The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE IN
LAMBETH.

A terrible tragedy toot plate in Lambeth on Thunday
night—viz., the murder of two children by their
mother, and the suit:Casa the hapless woman. She wait
the wife of Mr. Charles Roberta, a master plumber and
painter, living at 51, Chester-street, Kennington-road.
They had three children—Charles. aged 12 ; Annie,
sged 10; and Frederick, aged 7; and it is the younger
two who have met so tragic a fate. About 20 minutes
to five o'clock on Thursday slternoon, Mrs. Hill, a
neighbour, heard loud cries of murder, end proceeded
at ones to the garden in front of Mr. Roberts's house.
She there met the boy Charles, who, ins frightened sad
elated state, said, "Oh, Mrs. Rill, mother has killed
the two, and will kill me." Mrs. Hill at once hestened
into the house by the front door, and feend both
putout.' empty. She then proceeded to the besement
Boor, were in one of the rooms she found Kra Roberts
lying noir Oho doorway longing to the book yard, La •

pet of blood, and bleeding tress • frightful gash on the
left ann, just above the elbow. gam ndd, "Mrs.
Roberts. what have you dont r The unfortunals women
bad become so weak from the lan of ideog that
she eould scarcely articulate, but vs megammail
to make some menticn of bar ohildrea. The dyieg
woman hod in h.rrigbt hand • white.haniled table knife
Mrs. Hill called in • neighbour, with wised* allietanwe
the almost inanimate body was removed to the hearth
rue. The alarm having been given, add mealeel
serietanee called in, it was found that the poor woman
had Waisted • deep puncture in the left are. by
which the most important muscles bad been
divided. She was then dead. Several tried,Leel
gentleman soon arrived upon the mot. I'.
polioe and the mediae' gentleman were induced from
the expressions suede use of by the boy Charles to
make their way upstairs. On through the
back bedroom over the Id en, to a small
lumber-room opening out of it, lbe lifeline
body of Frederick was found. He was lying ea
his left side, with his heads clouded end covered
with blood. The poor boy's throat was eat from
ear to ear, and there was little miasma of any
straggle having taken phoe. In the first floor
front bedroom, lying on the door upon her
left side, was the corpse of the poor child Lanka whops
head, neck, and bosom, were besmeared with
blood. She was !On& outstretched between the bed
and the wuhstand. Her right arm was extended, and
her left hand just visible from beneath the body was
tightly clenched. The coverlet of the bed was stained
with blood, as also the washstand. Here evidently •
straggle bad takeu place between the poor child and her
mother, who had, as in the ease of the boy, Indicted a
severe gash on the girl's throat. The olden boy
Charles, who first gave the alarm to Mrs. Hill, was
afterwards taken to her house, where, eel heenjree-
tioned, he made the following statement was
playing in the garden with Fred, between four and
o'clock this after-nom, when mother came down and
said, 'Fred., I want you.' went with her upstairs
and then beard • bump. I then ran aerial= te the blob
room over the kitchen, and there saw Freddy Rifting in
the child's chair. Mother was then in the act of 'Mewing'
his neck with the knife. She than threw him off
the chair down upon the floor, and the blood
Laredall over the pima I tben rushed down.
risfollowed by mother. I said, 'What's the
matter with Freddy? She said 'He's • Mother
then ran upstairs again to the front bsdroem. where
sister Anuio was lying on the bed inffering from • Pella
In the chest. Mother took bold Of bet. genie said.
'Oh, mother. fro wwwinewefor maybe, art TOO 1101141 to
Or r Mother said 'I will you,' end thee drew
the knife backwards amt mem Ansie's throat.
I was in the doorway and saw this. I was frightened,
' and ran away down stairs, through the front and batik
kitchen into the garden, and cried 'Murder,' and
'Help,' Mother stopped in the doorway of the kileivin.
and I said, 'Oh, mother, what am you galas to do
and she answered, 'l'll stab myself.' I than -am her
thrust the knife into her arm, and the blood spurted
out all over the place." Mr. Roberts earns home from
a contrast be was carrying out in the Borough, pushed
his way through the crowd, end mom harmed the fatal
news. At the inquest on Friday, the jury returned
a verdict" That the deceased, Alum Maria Roberts,
having wilfully =ordered her two children, destroyed
her own life whilst in • state of unsound mind."