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

pockets to ascertain who he was. His shirt front was rumpled and there was one black stud in it. A bunch of keys, four sovereigns, and some silver were in his left hand breeches pocket and in the other another bunch of keys and 8s 6d in silver and coppers. In his waist coat pocket there was a first class return ticket, and in his coat pocket I found his letters, papers and a silver snuff box. There was a patent fastening attached to his waist coat pocket for a gold chain, and there was a diamond ring upon his finger. There was no watch or chain on him.
     
    Inspector Kerressey of K division arrived from Bow Police Station. He looked at the letters found on the body. They were addressed to Thomas Briggs at his business address on Lombard Street. Kerressey sent a man to check at the bank to confirm Briggs’s identity and to find his personal address. This was swiftly accomplished and then the melancholy news had to be broken to the family.
    Thomas Briggs, junior, a 28-year-old insurance clerk, and other family members accompanied Mr Francis Toulmin, FRCS, the family doctor, to the tavern. It was now just after 3 am on Sunday morning. Distressing scenes followed, but the injured man could only gurgle in recognizing the voice of an elderly female servant. News of what had happened had leaked and many people gathered outside the pub, such was their interest and excitement. The four doctors remained with Briggs for the remainder of the night and in the following morning, on Toulmin’s advice, he was conveyed in a litter to his home. Despite his robust constitution, the old man died at 11.45 pm on Sunday 10 July. This was now no longer robbery with violence, but a case of murder.
    Toulmin then undertook a post mortem, in the presence of Brereton and Cooper. There was a jagged wound on the left ear. On the scalp were several severe wounds. The hands and left forearm were grazed and bruised, an indication that the man had tried to defend himself. The skull was also fractured. Some of these injuries would have resulted from the fall from the train. Death was due to the fracture of the skull and the depression of the brain.
    Meanwhile, the police investigation proceeded. The younger Briggswas eager to assist with what little information he could. He told them how his father had left for work as normal the day before. He added that he was wearing a gold watch with an Albert chain, and that he wore gold glasses. The watch had been given to his father by a friend about two years before. He also stated that the hat, stick and bag which were found in the compartment were his father’s. However, on closer examination, he announced that the hat was not his father’s. This hat was to assume great importance in what transpired, because, of course, it must have belonged to the murderer.
    Kerressey had details of the missing watch and glasses sent to all police stations in London. He then examined the compartment where Briggs had been attacked. Once the train of which it had been part of reached Camden Town station, the carriage was uncoupled and brought back to Bow where it was put into a shed. It was composed of three first class compartments. There was blood on the brass handles of the door, suggesting the assailant had opened the window in order to throw his victim out. On the floor was found a link from the watch chain and on the footstep was part of the glasses.
    The initial police theory was that Briggs had been attacked shortly after the train left Bow. His attacker or attackers wanted to throw him into the canal, but had been unable to do so. One Mr Edward Carr wrote to The Times with a theory of his own. This was that Briggs had ruptured one of his arteries and then had jumped from the train in order to procure medical assistance. Others poured scorn on this, pointing out that if this was the case, then whose hat was it that had been found in the compartment and who had closed the carriage door?
    The inquest began on 18 July at