The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-31 00:00:00

ALLEGED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Rumours have for some days past been circulated
in the neighbourhood of Clapham that Mrs. Amelia
Littleton, the wife of a gentleman of independent
fortune, whose body was found in the Long-pond
at Clapham-common, had been murdered by her
husband. It was reported that they had been seen
near the spot quarrelling with each other at an
early hour in the morning, and that cries of " Mur-
der" had been heard on the same night by the in-
habitants living near the common. These rumours
were considerably strengthened in consequence of
the husband having subsequently committed suicide
pending the inquiry as to the cause of the death of
his wife. The inquest was commenced a few days
ago by Mr. W. J. Payne, the coroner for the Duchy
of Lancaster, at the Cock Tavern, Clapham.
The evidence given on the first day (the body not
then having been identified), was almost confined to
that of the finding it in the Long-pond at about 5
o'clock on the morning of the 22d by a gentleman
who went there for the purpose of fishing. Two
witnesses were also called who deposed that they
heard cries of murder, apparently in the direction of
the common. According to the evidence of a surgeon
who was called, there were no marks of violence on
the body. She was elegantly dressed, with several
rings on her finger, but the flesh having greatly
swollen by being in the water, the rings had to be
filed before they could be removed, An adjourn-
ment of the inquiry then took place, and on the
following day Mr. Littleton came and identified the
body as being that of his wife, and it was interred
on Saturday, Mr. Littleton following her to the
grave.
Yesterday, on the re-assembling of the ury at
the Cock Tavern,:it was announced that Mr. Lit-
tleton had committed self-destruction by cutting
his throat on Sunday afternoon.
The first witness was Mrs. Collins, who stated
that she was cook and housekeeper to Mr. Littleton,
and had been in his service for upwards of five
years. Her master and mistress were in the din-
ing-room in the afternoon of Sunday week, and
when witness came home from church her mistress
said they had had a few words. Her mistress went
out twice in the course of the evening, and at 10
o'clock witness went to bed, leaving her master and
mistress in the dining-room together. About 10
minutes past 12 her master came to her and asked
if her mistress had come home. She told him that
she did not know that she had been out. He told
her that she. had gone out in a great passion, and
that he had followed her, but, stopping to close
the door against the dog, that she had got a-head
of him, and he could not tell which :way she was
gone. He went out again to look out for her, but
could not find her, and returned at two o'clock.
Nothing was ard of her that night.
Michael Hollins, in the service of Mr. Ellis, said
he was on the east side of the common on Sunday
night, and was going home to his supper. It was
a bright moonlight night. It was then nearly 12
o'clock, and, taking a circle, he saw a man and
woman under the trees. They were violently quar-
relling, being then about 30 yards from him, and
about the same distance from the Long Pond. Ha
heard the woman say " Oh, will yo-!; oh, will you 9"
The woman wore a light brown dress. They had
not hold of each other, but were close together. He
left them under the trees and went home.
William Barton said he lived on the east side of

.. _
the Common, directly opposite to the Long Pond.
On Sunday night, the 21st, at about half-past 12,
he was awoke by hearing a loud, long scream. He
told his wife that it seemed like the scream of a
woman in distress, but, as such noises are often
heard on the common, he took nofurther notice, and
went to sleep again. Early next morning he saw
the body of the deceased (Mrs. Littleton) taken out
of the pond.
Mr. Blewitt, a juror, said, as he was the last per-
son who had any conversation with Mr. Littleton
before he committed suicide, he wished to make a
statement of what passed between them.
The Coroner said he thought he might receive
this evidence, and he was accordingly sworn.
Mr. Blewitt said—l have known Mr. and Mrs.
Littleton for six years. They always appeared on
very affectionate terms. I saw Mr. Littleton on
Saturday last, and I followed his wife to the grave
on that day. I was in the back parlour after the
mourners were gone. Mr. Littleton asked me to
come into the front parlour. He said, "You were
on theinqueat (alluding to the inclurrt on Mr. Lit.
tleton)—what reports have you heard about it ?" I
said that I had heard many reports. He said, " They
say that I pushed her into the pond, but I declare
to God I never saw her from the time she left the
house until I saw her dead, and I will tell you how
it occurred." I said, the worst is over now. He
said, "Oh no, Monday I dread." I said, you have
nothing to do but to speak the truth. He said, " I
will tell you how it occurred. It was a most simple
thing. I went into the front room after dinner with
the paper, and I found a tremor come over me. I
felt fainting and could hardly get to the settee.
She (Mrs. Littleton) was in the room and she took
no notice of me for some time. 'After I had come to
a little, I said ' Amelia, how unkind you are.' She
looked sternly, and said, ' You are always telling
me lam unkind.' She got me some water and left
the room. She dressed herself and went out. She
returned, took off her chains, and left a lock of hair
behind her." He said again, " I declare to God I
never saw her from that time until her body was
found. I went out once and returned, thinking to
find her at home. I went out again. I went on
to the common, and called her until I was hoarse."
I asked him if I should send for his friends, and he
said "No ;" adding, " but Monday I dread." He
committed suicide by cutting his throat on Sunday.
The Coroner summed up the evidence, and said
that he bad gone into this case with great care on
account of the rumours which prevailed that Mrs.
Littleton had been murdered by her husband by
being pushed into the pond, but they had no direct
evidence that such was the.case, and the cries and
quarrelling that were heard on the common might
have come from the two persons who are now dead.
Mr. Littleton was beyond any human tribunal, and
he would leave the jury to return such a verdict as
the evidence would justify them in doing.
After a short consultation, the jury returned the
following verdict :—" That the deceased came to
her death by drowning, but there was no evidence
to show how she got into the water."
Last night Mr. Wm, Carter, the coroner, hel3. an
inquest at the Falcon Tavern, Cllpham-road, on
the body of Mr. John Littleton, who committed
suicide on Sunday last.
Baker, 290 P, proved being called to go to the
house of deceased in Foster-place, and finding a
room door locked inside, he forced it open, and on
entering the worn he saw the deceased lying on his
left side on the floor, near the bedstead, with a razor
about a foot from the body. He was quite dead.
There was a great quantity of blood on the floor.
Mr. Cooper, the surgeon, was sent for, and, on his
I coming and the body being turned over, there was
seen a deep wound in his throat.
Mr. Cooper, surgeon, of Clapham-rise, was next
called, and said he saw the deceased lying on the
floor, with blood on his hands. He raised his head,
1 and on the left side he found a jagged wound in the
throat, extending from left to right, about five
inches in length and four inches in depth, which
had divided the carotid artery, and slightly cutting
into the larynx. An open razor with blood on it
was pick& dup from the floor. There was no doubt
it was the man's own act end deed.
Inspector Molloy, of the P division, produced a
razor covered with blood, which was picked up in
the room. He believed the deceased committed the
1 act in front of a looking-glass, as there were several
spots of blood on it. He had no doubt it was an act
of self-destruction.
Mrs. Sarah Collins, servant to Mr. Littleton, said
the deceased was about 60 tears of age. He was an
independent gentleman. On Saturday night wit-
ness went to bed at 10 o'clock, leaving her master
in the dining room. At half-past 8 o'clock the next
morning he called witness and told her to get her
breakfast, and said he wanted to lie a little while
and be quiet. She expected him to breakfast, and
at 11 o'clock she looked to see if his bedroom door
was open, but not finding it open she closed the door
again. Some time after she knocked at the door, but
receiving no answer she turned the handle of the
door and found it was locked inside. She then be-
came alarmed, took the key, and told the landlord
of the house, who went back with her. He tried
the door, but could not open it, and upon that he
fetched a policeman, who forced open the door.
There was no doubt he caused his own death. On
the Saturday he was greatly distressed in mind, he
having been to her mistress's funeral. He paced
about the room and said," Oh, cook, what have I
done to cause this P This will break my heart; this
will be my death-blow." He was greatly distressed,
clasped his hands, and appeared like a madman.
He clasped his do(' round the neck, and said, " Oh,
Mrs. Littletostilse
The Coroner then rmoyompoor doe
leavingle continued to walk about the
until she went to bed. He was very much at-
tthaceh:vditdoelisliers. Littleton. The witness here repeated
jury returned
stroyed his own. life e ' '
gave at the former inquest as to
the house, and its results.
a yenrdshtmTeldi up the case, and the
That the deceased de-
stroyed while in a state of temporary
derangement."