The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-30 00:00:00

MOST APPALLING OCCURRENCE.

We are often compelled, as public journalists, to detail
circumstances of the most heartrending character; but we
have rarely been called upon to detail a more melancholy
narrative of facts than is involved in the following brief
statement of an appalling occurrence which took place in
this town on Tuesday morning.

About six o'clock on Tuesday morning the family of Mr.
Jenner, a cotton-broker of this town, was thrown into the
greatest consternation by an attempt made by Mr. Jenner to
take away the life of his two children, his wife, and it is feared
his own. The unfortunate gentleman has recently been
ob,:erved to recal to his recollection several circumstances
in his past life, when he was in a more prosperous condition,
and the remembrance appeared to prey greatly upon his
spirits, and, latterly, even to affect his mind. So much was
this the case, that, in a fit of despair, he on Tuesday morn-
ing discharged a pistol at one of • his children, which,
unhappily, took effect, and the poor boy is no more,
lie almost at the same time discharged another at his wife,
the contents of which lodged, we believe, in her head, but at
the moment we write the lady is still alive, and it is the
opinion of Mr. Ackerley, the surgeon, that she may possibly
recover. The wretched man then endeavoured to bring his
other boy to him, by speaking in the most, affectionate
terms to him ; but the poor fellow, was too terrified to do
so, and immediately fled from the house and gave the alarm
to the police, who took his father into custody, where he
now remains. Mr. Jenner gave himself into the possession
of the police in the most quiet manner, and a double-barreled
pistol was taken from him, and another was found at the
back of the house. He (Mr. Jenner) has been noticed by all
who knew him as a most affectionate ihusband ; and the
only reason for the steps he liar taken is to' be found in the
expression which it is stated Mr. Jenner has been heard to
utter,—that he would rather see his wife and family dead
than afflicted by poverty.
Mr. Jenner was noticed last on Monday evening, about five
o'clock, by a gentleman with whom he was in company, to be
in a very excited state of mind, and talked much of his reduced
circumstances and disappointed prospects, which were more
likely to make a deep impression on his mind, from his
having been many years since engaged in a very lucrative
line of business in Liverpool and Manchester. Subse-
quently to this lke became unfortunate, and commenced
business in Charleston, where he realised a considerable
sum of money, which was lost in the panic of 1825. He then
established -himself as a cotton-broker in this town, with
considerable success, until his health.gave way, and his con-
sequent inactivity in all probability, caused the gradual loss
of his connections.

About three years since he went to Glasgow to prosecute:the
same business, but met with little or no encouragement, and
about six months since returned to this town and took up his
abode in Portland-place, Everton, and has since been strug-
gling with difficulties, under which it would appear his mind
has been impaired. He has often expressed himself to those
about him as a deeply injured man, and become so excited
in the recital of his wrongs, whether fancied or real, as to
produce an irritation of mind bordering upon insanity.
As we previously noticed, his great and devoted attachment
to his wife and children (two boys, the younger twelve years
of age, deceased, the elder, about 15,) has induced him to
commit this rash act, in preference to seeing them reduced
to starvation and want. Mr. Jenner appears to be about
fifty-five years of age.