The Hampstead Murders – Part five

HOW MR. HOGG MET MRS. PEARSEY

In an endeavour to clear up the mystery of Mr. Frank Hogg's card-case, which was found in a bonnet-box at Mrs. Pearsey's house, and to obtain the truth as to the ring which was found on her finger, a reporter saw Mr. Hogg before the inquest. With regard to the card-case, Mr. Hogg said that it was an old one which he had used 10 years ago when he used to go to the Polytechnic. He had not used it or the cards since. He had no idea whatever how it had come into Mrs. Pearsey's possession. He could not say whether he had given it to her or not. Questioned as to the ring, Mr. Hogg said the one found on Mrs. Pearsey's finger was not his wife's. His wife's was a much heavier and more massive ring. Mr Hogg readily volunteered to account for his time on the evening of the murder. At times, however, he was much affected. He said, "God knows I never thought of anything like this. What astonishes me is that my wife was there at all. She never mentioned Mrs. Pearsey's name to me since Christmas. They used to be on visiting terms, and fairly intimate up till last Christmas. Then we had some family differences. I was not aware that my wife had spoken to this woman since then.

"You were telling us about how you first met her. How many ears ago was that?"

"Somewhere about five years back. She was then certainly supposed to be a married woman. We knew her first merely as a customer at what was then my father's shop, in King-street, Camden-town. She was then known to us as Mrs. Pearsey. We were only the merest acquaintances. She never entered our King-street house, only coming to the shop as a customer. We have been living here since last March, 12 months, and after we had been here some six weeks, she called on us, as a great many of our old customers had done. We did not know her husband, and in fact, knew very little about her at all. The deceased probably had not been at her house more than four of five times, and then it was merely a call. I never heard my wife and her use a cross word to each other. It was last February that Phoebe was ill, and then Mrs. Pearsey came here and nursed her for a few days. My wife was very reticent about things. For instance, if she had been out for a walk during the day she might not mention it at all, and if so would hardly ever say where she had been. She frequently left little notes such as the one she left on Friday when she was going out."

AT THE INQUEST

Frank Samuel Hogg, the husband, was the first witness called. He was much affected during the preliminary questions but soon mastered himself, and replied in an audible voice to the interrogations of the coroner.  He said: "I saw both my wife and daughter alive and well on Friday morning. They were both seen by me at nine o'clock on the morning when I was going out to work.

What time did you return? — At 10 o'clock at night.

Did you inquire from the people in the house when you came home about your wife? — No. I made no inquiry because I thought it was all right.

Was there any agreement between you as to her going away? Yes; if she got a letter saying her father was worse she was to go at once to Chorley Wood.

Did she leave you any message? — Yes; she left a note saying, "Look in the pot. I shall not be long. 3.10″

What did you next do? I did nothing, because I thought perhaps my wife had met her sister Emma at the Kentish-town railway-station.

Did you go to sleep that night? — I lay down in my clothes on the bed; but I did not sleep much, and got up about six o'clock  on Saturday morning. I went down to my brother's to work about 20 minutes  past six. I worked on in the stables, helping to get the horses out, and then I went over to my brother's house. I said to him, "I have lost the missus and little one." He said, "What, gone away?" and I said, "Yes." He said., "Don't you know where she has gone to?" I said, "I expect to Chorley Wood because her father is so ill." I said I expected to find a letter waiting for me at home. I went home about eight o'clock. I asked my mother if she had a letter and she said, "No. Can you understand it?" I said, "Well, the telegraph office don't open till eight o'clock." I waited very impatiently, and about half-past eight, I really began to get concerned, and thought something had happened. I asked my sister to run down to Mrs. Pearsey's.

Who is Mrs. Pearsey? Is she a friend of yours? A neighbour?" — She was a friend.

Did you know Mr. Pearsey? — No. I have seen a person called Mr. Pearsey, whom I believe to be her husband.

Well, what did you do? — I asked my sister to run down to a neighbour's with whom I was well acquainted to see if my wife was there, though I did not think she was there. When my sister came back I met her in the street and she said to me, "Is she home?" I said "No. I am going down to Fred's" I went there and returned to my home, when I said to my mother, "I am going to Chorley Wood." I went there.

Did you get any news of your wife? — No; I went back home, and was surprised to find neither my wife nor Mrs. Pearsey at home.

Did you expect to see Mrs. Pearsey? — Yes. Because I had asked her to go and see if the perambulator had been sent to the railway station.

You had a perambulator? — Yes; and my wife went out, taking the child in it.  I left home about 20 minutes past 12 on Saturday and when I returned my mother was seriously upset. She said to me, "Don't upset yourself, but look at that paper," handing me the newspaper.

And you saw in it an account of the death? — Yes.

Did you think it was your wife? — I felt sure of it.

What did you do then? — I came to the mortuary between two and three o'clock, and saw that the body there was that of my wife.

Did you see Mrs. Pearsey? — As I left home on Saturday morning I saw her and said, "Has that perambulator been booked?" and she said, "No, it has not." I have known Mrs. Pearsey for about four years. We were on friendly terms. At Christmas time my wife and I stayed at Mrs. Pearsey's house for two days.

Did you see Mr. Pearsey then? — No.

Did you have any dispute with Mrs. Pearsey? — (Under a mistake the witness proceeded to describe a dispute with his wife.) About eight months ago I had a dispute with my wife. She was always writing letters when I came home, and would not let me see them, and insisted that I ought to see them. Then one day she was reading a letter when I came home and would not let me see it, and I said I ought to see it. That led to our separation for one night.

May I take it that since then you and your wife have lived happily and comfortably together? — Perfectly.

THE INTIMACY WITH MRS. PEARSEY

Have you visited Mrs. Pearsey since? — Yes

Very frequently? — Perhaps two or three times a week.

Was the object of your visit anything special? — Nothing special — (hesitating) — I must admit that I was intimate with her. I will admit it.

It is best to tell the truth. Had your wife any suspicion of this? — I believe not, sir. May I just state how it was that Mrs. Pearsey and my wife did not visit? At the time we had the dispute about my wife's private letters my wife said, "I will have them. I will have them sent to Lizzie." Lizzie Styles is my niece. I said, "Then Lizzie shall not come here, nor shall you go and see her." When our disagreement was made up she said, "If none of my friends come, none of  yours will." I said, "No; only when they are invited." We agreed that there should be only mutual invitations. My wife never went to Mrs. Pearsey's after that.

Did a quarrel exist between Mrs. Pearsey and your wife? — They had not a cross word that I know of.

You say this was eight months ago. If it is true what we hear that it is probable your wife visited Mrs. Pearsey… — I can't understand it.

Do you know that she had been in the habit of visiting her during the last eight months? Has she, to your knowledge, been visiting Mrs. Pearsey? — No; never to my knowledge, and never since the time of the dispute between me and my wife.

Is there anything else that you would wish to tell us about this matter? Was she fond of her child — Oh, yes (sobbing).

In your relations with Mrs. Pearsey, has your wife been the subject of conversation with Mrs. Pearsey? — She has a very often asked after her.

Did Mrs. Pearsey manifest any enmity toward your wife? — She always spoke kindly about her.

How long have you been married? — Two years.

You were known to Mrs. Peasey probably before you were married? — I have had known her five years.

Did you think your wife discovered that you were intimate with Mrs. Pearsey? — I do not think she did.

What object could your wife have in going to see Mrs. Pearsey? — I haven't the least idea (crying  bitterly).

LOOKING FOR HIS WIFE

Did you go to look for your wife at Mrs. Pearsey's? — Yes, on Friday night about 10 o'clock. My wife never had a cross word about Mrs. Pearsey, and in my wonder and excitement I went there.

Did you see her? — No; she was out.

Did you hear that Mrs. Pearsey had written asking your wife to go round and take the child? I have heard it from a gentleman in court but I did not know it myself before. I never had a quarrel with my wife about Mrs. Pearsey. If she ever called at my house it was without my knowledge. My wife never showed any suspicion that she knew I visited Mrs. Pearsey. I was never separated from my wife, but she stayed at her brother's a few days because she was ill at the time. We were on perfectly friendly terms then. That was in February.

Who nursed your wife in her illness? — Mrs. Pearsey.

Why did she go away? — Because I insisted upon seeing the letter which she had had. Her friends wished her to go to her brother's and she went. She got quite well the time Mrs. Pearsey nursed her. There was nothing at all in the nature of a disagreement between my wife and Mrs. Pearsey. They appeared to agree together very well.

You had no thought that your wife suspected your visits to Mrs. Pearsey? — No, I had not. She went to my brother's last February or March at the wish of her friends.

Do you know why they wished her to go away? — No.

Was it because they objected to Mrs. Pearsey being her nurse? — No, certainly not. After my wife went away she was soon well again.

Did your wife send for Mrs. Pearsey? — No, she came quite unexpectedly.