Charing Cross Trunk Murder

[1] On 6 May 1927,[2] John Robinson, a 35-year-old estate agent, took a cab to Charing Cross railway station, where he deposited a large black trunk in the left-luggage office.

[1] On 10 May after a "dreadful smell" was noted, the police opened the trunk to find the dismembered body of a woman, with each limb separately wrapped in brown paper.

[1] The shopowner who sold the trunk and the cab driver were traced, and the police that visited the office at No 86 said it was "hastily vacated but scrupulously clean".

[1] Although the identity parade failed to pick out Robinson, a more careful search of the property found a matchstick in the bin with a small spot of blood.

[3] During his investigation Detective Inspector Grosse of the Metropolitan Police also pursued enquiries on behalf of a newspaper, an action which some held to be "reckless and unscrupulous" and argued should lead to the withdrawal of his pension.