In the early hours of May 31, 1810, a shocking event took place within the walls of St. James’s Palace in London. Joseph Sellis, a valet to the Duke of Cumberland, was found dead in his bed with his throat brutally slashed. This gruesome discovery set off a chain of events that would lead to one of the most intriguing royal scandals in British history.
The Night of the Incident
The Duke’s Account
According to Ernest Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, he had returned to his apartments at St. James’s Palace after midnight on May 30, 1810. He had been out dining in Greenwich and attending a concert at the Opera House. The Duke claimed that around 2:45 am, he was suddenly awakened by a hissing sound and was struck on the head four times by an assailant wielding a saber.
The Duke said he managed to fend off the attacker, despite receiving wounds to his hands and leg. He then ran from his room, calling out to his valet, Cornelius Neel, who slept in an adjoining room:
“Neil, Neil, I am murdered!”
The Discovery of Sellis’s Body
As the palace was thrown into a state of alarm, the Duke ordered that no one be allowed to leave. When asked about Joseph Sellis, another valet who was supposed to be sleeping in the royal apartments that night, servants went to check on him. After receiving no response from knocking on his door, they entered Sellis’s room through another entrance.
What they found was horrifying. Sellis was lying on his bed, his throat cut so deeply it had almost severed his head. A cut-throat razor was found on the floor near the bed, and a basin of bloody water was in the room.
The Official Investigation
The Inquest
An inquest was quickly conducted on June 1, led by Coroner Samuel Adams. The Duke of Cumberland provided a written statement, as he was recovering from his injuries at Carlton House. Various palace staff members gave their accounts of the events.
The official narrative that emerged was that Sellis had attempted to murder the Duke but failed. He then returned to his own room and took his own life out of guilt or fear of being caught.
The Verdict
After hearing the evidence presented, the jury gave a verdict of “felo de se” or suicide against Joseph Sellis. There seemed to be little doubt among officials that Sellis was an ungrateful servant who had attacked his master and then killed himself when his murder attempt failed.
Public Reaction and Doubts
Rumors and Speculation
Despite the official verdict, many people were not convinced by the explanation given. Rumors began to circulate that the Duke of Cumberland was actually responsible for Sellis’s death. Some suggested that Sellis had discovered the Duke engaging in a homosexual act with Cornelius Neel, and was killed to ensure his silence.
These rumors were not just confined to radical anti-monarchists. Even respected figures at court, such as Cornelia Knight, lady companion to Queen Charlotte, expressed doubts about the official story in her private diary.
Inconsistencies in the Evidence
Several aspects of the case raised questions:
- The severity of Sellis’s throat wound seemed inconsistent with suicide.
- The position of Sellis’s body on the bed was described as unnaturally neat for someone who had just killed themselves.
- The Duke’s injuries from the alleged attack were surprisingly minor for someone who had been struck multiple times with a saber.
- It seemed odd that Cornelius Neel, sleeping in the next room, hadn’t heard any commotion during the supposed attack on the Duke.
The Case Reopened: The 1832 Book
“The Secret History of the Court of England”
In 1832, a book titled “The Secret History of the Court of England, from George III to George IV” was published. It claimed to reveal the truth about the events at St. James’s Palace in 1810. The book directly accused the Duke of Cumberland of murdering Joseph Sellis to silence him after being caught in a compromising situation.
The Libel Trial
The accusations in the book were so serious that a libel trial was held. The Duke of Cumberland and others provided statements to refute the claims. However, the trial was somewhat unsatisfactory, as the book’s publisher had fled to France and key witnesses were not cross-examined.
Theories and Possibilities
The Toothpick Dispute Theory
One possible explanation for the events of that night involves a long-standing dispute between Sellis and Neel. Sellis had accused Neel of overcharging the Duke for items like toothpicks and soap. This might seem trivial, but to Sellis it was a matter of great importance.
According to this theory, Sellis may have confronted the Duke about Neel’s behavior on the night of May 30. The Duke, known for his bad temper, may have reacted violently to this confrontation, leading to a physical altercation that ended in Sellis’s death.
The Compromising Situation Theory
The other main theory, which was widely believed at the time, is that Sellis had indeed caught the Duke and Neel in a compromising situation. This would explain why Sellis might have been hiding in a closet near their rooms. Upon being discovered, the Duke and Neel may have decided to silence Sellis permanently.
The Duke’s Later Life
Despite the scandal, the Duke of Cumberland continued his royal duties. He married in 1815, possibly in part to quell rumors about his sexuality. He remained a controversial figure, known for his extreme political views and anti-Catholic stance.
In 1837, when his niece Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom, Ernest Augustus became King of Hanover, as women could not inherit the Hanoverian throne. He ruled there until his death, never fully escaping the shadow of the events of 1810.
The Mystery Lingers
More than two centuries later, the true events of that night at St. James’s Palace remain shrouded in mystery. Was it a failed assassination attempt followed by a suicide, as the official story claimed? Or was it a cover-up of a royal murder? The inconsistencies in the evidence and the persistent rumors suggest that we may never know the full truth.
What we do know is that this scandal rocked the British monarchy and continues to fascinate historians and royal watchers to this day. It serves as a reminder that even within the hallowed walls of palaces, dark secrets and shocking events can unfold, leaving us to wonder about the true nature of power, loyalty, and human nature.