The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-07-07
AFFECTING NARRATIVE.

joined account Of murder, deliberately
committed by father upon his four chill.
dren. The dreadful deed was perpetrated
IN March, at the parish of Basford, near
Nottingham in England. The children
were aged ten, eight, FIVE and two years re.
spectively. Their mother was dead. The
iather.murderer is a man Of thirty five,
laborer, described as man of a kind dispo.
siiion and good character, and noted for his
attachment to his children. The fearful
deed appears lc have been committed under
the influence Of a morbil feeling of misery,
occas'oned by pecunlary distress-yet Green.
smith was 10 constant employment and re
celvIDg thirteen shlllngs week. The lit
tie sufferers were fine healthy children, and
much liked by Their neighbors.--N. y.
! Com. Adu.
Thomas Greensmith of Basford, 1.-THE
murderer) having been cautioned by the
coroner, said: | live in the yard next to this
house, and Mr.. Mark Woodward is my
landlord. | went on Monday morning last
to hedge on the farm Of Mr.. G. Brown, at
Eastwood Park; | remained there all the
day and returned home in the evening about
seven o'clock. When got home, took
something to eat, slaid in the house about
half an hour, and then went to the Seven
Stars public house, near the Leather Bot.
| tie, Nottingham, where had cup of ale.
| then returned home. | walked alone the
whole of the way, and reached Bastord be-
tween eleven and twelve tina, night. met
Mr.. Joseph Woodward (who is the father
Of Mr.. Mark Woodward, nv landlord in
! the ward /; he asked me about the rent and
! told him | had arranged with his son 10
pay il the next "Wednesday but one he told
me he would have il next morning; | told
| hun It was impossible for me TO give it TO
I hun the next morning, but that he should
have 1t in the course Of the next week he
said he would not be put off IN that way,
and If ddn'. get il ready in the morning,
he would take my goods. Thought ifhe took
my goods, that should have no house-no
where TO go to--no home, nor nothing-and
+ that before my children should be turned
into the street and be separated from me,
would suffer what the law would please 10
clap on me. (rhc prisoner here paused,
and il was very apparent that great emo,
/ ton was passing within his bosom, but after
he had answered two or three questions, he
resumed and described TO the jury in the
most minute detail. and with the creates,
composure, as tolIows:)
Coroner-Dld YOU turn your housekeeper
away tina, night
1 Prisoner told her she must go, and
intended her to go out and not stay there
that night.
Coroner-Did you 90 up stairs as soon
as she was gone
4 Prisoner-No. Twas not willing to part
with my children, so made up my mind
10 strangle them, and did it with my hand.
kerchet.
Coroner When did that idea first come
into your mind
Prsoner-Not till that night-after talk
ing 10 Mr.. Woodward. did not proceed
up stairs immediately after my housekeeper
left staid in the bousepace about an
hour-l then went up stairs, and went di.
rectly into the chlldren's room. think
, some of them were awake, bu, don't know
particularly. The threat that MIR. Wood
ward gave me caused me 10 do what did
There were two in one bed and two in the
other. think took my handkerchief oul
Of my pocket when got up stairs, but
don't know where. went to the bed where
the two youngest ones were lying Mark
and Anna think they were not awake al
the time. kissed them all, shook hands and
babe them good BY, before destroyed them.
In less than minute after got into the
room ! began; took the youngest Mark
first, | twisted my handkerchief bit and
put it round its neck, and tied it in fast
single knot. drew II tight but did not pull
it at all afterwards; | then left hold of the
handkerchief The prisoner, there is lii.
tie doubt, in his agitation, drew the knot Of
the handkerchief in the first instance across
/ It's mouth, as il bears marks on lis lip, anl
i,s tongue is biiteu,l had candle with
/ me IN The chamber; | stood in the cham
Der, but do not know that looked at il
while it was straugling | believe | did no.
} look at it. kept the handkerchief on it,
{ neck five minutes. then took il off, anc
the child appeared TO be dead. did moi
1 see tina, it bled at the mouth, as did moi
[ look at it in the face. 1t did not scream
Never one Of them ever WINGED. went
; TO Ann next, and tied the handkerchief
round her threat in the same way. when
A had throtrled Ann, | went down stairs and
D staid against the fire for a few minutes