Richard Clifford Brinkley

Case record: Richard Clifford Brinkley

Background

Richard Clifford Brinkley was a carpenter who cultivated the friendship of Johanna Maria Louisa Blume, a 77-year-old widow. Blume owned a house in Fulham, and Brinkley had designs upon her estate.

Brinkley drew up a will in which he was the sole beneficiary of all the old lady’s property and savings. He induced Blume to sign the will by folding a piece of paper so it appeared to be a list of people wishing to go to the seaside. Brinkley told her that he was collecting names for a seaside outing, saying: “It’s going to be a wonderful day out,” he told her. “You’ll enjoy every minute of it.”

Brinkley obtained the signatures of two witnesses, Henry Heard and Reginald Parker, using a similar ruse.

After Blume died, Brinkley produced the will and claimed his inheritance. Blume’s grand-daughter, who had lived with Blume, disputed the signature and, with the help of a solicitor, demanded that Brinkley prove the validity of the will. The solicitor’s request meant the witnesses would be questioned, and Brinkley decided to eliminate them.

Brinkley started with Parker. He visited Parker on the pretext of buying a dog that Parker had for sale.

The offence

Brinkley brought a bottle of stout to Parker’s lodgings in Croydon and left it on the kitchen table while the two men went out to look at the animal (and/or take the dog for a walk).

In Parker’s absence, Mr Richard Beck, Parker’s landlord, entered the room with his wife Elizabeth and their daughter. Seeing the bottle of stout, they decided to sample it. All three collapsed. Mr and Mrs Beck died shortly afterwards, while their daughter was taken to hospital and made a full recovery.

The bottle was found to have been laced with prussic acid.

The following day, Brinkley was arrested in the street in Fulham.

Investigation

Investigators found a vet who had supplied Brinkley with prussic acid to destroy a dog. Investigators also found the off-licence assistant who had sold Brinkley the bottle of stout.

A railway inspector remembered Brinkley buying a ticket to Croydon on the evening of the Becks’ deaths. A chemist in Manor Road, South Norwood, told of having sold prussic acid to Brinkley.

When Parker told the police that the bottle had been brought by Brinkley, Brinkley was arrested on suspicion of causing the Becks’ deaths.

Mrs Blume’s body was exhumed. Police were confident that prussic acid would be found, but no trace of poison was found.

Forensic evidence was given on the use of various inks used in the signatures on the wills.

Arrest

Brinkley was arrested in the street in Fulham on the following day after the Becks’ deaths.

Trial

Brinkley was tried for the Becks’ murder and the attempted murder of their daughter and Parker at Guildford Assizes.

Brinkley was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Sentencing

Brinkley was sentenced to death at Guildford Assizes.

Appeals

No appeals were described in the case record.

Outcome

Brinkley was executed by hanging at Wandsworth Prison on August 13, 1907.

Henry Pierrepoint carried out the hanging.

Other details

Brinkley was 53 years old at the time described in the case record.

The will was contested by Blume’s grand-daughter with the help of a solicitor, and she demanded that Brinkley prove the validity of the will, including by seeing the will’s witnesses.

The solicitor subsequently saw Reginald Parker, who said he had no recollection of witnessing a will, let alone seeing Mrs. Blume sign any document.

Brinkley’s execution was also associated with John Ellis and Henry Pierrepoint carrying out hangings at Wandsworth Prison on 13 August 1907.

A role attributed to a pathologist was recorded in connection with Blume’s exhumation: Bernard Spilsbury examined Blume’s body, and no trace of poison was found.