The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

EAILLY on Sunday, a mother and her three children were
murdered by the husband and father. William Bousfield
about 34 years old, resided at 4, Portland-street, Wardour
street, Oxford-street, London, where he kept a small cigar and
newspaper shop. He was a carpenter ; but, having a turn
for the stage, he neglected everything in order to gratify his
desires in that respect, and has recently attended the
Princess's Theatre, where he was employed as a supernume-
rary at is. per night. He had been married several years,
and his wife had borne him three children. Being an only
daughter, she was much beloved by her father, Mr. Jones, a
man of some property. He lived in the house where they
resided, the shop and parlour of which he allowed them to
occupy rent free. The wife was a very industrious woman,
and paid great attention to the business, which, under her
management, was progressing very favourably. Lately the
murderer has been jealous of his wife ; but, it is said, with-
out the slightest clause. Matters at one time became so un-
pleasant between them that Bousfield was offered by Mr.
Jones a sum of money to enable him to go to America if he
would leave his wife behind ; but he refused ; his jealousy ap-
peared to increase ; and it is believed he then formed the
determination to commit the horrible crime which he carried
into effect.

On Saturday last, about midnight, Mrs. Bousfield closed her
shop, at which time the husband was at home, and, what is
extraordinary, no noise was heard during the night, by the
persons living in the house.
About six o'clock, on Sunday morning, the murderer pre-
sented himself at the Bow-street police station, and informed
the constable that he had murdered his wife and family. He
was taken to the inspector on duty, to whom he repeated the
intelligence. The inspector at once despatched some men to
the place mentioned. Upon gaining admittance from the
street, they proceeded to the back parlour, and finding the door
locked, they broke it open, and entered the room. On one bed
lay the eldest child, a girl, about eight years old; she was
covered with blood, and it was found her throat was cut, the
wound dividing all the arteries, and extending nearly across
the neck. On the other bed were the bodies of the mother
and the two other children—a girl, about four years old, and
a boy, about eight months old. Mrs. Bousfield's neck had a
wound in it about four and a-half inches wide, and very deep,
from which the blood was flowing fast. On her arms were five
other wounds. The infant's throat was also cut. They had
all been dead some time, the bodies being cold.
It was soon ascertained that the instrument with which the
dreadful deed had been committed was a carpenter's chisel,
which was found covered with blood.
• The four bodies were removed in shells to St. James's work-
house, in Portland-street, and the murderer remains at Bow-
street station, for examination before the magistrates.

THE LENT ASSIZE.

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theTßLEentfollsoswizineg2rrangements have been made for holding

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.
Judges.—The lion. Mr. Baron Martin and the Hon. Mr
Justice Willes.
Lancaster, Monday, February 18 ; Appleby, Thursday, 21;
Carlisle, Saturday, 23 ; Newcastle and town, Wednesday, 27 ;
Durham, Tuesday, March 4; York and city, Saturday, 8;
Liverpool, Saturday, 22.
NORTH WALES AND CHESTER CIRCUIT.
Judge.—The lion. Mr. Justice Erle.
Welshpool, Monday, March 10; Bala, Thursday, 13; Car-
narvon, Saturday, 16 ; Beaumaris, Wednesday, 19 ; Ruthin,
Saturday, 22 ; Mold, Thursday, 27 ; Chester and city, Satur-
day, March 29.
SOUTH WALES AND CHESTER CIRCUIT.
Haverfordwest and town, Monday, March 3 ; Cardigan,
Thursday, 6; Carmarthen, Monday, 10; Swansea, Friday, 14;
Brecon, Saturday, 22; Presteign, Wednesday, 26 ; Chester
and city, Saturday, 29.
Mr. Justice Williams will join Mr. Justice Erie at Chester,
to hold the assizes for that county and city.

BITING A POLICIMA.N'EI Nosm—peorge Tinling, Henry
Alroy, and Thomas Wainwright, three decently-dressed men,
were brought up before Mr. Mansfield, on Saturday, charged
with assaulting police-officer 288, in Beacon-lane, Walton, a
fight, few nights ago. There had been a drunken quarrel and a
and the officer had gone to quell the disturbance.
While doing so he was knocked down and assaulted by all the
prisoners, but Tinling also ferociously bit him severely on the
nose. They were all convicted, AlToy and Wainwright in
penalties of 21 each and costs, and Tinling X gull costs.