The Millstein Murders in Hanbury Street 1911

[Chris Scott]

Rob Clack in the East End photographs thread (post #1592 page 160) mentions the Millstein murders of Hanbury Street.
I am currently transcribing a lengthy account of this case from the Daily Mail of 28 December 1911 and will post this here.
As a starter an article from the same paper gives a brief resumé of the story of Hanbury Street since the time of the Chapman murder

[Chris Scott]

From the same paper here is a diagram of the layout of the lower part of the house, 62 Hanbury Street

[Brenda]

I am looking forward to reading more about this (and resisting the urge to go Google it RIGHT NOW!)

[Chris Scott]

Here is the first part of the article with photos of the couple

Daily Mail (UK)
28 December 1911

DOUBLE MURDER IN LONDON.
BODIES IN A BURNING ROOM.
MYSTERY OF GAMBLERS' DEN.
MAN AND WOMAN FOUND STABBED.

A policeman patrolling a narrow street in Spitalfields before dawn yesterday found a door open and, passing through it, came upon a crime as terrible and obscure as any in the history of the alien quarter of East London.
It was about 4.15 a.m. when the policeman noticed the door of No. 62 Hanbury Street, a Kosher restaurant, was ajar. Entering he came to another door, locked, but with the key in its place. No answer came to his knock.
The constable opened the door and clouds of smoke came out. On the floor he found the bodies of Samuel Millstein, a Pole, thirty five years old, and of his wife, a young and good looking woman. Millstein had been stabbed through the lungs. The woman was wounded in the breast, the face, and head, and a pillow had been pressed down upon her. The bodies were not yet cold.
A long knife, bloodstained, lay on the floor. A second knife, similarly stained, had broken off at the haft, the blade and handle being some distance apart. The fire irons were bent and broken.
The murderers had attempted to set fire to the room after the crime. An empty bottle, which had contained paraffin, and a blood stained box of matches were picked up. The victims' bedclothes were smouldering.
The room had not been searched by the murderers. Several pieces of jewellery were untouched. There is practically no clue to the criminals and no known motive for the crime. A man's scarf found on the floor by the bed is not recognised as having belonged to the Millsteins. The victims' bedroom was above a basement used as a secret gambling den. For the convenience of the gamblers the area door, which attracted the policeman's notice, was frequently left unlocked. Millstein and his wife were last seen alive about three hours before the finding of their bodies. No one heard the sounds of the struggle which they made for their lives.
About twelve men have been questioned by the police. The inquest will take place tomorrow at the Stepney Coroner's Court.

[Chris Scott]

THE DISCOVERY.
WHAT A POLICEMAN FOUND BEHIND A DOOR.

At a quarter past four a policeman, passing along Hanbury Street, noticed that the door of the restaurant at No. 62 was open. He entered to find out if anything was wrong, and walked through to the door of the bedroom. He tried the handle of the door and found it was locked. Flashing the light of the lantern downwards he discovered the key was in the lock, and he turned it.
The door opened and a cloud of smoke emerged. He entered and discovered the tragedy. He saw the body of man lying on the floor just inside. The man, Millstein, was wearing pants and a vest. The room was full of smoke and some of the bedclothes were smouldering, but there was no flame. Mrs. Millstein, in her nightdress, was also lying on the floor near the bed. She was lying partly on a thick quilt, and a pillow was over her face. There was blood all over the floor and on the garments worn by the two victims.
A whistle was blown, the fire brigade was sent for, and additional police summoned. Dr. Goodman, who lives nearby, was called and a message conveyed to Dr. Clarke, the police divisional surgeon.
Mr. Millstein. it was discovered, had a stab wound just below the left collar bone, which had penetrated the lung.
The wife had a stab under the left eye and a severe cut across the breast 4in. long and about 2in. deep. There were also several severe wounds on the head caused by some blunt instrument.
On the floor there was a bloodstained table knife, which was subsequently identified as belonging to the restaurant, and another weapon, described as a sheath knife and used for carving. This second knife, which was also bloodstained, was found broken. The blade, broken off at the haft, was at one end of the room and the handle at the other. Near by there was a bent poker and a broken pair of fire tongs, both with blood on them.
It was clear that no systematic search of the room had been made by the murderers, although two drawers were found open and the contents tumbled. Mrs. Millstein's jewellery - a gold watch and chain, a gold bracelet,and a diamond ring - were left in one of the drawers wrapped up in some underclothing, and her wedding ring was still on her finger.

[Brenda]

Hmmm..I wonder if this could be murder/suicide? Strange that the wife has quite a few wounds while the husband only has the one wound, which could have possibly been self-inflicted. That wouldn't explain the burning, though.
Hanbury Street was surely an interesting place.

[Uncle Jack]

Perhaps the husband murdered the wife and she managed to stab him in self defence.....