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Edith M. Carew (née Porch) was born 1 May 1868 in Langport, Somerset, died 1958 Narbeth Wales, was sentenced to death for murdering her husband, Walter Carew, in 1897 in Yokohama, Japan. The sentence was commutted to life imprisionment and later Edith was pardoned and released from gaol.

Marriage

Edith Porch, daughter of the then mayor of Glastonbury, Somerset met Walter Carew at a ball in Bridport, Dorset. Shortly after marrying in May 1889 the Carews travelled via Singaporeto Yokohama, Japan and lived in an British administered enclave. Walter took up a position as secretary and manager of the United Club of Yokohama of which Rudyard Kipling was a member. By 1893 they had two children Marjorie and Benjamin. On 15 October 1896 Walter Carew was taken ill with what appreared to be a 'stomach inflammation'. However, the Dr Wheeler who attended him over the next few days could not account for some of his symptoms. Carew's condition worsened and he was admitted to the Naval Hospital on 20 October where he died that evening.

Inquest

On hearing from Mrs Carew that her husband had been administered arsenic the doctor refused to issue a death certificate and an inquest was arranged for 24 October before John Carey Hall, coroner. Meanwhile despite objections from Edith the coroner ordered an autopsy.

At the inquest the Carew's nurse governess, Mary Jacobs gave evidence that she had obtained from a chemists shop Fowler's solution, a compound containing 1% potassium arsenite used at the time for treating a range of conditions including, malaria and syphilis. The doctor who carried out an autopsy advised that an analysis of the contents of Walter Carew's stomach confirmed he had been poisoned with arsenic not administered by himself, although he was known by the doctor to have also administered doses of arsenic himself. Edith Carew gave evidence that she had only obtained arsenic for her husband at his request or with a doctor's prescription. Giving further evidence Edith Carew referred to an Annie Lake who she believed was the 'veiled lady' who had called at the Carew house whilst only Edith was present on 10 October and left a card for her husband with the initials AL and 1888 written on it. Edith had sent a note to her husband urging he return home by which time the women had left. A few days later a letter was left at the Club for the husband by the unknown person. In further evidence Edith said Annie Lake had been a friend of hers who had shown her husband some affection before their marriage. Walter had apparently attempted to make contact with the woman via the British Consulate and offices of the steam shipping company but without success. In addition, at the time of the inquest various letters were sent to the coroner and Edith Carew's lawyer. An extract of one of these included the following words.

You will be acting on behalf of the wife of the man who was to me more than the world. Dead men tell no lies no nor dead women either. I am going to join him. For eight long weary years I have watched and waited - waited til I knew he would grow tired of her, that silly little fool! And then I came to him. What is the result? We between us electrify Japan.

Despite enquiries Annie Luke could not be found. The inquest jury concluded Walter Carew had certainly died of of arsenic poisoning but that there was no direct evidence as to who had administered the lethal dose.

Trial

Carew was ordered to stand trial for murder in the British Court for Japan.

Two days after the inquest the coroner received an anonymous note that the Japanese pharmacist who had dispensed the drugs to nurse had also dispensed quantities of another arsenic compound just two days earlier to Edith. The anonymous note was traced back to the nurse who then handed over fragments of letters thrown away in a waste basket by Edith which the nurse had pieced together. When subsequently presented as evidence in court a picture emerged of a clandesdine relatonship which existed of "an affectionate nature" between Edith and a British clerk at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Harry Dickinson. The correspondence also revealed they had been colluding in an attempt to bring her husband's reputation into disrepute by suggesting relationships with other women so as to bring about a divorce between Edith and Walter. A handwriting expert concluded that the notes supposededly written by Annie Luke had been penned by Edith Carew. Together with the revelations over the the obtaining of large quantities of poisons, the jury concluded that Edith Carew was guilty of murdering her husband. She was sentenced to death by judge Robert Mowat. The British Minister to Japan, Ernest Satow commuted her sentence to penal servitude for life. Carew was removed to Hong Kong and then to England. Edith Carew was interned in Aylesbury Gaol.

References

Murder on the Bluff: The Carew Poisoning Case By Molly Whittington-Egan

The Pittsburgh Press - Nov 15, 1910 English Murder trial Recalled by Schenk Case page 14

The Milwaukee Sentinel - Jul 30, 1950 Page 28 - Lewis Thompson