The streets of Victorian London could be dangerous at the best of times.
In a previous article I wrote about Elizabeth Gibbs, the first homicide of 1888, who was run over by a van as she crossed a London Street.
In its edition of Sunday the 20th of May, 1888, The People carried the following report on a similar unfortunate accident – or was it a murder?
STRANGE AFFAIR NEAR THE STRAND
Alleged Fatal Assault and Robbery.
John Troutbeck, the deputy coroner for Westminster, held an inquiry on Thursday at the St Martin’s Vestry Hall concerning the death of Amos Richard Peachey, 48, a pensioner, recently employed at Mitchell’s, in Bond street, and lately residing at 18, Russell Street, Covent Garden.
THE WIDOW’S TESTIMONY
Ada Peachey, the widow, stated that on the night in question, her husband left home in his usual good health for the purpose of going to the New Cut to purchase some provisions.
She next saw him in the Charing Cross Hospital, where, on the following Friday, he told her that after making his purchases he returned to the Strand, and called at the commissionaires’ mess, to which he formerly belonged.
Having, he said, paid for two glasses of bitter, he was accompanied by some members of the corps as far as the corner of St. Martin’s Lane, where they bade him, “Good night.”
ATTACKED OFF BEDFORDBURY
He then went into a passage in or near Bedfordbury, and while there be was set upon by five men, who knocked him down and robbed him of his basket, containing a leg of mutton, some tea, some cups and saucers, and other articles.
He added that a policeman came to his rescue, but the officer was also knocked down and kicked by the men, who then ran away.
By the Coroner: Her reason for not informing the police of what her husband had told her was because she thought it was the duty of the hospital authorities to do so.
The deceased described one of his assailants as a short dark lean man, with a scar on his face.
She had not heard anything of a woman being with her husband at the time.
The witness might have said that her husband had been run over, but that must have been prior to his statement as to the assault.
WILLIAM WATERS EVIDENCE
Henry Nicholas O’Brien, canteen steward at the commissionaires’ mess, Exchange Court, Strand, having deposed that the deceased was quite sober when be left there, William Waters, the night porter at Charing Cross Hospital, stated that Peachey came there in a hansom cab, accompanied by a woman wearing a light dress.
Directly the witness removed the deceased from the cab the woman jumped out of the cab and walked towards the Strand.
The deceased paid the cabman, whose number was not taken.
By the Jury: The witness was supposed to take the number of all cabmen who brought patients to the hospital.
THE HOUSE SURGEON’S EVIDENCE
Mr. Carthew Davis, house-surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital, said that the deceased said something about being knocked down, but he was very incoherent.
He was in great pain, having five or six broken ribs.
Death ensued on Monday morning.
Witness heard nothing of a policeman being injured.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH
A post mortem examination revealed eight broken ribs, one of which had penetrated the lungs.
There was a slight laceration of the brain, which might have been occasioned by a fall, blow, or kicks.
The man had not been run over, as his ribs had been forced inwards.
The injuries were compatible with his having been kicked.
At this stage of the proceedings the inquiry was adjourned for a fortnight.
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A PENSIONER
The Morning Post, on Monday the 4th of June, 1888 reported on the closing day of the inquest:-
Mr. J. Troutbeck, the deputy coroner for Westminster, resumed his inquiry on Saturday afternoon at the St. Martin’s Vestry-hall regarding the death of Amos Richard Peachey, aged 48, a pensioner from the Royal Marines, who was alleged to have died from the effects of injuries received at the hands of a gang of thieves near the Strand.
JAMES BROWN’S TESTIMONY
James Brown, commissionaire, said that he saw Peachey about 11.55 on the night in question in Charing-cross-road.
He was crossing the road, when he was knocked down by a hansom cab, which was driven off at a very rapid pace.
The cab drove straight into his right side, but witness did not see whether the wheel went over him.
Witness was proposing to take him to the hospital when a woman, wearing a light dress, came up and said that she would see him home.
She addressed him as “Peachey.”
She took him as far as the corner of Cranbourne-street, where the witness left them.
CABMAN NOT TRACED
Inspector Conquest stated that every search had been made for the cabman, and advertisements inserted in the newspapers, but without success.
THE INQUEST VERDICT
After some further evidence the jury returned a verdict:- “That the deceased died from the effects of his injuries, but how the said in- juries were sustained there was not sufficient evidence to show.”
They expressed their opinion that the Charing-cross Hospital authorities were exceedingly negligent in not taking the number of the cabman who brought Peachey there, and in not detaining the woman by whom he was accompanied.