A BRUTAL MURDER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 113, 13 December 1873, Page 3

A BRUTAL MURDER.

TERRIBLE MUTILATION OF THE BODY. •'t - - -

The mutilated body of a woman has been found in the Thames in a condition which leaves no doubt that she had been brutally murdered, hacked to pieces, and the parts thrown into the river. Constable Fane found the left upper quarter of a woman on the shore off Battersea Waterworks, and Fleury, one of the South Western Bail way police, found the corresponding quarter of the same body at Brunswick Wharf, Nine Elms. In-

spector Marley, of the T division, found under the second arch of Battersea Bridge a set of lungs. Another policeman found a lung near Battersea Railway Pier, and the skin of a woman’s face has been found near Limehouse, evidently having been stripped off to prevent identification. The various divisional police surgeons have minutely examined the parts of the body, and given it as their positive opinion that the body has not been dissected for anatomical purposes, but that it has been sawn and cut to pieces. The portions of the body have been lying at the Clapham Workhouse to await identification. The scalp of the woman has also been found, with

> dark hair, and the ears pierced for earrings. On September 6 the Thames . police were engaged in netting and dragging the river round Battersea and ; other parts in the hope of finding the remaining portions of the mutilated woman. Dr. made a further examination of a part of the head found at Limehouse, which he states is undoubtedly part of the head belonging to the mutilated remains he had examined, and which were found at Battersea. The woman, he states, is evidently the victim of a recent murder. There is a large bruise on the right temple, which he thinks was caused by a blow from a blunt instrument, and which would probably cause death. There was a fracture on the skull, the skull being divided from the upper part of the wound. The fresh state of the mutilated portions shows that

they had not been in the water long, and that the murder had not been committed many hours. Along with the skin, which has been torn from the face, there is a portion of the nose, which has been a rather short and thick one. There is also a cut over the left lip. In addition to the nose There is also one of the ears

attached to the skin, which is of large size. The body is that of a woman aboui 40 years of age. The hair upon the scalp is thin, the eyebrows are dark. Every inquiry possible has been m4de of the park-keepers and bridge toll-takers, but they recollect no one of suspicious appearance. There was great excitement in the neighbourhood, and the general belief is that the murder was committed on a barge, or that the parts have been taken down the river and thrown from a boat. At one time the remains were stated to be those of a Mrs. Cailey, but further inquiries have resulted in the . discovery of this person, alive and well. The search for the remaining portions of the body continues with unabated vigour, the various osier beds on the banks of the river having been again thoroughly searched in consequence of a statement that has been made about them.” The remains at the workhouse have been admirably photographed. Many persons still continue to visit the union professedly to identify some missing friend or relative.