The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-21 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT NORWOOD.

Yesterday, at three o'clock, Mr. W. Carter, coroner for
Surrey, and a jury assembled at the Horns Tavern, Lower
Norwood, for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances
attending this horrible tragedy.
The names of the deceased parties were James Young,
aged 25 years, his wife Jane Young, aged 26 years, and their
infant child Sarah Jane Young, aged three months. The
jury having been sworn, proceeded, in company with the
Coroner, to view the remains of the deceased persons. On
the return of the jury to the inquest-room,
The CORONER suggested that the case of the wife should
be taken first; and the jury assenting,
William King was the first witness called, who said he
was a shoemaker iri the employ of Mr. Quy, of High-street,
Lower Norwood. On Sunday morning last, about ten minutes
past six o'clock, he and another man, named Pope, who was
sleeping with him, were awakened by loud screams from the
next house, occupied by Young. The voice was that of a
woman. It was very loud, and ccntinued for about five
minutes. He and his companion got up, and looked out of
the window into their backyard, where lie saw Mr. Maushe,
who lodged in the next house to Young's, in his shirt.
Witness ran down stairs, and jumped over into Young's
yard, and knocked at the back-door, which was opened
by a little girl, their servant. Witness asked what ,was
the matter? and the little girl replied that she did
not know, Witness then ran up stairs, followed
by Pope and Mr. Maushe. He discovered Mrs.
Itoung lying with a deep wound in her throat. At the
same moment Mr. Young came out of the front bedroom and
hastened towards witness. Witness, being alarmed, ran
down stairs and told the others that Mrs. Young had had
her throat cut. Witness then ran out into the street to
obtain assistance, and was followed by the other men. Wit-
ness looked about for a policeman, and in about ten minutes
found one, with whom he returned to the house. Witness
followed the policeman up stairs. Mrs. Young was lying on
the landing near the banisters quite dead, and Mr. Young,
was also lying on the floor of the front bedroom, with an ex-
tensive wound in his throat. There was a great quantity of
blood on the stairs, and the banisters were also splashed
with blood.

The COROAER—When did you last see Young, previous
to this occurrence? Witness—About a fortnight since. He
had been absent from home during that period.
Robert Archer, 202 P, proved having been called to
Young's house by the last witness. On entering the shop
witness passed through and went up the staircase, which
was covered with blood. Witness found Mrs. Young in a
sitting posture at the top of the stairs. She had received
an extensive wound on the left side of the neck. Wit-
ness next went into the back room, and there saw
the deceased child on the bed, between two pillows.
Its throat was cut, and there was a great deal of blood
about its person, as well as about the bedding. Witness
afterwards proceeded to the front room, and there saw
Mr. Young. lie was on the floor near the fireplace, with his
head resting on a water jug. He had a black-handled
table-knife in his right hand. There was very little blood
near him, but witness could trace blood from the hack
room into the front room, which had evidently fallen
from the deceased. The fingers of Mrs. Young's left
hand were cut, as if she had attempted to save her-
self, and some of the balustrades were forced out of
their position, apparently by persons struggling to-
gether. Witness knew the deceased parties, and, as far
as he was able to judge, they had always appeared to live
on good terms. Believed deceased obtained a living by
hawking caps, bonnets, and artificial flowers in London and
its neighbourhood.
Mr. John Chapman, surgeon, of Lower Norwood, proved
having been called to Mr. Young's house and discovering
the deceased parties as described by the last witnesses.
Mrs. Young had received an incised wound on the left side
of the neck, from 2k to 3 inches in length, and l inch
deep. It appeared to have been inflicted by one incision,
and was of a character to cause immediate death. Mr.
Young had a wound in his throat about 2 inches in length,
and 1 deep, which had just cut into the trachea. the
child had also received a severe injury in the throat, and
was quite dead. The wound in Mrs. Young's throat
was from left to right. It was possible, but not
likely, that she might have inflicted it herself. Witness had
attended both the deceased man and his wife for some time
past, and from his observation of the former he con-
sidered him to have been a man of weak mind. Some
time since Mrs. Young complained to witness of an act of
unkindness on the part of her husband, and about three
weeks ago, under witness's advice, he was taken away from
Norwood by his friends. Witness recommended his re-
moval, believing change of air and scene would be bene-
ficial to his health, and fearing that, unless care were taken
with him, his mind might lapse into insanity. Witness
considered the deceased to have been a most affectionate
husband, and had no doubt of his insanity at the time he
committed the act.

Anne Hollingsworth, aged 15 years, had been in the ser-
vice of Mr. and Mrs. Young during the last six weeks. Mr.
Young came home on Saturday last about four o'clock, in
company with his mother. His mother afterwards lett.
Young appeared very cross with Mrs. Young during the
evening. lie asked for meat and gruel and tea at supper time.
Mrs. Young said he could not have any meat, but she made
him a basin of gruel. He took a little of it, and then asked
for some tea, which Mrs. Young made for hint. This was
at one o'clock in the morning. Witness and Mrs. Young were
on the point of going to bed, when Mr. Young insisted that
witness should light the fire and make him some toast. Mrs.
Young said witness should not light the fire, and words en-
sued, on which Mr. Young struck his wife on the breast
with his hand. Witness was called shortly before six
o'clock by her mistress, who told her to go down stairs and
and light the fire. Almost immediately after witness heard
her mistress cry out for assistance. She called out "Oh !
oh I" and afterwards called witness by name. Witness went
part of the way up stairs, but seeing nothing of either Mr.
or Mrs. Young, she ran towards the door, intending to call
in a neighbour. On reaching the door witness heard the
voice of her mistress on the landing, and on going back she
saw her hanging over the bannisters, with blood pouring
from her throat. The blood splashed on witness's arm, and
witness then ran out and called for assistance.
Isaac Young, of Hackney, was next called, and said, in
answer to the Coroner, that the deceased man was his son.
lie had been of weak mind for some months past, :and, al-
though he had the best of advice, his mind continued id an
insane state.

The jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned the
following verdict :—" That the deceased Sarah Young and
Sarah Jane Young were wilfully murdered by the de-
ceased James Young, and that the deceased James Young
destroyed himself while labouring under temporary in-
sanity."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has received,
through the hands of the minister of the Wesleyan Chapel,
Hackney-road, the sum of 101. from " A Friend," on account
of deficient returns for income and property-tax. The
amount will be paid into the receipt of the Exchequer.
SAILING OF TILE CALEDONIA.—The British and
North American Royal Mail steam-ship Caledonia, Captain
Lott, sailed for Halifax and Boston, from Liverpool, yester-
day forenoon. She had a very large number of passengers,
the semi-monthly mails for Canada and the United States,
and specie to the amount of half a million sterling.
THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 20.—The
East India and China mails left this port at 3 P.M. this day,
under care of Lieutenant Taneock, R.N., in the Oriental
Company's steam-ship Oriental, Captain Brookes, for Malta,
and Alexandria. The Oriental has seventy passengers on
board, including Lord Torrington and suite, the new Governor
of Ceylon; and also a very full cargo of goods. The West
India packet the Thames arrived at 11 30 ; her mails were
forwarded by the ono o'clock train to London. The news
brought by this packet will be found in another part of the
paper. The Royal West India Mail Company has purchased
the Great Western steam-ship, and she will be brought
round here on Thursday next by Captain Vincent, of the
company's ship Severn, now under repair.
GOLDSMITHS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. -- The
anniversary dinner of this society took place yesterday, at
the Freemason's Tavern, under the presidence of Sheliff
Kennard. Between two and three hundred gentlemen were
present; and, after the usual festivities and toasts, a list of
subscriptions was read, amounting to about 2001.
The Secretary for the Home Department has no-
tified to the Court of Aldermen, that he has instructed the
magistrates of the metropolitan police district not to allow
certificates to policemen for their attendance, and to take
care that in no matter whatever they shall directly or indi-
rectly receive any personal benefit. This will effect a consi-
derable saving of the county rate, besides makingthepolihcei-s-
-men less anxious to get every culprit committed to the se s
sions, by exaggerated representations of his ingenuity,
general character, desperate associates, &c.
LARGE DEPARTURE OF VESSELS FROM LIVERPOOL.
—On
hrOiacnrhells t
were
Tuesdayebree
seen.la t
coasters, sight haotnndwe attsihdelre
remainder
et
onmel
as se
is
nes ddt
ehri
an
bound
ourn2
d 8 river
tvoo fsowerpes
geonti
ports, went out to sea—a few towed beyond the rock point,
but the bulk with all canvas set, and a splendid wind. The
scene was one of lively interest—indeed of great beauty.
Many of the vessels were American, and others of large class.
—Lererpool Standard.
THE GAME NuisAwcz—Keepers of all gaols are
now required to transmit to the Home Secretary of State
copies of every commitmentt they receive under thegam
w he-
laws. This is to see how those precious laws are adminis-
tered. High time a watchful eye was kept by those in
power. The sooner the ganas-laws are waled. Or consider-
ably 4.1404, on hove