["London Personal Notes", The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 09 February 1909, page 9]
A Mystery Solved.
The mystery of the fate of Edwin Couch, the Newmarket trainer, who disappeared about three weeks ago, was cleared up on Saturday last by the discovery of his dead body in his room at the Turk's Head Hotel, at Exeter, where he had been staying as "Mr. Mathews" for several days. By the dead man's side was discovered a five-chambered revolver, and a bullet wound in his temple showed how he had died. It appears that Couch on Friday failed to appear at luncheon, and on his room being entered he was discovered as stated. Although no one in the house heard them, an examination showed that three shots were fired, two, which penetrated a picture frame, passing through an adjoining room. At the hotel the deceased, who was about 50 years of age, was very sociable, and told the guests that he had come from Australia to purchase thoroughbred horses for exportation to the Commonwealth. Enquiries show that Couch had arranged to go out to Australia in charge of a shipment of horses. These animals had to be shipped from Glasgow during Christmas week on the Adelaide Steamship Company's new vessel, Koombana, which was to sail on December 29. All details were arranged, and as the animals had to reach Glasgow some eight or nine days before being shipped, so as to go through their mallein tests, it was decided that Couch should down go to Cobham on the evening of last Saturday week and start on Sunday morning with the blood stock, which had been rounded up there. He appeared to be greatly interested in the matter, and had gone minutely into the questions of forage and boxes; but after leaving the International Horse Agency's office on the Saturday at midday he mysteriously vanished. He never reached Cobham, and as another good man was fortunately available the stock was sent off on the Sunday under his charge and without Couch. Day by day it was still hoped that news of the latter would be received, but none came to hand, and the other man, whose name is Painter, sailed on the Koombana in Couch's place.
