Another very singular murder is suspected at Chelsea. A woman
named Porter or Chapman, whose husband is in prison at. Constantinople, was found dead at 46 Maude Grove, on April 13, under circumstances which suggested that she had been murdered with chloroform for the sake of her jewels, which were known to be valuable. A man named Wallace and his wife lived with her as lodgers, and her little child, aged four, testified that just be- fore her death he had seen Wallace "romping" with his mamma, —that is, pressing his hand on her face. Mrs. Chapman was ill in bed at the time, and Mrs. Wallace was attending her. The maid- servant, who entered her room shortly after, smelt chloroform strongly, and gave an account of her mistress's illness which led the doctor to suspect that some irritant poison had been used. The contents of the stomach are therefore to be analysed. It is to he observed, however, that the deceased woman had a heart so
diseased that the doctor wondered how she lived. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace left the house immediately after Mrs. Chapman's death, and have not yet been found, while all her jewellery has disap- peared. There is something strange about the case, as Mrs. Chapman had no need to take lodgers, and it is asserted in the evening papers of Friday that the police believe the deceased to have been connected with a gang of forgers ; that her husband is in prison for forgery ; and that others have recently been living on her means, which consisted chiefly of jewels of a value greatly above her station. They had been insured for £1,500.
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