The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-11 00:00:00

A FEARFUL TRAGEDY.

An Inquest has been held at Liverpool, on the hody of
Joseph Jones. chief cloak with Messrs Ackcrs, Whitley, and
to,, coal merchants, Liverpool, who. on Thursday night at-
tempted to murder his wife in the office, and failing that, cut
his own throat.

It appeared from the evidence that shortly after
six o'clock on Thursday evening, Mrs. Jones was seen
at the window of the office, with blood on her face,
calling for assistance. Several men effected an en-
trance. The first thing they saw was the deceased
standing on the landing, the door of the office being
shut. The deceased at once entered the office, and
they followed him. The woman was then standing at
the window, shouting for assistance. The deceased went
up to her, but on turning round and seeing that the
men were following him, he took a razor from his
pocket and cut his throat, the blood spurting upon
the floor. He died in a few minutes. On his clothes
the police found two notes :
- -

"Dear Sir,—l thank you for your kindness to me since I
came to A ckers, Whiteley .ad Co.'s employ. I can truly say
that I have received every kindness I could wish from you
You have been the cause of my rising to the mwition mow
hold. An unfaithful wife has been my ruin. Good-bye—S.
Perrin, Es' q."
• • • •

" Dear Allan,—Please give my dear anti Frederick my
watch and chain and par..: they are in the cahh-box Give
all icy dear children a ki,afor me. Good-bye —Perrin."

Joseph Carey, a police-el-instable, who assisted in the
examination of the body of the deceased, spoke to find-
ing a bottle of laudanum in the leg of one of Jones's '
boots.
Mr. Siddeley, a brassfounder, stated that he had
known the deceased for several years. Some time ago
he asked witness to act as one of his executors, at the
same time saying he would not live very long. One
day he brought his will to witness to read, and said he
felt low-spirited. On Wednesday last witness saw
Mrs. Jones, who told him of the existence of the
following note, addressed to him :
Mr. Siddeley—Dear Sir.--The cause of this dreadful deed
is a distracted mind and an afflicted brain, brought on
through the unfaithfulness of my vire. May God have
mercy on our souls. I ant heartbroken to leave my children,
but thank:el I ain leerily,: them in the care of you and my
dear nephew, EtiWarii Bradbury. May God ever hle-s you and
toy dear children. I have bought them a Bible each. I hope
you will see they get them. Their names are written in
them. I hope my dear sisters will take the children, dear
little lambs. Got-bye to all friends and relations. God
Ides, you all. I have given lily son, John Frederick, my
watch and chain. nephew's address is E. Bradbury,
5, Rosamond-street, Brook-street, Manchester.

•
Later in the day the deceased came to his house, and
witness spoke to him about this note. Jones gave it
to him at once, and smiled. Witness asked him how
he dare write such a note, and he said he only did it
to frighten his wife, and meant nothing by it.
Other evidence was given to show that Mrs. Jones
had been very severely Injured, Her deposition was
also read. He asked her to go to the office to him for
company on the Thursday afternoon, and she did so.
He took off the handle of the copying-press, remarking
that if any rough fellows came in when he was alone
he would defend himself with it. She said a man
getting a blow with it would not require a second, and
her husband then pretended to strike her with it.
She exclaimed, "Oh, don't Joseph. Put it down."
Ile replied, "You are not afraid? Don't be afraid."
She turned from him towards the window, and he in.
stantly felled her to the fluor by a blow on the right
side of her head. She screamed, and he then knelt down
and crammed her shawl into her mouth. He was
groaning and terra,* limited. Was lay still, as if she

were dead, and heard him may, "My dear, dear Julia
is departed! I will be with her in a few minutes.
I'll cut my throat !" He then went to a desk to write,
hut put down the pen, saying, "I can't write." Hay-
lifted her hand again, he went out of the office,
and as soon as she was gone oh, took up the handle of
the copying-press, broke the window, and shouted for
assistance. Hearing her cries, he returned to the room,
with an open razor in his hand. Staring wildly at her,
he rushed towar.ls her, but some men entering at the
moment, he turned round and cut his throat. She
heard the men say he was dead as he was being can-led
away.
The jury returned s. verdict to the effect "that the
unfortunate man destroyed himself while labouring
under a fit of temporary insanity."