The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-02 00:00:00

THE MUltatE AND A 2 TEMPTED

SUICIDE AT OLDBURY.

The miserable woman who murdered her child
and atte npted her own life, as reported in The
Sun yesterday, has somewhat rallied, and has been
able to take a little liquid sustenance. She is per-
fectly sensible, and appears-to be impressed with a
deep sense of the crime she has committed. The
excitement in the town continues to be intense,
particularly among the mining population, and
great commiseration is felt for the unfortunate
husband, William Forster. _ _

The inquest on the deceased boy was held on
Tuesday. The jury, after being sworn, proceeded
to view the body, which lay in the same room
where the murder took place. Ou their return the
first witness examined was

William Forster, who deposed—l am a miner,
and live in Furnace-row, Oldbury, The deceased
was my son. On Sunday night we all retired to
bed about eleven o'clock. Myself, my wife, and
four children occupied the same room. The
youngest child slept in the same bed with myself
and my wife. The other -three children slept in
another bed. Their names were, Eliza,' aged
sixteen, Susan, aged eight ; and John, aged about
twelve. I did not go to sleep till about two o'clock,
and was awoke about three by my daughter Eliza
screaming. I then saw my wife standing in her
chemise, close to the bed where the deceased had
been sleeping. I did not see her in the act of cut-
ting his throat, but with my daughter endeavoured
to prevent her doing any more mischief. Before
we could get to her my wife cut a large wound
in her own throat, and was in the act of repeating
the cut when I and Eliza took the razor from her.
Blood was flowing from the deceased's throat, and
also from my wife's. I threw my wife down on
the floor, and she became insensible. I thought she
was dead. I then went to look at the boy, and saw
he was dead. I then rushed down stairs and burst
open the door with a poker, because I could not
wait for the key. I alarmed a neighbour, Mrs-
Hough con, and sent her for Mr. Cooper, surgeon.
In March last my eldest daughter, aged 19, died,
and it preyed very much upon my wife's mind.
She was always moaning, and saying, " Oh, my
poor wench." My wife became very much de-
pressed. She said the neighbours were talking
about her, and wished to raise a scandal about her,
On Sunday she was more depressed than usual, and
seemed in a sad way. The razor with which the
deed was done was mine, and was kept in a drawer
in a chest of drawers in the kitchen. I had used
it on the same Sunday morning. The drawer was
not kept locked. The key was not usually taken
out of the lock. My wife never attempted to
destroy herself, nor was her mind affected previous
to the death of our eldest daughter. My wife was
very fond of the deceased, and was an affectionate
mother to all her children.
are
Eliza Forster, an interesting-looking
girl,
U
d
about 16, 16, deposed—John Forster was my brother.
I slept with him on Sunday night. MY sister
Susan slept with us in the same bed. About day-
light I was awoke by my sister, who thought her
brother was sick. My sister screamed, and I then
saw my mother standing by the side of the bed.,
and leaning over John. I jumped out of bed, an
went to my mother as quickly as I could. As
.I
got out of bed she drew a razor which she had
in
her right hand across her throat. I then seized
her hands, and my father also took hold of her. 1:
tried to take the razor from her, but she drew_ it
through my hand, and made another cut at her
throat. She was bleeding from the throat a great
deal. My hand was cut veryr badly, but I got the
razor from her. My father then threw my mother
down. She did not struggle much. I went down
stairs, and waited until my father came back after
me
sending for Mr. Cooper. Just as
back my mother came down stairs. She has alw_ye
others. been kind to me, and to all her children.
f the
ed fonder of the deceased than any °
He was the only boy, and I never heara
her threaten him. my father tame
s
At this stage of the proceedings the inquiry Wei
adjourned.