Louisa Skutt ca 1872-

[Exeter & Plymouth Gazette, Devon, Thursday 10 September 1891. The Holloway Tragedy. The Inquest. (by Telegraph.) Yesterday afternoon Dr. W. Wynn Westcott, Coroner for the Central Division of the County of London, opened the inquest at Holloway concerning the deaths of Ernest Nightingale, Elizabeth (his wife), Ernest Arthur, aged 16 months (their son), and Ruby Florence, aged 4 months (their infant daughter), who died under mysterious circumstances, already reported. The Coroner, in commencing the proceedings, said the evidence would be that little more than formal, and on another occasion they would have to go into the life history of the deceased. Mr. Charles James Hartland, father of Mrs. Nightingale, said that on several occasions he had seen her and her husband drinking some dark liquid from a bottle. He did not know what it was. They were always, apparently, on the best of terms. Louisa Skutt, the servant, said her master and mistress, up to within three weeks of their death, used to drink some such liquid, but not since that time. The night before their death she saw her master writing, and had since learned it was an envelope he was addressing. Medical evidence was given, but without a minute analysis the doctors could not speak positively as to the cause of death. The inquiry was adjourned.] [Wed 16 Sep 1891, Aberdeen Journal, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The Holloway Mystery. At the Mission Hall, Palmer's Place, Holloway, on Wednesday, Dr Wynn Westcott, Coroner, opened an inquiry relative to the death of Ernest Nightingale (32), commercial traveller; Elizabeth Ann (33), his wife, and Ernest Arthur (16 months), his son, who were found dead, apparently poisoned, in bed at their residence on 5th inst.; also regarding the death of the baby, aged four months, who died on 8th inst., apparently from the effects of poison. The Coroner referred to the mysterious nature of the case, and asked the jury to give a verdict strictly according to the evidence brought before them, disregarding all hearsay matter. Charles James Hartland, retired builder, and father in-law of Ernest Nightingale, traveller to Messrs Lorimer, chemical manufacturers, detailed the circumstances already reported under which the bodies were found. He said Nightingale was a very temperate man, and most affectionate with his wife. Witness was not aware his son-in-law was under notice to leave his employment. Whenever witness visited them, Nightingale and his wife used to share a glass of some dark liquid; he believed it was a tonic. Mrs Nightingale never drank to excess, and was quite right in her head. He believed neither Mr nor Mrs Nightingale's lives were insured. Questioned by Mr Algar, solicitor, appearing for relatives, he said, Mrs Nightingale suffered from costiveness. Mrs Hartland, into whose care the child Ruby was given on 5th inst. after Mr and Mrs Nightingale were found dead, said the child was convulsed, and died on the 8th inst. Louisa Skutt, domestic servant to the Nightingale family, said she had been with them only seven weeks when the deaths occurred. All the four persons now dead appeared quite well on Friday, 4th September. Witness then gave an account of their movements on that day, particulars of which have been published. Mr Nightingale took her and the youngest boy for a drive after dark. The child was dressed only in a nightgown and shawl. The mother did not protest. Mr. Nightingale was writing a letter when she last saw him about half-past ten that night. Next morning the dead bodies were found in the bedroom as already reported Dr Frederick Spicer, of Camden Road, said he was called to Nightingale's house shortly before mid-day on September 5th. He saw the child Ruby. It was convulsed. The other three persons were dead. The child died from exhaustion consequent on the convulsions, the cause of which he could not say without chemical examination. The symptoms pointed to strychnine and prussic acid poisoning. The inquest was then adjourned to allow of a chemical analysis being made.]