The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-15 00:00:00

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

In London, on Saturday afternoon, al the Clerkenwell
Pal:won* George Wilson, aged 64„ who was described on
the chargosheet ea of no occupation, reeldhig at It,
Catherine-street, Islington, was charged with feloniously
murdering his son, Thomas Wilson, aged 10 years, by striking
him on the heed with a chopper, at the above addrees.

Mr. James William Oxley, a clerk in the poet-office
at Vero-street, Oxford-street, said : I reside in the next
house to the prisoner. This morning about five minutes
to nine, I was in my bedroom' about to wash myself,
when my son, who was in the back garden, called me.
I haetened out, and saw him looking over the rails that
divide the two gardens, flocked, and saw prisoner's
wife at the back window of prisoner's hon.. She
was screaming out, "Come to my husband, Mr. Oxley;
he has murdered my son Tom! ' , I jumped over the
rails, took up a broom, went upstairs, and in the
passage I observed prisoner clutching his little boy, who
was on the ground. lie had his arms entirely round
the body of his son, and he was right over him,
being on his knees. I seized bold of the right wrist of
the prisoner, and at that moment he dropped an axe
from his right hand. The axe dropped on the right-hand
aide of the body the prisoner holding the body up with
I his left hand. pulled the prisoner away with great
force, for the prisoner still clutched the body, and
groaned and cried fearfully. The eldest son, who had
' just previously been haying his bath, came up naked.
With his substance I pulled the prisoner away from
the murdered child into the parlour and put him on a
couch. I thee went bank to the silt and put the axe
under the niat to hide it, open the street door,
called for aamistance, and seat for a medical man and
the constable. WI assistance we put the child into a
blanket, and into a cab, when we were met by Dr.
Blatez, who had the child removed into a chemiet's shop
and examined it. I observed that the child was mom.
pletely deluged in blood, end had severe cub on the
head. Prisoner when be was placed in the parlour was
restrained from leaving. I worked with the prisoner
eighteen years since and he was a most affectionate
father • In fact, he &LAW on his children, and would
not allow a hair of their heads to be injured. The
prisoner has been out of his mind for months;
-

The prisoner, in answer to the ,siagistrate, said be
had no questions to auk.
Dr. Slater, of 1, Tnorithillerescent, Barnsbnry, said
—This morning I wee &lei to the prisoners house,
e,nd when I got there the injured boy was being re-
moved. I examined hint, and found him suffering and
bleeding profusely from an incised wound just above
the left temple, about three Inches long. There was
also • fracture of the skull. There was a little posterior
to the first wound, a mall lacerated one. There was
a fracture of the skull about five or in inches long.
The boy lingered until about half-past eleven this
morning, when he died.
The Magistrate: Nothing could be done for him?
Dr. Slater : Nothing, but to keep him quiet and to
atop the bleeding. The axe produced • (nearly new
one) might have caused the injuries. Both the blade
and the back of the axe appeared to have been lased.
The bons warn going to school, and his cap was covered
with blood.

William Wilson, brother of the deceased, said I wee
In the back kitchen of the house this morning about nine
o'clock, having a bath, when I heard my mother scream.
Immediately after .he ran down to me, and said,
"lather has killed Tom." Before that in, mother
had locked me in the room, as she was afraid
father would do something to me. She unlocked the
door, and I ran npsteirs, meeting Mr. Oxley. I saw
him trying to poll my father away from my brother
Thome, who ws• lyieg in a poet of blood, and beside
him was an axe. We got my father away, and he then
exclaimed, "I have done it I I have done it I " My
Whet has bean in
ializsonding state of mind for some
time, and ham attempted to commit suicide. We have
been in treaty far removal to an asylum,
TM Magid:Me : Him be always been • kind father?