Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-10-22
a vERITABLE DEMON.

The Liverpool Post of the 24th ult., tells
the following horrible story:
"On the 21st laborer named Thomas
Robson was brought before the magistrate
on the serious charge of attempting to des.
troy his wife and two daughters by burning
them. The prisoner, with his wife and two
daughters all slept in one room, in which
there were two beds, and on Sunday night
they had all retired to rest, with the excep-
ton of the father, who did not come home
until midnight. Having been served with
some supper by his wife, who got ont of bed
for the purpose, he again left the house and
did not return till about two O'Clock. He
called out to have some more supper, but
no one answering him he became very irri-
table, lighted a candle and threatened with
fearful oath that he would destroy them
all.
He then went upstairs into the bedroom.
and deliberately set fire to the counterpane
of the bed on which his wife was lying.
The poor woman succeeded in exiinguishlng
it, but second and third time did the
wretch set fire to it, and as often did she
manage to put it out-the third time extin-
gushing the candle also. While the fellow
was re-lighting the candle, she sprang out
OF bed, and hastily throwing her dress over
her head, was endeavoring to run off to fetch
a policeman, but her fiend of husband
caught hold Of her, and applying the candle
to her dress, endeavored to set it on fire.
By an almost frantic effort she succeeded in
frustrating his dabolical purpose, and in
disengagIng herself from his grasp, and at
once rushed off for assistance. The unna-
tural father then turned to the bed in which
his two daughters were, and set fire to the
counterpane. One of the girls at once jumped
out of the bed and proceeded TO dress her
self, and as her sister did not offer to get up
she said to her, "Clara, will you lie there
and be burnt to death ?" to which the inhu-
man parent replied, "Oh, never mind, my
wenchi keep your place; you will die
happy. At that moment young man
named David Cutler, lodger, who slept in
the adjoining room, alarmed by the shrieks
of the terrified girls, rushed into the apart
ment and extinguished the blazing counter
pane. Robson then fetched quantity o.
straw, which he spread out underneath one
of the beds, and before setting fire to it he
brought hair oil bottle and turpentint
bottle, but finding they were both empty hi
threw them away with an oath. He thel
lighted the straw, which speedily blazed VI
and lgnited the bed and bedding. Anothe
lodger named Scotthorn then came to th
assistance of the two affrighted girls, an,
$ after n struggle with Robson, who threatene,
I to knock his brains out, Scotthorn succeeded
= in extinguishing the fire, which Robson re
kindled as many as half-a-dozen times beFor
the arrival of a policeman. When consta
BILE came, Robson armed himself with
poker, and advanced to meet him, but til
fellow was ultimately overpowered, dlsarme
and taken into custody. The bed room pre-
sented a sad spectacle after the affair." tn
post of one of the beds being burnt to fral
ments, the counterpane and bedding of boi
: being quite destroyed, the feathers scattere
aboutinthe utmost confusion, and the dresst
of the mother and two daughters completed
spoiled The remnants of these carmen
and of the counterpanes were produced
court, and caused thrill of horror whe
held up to observation. The prisoner, VII
Il seemed 10 treat the matter with great indi
Il Il ference, was committed for trial at the Sta
!. fordshire Assizes