Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-08
HORRID UNDERSTOOD chill
DREN STRANGLED BY THEIR
EAI;IC>Q

FATHER.
| we do not know when we have read an
thing more painfully affecting, that the sub
joined account Of u murder, deliberatei
COMMITTEES by father upon his four children
The dreadful deed was perpetrated in I'll arch
at the parish OF Basford, near Nottingham il
England. The children were aged ten
eight, live and two years respectively
lteIr mother was dead. The father muir
derer is man Of thirty five, a laborer, de
scribed as a man ofkind disposition and goo
character, and noted for his attachment {,
his children. The fearful deed appears Z,
have been committed under the influeace o
morbid feeling OF misery, accustomed b,
pecuniary distress-yet Greensmith was il
constant employment, and receiving thirte,r
shillings u week. The little sufferers were
fine healthy children, and much liked by
their neighbors.-N. T. Com 1adr.
Thomas Greensmith of Bastard, (the muir
derer) having been cautioned by the coron
err, said j live in the yard next 10 this house
and Mr.. Mark Woodward is my landlord.
went on Monday morning last 10 hedge on
The farm Of Mr.. G.. Brown, at Eastwood
Park | remained there all the day, and re-
turned home in the evening about seven o.
clock. When got home, took something
10 eat, staid in the house about half an hour,
and then went to the Seven Stars public
house, near the Leather Bottle, Noting ham,
where had ii cup Of ale. then returned
home. walked alone the whole of the way
and reached Basford between eleven and
twelve that night. | met Mr.. Joseph Wood
ward (who is the father Of Mr.. Mark Wood :
ward, my landIordD in the yard he asked
me about the rent, and told him had ar
ranged with his son 10 pay il The next w ed
nesday but one ; he told me he would have il
next morning / told him il was impossible
Tor me TO give il him the next morning but
that he should have il in the course of the
next " eek (; he said he would not be put off
in that way, and if | didn't get il ready in
the morning, he would take nv goods.
thought If he took my goods, that should
have no house-no where 10 20 to-no home.
nor nothing-and that before my children
should be turned into The street, and be sep>
arated from me, would suffer what the law
would please TO clap on me. (Tbe prisoner
here paused, and il was very apparent that
great emotion was passing within his bosom
but after he had answered two or three ques
lions, he resumed and described TO the Jury
in the most minute detail, and " iih the great
est composure, as .ollows:)
Coroner-Did you turn your housekeeper
away that night?
Prisoner told her she must 60 and I
intended her 10 go out and not stay there that
night.
Coroner-Did you go up stairs as soon ns
che was gone?
Prisoner-No. ! was not willing TO part
with my children, so made up my mind to
sirangle them, and did it with my handker-
Chief
Coroner-When did that idea Grst come
into your mind
a. ~ -,
ing TO MIR. Woodward did not proceed
up stairs Immediately after my househeeper
left. slaid in the housepIace about an hour
i then went up stairs, and went directly
into the children's room. think some OF
them were awake, but don't know partic-
ularly.-The threat that Mr.. Woodward
gave me caused me TO do what did. There
were two in one bed and two in The other.
think took my baBdk erchief out OF my
pocket when got upstairs, but don't know
where. l went 10 The bed where the two
youngest ones were lying Mark and ANN
l think they were not awake al the time. |
kissed them all, shook hands, and babe them
good bye, before | destroyed them. In less
than a minute after ! got into the room |
begun | took the youngest MARK first, |
twisted my handkerchief bit and put il "a
round lis neck, and tied il in fast single
knot. drew it tight but did not pull al all
afterwards; then left hold of tho handker-
chief. The prisoner, there is little doubt,
III his agitation, drew the knot OF the hand
kerchiet in the frs. instance across its mouth,
as il bears marks on its lip, and lis tongue is
bitten. had a candle with NE in the cham
Der l stood in the chamber, but do not
know that looked at il while il was straBg-
ling believe that did not look at it,
kept The handkerchief on lis neck five min
uies. then took il off, and The, Chill: ap.
peared to be dead. did mol see that it bIed
at the mouth, as | did moi look i, in the face
Ii did not scream. Never a one of them ey-
er WINGED. went 10 Ann next, and teed
the handk ercbief around her throat in The
same way. When ] had throttled Ann, !
went down stairs aGd stsid against the fire
for few minutes. stood considering and
thought l might as we'll suffer for them all as
for two.
then went up stairs again, and was going
up 10 the bed where The other two lay (tbe
he'd under the window, in which John and
william, the two eldest boys, were,) when
William jumped out OF bed, ran across the
floor, and got into the bed where Ann aud
Mark lay, which is the cause they are all in
one bed. thought he had seen me slraDgle
the other two. AS he ran across The floor
he said, "Pray father, don't do me So" j
then tied the handk erchiet round iAe biggest
boys neck (John's); did not look to see if
John sIrangled, but went and sal down on
the bedside against William, and said TO him,
"My lad, Wen all share one fate; when PYe
done you shall have nobody TO think ofbut
myself, and IT will be my turn next, and he
never spoke no more. They none ofthem
ever WINGED, and will take icy oath new
er cried out. i then went and took the
hanhk erchief off Inhn and tied IL round