Foul Deeds in Kensington and Chelsea Read online

  During the evening of Saturday, 29 December 1866, Ann was having a quiet, and totally innocuous conversation with a young man, who had been a friend of the family for a number of years. Suddenly, her husband strode up behind her, struck her on her back and demanded that she should return immediately to their home, at 9 Pembroke Place, Earl Street, Kensington. Anxious to avoid a scene in the street, Ann did as he had demanded.

  Once inside the house, James’s temper did not improve. He immediately stripped his wife naked, hit her on the side of her face and threw most of her clothing onto the fire. Even now James had not finished with Ann. He beat her again and, by the time he had finished with her, she was barely able to stand. So bad did the assault become, that even their child shouted, ‘Mother, hide under the bed, father will kill you.’

  As James ended his attack upon his wife, she managed to pull on a single, flimsy undergarment and run out into the yard at the back of the house. There she was seen by a neighbour, Hannah Penton, who took Ann inside and gave her some of her own clothes. Ann decided that it would be best if she stayed with Hannah, at least for the time being.

  The next day, Sunday, 30 December, Ann Hayes, who lived at 8 Pembroke Place, decided to call on Ann Mooney during the morning. She did not know that Ann was staying, temporarily, with Hannah Penton, so obviously did not find Ann at home. Five-year-old John Mooney was at home, however, and Ann Hayes found him lying in his bed, apparently in some distress. Ann asked the boy where his parents were and John replied, ‘Poor mother ran away, and naughty father burnt me.’

  At first, Ann did not really grasp the severity of what John had just said. Eventually she realised that this might well be a most serious matter and took her information to the police. That in turn led to a visit from Inspector Cross who visited the Mooney’s home later that same Sunday. He found that the bed quilt covering John showed signs of burning. Of John himself there was now no sign, but later Cross discovered that James Mooney had taken him to the hospital for treatment. That effort had proved to be rather too late and John Mooney had since died. Later, Inspector Cross traced James Mooney and arrested him on a charge of assaulting his wife, Ann, and of killing his child, by burning him.

  James Mooney appeared before the magistrates on Monday, 31 December. After Ann Mooney, Hannah Penton and Ann Hayes had given their testimony, Inspector Cross stepped forward to detail his evidence.

  Cross stated that when he had visited the house at Pembroke Place, he had seen ashes in the fire-grate which were consistent with the burning of some clothing. He had then examined the quilt on John Mooney’s bed and found that it was burnt at one end. Turning the quilt over, he found three small circular burn holes and evidence that water had been thrown over the bed.

  Once James Mooney had been arrested and taken to the police station, he made a full statement giving his version of what had happened to his son. James said that he had left his son alone in the house when he went out to look for his wife. At the time, there was a single candle burning in the room, close to his son’s bed. When James returned home, the bedroom was in darkness so he asked John what had happened to the candle. John replied that it was in bed and when James lit a match, he saw that his son’s quilt was smouldering. It was James who ran for some water and threw it over his son’s bed. The next morning, John had complained that he had been burned and James then took him to the hospital.

  Dr FH Sims was the house surgeon at St George’s Hospital. He confirmed that John had been brought in by his father on the Sunday morning. The child was quite badly burned on the back part of his thighs, his groin and also around his heels. He died within a few hours.

  Matters were then adjourned to 4 January and on that date, no further evidence was offered against James Mooney, chiefly because, in the meantime, the inquest on John had returned a verdict of accidental death. There remain, however, a number of unanswered questions.

  John Mooney had originally told Ann Hayes that it had been his father who had burned him. James, then said that the fire had been accidental, when either the candle had fallen into the bed or, more likely perhaps, John had been playing with it when his quilt caught fire.

  If the first of those scenarios was the truth then James Mooney should have faced a charge of either murder or manslaughter. If, however, the second is true, and this was a tragic accident, why did the child not complain of the pain on the night that it happened? It is possible, though, that having seen what had happened to his mother, John had been afraid to tell his father the extent of the damage done to the quilt, so could not mention the damage to himself. It is still, at the very least, most unusual behaviour for a five-year-old.

  It may well be that John Mooney was killed by his father, who then escaped the consequences of his cruel action.

  Chapter 9

  Walter Miller

  1870

  It was the usual sort of job for Mr Henry Piper. A gentleman had asked him to remove some furniture and packing cases from a house and take them to another address in Fulham Road and, at least to begin with, everything had gone well.

  A number of items had been loaded onto the cart outside 15 Paulton’s Square, King’s Road, Chelsea, on this evening of Wednesday, 11 May 1870, and the time came to load a large box. Piper noticed that the cord tied around the box had not been fastened very securely and said that he would fix it before he tried to lift the box. To his surprise, the man who had employed him suddenly dashed forward and said that he would re-tie the cord himself. Gently, Piper told the man that he was much more used to such things and would do a proper job of it. Rather reluctantly, the man allowed Piper to begin but, even as he pulled the heavy box forward, Piper noticed a crimson liquid issuing from one corner.

  Piper demanded to know what was inside the box and was told that it was nothing of consequence and asked to get on with tying it up. Piper refused and said that he would do no more work until he knew what was going on.

  For a few moments there was nothing but silence. The young man who had employed him just stared at him, as did the two women who were also present. Then, suddenly, the man and the younger of the two women ran off; she upstairs and he out into the street. Piper was having none of this and followed the man outside. Fortunately there was a police constable nearby and Piper called out for him to seize the man. He was duly taken and escorted back to the house.

  The officer, Constable Joseph Giles, told Piper that he would need some assistance if he was to keep hold of his man and examine the heavy box in the house. Piper said that he would go off and find another constable and walked away. He had not gone more than a few yards when a shout revealed that the prisoner had made a dash for it. Both Piper and Constable Giles gave chase and it was Piper who was closest when the man stumbled and fell in Church Street. Once again he was marched back to the house in Paulton’s Square and, soon afterwards, another officer arrived. An inspection of the packing case was made and this revealed the body of a young woman, doubled over inside the box. Blood had issued from the woman’s nose and mouth and she was undoubtedly dead. It appeared to be a clear case of murder and the young man who had employed Piper, Walter Miller, was taken into custody.

  Police enquiries soon revealed that the house at 15 Paulton’s Square belonged to a retired clergyman named Elias Huelin and he lived there with his housekeeper, Anne Boss. Further enquiries showed that dead woman in the packing case was Anne Boss but, of her employer, Mr Huelin, there was no sign.

  A number of neighbours were spoken to and, from these interviews, it became clear that Mr Huelin and his housekeeper had not been seen since Monday, 9 May. It was on that day, at 7.00am, that John Hunt had seen Miss Boss cleaning the front steps of the house. Mr Hunt, and other neighbours, knew that Mr Huelin had a farm in Lincolnshire and he had been discussing going there for a short holiday. They had all simply believed that he had left and had therefore seen nothing suspicious in him not being seen for some days.

  The inquest on Ann Boss opened at the Black Lion Inn
on Thursday, 12 May. Here, Henry Piper explained that Miller had come to his house in Marlborough Road, the previous night. He had mentioned the moving of some furniture and boxes and Piper had said that he would call the following day. Miller replied that it was an urgent job and he must come right away. Rather reluctantly, Piper had agreed and arrived at the house at 9.00pm, the front door being opened by an elderly lady. The box containing the body was in the kitchen and Piper stated that after he had seen the blood issuing from the corners he had stood up and said, ‘Oh I must know what this is before I take it away.’ It was soon after this that Miller and a young woman had run off.

  The inquest was soon adjourned, pending further inquiries into the whereabouts of Mr Huelin. Reports of the proceedings appeared in the newspapers of Friday, 13 May and this brought Edward James Payne to call in at the police station that same day.

  Payne explained that he had known Miller for some three years and, on Monday, 9 May, the last day Mr Huelin and his housekeeper had been seen alive, Miller had approached him outside the Admiral Keppel Inn on Brompton Road and asked him if he would do some work for him. Apparently, Miller wanted to replace some drains at a house in Wellington Square and wanted a large ditch dug in the yard.

  Payne agreed to do the work and went home to get his pick and shovel. Returning to the Admiral Keppel, the two men had a pint together before going off to 24 Wellington Square. Miller had a key to the house and both men went through, into the yard. Miller then watched as Payne dug a hole some three feet deep and seven feet long. By the time it grew dark, the work was still unfinished and Payne said he would return the next day. Payne did return on the Tuesday and Wednesday, but got no reply.

  The police knew that 24 Wellington Square was another house that belonged to Mr Huelin. Taking Payne with them, a number of officers went to that address and Payne pointed out where the ditch, by now filled in, had been. The police began to dig and, in due course, Detective Edward Cluff and Detective William Watts, found the body of Mr Huelin. There was a rope tied tightly around his neck but the cause of death had been two deep puncture wounds behind his right ear. Walter Miller was now facing two charges of murder.

  In British courts, no matter how many victims a killer may claim, it is customary to hear evidence on just one of the charges. Thus, when Walter Miller faced his trial, before the Lord Chief Justice, on 11 July, the prosecution only proceeded on the murder of Elias Huelin. That prosecution was detailed by Mr Poland and Mr Beasley, whilst Miller was defended by Mr Collins and Mr St Aubyn.

  The early witnesses all gave testimony that put Miller in Wellington Square, where the body was later found, on Monday, 9 May. Thus, Robert Cox, who had known Miller for many years, said that he had seen him in the square at 11.00am. A later sighting was made by Thomas Humble Walker, who lived at number 6. He had actually seen Miller going up the steps of number 24 and letting himself in with a key, at around 11.15am.

  Other witnesses were able to show that, in all probability, Mr Heulin and Miss Boss were dead before noon on 9 May. Sidney Ball was a baker and he delivered regularly to the house in Paulton’s Square. He had called at the house at sometime between noon and 1.00pm on Monday, 9 May, but received no reply to his ringing the bell.

  Samuel Stainsby lived next door to Mr Huelin’s house, at 14 Paulton’s Square. On the evening of 9 May, he had noticed Mr Huelin’s dog whining on the front doorstep. Going to investigate, Stainsby had looked over the wall at the back of the house and saw that the windows were open. Thinking that this was unusual, he had gone to find a policeman and two constables had gone back to the house with him. The three men climbed over the yard wall and found that the back door was closed but unlocked. Going inside the house they found that there was apparently no one at home but there was also no sign of any break-in or of any other disorder. The three men left the house at around 11.15pm.

  Mr Stainsby was, however, able to give even more information. At about 10.30pm the next day, Tuesday, 10 May, he had seen a cab pull up outside number 15. Miller had alighted and gone up to the door of Mr Huelin’s house where he had been let in by an elderly woman. There was some conversation and the cab driver went inside, briefly, before coming out again. It was then that Stainsby heard the cabbie shout, ‘Nine o’clock tomorrow then.’ Fortunately for the police, Stainsby had the foresight to take the plate number of the cab.

  That number, 4746, led the police to Thomas Herbert, who confirmed that Miller had hailed him at Cremorne Gardens on 10 May. Herbert thought that Miller must be foreign as he spoke in broken English with what appeared to be a French accent. Herbert was told to drive to 15 Paulton’s Square, but along the journey, his passenger changed his mind and ordered him to 9 Park Walk. After Miller had had some discussion with a few of the householders in that thoroughfare, he had told Herbert to go on to his original destination at Paulton’s Square, where he invited him in for a glass of wine. Herbert was more concerned for his fare and declined the offer but, going inside to collect his money, was told that Miller did not have enough cash on him at the time. He was told to return at 9.00pm the next night, when he would receive ten shillings for his trouble. That was the meaning of the parting comment he had made, and which had been overheard by Mr Stainsby.

  At the time of Miller’s arrest, there had been two women inside the house at Paulton’s Square. The first of these was Harriett Middleton who lived at 2 Sidney Mews, Fulham Road. She and Miller had once lodged at the same address so she knew him quite well. She also knew Mr Huelin and had done some work for him quite recently.

  On 7 May, some painting work had been finished at 24 Wellington Square. Indeed, Miller had been one of the painters working at that address and, once he and the others had finished, Mrs Middleton was asked to clean the place up a little. This she did and that evening, went to 15 Paulton’s Square to collect her money. She was paid by Anne Boss.

  On the night of Monday, 9 May, Harriett Middleton was roused from her bed by a strident knocking at her front door. Going downstairs she saw a man she did not recognise at the time, but who she now knew to be Miller, in disguise. He spoke in broken English with a French accent and explained that he was Mr Huelin’s nephew, and had just arrived from France. He went on to say that Mr Huelin had gone to his farm in Lincolnshire and had asked that she take care of the house in Paulton’s Square for him. Harriett did as the ‘nephew’ asked and was there when the cab driver was offered a glass of wine and when Mr Piper moved the box containing the body of Anne Boss.

  The younger woman present at that time had been Elizabeth Green. She testified that she had only met Miller on Wednesday, 11 May, in Windmill Street, near the Haymarket. They fell into conversation and he invited her to take a drink with him in a local public house. Miller spent some time with her and treated her very well indeed. Later, he had taken her shopping and purchased a hat, a jacket, a skirt and some boots for her. Later he had taken her to the house in Paulton’s Square, where the door was opened by Harriett Middleton. Elizabeth was still in the house when Mr Piper called to move some items to another house.

  The prosecution case was that Miller, having done some painting for Mr Huelin, found out that he was a man of wealth and property and decided to steal what he could for himself. Having killed both Huelin and his housekeeper, Miller stole what he could and then set about disposing of the bodies. At one stage he masqueraded as Mr Huelin’s French nephew so that, if his crime came to be discovered, the police would be looking for someone other than himself. He might well have gotten away with this plan, but for the prompt action of Henry Piper.

  The jury had little problem in returning a guilty verdict and Walter Miller was sentenced to death. As for Henry Piper, the judge awarded him fifty shillings from public funds, as a reward.

  Held in Newgate prison, Miller tried to avoid his fate by throwing himself, head first, at a wall. He suffered only cuts and bruises and, as a result, had to be carried to the gallows in a chair on Monday, 1 August 1870. For that reason, the hangman
, William Calcraft, gave him an even shorter drop than usual, with the result that Miller strangled slowly at the end of the rope.

  Chapter 10

  Frances Stewart

  1874

  Forty-year-old Frances Stewart lived with her married daughter, Henrietta Scrivener, at 4 Lordship Place, Chelsea. There were two other people living in the house, Henrietta’s husband, Joseph, and their son, Henry Ernest, who was just over one year old. Unfortunately, neither Henrietta nor Joseph seemed to get on with Frances and there was, therefore, a great deal of tension in the household.

  In mid-April 1874, Joseph had a major argument with his mother-in-law. This in turn led to some discussion between Joseph and Henrietta, who agreed that this state of affairs simply could not continue. Having decided on a course of action, both Joseph and his wife spoke to Frances on Monday, 27 April. Joseph told her that either, she must leave the house, or he and his family would. Henrietta told Frances a slightly different story, saying that she, Joseph and Henry were going away as soon as they could find fresh lodgings.

  Frances thought about these discussions overnight and the next day, Tuesday, 28 April, she informed both her daughter and son-in-law that she would be ‘…away before night’. At last, it seemed that an amicable solution had been found to all the family friction.

  Frances Stewart was as good as her word and she did walk out of 4 Lordship Place that same day. Unfortunately she took young Henry with her and left behind a note saying that they would both be in the water before long. A frantic Henrietta immediately contacted the police.

  The next day, Wednesday, 29 April, Joseph Scrivener received a letter. Written in Frances’s hand it read:

  I have just left Mrs Sparville. If you or your wife had done what I told you, you would have found your child. It is the only thing I can do to make your heart ache, as you have made mine for so long you bastards, and the dear boy will be no more. We are in the water at this moment.