Mysterious deaths were a regular occurrence in London in the Victorian era, and, no doubt, in almost every other era as well, right up to the modern day.

What is intriguing is that we often known nothing about the everyday residents of the 19th century metropolis, other than the manner in which they died.

Who, for example, would remember the likes of Celestine Christmas, were it not for the awful manner in which she died.

The Birmingham Mail, in its edition of Thursday the 13th of August, 1891, contained the following article on yet another unexplained death:-

MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN LONDON

The police of the Westbourne Park Division, London, are at present engaged in investigating the death of a woman concerning which there is some mystery.

A few weeks ago a man and a woman named Wynne took one room at the house of tobacconist in Golborne Road.

He stated that he was a dispenser, and that the female was a dressmaker.

They left home every morning in order, it was supposed, to pursue their respective occupations.

They lived unhappily, and both were given to drink.

A SCUFFLE WAS HEARD

On Monday there was a scuffle between them, followed by sounds of the breaking of crockery, and a teacup was thrown through a window.In its course it struck the woman on the head, and she rushed from the room bleeding.

After some time, she thought that her husband had gone to sleep, and she returned to the room with the intention of washing herself in order to go out.

Three quarters of an hour later the man left the house, and has not since been seen.

During the interval no disturbance was heard.

FOUND DEAD IN THE ROOM

Nothing being heard of Mrs. Wynne, the other occupants of the house went to the room, and found her lying on the floor dead, dressed just as she was when they last saw her alive.

A doctor was called, and he made a superficial examination, but found no marks of violence such as would cause death, which had apparently taken place some hours before.

TWO BOTTLES, A GLASS AND A NOTE

Lying near the body were two bottles – one labelled laudanum, which was empty, and another labelled chloral, with an empty glass, at the bottom of which were sediments of chloral.

In the room were found a great quantity of pawntickets, but no money; and there was also found a paper, on which was written, “We separate (D.V.) – S. H. Wynne, H. Wynne. 27th July.”

The police are on the look out for Wynne.

The woman, who was twenty-seven years of age, was married to Wynne, who was some years her senior, about five years ago.

A post-mortem examination is to be made.