The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-28 00:00:00

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT SOUTHWARK.

The inquiry into the circumstances attending the
deaths of Martha Lidbetter, aged 59, and Daniel Lid-
better, aged 17, took place yesterday, before Mr. Pays%
the coroner for Southwark.
The proceedings were opened at the Crown Tavern, St.
George's-circus, but immediately titer the jury had been
sworn they went to view the body of the woman, at 28,
Borongh.road, the house in which the crime was cominitt‘ d,
and from thence proceeded to Guy's Hospital, where the
body of the youth was lying, and there the evidence was

Mr. Wontoer attended to watch the cam on behalf of
Thomaa Lidbattor, who is at present in custody, charged

with the murder.
The fist witness celled was
Mr. W. H. Pugh, chemist and druggist, of 102, Borough-
road, who said-1 know Mr. Lidbetter. He is • chair-
maker and public-house fitter, in the Borough -reed. As I
7
was opening my shop at o'clock on Monday morning,
Mr. Lidbetter, whose place of business is nearly opposite
mine, came to me and asked me to step over. 1 promised
that I would, and he left me to go back to his
home, but I overtook him before he got inside.
I asked him what wee the matter, and he
told me in a very feeble voice that he bad killed his wife and
boy. I did not believe it, but he mid it was a fact. I then
said, "Wall, come up, and let us see what you have done."
I went up to the centre room on the first floor, where they
all slept, and he went up with me. As soon as I got into
the room I saw bin wife partly in bat and partly out. She
was lying on her face ; her had and chest were on the bed ;
the lower part of the legs were bare and very sold. She
was on the side nearest to the door. Finding that she was
mid and the legs quite stiff, I went round to the further
aids, where there was • little bed, on which I sew the son
Daniel on his back, with his throat cut very seriously. The
boy moved and apprized conscious. I turned round and
looked at Mr. Lidbetter, and he seemed rather excited when
be maw that the boy was still alive. I understood him to
my that he must go. I put my hand on hie
wrist, and said, " No, you must go with me, I want to take
care of you." We both left the room together. We went
into the kitchen, and he took off his cap and put on his hat.
Apes him his neckerchief, and/then we came down stairs,
and I led him over to my place. He seemed very mild,
very harmless, sod quite tort to everything at that time.
I took him into my back 100L11, placed him in an easy chair,
and went out to seek assistance. I sew Mr. Bigp, the pa-
fitter opposite, and told him what had occurred. I then
waited at the door till I saw a constable cominc, and I told
him of it. 1 asked him to stop Mr. Lidbetter if he should
attempt to leave the home,while 1 went to Dr. Marsh about
the boy. Dr. Marsh followed me immediatelyand went
to Mr. Whetter's house. When I I found Mr.
Lidbetter in the shop with his daughter, and I called a cab
iota which he and the policeman got together, to go to the
station. I went into the room at Mr. Lidbetter's while Dr.
Marsh was there. A stretcher was sent for from the sta-
tion by Dr. Marsh's directions, and the son was conveyed
to the hospital. I have not seen Mr. Lidbetter since.
By Mr. Wontoer—l have attended him some time, and
supplied him with a good deal of medicine. On Sunday
evening he complained of being unwell, end said he was
very wretched. He has altered very much in his manner of
late, and seemed gradually getting lost.
By the Jury—When Mr. Lidbetter came over to me I
think he had • piece of rope or cord in his hand, but I did
not pay particular attention to it. I do not know that he
bas made any attempt upon his own life. When I lint
law the woman her head was bathed in blood, but I did not
move her. I should think from the state in which I found
her that she had been dead some time.
Richard Henry Smith, aged 12 yearn, who described him-
self as errand boy and groom to Mr. Lidbetter, deposed
that be went to the house at half-past six o'clock on Mon-
day morning. Mr. Whetter came down stairs and went to
the street door, and when witness asked him whether he
should clean the boots he made no reply. HaVitic cleaned
the boots and taken them to the kitchen (up stain), Mr.
Lidbetter came up, and asked him whether anybody was
cleaning the posy. He said, " Uncle Beery," Mr. Lid-
better's brother, was doing it. Mr. Lidbetter asked him
whether be was sure of that, and on his replying that he
was not, he went up stain for the key of the stables, and
told witness to make haste and feed the pony. After he
had icd the pony, and opened the shop, Mr. Lidbetter
directed him to go for Mn. Rutter, the charwoman. Wit.
nem did not go into the sleeping room at all.
By theJury.—The pony hed not been used cm the Sunday.
Mary Butter, living in Little fkirrey-street, Blackfriars-
read, stated she was at Mr. Lidbetter's on Sunday evening,
between 7 and 8 o'clock, and she then saw the husband, the
wife, and the son, She did not go again till she was sent
for on Mooday morning, about half-past seven o'clock.
When she got to the house she saw the errand boy,
and baring been told by him that he thought
the son was asleep she went up to the
sleeping room. She then saw the wife lying
halt on the bed and half off. Thinking that she had burst a
blood-vessel, sad supposing, when she was told that Mr.
Lidbetter had gone to Mr. Pugh that he had gone for amiss-
eau, she remained some little time downstairs. Afterwards
Dr. !bush cams, and witness went up with him. The
woman was cold, and the boy had got a wound in the
throat, but be was living. Dr. Marsh attended to him, and
sent him to the hospital.
By Mr. Wootner—Mr. Lidbetter was poorly on Swiday,
and did sot get up all day. She fetched brandy at his re-
quest, because he was not well. She had worked foe Mr.
Lidbetter three years.
A Juror—Have you noticed anything strange about him
of late ?
The Coroner said they could sot go into the question as
to the state of miod of the wound. That was a matter that
would doubtless be inquired into by another court.
Police-constable Joseph Allen, 39 M, stated that about
I half-past seven on Monday morning be received information
from Mr. Pugh that some persons had been seriously in-
jured at 28, Borough-road. He went, In consequence, to
Mr. Lidbetter's house, and the door being open proceeded
upstairs. He saw in one of the rooms • womaa lying emcee
• bed apparently dead, and in another bed bj the side a
boy with his throat cut badly. Dr. Marsh was in the room
when he went up, and Mr. Pugh came in afterwards.
Wit-
enss west over to Mr. Pugh's shop and saw Mr. Lidbetter
leaning against the counter. He told him he must take him
i into custody for murdering his wife and cutting and wound.
Mg his son. Mr. Lidbetter said he knew all about it, but
. he did not know what he was doing at the time : he said he
;had been up and down all night long, and could not get it
out of his head. Coma that witness took him to the station.
By the Jury—Mr. Lidbetter dd not appear es though he
had hese drinkiog, but e. excited, and seemed to be in
great trouble.
Mr. T. J. W. Marsh, surgeon, puctiaing at No. 1, Rock-
ingham-row Week New Kent-road, said he had known Mr.
Lidbetter for some Tun. On Monday morning last he was
sent for about 20 minutes to 8, to go to Mt. Lidbetter's
house in the Borough-road. When he got there be went
upstairs at the request of Mrs. Rutter, and in coesequenos
of what he had bawd. In the bedroom ha sew • woman
lying on her and chest on • bed, buried in megula.
She was in hernightdress. The leg and greater portion of
the thigh were exposed. He pieced his band upon the
heart and pulse, and satisfied himself that she was dead.
Bo did not pay further attention to her them but seeing
the young man upon another bed by the side, be went over
to him, and found him lng on his hack with
• wound' in his throat. Witness attended to the
injury, and then had him removed to the hospital.
Taking the circle of the neck,the wound was round about three
parte, from right to left. Hemorrhage had ceased. The
wiedpipe had bem divi&d, so that articulation was no
longer possible. The boy had two incised woundson the
right, side of the chest, and • cut soros' the back of the left
hand. He bad also two eats on the loft skis of the Beek,
one higher than the other ' • and from the mature of the
wound lie should may it began on the right side. As soon
as he got the boy off to the hospital witness examined the
woman. The face, poem and mouth were boned In
ougula and in the feather bed, and it was possible that
death had taken place from asphyxia. He should enpis
that to be really the immediate cause of &nth, seeing that
the wound was no wane than that inflicted upon the boy.
The wound In bee throat was cut through the broad bone
of the windpipe, sad that was sufficient to have same'
&Mk