The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-09-26 00:00:00

TN! LITIRPOOL STANDAkt

AWFUL AND MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY IN

TOXTETH PARK.

About ten o'clock on Sunday forenoon last, the neigh-
hourhood of Chester-street Toxteth-park, was thrown
into a state of alarm and excitement by a rumour that a
man named Robert Howarth had first murdered his wife,
and had afterwards committed suicide. From the facts
which had then come to light, and the scene which pre-
sented itself in the house where the bodies were found, to
the few who had the hardihood to enter it, there was cer-
tainly strong ground for supposing that the crimes stated
had both been perpetrated ; and though it has since trans-
pired, after a surgical examination, which took place yester-
day, the cause of the death of both the deceased parties was
attributable to poison, it will yet, admitting this to be a
correct conclusion, leave the mind in doubt as to whether
coercion was used by the male to induce his companion to
swallow the fatal drug; or whether they both became the
voluntary administrators to their own death. We can
form no conjecture, indeed, of any possible forthcoming
evidence, that—as the parties were alone and shut up in
the house for at least a day after they were missed—can
unravel the mystery.
The man Howarth is stated to have been about 47 years
of age, and was a wholesale confectioner, until recently
occupying a shop in St. James's-street, but latterly resid-
ing in a house in Park-place. It is added that recently
he had dealt in cattle ; that he had lost considerable sums
in that line; and that he bad been heard to express a
threat to take his own life ; but of this no evidence has
vet been given. Owitre to some domestic differences
neither his wife nor family resided with him ; but he has
made a periodical allowance to his wife ; and on Friday
evening she went to his house to receive her usual pay-
ment. As she did not return that night, her friends
became alarmed, and not appearing on Saturday their
alarm was increased. They made inquiry, but heard
nothing of her during the whole of Saturday. On Sunday
morning, some parties, including friends of the deceased
female, went to the house, and, with difficulty, obtained
an entrance into the house, through a stable, the premises.
front and back having been fastened up. Some of them
went up stairs, and were horrified to find, in a front bed-
room, the male deceased dead in bed, and the female also
dead on the floor,—the latter surrounded by blood. An
alarm was given to the police, two of whom were soon on
the spot. The further particulars yet known will be best
gathered from the preliminary portion of the inquest,
which was commenced yesterday afternoon, before Mr.
Curry, but necessarily postponed until this day, several
witnesses, whose evidence was requisite, not being in at-
tendance. _

James Calderbank, a glass-cutter, said in effect—" I
live in Henderson-street, and knew the deceased parties
by the name of Howarth. On Sunday morning I saw,
while at my own house, three females at Mr. Webster's
house, opposite to mine. They knocked and he came
down and spoke to them. Mr. Webster then came across
the street, and asked me to gnwith him to Mr. Howarth's
house, as he (Mr. H.) and his wife had been missing for
some time. We went there together, and not being able
to get in by the front door,. which was fast, went to the
back. We called another person. and an entrance was
finally obtained by the stable. We all went up stairs,
into a bed-room, the door of which was half open.
When we entered, we saw the body of Mr. Haworth
lying on the bed, partly acroseit from the bottom to the
top. He was lying partly on his right side. We saw his
face. We then saw the body of Mrs. Iloworth lying on
the floor, her legs partly under the bed. I saw no blood
about him, but a good deal about her. r did not examine
the bodies, I was so much shocked. r went for two
police-officers, and returned with them to the back door.
1 did not again enter the house. I did not particularly
notice what was in the room. I have known Mr. Howorth
about fifteen years. He was a confectioner. Hie and his
wife did not live on good terms.
James Baird, a police-officer, was called by the last wit-
ness, who said a man and a womatewere dead'he Park-
place, and went with him to the house. Another officer
was called by the last witness. Baird. continued I
asked last witness-if he knew how it had happened, and if
it were a murder. He said he did not know. We all
went together, and entered at the baclieby the stable. We
went up stairs to the front room facing the street. Ohe or
two other persons were with us. We saw- the deceased,
Mr. Howarth, lying in bed, partly on his right side, and
lying diagonally. from corner to corner., He was quite
dead. The female was lying on the floor, partly on her
side and belly, and with her legs partly under the bed.
She was also quite dead. I supposed, from the way she
was lying, that she might have fallen out of bed. Her head
and neck were bare. He had no coat, and he had the rest
of his clothes on, excepting his shoes. A doctor was seat
for by the superintendent. I saw two basins in the room,
like wash-hand basins, one larger than the-other. There
was something in both of them of a dark colour, as if per:
sons had been vomiting in them. This morning I found-
a small pill box on the wash-hand stand, (produced), with
what appeared to be a small'quantity of white powder in it.-
Here the Coroner finding that several witnesses requi-
site to maintain the chain et' evidence had not come up,.
felt it necessary to defer further proceedings until to-day.
He noticed that the bodies appeared to have been found
in rather a different posture.from that in which the jury
and himself had' that day seen them. He said be bad
learned from the -surgeon who had examined the bodies
that there was no doubt but that both the parties had been
poisoned ; but he had not yet been able to ascertain pre-
cisely the kind, fcir it was not of the usual corrosive sub-
stances ; but he expected to be enabled to determine it
by to-morrow. He should therefore postpone- the case,
rather than adjourn it, and he thought it would be better
to commence de novo, when ail the witnesses werepresent.
We have learned from a party who visited the apart-
ment in which the tragedy was so privately and. fearfully
performed, that- the spectacle was a truly frightful one.
Beside the female was a pool of blood, and her' head pre-
sented a number of contusions, on both sides, and espe-
cially over the left eye, and itremains to be seen how this
can be reconciled with the absence of violence, which, how-
ever, might not be sufficient to produce death. But it were
improper to speculate in thie- stage of the proceedings.
The inspector el police, who visited the house after the
police-officers were first there, found a common: pint jug,
with a tea-spoon -in it, and which contained aeneall in-
crustation of a white substance at the bottom. This has
not yet been examined, but will be submitted tomorrow.
The inquest will be resumed at ten o'clock.

INSPECTION AND REVIEW OF THE TROOPS AT EVER-
TON.—Yesterday, the 46th Regiment, now stationed at
Everton, underwent the half yearly inspection-of Sir
William Wane, inspector-General of the north-western
district. _ _

OPENING DINNER.—The opening dinner at 'the Old
Swan Hotel is announced to take place on Tuesday. Mr.
Chapman, so long connected with the Adelphi restaurant,
is the new proprietor, a fact 'that will ensure-every deli-
cacy for the occasion.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—TO night is the last oppor-
tunity that the public will have of viewing the, beautiful-
spectacle of New York, in connection with the splendid
display of fireworks, which have given such satisfaction..
No doubt the closing gala will be a bumper.
AFFONSO. STEAM FRIGATE.—We regret ta learn, that
owing to an opening in one of her cylinders', this noble
vessel had to put into Holyhead, and she bas since been
towed into this port to- have the necessary repairs pro.
ceeded with.

ANOTHER BODY OF A SUFFERER IN THE*ODEAN
ARCH.—Yesterday an inquest was held before Mr. Curry,
on view of the body of a man unknown, which was found
by the captain of a steamer which was working at the
wreck, on Fridfiy night.. He was about feet 8, inches
high, and had on a black frock coat, and pepper and salt
trowsers. The fade was so disfigured and decayed that ,
the countenance was effaced. Verdict, " Found drowned."
NEW LINE OF STEAMERS TO THE LEVANT.—A new
liae of monthly communication is about to be commenced
between this town and several of the principal ports in
the Mediterranean, including Malta, Constantinople, and
Trebisand. The first steamer will be the Sir R. Peel, of
390 tons, to be despatched on the 18th •proximo. She
will be succeeded by the Earl of Auckland, a splendid
ship of 450 tons. We wish this new and promising line
every success.
COLONIAL Csuneu, SOCIETY.—On; Sunday next, ser-
mons will he preached in one or twomf the churches in
this town, on behalf of this excellent society. The anni-
versary meeting will be held in the. Music-hall, on the
following evening, when the Rev. Dr. Byrth will take the
chair; and a deputation consisting of the Rev. Edward
Bickersteth and the Rev. C. J. Yorke, rector of Shen-
field, will attend. The society supports clergymen and
schools in our colonies ; and promotes in various ways,
the spiritual improvement of British residents in other
places.
RESULT OF THE TRIALS AT THE SFSSIONSYESTERDAY.
—Caroline Hampton, aged 18, for stealing, in Liverpool',
five shirts, blankets, &c., the property of David Adamson
and Thomas Hunter ; Francis, Clarke, 17, for stealing a
purse and money belonging to Thomas Bunting ; and
Jane Thornton, 23, for stealing 6s. from the person of
James Totterdell, were each transported for ten years.
The other trials were of little importance, and the parties
convicted .were sentenced. to various terms of imprison-
ment, from nine months downwards.
DEATH FROM DISEASE OF THE HEART.—An,inqoest
was held yesterday, before the borough coroner, on view
of the body of Richard, Sutton, aged 43, who resided in
Paul-street. It appeared that about eight o'clock on
Saturday morning he went out to his work, and did not
return until late at night, when he went to the same bed
with a son of his, 13- years of age, with whom he some-
times slept. His wife had seen him home that night, and
observing him to be intoxicated, went to sleep with a sis-
ter. In the morning the lad found him dead in bed. Dr.
Kilner made a post ntortem examination, and pronounced
death to be caused by disease of the heart, accelerated by
excessive drinking.—Verdict accordingly.
DEATHS BY FALLING INTO THE DOCKS.—Yesterday
an inquest was held before Mr. Curry, on view of the
body of Fitzpatrick, a Custom-house officer, who on
Fridap night going on duty on board of a vessel, in one of
the South Docks, missed his way ; fell into the water,
and before he could be assisted, sank to rise no more.
The body was not recovered until next morning. He was
quite sober at the time. The coroner remarked upon the
case at the time it was communicated, that it appeared
that want of proper light on or about the margins of the
docks was the cause of numerous accidents of this kind,
even Custom-house officers being in danger of their lives;
and that if the Dock Committee could devise some re-
medy, it would be most desirable. It is somewhat re-
markable that on the day following this accident, a similar
one occurred, and the inquest was held also yesterday.—
A young man, a porter in the employment of the City of
Dublin Steam Packet Company, named Hugh Keenan,
aged only 22, fell into the dock, on Saturday night, and
thouogh he was heard in the water, he could not be seen.
Two police officers did their utmost, but three quarters of
an hour elapsed before the body was got up by grapples.
Deceased was quite sober at the time. The jury concur-
red with the coroner as to additional light, to be thrown,
if possible, upon the water round the docks ; but if
cult, to devise a plan to effect this desideratum,