbut one small bottle of ale. The facts of the case were these, and Iwill swear to them. I had been kept late at our office with some heavycorrespondence, and had then walked home with another clerk from thesame office--William Wells--having taken nothing but one small bottleof ale, which I had at a public-house in High Holborn, as I felt quitetired. Wells had some brandy-and-water. He left me at the corner ofTottenham Court Road. When I got to Russell Place I tried to open thedoor with my latch-key, but the latch was fastened. I then rang at thebell, but could not make it sound, and the handle came out loose as ifthe wire was broken. I tried the key once more, and was just thinkingwhether I should not go to some place, as I did not like to disturbMadame R** by knocking, when the door was opened from the inside. Iturned round to go in when something was thrust into my face, and Ican remember nothing more. I must have fallen down insensible, and thepoliceman found me. This is the truth. I could not see who opened thedoor. There was a street lamp close to the area gate, but the personwas in the shadow. I cannot account for it. I made sure at the time itwas a trick of the Baron to get me turned out. I think so still, butam not so sure of it as I was. What I mean is, that, on reflection,I don't think it is certain enough to accuse him of such a thing. Iwill swear to the truth of what I have said. I will swear that I wasperfectly sober--as sober as I am now. My employers and Will Wells canprove it. I do not know why the Baron should have wished so much toturn me out. We never had words about anything. I don't think I everspoke to him but once. I mean not more than "Good morning," or suchlike. That was on the occasion about which I wrote to the AssuranceOffice after Madame R**'s death. It was one Saturday night. I had hada half-holiday, and had been up to Putney in a boat with some friends.We had drunk a good deal of beer and shandy-gaff, but I was not drunk.I was quite sober, though perhaps a little excited. Nothing to speakof. I got home at about eleven o'clock. I had a latch-key then, but thelock was hampered; and when I got back home I found the servant girlsitting up to let me in. I went up very quietly not to disturb MadameR**. I saw her bedroom-door ajar as I passed. The door of the room nextto it was wide open, and there was some sort of lamp burning. No onemoved or said anything as I went by. I took off my shoes to go moresoftly, but the house was old, and it was impossible to move withoutthe stairs creaking a little. The stairs below the Baron's room werestone and did not creak. I had a candle which I shaded carefully withmy hand. I went to bed, but I suppose I was over-tired, for I couldnot get to sleep. The night was very hot. When I had been in bed abouta couple of hours I thought I would have a good wash and see if thatwould cool me. I got up and went to the washhand-stand. I found thejug empty. The maid often forgot to fill it. I took the jug and wentout on to the landing to fill it at the tap. I went very softly, notto disturb Madame R**. As I got on to the landing, I saw some onecoming out of her room, and went to look over the bannister. From thelanding of my room you can see that of the floor below. I looked over,and saw that it was Madame R**. She was in her dressing-gown, but hadno candle. She went to the stairs, and there I lost sight of her. AsI watched her past the door of the other room, I saw the shadow of aman's head and shoulders upon the wall, as if somebody was watchingher. I leaned against the bannister to watch her, and it creaked, andthe shadow vanished directly. When I looked up again it was gone, andat first I thought it must have been fancy, but I am quite certainabout it now. I was only doubtful for the moment. It was so sudden. Icould swear to it now. I saw it perfectly plain. I saw it all the timeMadame R** was going down the first flight of stairs. About twelve ofthem. She was at the corner when I turned and leaned over to watchher. I felt convinced that Madame R** was walking in her sleep. Thestaircase was quite dark beyond the corner, and she had walked straightdown. I was afraid she would hurt herself, and went down to the Baron'sdoor. He was asleep; at least I had to knock twice. He then came to thedoor, and I told him what I had seen. He seemed a good deal annoyed,and at once took up the lamp, and went down stairs. I looked over thebannister, and saw him go down. From that place you can see rightdown to the door which leads to the kitchen-stairs. There is a glasspartition between them and the hall. I saw him go in at the door, and Isaw the light through the glass as he went part of the way down stairs.Presently he came up again, and stood back from the door while MadameR** came up past him, and walked up stairs, and he then followed her.When I saw her coming up, I went back to my own landing and lookedover. She went back to her own room, fast asleep still, as it seemed tome, and he followed. I heard whispering in the room, and then the Baroncame up to me. He thanked me very much for telling him, and said thatMadame R** had gone down into the kitchen, and was just coming out ashe got to the foot of the stairs. He particularly begged me never tomention it, as it might come to her ears and do her harm, and I havenever spoken of it to any one till I wrote to the Assurance Office.I had almost forgotten all about it when it was recalled to my mindby seeing that poor Madame R** had killed herself in a sleep-walkingfit. I then wrote. I had no malice against the Baron, nor have I now.I don't know why he tried to turn me out. I suppose he really thoughtI disturbed his wife. He was very fond of her, and I dare say he wasanxious and fretful about her. I was very angry at the time, but whenI come to think of it, I dare say I was hard upon him. He never seemedto bear me any grudge about what I had seen. On the contrary, he alwayssaid he was very much obliged to me. This is all I know on the subjec
t,and I can swear to the truth of every word. I am quite positive he saidMadame R** had been into the kitchen.

  6.--_Statement of Miles Thompson._

  I am a police constable. In August, 1856, I used to be on night dutyin Russell Place. I remember Baron R** speaking to me one night, andasking me to keep a look out as often as I could of a night to keep thestreet quiet. He gave me five shillings for my extra trouble. I was onthe beat one night about twelve o'clock when I saw some one lying onthe Baron's door-step. It was a young gentleman, and at first I thoughthe was dead, but found he was only insensible. I set him up against therailings, and was going to ring the bell, when I saw a latch-key in hishand. I tried it in the door and it opened it directly, and I took himinto the hall. I then knocked and rang till somebody came. The bellrang quite well. The Baron came down in his dressing-gown, and two orthree other people. I offered to go for a doctor, but the Baron saidhe was only drunk. I helped to carry him up-stairs, and get him intobed. The Baron gave me half-a-crown for my trouble. He seemed very muchannoyed, as was natural, and said he wished I had taken the young manto the station. I think he was drunk myself. He smelt a little of beer,but not much. I helped put him to bed, and went away. That is all Iknow.

  N.B.--By letters from Messrs. Simpson and Mr. Wells, Mr. Aldridge'sassertion that he was sober is borne out up to the time of thelatter's leaving him at the corner of Tottenham Court Road, certainlynot more than half-an-hour before he was found as above stated byPolice-constable Thompson. R. H.

  7.--_Statement of John Johnson._

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  8.--_Statement of Susan Turner._

  My name is Susan Turner. In August, 1856, I was general servant toMrs. Brown in Russell Place. I remember the night that Madame R**came down-stairs. I had sat up to let Mr. Aldridge in because thelatch was broken. Mistress broke it that afternoon. I don't supposethe Baron knew anything about it. Mr. Aldridge came in rather late. Icannot justly say the time. He was quite right. I mean quite sober.He went straight up to bed. I did not go up to bed. My young man wasin the kitchen. He is a very respectable young man upon a railway. Idon't know what railway. I know he goes to Scotland sometimes withhis engine, that is all. He is what they call a fireman. He was goingdown with a luggage-train somewhere that night very late, and came tosee me. Mistress didn't know he was there. He came in after she wasgone to bed. He was to start at two, and we sat till about one. Hewas just going away, and we were standing at the kitchen door when weheard somebody in the hall. I said, "Oh, Lor! that's missis." He said,"She'll be coming to look for you," and wanted me to go and meet herwhile he cut out by the area. I said no, that wouldn't do, by reason ofit being all glass and a gas lamp at top of the area steps.[4] I pulledhim along to the lumber-room. The lumber-room is behind the kitchen andthe cellar. There are some old boxes and things there, but nobody evergoes into it. I thought my mistress would not think of looking there.Just as we got to the door we saw somebody come from the hall anddown the stairs. I whispered to John, "Why that's not missis--that'sMadame." My mistress was very tall and stout, and Madame R** was smalland thin. I could see her as she came through the door, because therewas some sort of light in the hall. She came right down-stairs andpast where we were. She went right on into the little place at the endwhere the Baron kept all his bottles and stuff. She did not go into thekitchen. Not at all. I will swear to that. She went into the Baron'splace. The laboratory, I dare say it is; I don't know. It was wherethe bottles are. John and me crept to the window and looked out. Thewindow of the lumber-room looks right into the window of the back roomwhere the bottles are. You could see in quite plain. It was a brightmoonlight night, and there is a sort of tin looking-glass over the backroom window to make more light like. We saw Madame go into the roomand take a bottle from a shelf. She poured out a glassful and drankit. Then she put the bottle back in its place. It was the last in thesecond shelf. Then she went out again, and when we turned round we sawa light shining into the room from the kitchen stairs. It stayed theretill Madame had gone past our door again, and then it went up again.Just as it got to the top of the stairs I peeped out and saw it wasthe Baron. Madame was close behind him. I said to John, "Why, John,there's the Baron." He said he supposed he had come to look after hiswife. After they had gone John and me went into the bottle place. Wefound the glass on the table. There were a few drops of stuff in it.John and me smelt it, and it was just like wine. It tasted just likewine, too. Then we looked for the bottle. It was at the end of thesecond shelf. It was about half-full of stuff that looked like wine.There was something in gold letters on the bottle. I can't tell what itwas. It was "vin" something. I know that because John and me settledit must mean wine. I think I should know the rest if I saw it--[beinghere shown several labels, witness picked out the following "Vin. Ant.Pot. Tart." designating antimonial wine, a mixture of sherry and tartaremetic]--I am pretty sure that was the one. I remember it because theywere such funny words. I remember John and me joking about "pots" and"pies." The stuff in the bottle smelt just like wine. It was just likesherry wine. I did not taste that. John wouldn't let me. He said Imight go and poison myself for aught I knew. We put the bottle back andthen John went away. I said nothing about it to anybody. Not even whenMadame was taken ill that night. I was afraid by reason of John. I havenever said a word about it to any living soul till I was asked to-day.Certainly not to Mr. Aldridge, nor he to me. I will swear to the truthof all I have said. I am quite positive that Madame never went near thekitchen. I am quite positive that the Baron must have seen her comeout of the bottle place. He was standing with the candle in his handwaiting for her. That I can swear.

  N.B.--The statement of the "young man" referred to fully corroboratesthe above statement. The accompanying plan will make this witness'evidence more clear.

  _Plan of basement floor of Baron R**'s lodgings, RussellPlace._ A A Windows of lumber-room and laboratory referred to in theevidence of John Sanders and Mary Allen. B B Glass Partitions.]

  9.--_Copy of a letter from a leading Mesmerist to the compiler, withreference to the power claimed by mesmeric operators over thosesubjected to their influence._

  "_Dorset Square._

  "My DEAR SIR,--

  "... Many times after throwing Sarah Parsons into the mesmeric state,I have _willed_ her to go into a dark room and pick up a pin or otherarticle equally minute, and however powerless she might be at the timeout of the state was quite immaterial. My will and power being employedwas sufficient. Then, Mr. L----, a paralytic, under my influence,without losing consciousness or undergoing any recognisable change,has many times, with the lame leg, stepped up on to and down againfrom an ordinary dining-room chair. This of course was a masterpieceof mesmeric manipulation. I wish I could write more and better, but myeyes forbid * * * "With kindest regards, "Yours most truly, "D. HANDS."

  10.--_Fragment of a Letter found in the Baron's room after the death ofMadame R**._

  COMPLETED.

  ...On (?)te... pendrait n'e... st ce pas monp...auvre philippe? E...h bien parce...t enfant, ce pauvre ... petit ange (?)q... ui nous regarde du... haut du ciel,n'...est ce pas philipp...e et queno...us ne reverrons ja...mais, parce...t enfant je te le j...ure. Tu m'ensa...is bien capable j...e crois.En...core une fois, aujo...urd'hui c'estle... 13, le 15, de grand...matin jese...rai chez toi; il fa...ut que jet...e trouve seul, tu ... me comprends;se...ul au monde! n'... en saistu ... pas bien le moy...en?O...h! philippe je t'ai...me (je t'aime?)sa...is tu ce qu...e c'est qu'unef...emme ja...louse?
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  _Translation of above._

  (They) would hang thee, would they not, my poor Philip? Well, bythat child--that poor (little angel) who is now--is it not so,Philip?--looking down on us from heaven, and whom we shall never seeagain, by that child I swear it to you. Once more. To-day is the 13th.On the 15th very early in the morning I shall be at your house. I mustfind you alone--you understand me, alone in the world! Do you not wellknow the means? Oh, Philip, I love thee (I love thee). Knowest thouwhat a jealous woman is?

  11.--_Extracts from the "Zoist Magazine," No. XLVII., for October,1854._

  "MESMERIC CURE OF A LADY WHO HAD BEEN TWELVE YEARS IN THE HORIZONTALPOSITION, WITH EXTREME SUFFERING. By the Rev. R. A. F. Barrett, B.D.,Senior Fellow of King's College, Cambridge.

  * * * * *

  "In January, 1852, I was calling upon ----, when she happened to tellme that she had been in considerable pain for a fortnight past; thatthe only thing that relieved her was mesmerism; but the friend who usedto mesmerise her was gone.

  "... I continued to mesmerise her occasionally for some months....

  "_April_ 21 _st._--I kept her asleep an hour and a quarter in themorning and the same in the evening. She said[5] her throat lookedparched and feverish; at her request _I ate some black currant paste,which she said moistened it_.... She said, 'Before you ate, my stomachwas contracted and had a queer-looking sort of moisture in it; now thestomach is its full size and does not look shrunk, and part of themoisture is gone.'