Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-07-04

ANOTHER FEARFUL TRAGEDY IN LosDoa-
Another terrible tragedy has been enacted IN
London man, named Joseph MOcktord, who
resided at lS9 Blackfrars road, lost his wife iu
April last, and the bereavement appears to have
caused him the most profound grief He had.
indeed, on several occasions stated that he knew
he should commit suicide hut be being qniel,
temperate man, little notice was taken OF his
threat His sister was in the habit of attenlin-
to his children-two girls, aged respectively five
and seyen-and usually came to the house daily
for that purpose, but did not sleep on the premi-
ses. On Sunday the 9Th, she came ns usual nnd
dressed the children. The greater part Of thai
day be spent with his father and mother and his
children at the residence Of the latter, and during
the day, while drinking Il glass of ale with "A
friend ho made use Of the vague observation
that that was the last glass Of ale he should take
lie, however, appears to have returned home
early ON Sunday last with the two children, as
they were seen rs late as four O'Clock, by Mrs
Pearce, in the house. The following day passed
without their being seen, but it being Whit
Monday it was believed that they had gone out
to make holiday. On the following morning,
they not having been heard. some uneaainess
was manifested, and On going up stairs to tho
rooms the bedroom door was found unlocked, aud
the bed in disturbed and unmade state The
door Of the front room was, however, locked and
the key taken out. IL was then conjectured they
had not returned. Later in the evening, it being
ascertaned they had not been to the residence
of the father and mother, Mrs. Pearce called in
u police constable, who broke open the door.
when most horrible and most ghastly sight
presented itself. Mockford was seen sitting On
IL chair in the further corner of the room, near
the window, in dropping position, in his shirt
and trousers only, completely covered with blood,
which must have flowed from no fewer than
seven punotured wounds in various parts of the
body, but principally in the abdomen. large
carving knife was found on the seat of an arm
chair, about four yards from where he was sit
ting, showing that he must have inflicted the
wounds standing, and staggered to the seat,
where he was found rigid in death. lu another
part Of the room lay the bodies of the two girls.
two pillows having been placed under their
heads and, from their appearance, they had
evidently died from poison. cup containing
the remains of some liquid still standing on the
table. The bodies we're pronounced to have
been dead at least forty-eight hours. The chill
dren appeared to have struggled good deal, the
features of the younger child being much distur-
bed. When their bodies were discovered one
was lying on her face and the other on her lett
arm. 1t is thought probable that Moekford in
the first Instance attempted to poison himself,
but that, throwing up the poison, he then had
recourse to the carving knife. The wreiched
man had three children, but one Of them an in
FAINT was, on its mothers death, placed undei
the care of its grandmother at whose house il
has since esresided.