The Balham Mystery. Or: The Notorious death of Charles Bravo.

Philanthony
4 min readJan 6, 2022
Photograph of Charles Bravo, taken in 1876.(From London-overlooked.com;)

Charles Bravo was a successful lawyer in Victorian London. His wife, born Florence Campbell, had been previously married to one Captain Ricardo, a very wealthy dipsomaniac.

After they separated, he died and left his wealth to Florence. When his body was examined traces of the poison antimony were discovered. Florence then struck up a relationship with Dr William Gully who ran a hydrotherapy spar in picturesque Malvern. Perhaps they would have married, but Gully already had a wife so that was out of the question.

The Priory, Balham (From London-overlooked.com)

Perhaps tiring of her clandestine relationship with Gully, Florence decided that she would marry Bravo whom she had met via a friend. She lived with him at The Priory, an elegant white house in Balham, London, where they were comfortably situated with half a dozen servants. The servants later reported that the relationship between the couple was a harmonious one. Florence disclosed otherwise.

On Tuesday 18th April 1876 the couple had their evening meal as usual. Also as usual, Florence consumed more alcohol than her husband considered necessary for which he once again criticised her. They slept in separate bedrooms…

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Philanthony
Philanthony

Written by Philanthony

Phil Anthony PhD; Researcher, writer, home baker.

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