From the Woolwich Gazette and Kentish Advertiser, Friday, 29 March, 1907.

The Shocking Find At Woolwich.

Inquest opened and adjourned. Mother too ill to appear.

Mr. H. R. Oswald (coroner) held an inquest at the Co-operative Institute, Parsons Hill, Woolwich, on Saturday, on the body of a newly born female child, which was found in a box at the "Earl of Chatham" public house on Wednesday morning. The mother of the child (Alice Ellis) is at present an inmate of the Woolwich Union Infirmary, where she is receiving medical attention. As soon she has sufficiently recovered she will be charged at the Police Court with concealment of the birth of the child.

Inspector Ellis, R Division, said on Wednesday morning, with two other officers, he went to the "Earl of Chatham" public house and enter the back bedroom on the third floor. On the floor, mantleshelf and bedding, there were marks that appeared to be bloodstains. There was a box standing at the foot of the bed and it was locked with a brass padlock and tied round with a rope. The box was forced open and he found it contained female's clothing and the dead body of a newly born female child which was wrapped in a flannelette petticoat. Round the child's neck a tape was tied tightly with a reefer knot at the back of the ear. The body was lying face downwards and was doubled up. Life was extinct and he ordered the body to be removed to the mortuary.

Detective Sergeant Macpherson R Division, said at 1.08 p.m. on Wednesday, with Detective Inspector Lambert he arrested Alice Ellis, at 53, High Street, North Woolwich. He found the woman in the parlour of the house with her father and mother. Inspector Lambert left the room and the woman then produced a small bent key from her pocket, saying "This is the key of the box."

Detective Inspector Lambert said he went to the "Earl of Chatham" public house, at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday. He found the thick covering of the bed, in the bedroom, on the third floor, saturated with
blood, and the sheet was also soaked with blood. He found a small bag under the bed in which he found a brooch and a wedding ring. With Detective Sergeant Macpherson and Detective Free, he went to 53, High Street, North Woolwich, where he saw Alice Ellis at the door with her mother. She told him that she had been in service at the "Earl of Chatham," but left on Tuesday. She was then told that the body had been found in the box, and that a charge of concealment of birth would be preferred against her, but she made no reply. As she was very ill he sent for Dr, Brews, who ordered her immovable to the Workhouse Infirmary.

Dr. W. E. Boulter, medical superintendent of the infirmary said the woman was very ill when admitted to the infirmary. She was no making satisfactory progress and would be able to appear before the Coroner in a fortnight from then.

Florence Furner wife of the licensee of the "Earl of Chatham" public house, said the woman was employed at her house as a domestic servant for 10 weeks. She questioned the woman but she replied that there was nothing wrong. On Tuesday as the woman was crying and said she could not do her work she sent her home for the day.

Adjourned till April 5th.