The Sun.
London, England, 1835-09-07 00:00:00

TRAGICAL EVENT.

The excitement in the neighbourhood of the Edgeware-
road was not in the slightest degree abated oa Saturday,
and crowds of persons assembled near the house. Mr
Stanynought about twelve years since was cashier to the
British Press newspaper-office, and when he left that situa
Lion he took up his residence in the Edgeware-road, where,
in addition to his business as a librarian and newspaper
agent, he carried on the trade of a coal-merchant. During
his residence here he became the father of two children,
the murdered boy,-and a girl of nearly the same age, for
whom he always evinced the most ardent affection. At
the commencement of the present summer both children
were-attacked with scarlet fever, which proved fatal to the
girl, but the boy Vebovered. From this period it would ap-
pear he became exceedingly thoughtful, and evidently la-
boured under • some strange but unaccountable delusion.
A sbort time since Mrs. Stanynought repaired to Graves-
end for the benefit of her health, taking her son with her ;
but she had not been sojourning there more than a few
days before her husband went down and brought away the
boy with him to town. That he entertained an idea at
this time of destroying his offspring is confirmed by cir-
cumstances which subsequently came to the knowledge of
his friends, and indeed from his own observations after he
had committed the deed. On . Mr. Barker being, called in
shortly after the murder was perpetrated, lie 'found Mr.
Stanynought undressed in bed with the body of- his lifeless
child lying by him with its face downwards. Mr. Stany-
nought, in the most cool and collected manner stated that
he had destroyed his child, and described the way he effected
it. He said that lie struck him on the forehead with the
bootjack, and pressed him down on the bed with a pillow ; he
added that he had for some time meditated the destruction
of both himself and son, as he was satisfied the poor boy
inherited from him the same weak state of head which had
caused him (the father) such dreadful sufferingS, and ha
considered himself justified in terminating his, existence
rather than permit him to live and suffer as he had done.
By his own admission it would also appear that 'he had
twice endeavoured to put an end to the existence of himself
and child by burning charcoal in his bedroom, which had not
the desired effect, he not having blocked up all the apertures
in the apartment. He had on the night of the murder
also burnt charcoal in his room, and had himself taken a.
quantity of laudanum ; but both having failed, he resorted
to the dreadful expedient of destruction already detailed.
It being ascertained that the Coroner's Inquest would not
be held until Monday morning (this day), at eleven o'clock,
the Magistrates gave orders for Mr. Stanynought to .be
conveyed to the office for the usual preliminary examination,
that* might be remanded until the Coroner's investiga-
tion is concluded. On the prisoner entering the office in
the afternoon, leaning on the arm of his brother, he looked
extremely dejected, and cast his eyes upon the ground. He
is a tall and well-proportioned man, about forty-five years
of age, of very 'gentlemanly appearance, and intelligent and
expretsive cast of features, and was attired in a blue surtout
coat, silk waistcoat, and light trowsers, 'On the latter of
which were numerous spots of blood.