RootsChat.Com
Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: illjaorterpa on Monday 16 August 10 21:50 BST (UK)
-
The family tale is that my great aunt was an actress in London and was murdered/killed in a hotel room. How do I go about proving or disproving this?
It is complicated by my father knowing her as Ruby but according to the 1901 and 1911 census she was Eva Porter born in Aston to John & Lillian Porter Dec 1900. My dad was born in 1928 and remembers receiving presents from his aunt who had moved to London to be an actress and he was told she was murdered. I have found an Eva Porter who died in Wandsworth in Dec 1935.
I have searched via google looking for reports of murders but not found anything, were these things in the papers at the time? Any suggestions of what to do would be great?
Thanks ???
-
Hi,
It looks like the correct death.
The Times 5th December, 1935
DEATH OF SECOND VICTIM
Scotland Yard detectives yesterday continued the search for a man whom they wish to interview in connextion with the death of a woman who was found stabbed in a flat at Elmhurst Mansions, Elmhurst Street, Clapham, on Monday night, after a birthday party given for a 13 year old girl. Arthur Brooks, who was also found injured died in Weir Hospital last night.
At the opening of the inquest on the body of the woman yesterday her name was stated to be Eva Porter, but she had also been known as Eva Markwick and Eveline McGinty. The inquest was adjourned until December 18.
There was then a bit more about the man they were looking for.
I will have a further look.
Regards,
Mo
-
Murders are always reported in the papers - its what sells them. You will find reports in the local newspapers and nationals, but most of it won't be online.
Newspaper archives for the local area will be in the relevant records office - not sure which borough Clapham is in, but googling will probably find the answer.
-
Hi,
At the inquest they decided that Arthur Thomas Brooks aged 46 was the murderer of Eva and he had then used the knife to inflict wounds on himself. The knife was apparently the cake knife used for cutting the cake at the party of Evas daughter. Apparently before he died he had made conflicting statements regarding who had murdered Eva and then attacked him, but there was no evidence to support that a third party had been in the flat.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Mo
-
Thank you so much - very interesting :)
-
Hello, my late nan Violet Waring (was Porter) also told me stories of Eva being an actress and sending gifts at Christmas. I believe Ruby was the 13 year old daughter whose party it was. :)
-
Yes this was the death of Eva Porter. she was stabbed 16 times in her flat by a Clapham man who did not like her resuming a friendship with Charles Henry Rutland. Do you know more about Eva, and where she acted please? It was reported in the Wandsworth Borough News on 20.12.35.
-
This might be a good place to begin with a speculative enquiry......
V&A ˇ Theatre & Performance Archives.Search the archives to discover collections documenting both current practice and the history of performing arts in the UK. Search the Theatre & Performance ...
https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/theatre-performance-archives
-
The Daily Mirror, 4 Dec 1935, carries a picture of "Mrs Eveline Mcginty" - the article also refers to her as "Eva Markwick" but the name "Eva Porter" is not mentioned.
One of the many articles that appeared in the press referred to her as "a stage dancer" rather than "an actress"
-
Wasn't Mrs McGinty a character in one of Agatha Christie's books?
-
Markham was the name of the sexually liberated aviatrix, Beryl, which Eva might have admired, choosing that as a name. However Eva did not have the 'protection' of the Royal Princes.
-
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rn3/
More on her..
-
I forgot to say. Eva's daughter was named Ruby..
-
Is the author making a case for Ruby as the murderer, or did she being a man in?
-
looks like her regular man friend Arthur Brookes was jealous of the tram driver,Charles Rutland bringing a present for Ruby...When they (Eva and Arthur came back from the pub it all kicked off..I imagine Ruby was terrified and stayed in her bed.
-
But Ruby was not in bed when he returned and he was angry about it.
-
'Mrs McGinty's Dead' was the title of an Agatha Christie murder-mystery, but she had it published in 1952. No doubt she had read reports about the 'Flat Tragedy' in 1935. Why Eva chose the name we shall never know, and now there is doubt about the murderer. When I first read the report of the Coroner, I thought it was all very rushed and tied up. Stabbing oneself deep in the stomach, when there were only limited treatments (penicillin 1.6.46) as he would know as a registered chemist, is an odd way to prove one's false innocence. Was the later story about another man designed by the dying man to save Ruby? The lack of witnesses to another man is hardly conclusive, when there were only six flats to a staircase, presumably with the doors shut after 22:00 for privacy.
-
Hello, my late nan Violet Waring (was Porter) also told me stories of Eva being an actress and sending gifts at Christmas. I believe Ruby was the 13 year old daughter whose party it was. :)
Hi Jo, it was me (your cousin Jill Porter) who started this thread and only just looked at Rootschat again and saw your post as there seemed to be a sudden interest in my questions after 10 years! I have found out so much more as all I had to start with was my dads vague recollection as he would have only been 7 years old when Eva was murdered. Infact he was confused and thought Eva was called Ruby then I found out Ruby was her daughter. I have been in touch with Rubys family and if you ever want more info I think you have my email. Hope you and your family are well . Jill
-
I am surprised to receive replies to my post 10 years on. I have found out much more about Eva since the vague information my dad told me many years ago. I had found the Times report about her murder but it was great seeing a more upto date photo of her in the Mirror. So thank you for that information. Thank you Hepburn for the link to the book about Murder Houses of South London. Although very interesting it was difficult reading. The author had their own take on what happened. Eva was my great aunt and a loved member of the family, she followed her dream of wanting to be a dancer and headed off to London to pursue her dream - probably like many other young girls. It didnt work out but she never forgot her family and would send home presents to her nieces and nephews (including my dad). I have a couple of beautiful photos but not sure about sharing them without knowing how to protect their use?
-
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rn3/
More on her..
Thank you for sharing this.
-
There's also a photo in the Daily Mail, 17 Dec 1935.