The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-07 00:00:00

FURTHER PARTICULXRS.

In our second edition of yesterday, there appeared the
above brief account of as fearful a murder, or rather
double murder (if an insane man is capable of being
amenable for the crime), as it has been cur lot, unfor-
tunately, to record. Wiihout stopping to enquire into the
causes that led to this desperate deed—a father slaying his
own children--or the state of mind in which the wretched
man was at the time he perpetrated the horrible crime,
the only thing that remains for us is to narrate
the facts so far as they have transpired. Heretofore
there was nothing to lead any one, who knew the
unfortunate man, to the conclusion that his mind was
more depressed than would naturally follow a depression
in his trade, but it would appear, from a certificate
given by a surgeon, that at present, and at
the time when he deprived his offspring of life, that he was
decidedly insane, but that his mental health is capable of
being restored. His name is John Gibbons, and he is by
trade a butcher. He kept a stall in St. John's Market.
He is apparently about 47 years of age, of low stature, but
well built, and stout in physical proportions. It seems
that for some time past business did not go on to his liking,
although it is said he was a steady and attentive man, and
his son says he has been a teetotaller for twenty five years.
He tried to make some arrangement with his creditors, but if
the story told be true, it would appear the parties refused
all overtures for an arrangement. This had c-oisiderable
effect on his mind, and it would seem that for the
last three or four mnths he remained at home,
whether under a dread of personal arrest, or
not--but so it was at all events—and his wife managed
whatever business was carried during that time. The means
of the family, as stated, were net in a flourishing condition,
and they took a house in No. 4, Court, Bolton street,
Copperas hill, where they resided for some time, and as
the whole number, seven in number, slept in one bed, it
may be concluded that their circumstances were poor
indeed. There does not seem to have been any quarrel
amongst the family, nor anything that would lead to a
wild burst of fury on the part of the wretched man, as up
to half past eight yesterd iy morning, the usual routine of
the family was carried on. The children then consisted of
John, ten years old ; Margaret, seven ; Joseph (dead),
four ; Thomas, eighteen mouths ; and another. The
whole were in bed at eight, and shortly after that
hour, the prisoner and his wife got up. She
was preparing the breakfast, and had some tea things in
her hand in the lobby, when the unfortunate man came up
to her, and said, " Mary, wait till I kiss you," and whilst
in the act he drew a knife or razor (not known which)
across her throat, inflicting a desperate wound on her neck.
She dropped the things from her hand, and this was the
first alarm that was raised. She rushed into the street
calling for help, but in the mean time the desperate maniac
proceeded to the bed where his children lay, and com-
menced literally to slaughter them. He cut the head
nearly off the bay Joseph, four years of age, and of course
death followed immediately. He then prcceeded to the
youngest child Thomas, and cut its throat, it is feared
fatally, and last of all he got the girl Margaret,
between two chairs, and cut her throat also. The boy
John, ten years' of age, got out and called murder, and the
neighbours, with a couple of police officers coming up,
seized on the prisoner. De. Hodson, of Islington, and
Dr. Bickerton, were in prompt attendance, and dressed
and stitched up the wounds of the wife and living children,
and had them conveyed at once to the Royal Infirmary,
where the utmost care and attention has been bestowed on
hem.

THE PRISONER AT THE PoLICE COURT.

About one o'clock the prisoner was brought before Mr.
Mansfield at the police court, which was crowded, as the
news of the dreadful tragedy had gone rapidly
abroad. The prisoner was in his shirt sleeves, and
well guarded by the po'iv, as Mr. Clough had given,
special directions to have him most c'o3ely attended
so that he could not injure himself nor any one else. He
looked wild and vacant, but did ❑ot seem interested in the
proceedings. His chest heaved fearfully, and be appeared as if
gasping for want of air. Mr. Clough opened the case, and,
detailed the facts above stated, and said he had the servant
girl and the son of the prisoner present, who had made a,
statement to him which they were prepared to give in
evidence. He would, however, suggest that the case could
not go further that day, for two reasons—the first was, the
wife and injured children, who were in the Infirmary,
would not be able to attend, and he also would call the
attention of his worship to the medical certificate regard-
ing the prisoner's state of mind. (Eh handed in the
certificate to which we have alluded.) Mr Mansfield : The
best way to act to day is to remand him for a week,
until the result of the injuries on the persons in the
hospital can in some measure be ascertained. Mr. Clough :
I believe it is considered that the youngest child cannot
live. The prisoner was thin removed froth. the bar, The
following is

THE STATEMENT OF THE SERVANT GIRL AND SON OF
THB PRISONER,

but not as yet given in evidence, although relueed to
writing. The son is an intelligent boy. Mary Dunne said
she had been in the service of the prisoner for the last ten
months, and was in the cedar of the house that morning.
The prisoner, his wife, and five children slept in one bed.
She heard the smack of a kiss on the stairs, and then
she heard some breakfast things fall, and saw the
prisoner's wife run down bleeding, with her apron to her
throat. John Gibbons, aged 10 years, the son of the
prisoner, made the following statement : His father is a
butcher, and bad a stand in St. John's market. His mother
has minded the stand for three or four months past ;
father always stopped at home, as he was in debt, and the
creditors would not take the per ventage he had offered ;
his father is a teetotaller for 25 years ; saw father and motiaer
get up about half past 8 o'clock in the morning; heard no;
conversation before that; mother got up first, and father
immediately after; they dressed in part ; frefore father kissed
mother, he drew a knife across hel• throat; she dropped
the things on the stairs. He afterwards took Margaret
across two chairs, and cut her throat, and be (John) ran
down stairs, crying out " Murder," and then Mary, the
1 servant, came up.

STATE Or THE PATIENTS, IN TRH INFIRMARY.
The state of the patients yesterday evening was serious,
particularly that A) f the youngest child, and it is the opinion
of the medical attendants that this child cannot survive.
The mother and the other girl were going oa as well as
could be expected, and unremitting attention was being
paid to them. The strongeat hopes are entertained of their
recovery.

THE INQUEST
6n the body of the dead child will be held this day at
eleven o'clock,

A letter from Milan, in the Opinione of Turin states tha
the police have seized all the numbers of the Piedmontese
Gaxette containing the debates on the fortifications of
Alessaudria, and various numbers of the Journal des Debc4t*
containing articles on the present differences between
Austria and Piedmont, and' favourable to the latter.
The National Portrait Gallery Commission has made
another purchase, and we (Illustrated London News) learn,
a wise one—a portrait of Handel, by Hudson. We suppose
the commissioners are aware that the finest portrait of
Handel—also by Hudson—is the full length at Goose',
the seat in Leicestershire of Lord Howe. It hangs in the
room in which Handel composed the " Messiah." Lord
Howe has most liberally lent this picture to the Art
Treasures Exhibition of the United Kingdom.
A PICTURE OF A LONDON SLAUGHTER HOUSE.-11orridly
disease stricken beasts, set out, barely living, amongst
healthy ones in the market for public sale. Disgustingly
diseased haunches of dead fle.;rt hung up in the shambles
for immediate consumption, Veal for sausage manufacture,
which never had the happiness to be born,' which had
died with the maternal beef, and had been honoured by
the skilful performance of the Cmsarian section. Milk
carried about from door to door for the seven o'clock
coffee, which had been pathologically secreted by a typhoid
gland ; and so on, tale upon tale, till the long and bitter
cry for ipecacunha is everywhere, and the vegetarian.
disciple stands on his head in his excess of exultation.--..
iffdiaal Timor and Gaaette.