The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-13 00:00:00

THE ESHER TRAGEDY.

Yesterday Mr. Carter, coroner for East Surrey, held
a lengthened inquiry at Claremont into the circumstances
attending the deaths of Georgiana, aged eleven years,
Caroline, seven years, William, eight years, Henry, four
years, Harriet, four years, and George, two years, the
unfortunate children of George and Mary Ann Brough,
who were murdered by their mother on Saturday morn-
ing last.
Major Sir E. Cust, K.C.8., master of the ceremonies
to the Queen, it was stated, attended at the request of
her Majesty to watch the proceedings.
The jury having been sworn, proceeded in company of
the coroner to view the remains of the unfortunate de-
ceased, which remained on the premises where the
deeds were perpetrated. They lay in one room, and,
notwithstanding the usual preparations for their inter-
ment had taken place, they presented a frightful spec-
tacle, their heads being in nearly every instance severed
from their bodies. The rooms in which the appalling
crimes were perpetrated remained in the same conditiox
in which they were discovered after the deeds had been
perpetrated, with the exception of the removal of the
beds in which the children were murdered into the open
air. The unfortunate woman herself, who it was stated
is rapidly recovering from the effect of the wound she
made in her throat, also remained on the premises, under
the care of her medical attendants. Upon the return of
the jury to the inquest room, the evidence was pro-
ceeded with. The first witness called was

Henry Woolgar, a labourer on the Claremont domain,
who stated that he was passing to his work up the lane
skirting Mr. Brough's last Saturday morning, when
his attention was drawn to a pillow covered with
blood resting on a window-sill facing the lane. He
was alarmed, and after walking up and down a few
minutes, without hearing or seeing anything, an a*-
, quaintance, named Thomas Peasley, came up from
West-end common, when he drew his attention to the
pillow, remarking, " There's a horrid sight." Peas-
ley suggested to •call assistance, but witness observed
that he should ring the house bell, which he did, but
there was no answer ; but ho (witness) thought, or
rather fancied, be observed a female figure appear at
the window where the pillow hung out, but he could
not positively distinguish who it was, or whether it was
any one. Peasley then remarked that some females
should be sent for as the most proper persons to enter
the premises. 'Witness then went and fetched his land- '
lady and another female. His landlady rang the bell
violently, when a female, whom he believed to be Mrs.
Brough, came to the window, partly dressed, and waved
a cloth or towel towards them. Witness remarked that
it was either Mrs. Brough, or some person calling for
assistance, and immediately afterwards got over the
wall, and opened the outer gate to let the others in. He
then tried the back door of the house, but found it
fastened, upon which, having procured a ladder from
the wood-house close' to the gate, he placed it against
the house, and went up to the window where the pillow
was. While looking in, he heard some one coming up
stairs, and directly afterwards he saw Mrs. Brough
come to the top of the stairs in a great fright and all
over blood, her hair hanging loosely about her face.
As she reached the top of the stairs she turned round
and looked at him, making a strange noise from her
mouth, which caused blood to flow from a wound in her
throat. As soon as he saw that, he retired down the
ladder. Having communicated to Mr. Peasley what he
had seen, he went for the doctor.

By the Coroner—Was certain that the person who
came on the stairs while he stood on the ladder was Mrs.
Brough. Upon returning afterwards he saw Mrs.
Brough lying on the bed with her throat cut. That
was all he had to say. He knew nothing concerning
the deceased's death.

Mr. Wm. Henry Biddecombe, chief superintendent of
the Surrey constabulary, stated that, from information
he received on Saturday morning from Inspector Min-
tell, he went to the house of George Brough, at West-
end, in that parish. On entering at the back door, he
saw lying under a table a pair of woman's boots, which
had been worn by a person with a bloody stocking or
foot. The witness here described his proceeding up
stairs and discovering the bodies of the murdered chil-
dren, as stated by the previous witness, and added that,
on examining the front door, he found the bolt had
been handled by a person with bloody hands. Upon
leaving Mrs. Brough he asked her if she wished to say
anything, to which she replied that she could not speak
then. He then left the premises, and returned the
following morning, when Inspector Mintell, who was
in attendance, said that Mrs. Brough wished to see him.
He then went to Mrs. Brough's room and asked her
if she had been inquiring for him. She said, "Yes, I
have been relating to an officer all about it, thinking it
was you." Witness cautioned her as to what she
said, when she voluntarily, and without his asking
her any questions, made the following confession :
"On Friday last, I was bad all day. I wanted to see
Mr. Izod (surgeon). I waited all day. I wanted him
to give me some medicine. In the evening I walked
about. I then put the children to bed and tried to go to
sleep in a chair down stairs ; that was about nine o'clock.
Georgey (meaning Georgiana) kept calling for me to
come to bed. I came up to bed. They kept calling me
to bring them some barley water, and continued calling
until near twelve o'clock. I hadC one candle lit on the
chair. I went and got another, but could not see.
There was something like a cloud come over my head.
I thought I would go down and get a knife and cut my
own throat. I could not find my way down. I groped
about in master's room for a razor. I could not find one.
At last I found his keys, and then found his razor. I
went to Georgey and cut her first. I did not look at her.
I then came to Carry, and cut her. Then to Henry. He
said, Don't mother.' I said, I must,' and did cut it.
Then I went to Bill. He was fast asleep. I turned him
over. He never woke. I served him the same. I then
nearly tumbled into this room (meaning her own bedroom,
which is separated from the adjoining one by a thin par-
tition). The two children here, HArriet and George, were
awake. They made no resistance at all. Harriet struggled
very, much after I cut her, and guggled (gurgled) some
time. I then laid down and did myself. I can't tell
you what occurred for some time after that, till I seemed
awake, and found myself on the floor. That nasty great
black cloud was gone then. I was then thirsty. I got
the water bottle and drank. I fell in a sitting position.
I sat a little while. I got up and saw the children, and
it then came all to me again. I wanted to call, but
could not speak. I did not know what to do. I went
to the window, and put something out to attract atten-
tion. I staggered back to my own bed, and laid till I
heard the ringing of a bell. They made such a noise.
I got up and went on my hands and knees to the window.
I could not make him understand nohow in thnebowlto rtlie
d.
the
door. was Henry Woolgar. I went downto
door. There was only one bolt fastened. I.uundid that.
They will tell you the rest. It was not quft
w e
was
saytalieohnt
when I put out the signal." The confession
down at the time in writing at the woman'sownr
it wasequest,
and upon signing it that day (Monday), she said
perfectly correct. She might have said something more
to the other officer, but he, she continued, would tell
the gentlemen what she said.
Inspector Mintell, of the Surrey constabulary, who
was left in charge of Mrs. Brough after the discovery of
the murders, said that while sitting by her bedside she
burst into tears, and made a similar statement to him as
she did to the previous witness subsequently, only adding
that if there had been forty there she would have served
them the same, and further remarked it was a pity she
did not do for herself first. She also ejaculated in con-
clusion, " Oh, horrid, horrid sight."
Mr. Charles Mott, surgeon, Walton-on-Thames,
proved being called to Brough's house on Saturday
morning, and finding Mrs. Brough with her throat cut,
but still alive, and all the children dead, with their
throats cut. [The witness then described the nature of
the wounds, which were all clean cuts, having been evi-
dently inflicted with some sharp instrument, such as a
razor.]

This being the conclusion of the evidence, the coroner
summed up, commenting in feeling terms upon the
melancholy nature of the case ; and the jury, after some
deliberation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against
Mary Anne Brough. During the inquiry, a large con-
course of people assembled round the house, anxious
for the result.

M. KOSSUTH IN' Noirtikatum. —Yesterday M. Kos.
suth visited Nottingham, and addressed large audiences
on topics connected with the cause of freedom in Eu-
rope as affected by the war. •
THE QUARTERED =BAtiE Os AUSTRALIA.-1-This
have iasued their balance-sheet to the 31st of December
last, preparatory to the meeting of the proprietors on
the 23d inst. It shows a clear sum of 12,2781. to the
credit of profit and loss—equal to rather more than 3i
per cent, on the called-up capital of 375,000/,