Great Train Crimes: Murder and Robbery on the Railways by Jonathan Oates Read Free Book Online Page A

Several other people came up after he did. On the platform was William Petrie, who was in charge of the electric telegraph at the station. He and Briggs exchanged greetings. About 15 others joined the train there, but Petrie did not see Briggs board. The train was five minutes late and did not depart until 9.50, stopping at Stepney, then Bow. Briggs entered the first class compartment in the carriage nearest to the engine.
    It was at Bow that one Thomas Lee of Parkfield Villas, Hackney, apparently saw Briggs. Lee was standing on the platform and had a few words with his friend. He was surprised to see him out at such a late hour, but more importantly noted that there were two other men in the same compartment:
I observed two men in the carriage with him. Mr Briggs was sitting with his back to the engine, and appeared in his usual health and spirits. I saw by his side a dark, thin man, apparently tall, and opposite to him I observed a stoutish man, thick set with light whiskers. He had his hand in the loop of the carriage windows, and I noticed that his hand was unusually large.
     
    Lee then went into another compartment (a second class one) and journeyed to Hackney, unaware that Briggs had been assaulted until two days later.
    At just after 10 pm, at Hackney Wick, Semple Jones and HarryVerney, ironically enough clerks at the same bank as Mr Briggs, entered compartment no. 69, a first class compartment. It was covered in blood. Calling a guard, one Haines, they found that the cushions and windows were bloodstained and there was much blood on the floor. But there was no body. The only other evidence that somebody had been there were a hat and a stick, both found under the seat, and a black leather bag. The guard took charge of these and locked the compartment door. He telegraphed Mr Keeble, the stationmaster at Bow, news of this discovery and the two thought that a suicide had occurred, with the unfortunate individual throwing themselves out of the moving train, though this would hardly account for the bloodstained compartment. The train then proceeded to Camden.
    Meanwhile, at about 10.15, an equally disturbing discovery was made by the line between Old Ford Bridge and Hackney Wick station. The driver and stoker of the train from Stratford were about to pass the railway bridge over Ducket’s canal, by the side of the Milford Arms Tavern and Victoria Park. At first, Alfred Eakins, the driver, thought that it was the body of a dog, but his colleague, John Brinckley, thought otherwise. The train had passed the object before they could stop. Taking a lamp, Brinckley alighted and walked back towards it.
    He was right in his original supposition. This was the bloodstained body of a man. Brinckley called out to Eakins, who then went to the nearby pub to ask for assistance. Mr White, the landlord, and some of his customers, came with him and removed the body to the pub. In doing so, they nearly lost their lives by the arrival of a train coming in the opposite direction.
    Once the body had been taken to the pub, and laid on a couch, it became clear that he had been the victim of a bloodthirsty assault and robbery. Although the hook of his watch chain was attached to his waistcoat, both chain and watch were not there. His head had been battered by a sharp instrument. White then sent for doctors and the police. Three surgeons arrived – Mr Alfred Brereton of Old Ford was the first to appear (at about 11 pm), followed by Mr Garman of Fairfield Road, Bow, and Mr Vincent Cooper of Coburn Road. He was taken upstairs and then the three examined the injured man, who was not, after all, quite dead, though he was insensible. There were a number of wounds to the head. Stimulants were applied to try and render him conscious, but to no avail.
    PC Edward Dougar was on duty at Wick Lane at 10.20. He heard that a man had been found near the line and went to the pub with the others. After calling for a surgeon, he recalled that:
I searched his