The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-25 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL MURDER OF FOUR

One of the most dreadful murders which has ever
taken place in this country was committed in Cheap-
side, Birmingham, on Saturday, under the following
circumstances :—lt appears that about six months
ago a widow, named Ann Wilkes, opened a small
shop in Cheapside, for the sale of cigars and small
wares. She was a person of very agreeable manners,
about forty years of age, and had evidently, in the
early part of her life, moved in a respectable sphere.
When her husband died she was left with four chil-
dren, three boys and a girl. On Saturday it was
remarked by the neighbours that the shutters were
not taken down, as usual, in the morning. A Mr.
Edwards, living close by, feeling uneasy at this cir-
cumstance, determined, about eleven o'clock, to ascer-
tain the cause. Having procured a ladder, he placed it
against the window of the first floor, which was unfas-
tened, and entered the room. He found no person there,
but being urged by the crowd outside to proceed
further into the house, he did so, and advanced a fog
steps up a narrow staircase, at the top of which he
beheld a horrifying sight. Mrs. Wilkes was lying in
a pool of blood, and at her side lay her eldest child,
both of their throats cut from ear to ear. On looking
further into the room he discovered by a glimmering
light (for the room was darkened) the bodies of the
three other children weltering in their blood. Ter-
rified at the sight, he ran to the window, and cried
out, "My God they are all murdered !" A police
constable, who was passing at the time, mounted the
ladder, and got into the room to the assistance of Mr.
Edwards. Both proceeded to the spot where Mrs'
Wilkes lay, and discovered that she was breathing.
They immediately turned their attention to her,
raised her up, and with the assistance of Mr. Archer,
surgeon, of Digbeth, bandaged the wound. After
recovering a little she made many attempts to take off
the bandage, but was prevented from doing so, and 10
a short time was removed in a cart to the Queen's
Hospital. Dr. Sands Cox, Dean of the Faculty, was
immediately sent for, and within ten minutes' time was
in attendance upon the unfortunate woman, and bound,
up the wound with all possible speed. It was found
that the injuries which she had sustained were of e
very serious character, and although none of the pen'
cipal arteries had been cut, yet the windpipe was
divided in such a manner as to leave it exceedingly
doubtful whether the unfortunate woman will re'
cover. After she had been in the hospital a fell.
hours, she appeared to be quite conscious, and evil'
dently in much agony. During the time the solo':
was being dressed she seemed inclined to speak, bn.;
all attempts to do so were unavailing. Unhappily 1'
was found that the life of the four children was tn.
tally extinct. Their names are—John Hen!"D. Wilkes, aged 12 ; Mary Jane Wilkes, aged 8; V
Liam Charles Wilkes, aged 6 ; and Frederick George
Wilkes, aged 4. Information was immediately for'
warded to the police, and Mr Superintendent Std"
yens proceeded to the spot, and placed constables In
possession of the house, at the saute time taking the
precaution to place a padlock upon the door leading
to the apartment in which the awful crime was Pe!'
petrated. In the room where the murdered fartuli
were found two razors were discovered, apparentlf
new. No reason can be assigned at present for th
commission of the deed. At half-past seven o'6ol
on Saturday night the unfortunate woman was sti'
alive.
The inquest will be held to-day.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS*
LIVERPOOL, OCTOBER 23,
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has been better to-dild
and we have to note an improvement in prices, with a ,g,„
general demand for stock. The sales are— Birkenhead, l'3;;";
cashire, and Cheshire Junction, 31,. Shares, 161/s—E,„,aste4.
Counties (Perpetual 5 per cent.), No. 2, 157T4—Great vv,ch's
ern, 17/. Shares, 1/8 dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Eq.'
i/ c. dis.—Ditto, Halves (late Liverpool and Bury)'
dis.— Leeds and Thirsk, New,l4 dis.—London and 'Nat
c.
Western, Quarters (G. J.), 36th—Ditto, Quarters, New, 510
p.—Midland Stock. 1051/‘ c.—Ditto, 401. Shares, 40—id,'" c,
(Birmingham and Derby), 78—North Staffordshire, 74,/ c,
dis.—Shrewsbury and Chester (late N. W. N.), New', 'Ys;
dis.—Ditto (Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester), 5%
—Ditto, 101. Preference (guar. 8 per cent.), 31s. 3d. c. r 2.4
Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 9/. 12s. 3d. Shares (.13),,, 'c.
dis.—Scuth-Eastern, No. 4, Thirds (at 6:14 dis.), 51s. 3TOI
dis.—York and North Midland (guar. 6 per cent. till 18'
3% p.

MANCHESTER, Ocrourra 23. er
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Birkenhead, -"9lrre-
shire, and Cheshire Junction, 6'4 dis.-East Anglian re
fererce, % dis.-East Lancashire, New, 6% dis.-Hu
field and Manchester Railway and Canal (221. paid), 'tn-r. dis.
-Lancashire and Yorkshire ( West Riding Union), 5"5'44.,..
-Ditto, Fifths, 1,4 dis.-London and North-Western,l)itto,
Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (B), 3 p.---
Quarters (C), 31/4 p.-North Staffordshire, 1 1-16„? ver,
Shropshire Union, 645. 6d. dis.-South-Eastern and m°
No. 4,2%
.dis.
LEEDS, Oc-ronEn 23. $t
STOCK EXCITANGE.-The failure of provincial banks
Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, &c., has added much
the alarm and excitement of former weeks, and rumours 11;
prevalent of other banks being severely pressed. The 55,1,14.
are-Lancashire and Yorkshire (West Riding Union), °v..;
dis.-Leeds and Thirsk, 19 dis.-Ditto, New, la clis•
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, &c., 403. dis.-Midland,
ference, 3 dis.--North British, Thirds, 123. dis.-North Seal
fordshire 20s. dis.-North-Western, 47i4 dis.-York,
castle, and Berwick, No. 2, par.
NE W CASTLE- UPON-TYNE, OCTOBER 23. ,;re,
STOCK EXCHANGE.-Tho sales are-East LincolnOm-
I dis.-North British, Quarters, 255. dis.
HULL, . 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The improvement in the - ond°ll
„,datt
market has had the effect of causing almost a total susPem-uit,
of business here, holders of stock feeling less disposed to goo
and buyers unwilling to submit to even the slight adV.lll.l/ ;
All remain firm, and no rumours of failures in the Vilit 10
still the knowing ones shake their heads ominously! $ll. h
feared the worst is not yet over. The sales are-North 6d•
tish, Extension, ss. 9d. dis.-Leicester and Bedford, 510111
dis.-North British, Thirds, 13s. 6d. dis.-Great Nor'
5/. 15s. dis.-North Staffordshire, 11/13 dis.
EDINBURGH, OCTOBER 22. 501'
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Aberdee% 404
-Airdrie and Bathgate, 31. 7s. 6d.-Arbroath and •'"
261.-Ditto, Halves, 131.-Ayr and Galloway, 2/ 70.
..mar
Caledonian, 341.-Ditto, New, 145.-Caledonian ehcl„Te,3l;
bartonshire, 1/. IN.-Clydesdale Junction, 514-Dees'-aaa
Bs.-Dunblane, Doune, and Callender, 11. 65.-Dundee o. 5,
Arbroath, 341.-Ditto, New, No. I, 264-Ditto, New, Jane'
341.-Ditto, New, No. 3, 31.55.-Dundee and Northern .t,Tert,
tion, 11. 85.-Dundee and Perth, 291. 10s.-Ditto, ss,
13/. 10s.-Ditto' Quarters, 2/. 2s. 6d.-East of Fife, '73,41.
-East Lothian Central, 11.-Edinburgh and Bathftwest
45.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, 951. ex div.-Ditto, -11,;rgb,
131. ex div.-Ditto, New Halves, Si. ex div.-Edillunitte,
Leith, and Granton, 151.-Ditto, Preference, 20/. ll' Ad
New, 3/. 145.-Ditto, Quarters, 2s. 6d.-Edinburgart.
Northern, 15/. 10s.-Ditto, New, 10s. 6d.-Ditto, Nelfroat
51. 135.-Ditto, ditto, New, 6s. 6d.-Edinburgh and
(New Co.), 18s. -Ditto, Halves, 55.-Glasgow and ,7-;e0,
shire, 94/. 10s.-Ditto, New Stock, ::;71.
No. 1,4/. 17s. 6d.-Ditto, halves, No. 2, 7/.-GlO6OO.
Dumfries, and Carlisle, 71.-Glasgow and Garnkirk, 381' 01
-Glasgow General Terminus, 10!. 10..-Glasgow lice,
Greenock, 161. 10s.-Ditto, Halves, 81.-Ditto, Prefly,
71. 195.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 31. foto
Great North of Scotland, 17s. 6d.- Great Northern trio,
Direct Northern), 21. 3s. 61-Ditto (late London ancEfAttef
21.-North British, 221.-Ditto, Halves, 10/. 103.
Quarters, 3/. I Is. 6d.-Ditto, Quarters New (scrip), 7,tijusit
Ditto, Thirds, 35.-Ditto, Fifths, 51. 55.-Scottish 1-14, 151.
231.- Scottish Grand Junction, 55.-Scottish Midlen,;vies'
10s.-Shrewsbury and Hereford, 10s.-Shrewsbury, 'stir
try, and Chester, 181.-Stirling and Dunfermline, 31P-s'arl6
ling and Midland, 71.-Wishaw and Coltness, .
Newcastle, and Berwick, 1231.-Ditto, Extensions, •'• sad
111.-Ditto, ditto, No. 2, 91. IN.-Direct BornhOlth of
Madras, Is. 9d.-East Indian, 1/. Os. 3d.-Great J)l_o4r Sol'
India, ls. 3d.-Great Southern of Madras,l6.-Madr''
lore, and Arcot, ls. 6d.
GLASGOW, Ocrourn 22. 42
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-BallochnePotersP
Caledonian, 33%-Dundee and Perth, 29-Ditto, (2,11 olsr
415.-East Indian Railway, 17s. 6d.--Edinburgh eniurettht
gow, Half Shares, 11% ex div.-Edinburgh eh:L.3)W°'
Halves, 55.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 9'.-kialVes'
40/. Shares, 373/4 -Ditto, Halves, No. 1, 5-Ditto,,insgoll
No. 2,71 A-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 6'5"-'l.„„a,
and Greenock, 16 t,..2-Glasgow Harbour Grand Jell,,c,,";proef
6d.-Great Northern, 475.-Manchester and S„out'„a Alec'
75.,6d.-North British, Thirds, 255.-Scottish
tion, 65.-Stirlingshire and Midland Junction, h rejois
Newcastle, and Berwick (Great North of England 1111
or Preference), 7.

Mr. James Wetenhall, the compiler and publiePeo
of the official list of priees of the Stock Exchange, Iltecl
known under his name, and which has been eonducsof
by himself and his father before him for so 113., of
years, died on Wednesday afternoon, after an illile'sbo
about a fortnight. lie was much respected in so
Stock Exchange, with which his family has beeP
long identified.

- --
BIRTS wod
On the 3d ult., at lligatellH
e,. l
Colombo, in the Is--
Ceylon, the lady of Arthur W. 'hale, Esq., of a sou. ~,roffe
On the 18th inst,, at Paris, the wile of Captain l'''
mery, R.N., of a son. Esq''
of
On the 20th inst., the wife of Arthur Griffith,
Lichfield, of a daughter, still-born. T. V‘
On the 20th inst., in Dublin, the wife of Capta—
Knox, 85th Light Infaatry, of twin sons. of AI
llr
On the 21st inst., the lady of John Dawson, Esq)
marle-street, of a daughter. Dire
On the 21st inst., at Northampton-park, Islington'
Edward Dewick, of 'a son. dry, J.
On the 22d inst., at Hove-place, Brighton, „,
Reeves, of a son. it f
o. ro' lielw
On the 22d inst., in John-street, Bedford-row,
Nicol, of a daughter. /

MARRIED. izobert
On the 19th inst., at Pirbright Church, the Re`, 9cr
Wedgwood, to Mary, second daughter of Henry 11a1340
of llenley-park, Surrey. Georg:
On the 20th inst., at St. George's, lianover•square'vhilllP-
Edward, second son of the late Lieutenant George ;,iciot6
Cowley, R.N., to Phoebe, only daughter of Janes
Esq., of Gloucester-terrace, Old Brompton.

Or
DD.
On the 21st ult., Willi IE
am John Creswick, eldest s,,Vare'
William and Elizabeth Cieswick, of Markhara's"
Chelsea. if 11°
On the 17th inst., Lieutenant-Colonel Purchas, late 0
Madras Establishment. c 111014)13'
On the 19th inst., Mr. John Smith, of Streathalw-o
Surrey, aged 68.
On the 21st inst., in Guildford-place, R. G. Blick, sci4i,etli,
On the 21st inst., in Walcot•plac, Lambeth, iAii
S.
I I .0n Cole,
the aged2ist
inst.
..,
widow of the late W. Tidd, Esq aged 87. :r 0 Or•
On the 21st inst , at Walwo;tl,gLouisa, the wife -f
AO°
ill"
Matilda, the wife of W. A. Nunes, ag:Li '22..................„,../".?llarnmersin
at Gordon Cottage,
_----
____—f-2,70. 114.
---,......„_,—,..
Lan: on : Pr 'red c.o:o. PubL%hc!,l by X: URDO YOUNI;* li;e Predobo
;,:tz,ind, Printer, at The .tun Office, No. 112, Strand, in toototet
a the Uvoy, iu the County of Dliddlesex, IsfolidaY'
1847.