The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-16 00:00:00

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN
SWI CZERLAN D.

The Paris papers give the following details of a
fearful tragedy recently enacted in the town of Ber-
thoud, in Switzerland :—Jacob Moser, of Gondisweil,
in the district of Kulm (Argovia), was 45 years of
age. He had long inhabited the town of Berthoud,
where he was generally beloved and esteemed. He
was a widower and the father of five children ; his
conduct was regular, and he supported his family by
exercising his talents as a musician at public balls,
and as a teacher of the art. . The eldest child was a
girl eighteen years of age, who at six displayed so
much talent for music that she was already famous as
a concert performer ; she had latterly resided in
French Switzerland, where she earned her livelihood
by teaching. Besides supporting his family, Moser
had to maintain his aged parents. All these burdens
caused him to contract debts which he was unable to
liquidate. These burdens, an unfortunate attachment,
the wretched condition of his children, despair,
blighted affection, and the prospect of a debtor's
dungeon in the distance, proved too much
for the poor man's fortitude. The four children
residing with Moser consisted of two sons, aged
seventeen and thirteen, and two daughters of fifteen
and seven years of age, all idiots, and three of them
dumb. The boy who escaped was ten years of age.
The family slept in two contiguous chambers. In
one lay Moser, one of the girls, and one of the boys;
the other three slept in the adjoining apartment.
The surviving son deposed that at about two o'clock,
on the terrible night in question, he was awoke by
his sisters, and perceived that his father had arisen.
The father, on being called, replied that he was
writing in the next room. On returning he knelt
down by the side of the bed, prayed aloud, and gave
the children to understand, in a few broken sentences,
that he was going to Berne.
Young Moser soon afterwards went into the
adjacent room, and found the four children lying
dead. They had all been strangled with a small
rope, found around the neck of one of the girls. A
letter in the handwriting of Moser, sen., was dis-
covered, announcing his design. He wrote—
" I ask pardon, in the name of God. I can no
longer endure existence, and I cannot resolve to leave
behind me, abandoned to their fate, the poor children
who are not yet brought up. Those who know me will
be convinced that I could not. Once more, I suppli-
cate for mercy and pardon, for lam not actuated by
vengeance or ferocity, but by despair."
The following additional lines, written after the
perpetration of the unfortunate act, indicate the regret
of Moser at its accomplishment, but betray no doubt
of the forgiveness of God :
" Now," wrote the poor wretch, " now I have
done all ; but were the deed not done, I could not do
it. May God in heaven be merciful, and grant me
pardon !"

Moser consummated the tragedy by blowing out
his own brains. The body was discovered under the
bridge of the Emme ; it appeared to have been so
placed as to fall into the river after the commission of
the suicide.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME CIRCUIT.—Croydon, Aug 14.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON and
. _ ... .

Special Juries).
HARRIS AND OTHERS V. COLONEL FOX, M.P.

This was an action to recover from the defendant a
very large sum of money upon six bills of exchange drawn
by him.

Mr. Sergeant Channell, Mr. Sergeant Shee, and Mr.
Peacock were for the plaintiffs; Mr. M. Chambers and
Mr. Bramwell for the defendant.

The plaintifisln the action, it appeared, were the part-
ners in the Plymouth Naval Bank. The pleas did not
disclose any substantial ground of defence except that
there had not been due notice of dishonour.

The jury intids-C;;;returned a verdict for the
plaintiffs.
• - • -

The CHIEF BARON inquired what amount the plaintiffs
went for?

Mr. Sergeant CHANNELL said the sum total of the
bills was 6,7881. _

A verdict was accordingly recorded for that amount.
Application having been made for immediate judg.
ment, - _ _

Mr. CHAMBERS said he trusted the Court would not
allow immediate judgment. He was instructed that for
these bills and others, to a very large amount, not more
than 2,0001. had been given, and a bill in Chancery had
been filed in reference to the whole transaction.

After a short reply to the statement of Mr. Chambers
by Mr. Sergeant CHANNELL,
The CHIEF BARON said he should not grant imme-
diate execution.