The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-25 00:00:00

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT SOMERS-TOWN.

Dr. Lankester opened an inquiry yesterday
afternoon, at the Rising Sun public house in the Euston-
road, into the circumstances attending the deaths of Emma
and Agnes Butcher, the children of a baker of that name
who, it was alleged, had died from drowning, by having
been submerged in a water-tub by their mother, who subse-
quently made an attempt upon her own life. The wretched
woman is at present m hospital, under treatment for
insaaity.
William Butcher, the father of the deceased children,
was the first witness produced. He seemed very much
affected, and sobbed bitterly while giving his evidence.
He stated in reply to the coroner that he worked at
his trade at night, and that he left his wife and
five children at home at a quarter past 12 ma
Friday night. The children were in bed at that time.
When be returned borne seat morning be found his chil-
dren, Emma and Agnes, dead. He could not say how they
came by their deaths. His wife had nut been well since
her last confinement. Daring the last month she appeared
to be in a queer state, and she was mush worse last week.
She did not drink. She continually said that policemen
were about the house for money she and witness owed, and
that they would be put in prison, and the children taken
from them. When be was going out on Friday night she
told him not to leave her, and said there were policemen at
the window, although there were none there at the time.
Her sister was insane, sad threw herself out of a window
in Guy's Hospital. The other three children slept in a dif-
ferent bed from that occupied by the deceased. When
be come home on Saturday morning he saw the
deceased children in the bed, but be did not think they
were dead. There was a tub of water in the room. His
wife had been washing, but be did not notice a water-tub
on going to work.
Mr. 'Wm. Jackson, If.R.C.S., deposed be was called to
the mother of the deceased children about 7 o'clock on
Saturday morning. He went into the room where it
appeared the children lay dead. He wee not aware that
they were dead until he had been sent for after having
prescribed for the mother, who was found in the water-
butt. He make a post-mortee examination of the de-
ceased. The child Emma was dressed in what he would call
night-clothes, which were wet. There ease bandage round
the jaw, and he noticed a fluid issuing from the nostril, and
mouth. There was a light bruise on the ham, whieli was
the only external indication of injury. The body was
pale and wet. He examined the internal organs, and
hand the heart and lungs congested. The left cavity of
the heart was full, and the right empty. He attributed
death to asphixia, caused by drowning. He found no ex-
ternal marks on the body of Agnes, and the post-mortem
am:ranee of the body was similar to that of the 'Aber
The witness, in reply to a juror' said he could not dis-
cover any odour which would lead him to infer that the
children had been drugged.
Inspector Fraser of the Y division of police, deposed to
having gone to the'house, 171, Wihrtead-street, at half-past
9 on Saturday morning, and to having found a slate on
which the following was written :—" My God forgive me
for what I have done. I cannot bear this. Browns and
Pitts is the caused this. lam not what they say, is Did
(God) is my judge. Emma. look to my dear children as
much as you can. I cannot bear to --. My God have
mercy."
The husband, in reply to the coroner, said that Mrs.
Brown, to whom his wife alluded, lived is the ease hones
with them, and wee very kind to them. Pitts had lived
in the house, and was en intimate terms with his wife.
This maideded the evidaaos.
The coroner said he would adjourn the inquiry until
Sigurd& , in order that Mrs. Butcher might be brought up
in with the legal formality, before being 'com-
mittal

OPZNING ON WV TONINNLILN FINS AZT AND
Inrwerata EZIGINHON.—The Yorkshire Fine Art and
Industrial Exhfoitiess at Yak waterway *pond yester-
day by his Grace the Archbishop of York, who delivered
an appropriate address on the occasion.
ADM: SALTY, JerLY 24.—Arrwurrintirre.—Com-
wader F. W. Wilson to the Gawps, Woe Stevens ; Bub-
Lieutenant A. J. *nth, to the Cruiser.
Crum. PALics. —Om SHILLING

Jac 21.—ebtodseione es pay t, ;
ditto by mom tickets, 4,698. Total cutters, 28,0 f 2,