Eva or Ruby Porter murdered in London in 1930s??

[illjaorterpa]

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

[mosiefish]

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

[Jeuel]

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. 

[mosiefish]

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

[illjaorterpa]

Thank you so much - very interesting 

[Johodgson1128]

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. 

[benknighton]

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.

[Mowsehowse]

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

[hanes teulu]

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"