The Chieftain: Victorian True Crime Through The Eyes of a Scotland Yard Detective

by Payne, Chris

  11 May 1876

  I beg to report that as directed, assisted by Sergeant Andrews, I have made enquiry and find that Mr. Charles Delaney [sic] Turner took the name of Bravo on the marriage of his mother with a Mr. Bravo of 2 Palace Green Kensington several years ago. He was a barrister having chambers at 1 East Court, Temple and about October last formed the acquaintance of a Mrs. [Florence] Ricardo, widow of Captain Ricardo of the Guards, and residing at the Priory Balham and they were married on 7th December. They continued to reside at the Priory and are said to have lived very happily together.

  On Tuesday the 18th ult. Mr. Bravo returned from the City in the afternoon, and went out riding. On his return between six and seven o/c he complained that the pony had run away with him, and said he felt shaken, and had a hot bath, and at ½ past 7 dined with Mrs. Bravo and her lady companion a Mrs. Cox.

  The household consisted of Mrs. Hunt (cook), Mary Ann Keeber (housemaid), Elizabeth Evans (housemaid), Edward Smith (footman) and a butler named Rowe.

  The dinner consisted of soup, filleted soles, roast lamb, and poached eggs on toast. Mr. Bravo only partook of the lamb and eggs, and drank 3 or 4 glasses of Burgundy. Both ladies partook of the lamb, and Mrs Cox of the poached eggs, but neither of them drank any of the Burgundy. Dinner was finished about ½ past 8 and they all retired to a room called the ‘Morning Room’ where they remained till shortly before nine, when at Mr. Bravo’s request, Mrs. Bravo retired to her bedroom, she having been somewhat unwell, and they wished each other ‘good night’. Mrs. Cox accompanied her.

  Mr. Bravo remained in the morning room till about ¼ past 9, when he retired to his bedroom (separate from Mrs. Bravo’s). Shortly after he had gone upstairs he called to the housemaid to bring him some hot water, and before getting it she told Mrs. Cox that he was ill and what he wanted. On her return with the hot water she found Mrs. Cox in his room, who at once told her to get some mustard, which she did, some of which was given Mr. Bravo to drink, and his hands and feet were placed in mustard and water. He became very sick and Mrs. Cox sent for Dr. Moore of Balham, and Dr. Harrison of Streatham Hill, but before their arrival he had become unconscious. Dr. Moore arrived about ½ past 10 and was quickly followed by Dr. Harrison. By this time Mrs. Bravo had become aware of her husband’s illness, and she sent for Dr. Royes Bell of 44 Harley Street, Cavendish Square (a cousin of Mr. Bravo’s) at the request of Drs. Harrison and Moore. He arrived about ½ past 2 a.m. bringing with him Dr. Johnson of No. 11 Saville Row, and it was shortly after this that Mrs. Cox communicated to Drs. Johnson and Bell that Mr. Bravo had told her he had taken poison. Strong measures were then used and he became conscious about ½ past 4 and continued so during the two following days. On Wednesday afternoon he dictated his will which was written by Dr. Bell, in which he devised everything to his wife, and which was attested by Rowe the butler.

  On Thursday morning he became worse and Sir William Gull [Physician to Queen Victoria] was sent for who arrived in the afternoon. He remained two or three hours in consultation with Drs. Johnson and Bell.

  Mr. Bravo died at ½ past 5 on Friday morning the 21st ult.; a post-mortem examination was made by Dr. Payne of 6 Saville Row and the stomach and vomit analyzed by Professor Redwood of the Pharmaceutical Hall, Bloomsbury Square, who found the whole to contain about 140 grains of Antimony of which Mr. Bravo undoubtedly died.

  An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday 25th ult. by Mr. Carter, the Coroner, and adjourned to Friday 28th ult., and after the several witnesses had been examined the Jury returned a verdict, that the deceased died of Antimony, but by whom administered there was no evidence to show. The body was buried at Norwood Cemetery on Saturday the 29th ult..

  The butler – Rowe – states that on the Tuesday in question he brought a bottle of Burgundy from the cellar (of which he had the key) and decanted it, leaving it on the sideboard in the dining room until it was required for dinner; he waited at table during dinner, and Mr. Bravo took three or four glasses of Burgundy and the ladies took sherry. Mr. Bravo seemed in his usual spirits during dinner, and all passed off in the most pleasant way. Shortly after dinner he had occasion to go to the morning room to speak to Mr. Bravo about a letter and he then appeared to be in pleasant conversation with the two ladies, and he saw nothing more of Mr. Bravo until he was summoned to his bedroom by the housemaid Keeber. He says it was a large bottle of Burgundy that he decanted, and that not consumed by Mr. Bravo was left in the decanter on the sideboard in the dining room and he believes it was drunk by the medical gentlemen during the night but of this he is not at all sure; he decanted another bottle in the same decanter on the Wednesday and this fact is confirmed by his cellar book.

  Mrs. Cox states that … After dinner they retired to the morning room and remained in pleasant conversation until Mrs. Bravo and herself withdrew to the bedroom. In about half an hour Mr. Bravo came in and bid his wife good night and at this time he did not appear to be ill. About a quarter of an hour after this, the housemaid Keeber made a communication to her as stated and in consequence she went to his room. He then appeared ill and said ‘I have taken poison don’t tell Florence’, meaning his wife … Dr. Moore arrived first and was shortly followed by Dr. Harrison but she said nothing to these gentlemen about Mr. Bravo having taken poison until after the arrival of Drs. Johnson and Bell and she accounts for this by saying she hoped he would get better and that no one would know anything about it. She continued to attend upon him until his death.

  On Thursday after the arrival of Sir William Gull, she was in the room alone with Mr. Bravo, when he said ‘why did you tell anyone I had poisoned myself, does Flo know?’ On the Thursday afternoon she went to Dr. Gully who resides near, at the request of Mrs Bravo to ask his advice. He advised mustard poultice on the back, cold bandage to the belly, and a mild dose of Arsenicum.

  Mrs. Cox is a widow with three children, and formerly resided at Jamaica, where she knew Mr. Bravo Senior [Joseph Bravo] and has been friendly with him up to the present time. She states that there was no Antimony in the house to her knowledge and believes that he took it himself.

  I saw Mrs. [Florence] Bravo at 38 Brunswick Terrace, Brighton on Tuesday 9th inst.; she states that on the Tuesday in question she saw nothing unusual in the manner of Mr. Bravo, either at dinner or when he came into her room to bid her good night. There was no Antimony in the house to her knowledge, and she cannot account for the possession of it by Mr. Bravo or any other person. He was much beloved by the servants and everyone about him, and she is not aware that he had a single enemy. She does not suspect any person and expresses her strong belief that he committed suicide from the fact that he was much pressed for money, by a woman he formerly kept, and by whom he had a child, but she declares she does not know her name and address.

  She says that occasionally he was excitable and generally quick-tempered. About three weeks before this event she (Mrs Bravo) complained of his mother interfering in their domestic affairs; he then struck her and threatened to cut his throat, which she prevented him from doing, and that on the day in question he received an angry letter from his father respecting money matters, and this seemed to excite him very much. She also says that he had no private means of his own and that she had a fortune of £3,500 a year. She expressed her disagreement with the verdict of the Coroner’s Jury and thinks it ought to be one of ‘Felo de se’ [suicide]. She appears to have a great aversion to his family especially his mother. I was shown his diary and cheque book but they throw no light on the matter.

  I may here add that from subsequent inquiries I find there is no foundation to her statement as to his being pressed for money or that there was anything in his father’s letter to cause him any uneasiness, and there is nothing to account for his being in a state of mind to commit suicide.

  She further states that on the Thursday evening after the Doctors had said there was no hope of her husband getting better she sent her companion to Dr. Gully of Crewell Lodge (close by), an old friend, and in whose s
kill she had great faith, and that he advised, as stated by Mrs. Cox, and that she had not spoken to or had any communication with Dr. Gully since her marriage. She also says that prior to her marriage Mr. Bravo told her he had been living with a woman, and on the night before his death requested her to look after the child.

  Mr. [William] Campbell, Mrs Bravo’s brother, now residing at Buscot, Berks., says that he arrived accompanied by his mother, on Thursday afternoon, and in the evening after Sir William Gull had left Mr. Bravo’s bedroom he went in, (having been on the most intimate terms with Mr Bravo) when he (Mr. B.) said ‘Willy, old fellow, kiss me. I have told Sir William I have taken laudanum but he don’t believe me. I have told him the truth.’ And that later in the evening he (Mr. Campbell) had a conversation with Mr. Bravo Senior when he said he believed his son had taken the poison himself. This last sentence is denied by Mr. Bravo Senior.

  I have seen Sir William Gull and attach a copy of his letter to Lord Francis Hervey as to what took place. Sir William says he has nothing to add to that except that it would be impossible for any person to have sat down to dinner with that quantity of poison in his stomach, and that he must have taken it during dinner or very shortly afterwards. Dr. Johnson confirms Sir William in every particular, but adds that after the questions put by Sir William [to Charles Bravo, asking what he had taken] he (Dr. Johnson) added ‘do consider that some person may be suspected after your death of having poisoned you’, to which he replied ‘I am aware of that. I can tell you nothing more. I have told you the truth.’

  Dr. Bell states that he is a cousin of the deceased and was with him most of the time after his arrival till his death, and from the conversation that he had with him, he appeared to be totally unconscious of having taken any poison other than laudanum. He adds that when Mrs. Cox informed him that Mr. Bravo had admitted taking poison he felt utterly astonished that she had not told Drs. Moore and Harrison on their arrival as she did not do.

  I may here add that had she done so and active measures had been adopted to take it from him his life might have been saved (and give this as the opinion of the medical gentlemen with whom I have had conversation).

  Drs. Moore and Harrison have nothing to state beyond being called to attend when they found the deceased unconscious, in which state he remained until after the arrival of Drs. Johnson and Bell.

  I yesterday saw Dr. Gully at his residence Crewell Lodge, Balham. He is about 68 years of age and states that he has known Mrs. Bravo and her family for many years but had become more intimate with her after the death of her first husband Captain Ricardo. He travelled with her on the continent – resided near her at Streatham and was a constant visitor at her house. He was opposed to her marriage with Mr. Bravo after so short an acquaintance, but when it was decided upon he discontinued his visits and has not spoken to her since last October but shortly before her marriage he wrote to wish her every happiness. In the early part of April he met Mrs Cox at Balham Railway Station and inquired after the welfare of Mrs. and Mr. Bravo, and he then learnt from her generally that Mrs. Bravo was somewhat unhappy in consequence of the interference with their domestic affairs of Mr. Bravo’s mother.

  He again met Mrs. Cox at the same station on 12th April and rode with her to Victoria Station, where Mr. and Mrs. Bravo were again the subject of conversation but he does not remember anything particular being said.

  On the morning of Wednesday 19th April Mrs Cox called upon him and informed him of Mr. Bravo’s illness and after enquiring the symptoms he advised the mustard poultices, cold bandage, and the mild dose of Arsenicum as has been stated. He further says that the unconscious state of Mr. Bravo would not be produced by poisoning by antimony and could only have been produced by a narcotic such as chloroform or laudanum.

  I would here draw attention to the fact that Dr. Gully’s statement as to the visit of Mrs. Cox on Wednesday morning is a direct contradiction of Mrs. Bravo’s and Mrs. Cox (viz) that it did not take place until Thursday evening after the medical gentlemen had said there was no hope of his getting any better.

  Dr. Gully is a Hydropath and for many years has had an establishment at Malvern but has now retired.

  I have to add that during the enquiry I find that Mrs. Bravo and her family hold very strong opinion that Mr. Bravo committed suicide and appear most anxious that this should be shewn but can give me no facts to support these opinions other than those already stated. Should he have committed suicide he must have taken the poison after Mrs. Bravo and Mrs. Cox left the morning room at about 9 o’clock but nothing has been found either in the morning room or bedroom containing poison.

  This fact may be accounted for by the confusion which prevailed during the early part of Tuesday night when glasses etc. would be used probably several times and no particular search was made until after the communication made by Mrs. Cox. On the other hand Mr. Bravo’s friends and acquaintances entertain equally strong opinions that he did not commit suicide and support their opinion by saying that he had nothing to cause him the slightest uneasiness, that he was of a cheerful disposition and in no way pressed for money and that he was a most truthful and honourable gentleman and would certainly not have denied or equivocated in any way had he taken the poison himself, and they strongly suspect that the poison was administered in the wine he had for dinner.

  I wish to particularly call attention to the butler’s statement as to his having brought the wine from the cellar and decanted it that afternoon and leaving it on the side board where what remained after dinner was again placed and he is unable to say what became of it; further, his belief is that it was consumed by the medical gentlemen during the Tuesday night. I have questioned each medical gentleman upon this point and they state most emphatically that they did not drink any Burgundy on Tuesday night and I am unable to gather what became of it.

  Enquiries are still being continued to ascertain where the poison was purchased and other particulars and a further report will be submitted.16

  The death of Charles Bravo was indeed a mystery, although the cause of death appeared clear-cut – he had swallowed poison. However, the means by which it had been administered was not known. Antimony is a corrosive poison quite different in its effect and mode of action from the narcotic laudanum, the only ‘medicine’ which Bravo had admitted taking in a small quantity to ease toothache. No evidence of the source of the antimony that had killed Bravo had been found at the house. It could not have been in the food at dinner as the dishes were shared with others who showed no signs of poisoning. The burgundy drunk by Bravo at dinner could have been a vehicle for the poison; however, the wine that remained undrunk had disappeared. According to the butler it could have been finished by the visiting doctors but they had denied that they had consumed any. Even if they (or the servants) had drunk some burgundy, no one else amongst the household members or visitors had shown signs of antimony poisoning.

  In terms of motive, there was scope for further investigation. There were strong differences of opinion on whether or not Bravo was likely to have committed suicide. His wife and her companion, Mrs Cox, expressed the view that suicide was the most likely cause of death, while his friends held a contrary view. Mrs Cox told Clarke that Bravo had declared to her that he had taken poison and had asked her not to tell his wife, but she also had not told the doctors of this immediately upon their arrival. Though the recently married couple had created the perception that they were living happily together, Florence Bravo had told Clarke that her husband was excitable, had hit her and had threatened to cut his own throat. In addition, Clarke had heard sufficient testimony from Florence Bravo for him to conclude that she did not get on with her husband’s mother. Clarke had discounted her suggestion that Charles Bravo was pressed for money. Nonetheless, Florence Bravo had been insistent that her husband should receive the best medical treatment and had been personally responsible for calling out several of the doctors, including Sir William Gull, a friend of her father’s. Overall, Clarke’s report sugges
ts that he had reservations about the information relayed by both Mrs Cox and Florence Bravo. His enquiries had also prompted him to visit Dr James Gully, a well known and respected Victorian proponent of the medical techniques of hydrotherapy and homeopathy, an intimate acquaintance of Florence Bravo. Indeed more would emerge later about the extent of the ‘intimacy’.

  The delay between the evening of 18 April, when Bravo first became ill, and 1 May undoubtedly made Clarke’s attempts to locate the source of the antimony poison much more difficult. Having found no evidence at the house itself, a Metropolitan Police ‘Special Enquiry’ was sent out to all divisions on 10 May, asking for urgent enquiries to be made at all chemists and druggists who might have sold a relatively large quantity of antimony on 18 April or shortly before; however, no substantive information was obtained.17 The first newspaper report of Bravo’s death and the inquest verdict only appeared on 9 May 1876, though the paucity of news on the case was soon to change dramatically.18

  On 24 May Clarke provided his second report, belatedly mentioning that on his first visit to the Priory he had searched the house and gardens and had sent away any suspicious bottles and their contents for chemical analysis. Clarke also reported interviews with George Younger, a helper in the stables, who had prepared the cob that Charles Bravo had ridden on 18 April. George Griffiths, the former coachman at the Priory, denied that he had overheard an conversation between Florence Ricardo and Dr Gully in which Gully had apparently said, concerning her then-impending marriage to Charles Bravo, ‘if you do marry him he won’t live long’. Clarke’s second report continued:

  I would mention that the wildest rumours are afloat in the neighbourhood of Balham respecting this matter, which no doubt arise from the mysterious nature of the occurrence. I have made enquiry respecting most of them but they afford no information.

  A number of letters have been received (many of them anonymous) suggesting that the poison was administered to Mr. Bravo by Mrs. Bravo or Mrs. Cox, or both, and supplied by Dr. Gully for the purpose of getting rid of him to enable Mrs Bravo and Dr. Gully to get married, but after careful enquiry I can find no evidence to support these suggestions. Dr Gully is a married man but living apart from his wife. These suggestions are proffered through the close intimacy known to exist between Dr. Gully and Mrs. Bravo during her widowhood; they are known to have travelled together on the continent, where they stayed at the same Hotels, and when at Streatham and Balham, he had a key of her premises, and their conduct, altogether, was the cause of a deal of scandal, and they were treated very coolly by the other residents.