The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-27 00:00:00

MURDER AND SUICIDE OF THE

MURDERER.

The beautiful and secluded 'little village of Hudnell, in
Buckinghamshire, has lately been the arena of a murder and
suicide of unexampled horror and atrocity. The report which
we give is supplied by a gentleman residicg in the immediate
neighbourhood, and we confidently rely on its authenticity.
Mr. Thomas Allotson, a respectable farmer occupying the Hall
farm, in the parish, and a man of good property, has a son, a
youth of about 18 years of age, who is afflicted with frequent
aberration of intellect. About six years ago, Thomas Allot-
son, jun., had a severe attack of typhus fever. From this ill.
ness he recovered with the greatest difficulty, by the aid of
the best medical advice that could be procured. Since that
time to the present he has led an idle life, rambling about
from place to place, and from field to field on his father's
farm, without doing any kind of work. In fact, the poor
fellow was in a state bordering on idiotcy. He was generally
quiet and harmless, but at times he wrought himself into most
alarming paroxysms of rage, when he attacked any person who
came in his way, and destroyed everything within his reach.
These paroxysms returned at irregular intervals, sometimes
once or twice in a day, and then not for months together;
they were brought on by the most trivial matters. His parents
were advised by their medical attendant to let their son have
Isis liberty, and not in any respect to put on even the appear-
ance of controul. In compliance with this advice, Thomas
Allotson was allowed to ramble wherever he thought fit,
to stay out as long as he thought proper, and to return
at such times only as he pleased ; his food was
placed in his bed-room, and he partook of what-
ever was laid before him without making any re-
mark. Ile rarely spoke to any person. If he accidentally
met a friend, who put a question to him, he would look him
earnestly in the face for a moment, and then run away. There
was only one exception to this rule, and that was in favour of
a little girl named Susan Saunderson, the daughter of a labour-
ing man in the employ of Mr. Allotson. For this child Thos.
Allotson, jun., or as the villagers call him, " Poor Tom," had
always a strong partiality. Within the last few weeks she
has been the frequent companion of his walks. He would
gather flowers for her, carry her in his arms, kiss her, and
show her all the little endearments in his power. His parents,
wishing to give the poor creature all the pleasure in their
power, permitted him to associate with this little girl. On
Thursday last " Poor Tom" called as usual at Saunderson's
cottage for little Susan, and she went with him. As they
did not return at their usual hour their parents became
alarmed ; they waited patiently until nine o'clock, and
then proceeded in search of them. They had not looked
far before the body of the little girl was discovered on
the bank of a river which runs through a considerable part of
Mr. Allotson's farm. Blood was lying in pools around her, the
whole of her d-ess was torn from her back, and her body was
covered with wounds and bruises ; when taken up she was
quite dead. The search was then continued, and at a long
distance the body of Thomas Allotson was found, with
his throat cut from ear to ear. In his hand he grasped
with tenacity a large clasp knife, with which it was evident he
had inflicted the murderous wound. The spectators,. in be-
holding this dreadful spectacle, were perfectly horrified; they
had no doubt that the aretched being who lay weltering in
his blood at their feet was the murderer of Susan Saunderson.
No satisfactory reason can be assigned, although it is supposed
that Allotson had worked himself into a phrensy, and then
wreaked his vengeance on his helplass companion. The dis-
tress of the parents of both the children may readily be con-
ceived. The wife of Saunderson now lies in a dangerous
state, a premature confinement having been the effect of her
shock. A Coroner's Inquest is to be livid on Monday. The
neighbourhood, for miles around, is in a state of the greatest
anxiety and excitement.—Morning Paper.

TONBRIDGE WELLS, AUG. 24.—The terativa-
nation of. Parliament has made a considerable difference in
thu number of our visitants, and it is said that several families
of distinction are about to engage louses here. Amongst our
latest arrivals are Viscount Neville, at Neville Park ; and
Lady Meade and Miss Tighe, at their respective residences.
We have a very good band, which performs every morning on
the parade. The Marquii of Camden, the Earl and Coun-
tess of Winchilsca, Mr. and Lady Cecil Delafield, and Lord
I George Lennox passed through during the preceding week,
on their way to different watering places.