, 1872-11-08
AN ENGLISH TRAGEDY.
Mysterious Suicide Of q Husband and
Wife,

Wife.
From the London Daily Telegraph, Oct. q.
On Thursday morning. IN elderly man-a
foreigner Of respectable appearance, seemingly
with sRllow complexion and wearing mus
tache-app1ied to see some apartments which
we're to let at No. IS Golden Square, in u
house in the occupation Of Mr.. Cunningham
He Was shown by Airs. Cunningham two room,
Vi which he he took at once, but f speaking
very good English, though with foreign
accent, he said that his wife was staying at
restaurant in Regent street, that he would fetch
her, and that if she Liked the apartments, as he
both He then vent away, and in about two
hours and half returned with the lady, who
seemed about ten years younger than her hus-
band. She also spoke little English, but not
Cunningham to understand that they had Just
arrived from the Continent, that they would take
both the rooms, but they would only require
them for week. They then fetched some boz
es and took possession, going out to the restau-
an Thsy 1ere s % esry S aaes in their habes ea So
that it WAS hardly known whatheE or
not they were in their apartments. On Friday
they passed the time mostly in their rooms, e1-
cept when they went out to their meals aud it
was noticed by jewel1er who WAS engaged in o
workshop behind, that the gas WAS burning in
the back room as late as o'clock in the morning
OF Saturday. On Saturday morning Mrs. Gun
ningham, wishing to clean the rooms, sent up
her little girl to see whether the occupants were
at home, and she reported the doors fast. Just
before o'clock Mrs. Cunningham went up her
self, being desirons of getting her work done,
and kicked at the door. No reply Was made. and
she then perceived that the key of the back
room was hanging on d nail outside, where
it was usual for tho tenants to place it
when they went out. She at once
opened the door, and, looking in saw tile
lady sitting in an easy chair. She called out,
Madam, are you ILL" and, receiving no an
swer, was about to retire, when, with vague
suspicion that all was not right, she entered tho
room, and then saw the gentleman lying on his
back on the floor, with his head near tho window.
Thoroughly alarmed at the discovery, she ran
up stairs to her husband: and told him that there
was something wrong down stairs, as the man
Was stretched on his back on the floor, and
Madam was sitting in the easy chair with her
head covered up. Mr.. Cunningham at once went
down to the room, and found the bodies in the
position described by his wife, and to all appear
a railway rug, which he just lifted to
satisfy himself as to her condition, and then he
came out, locked the door, and at ouce ran for
the nearest medical man, DR.. Slight, Of Brewer
street, and gave notice Of what had taken place
to the police, at We're Street Station An assist
ant Of DR.. Slight was in attendance in few
minutes after the discovery, and found that
death must have taken place some hours before.
On the arrival Of the Inspector OF Police, close
search YVES made, and it was then found that
each Of the deceased persons had Bible c1asped
in their hands closely to their chests; that the
lady had her head tied up with white handker-
chief, and the gentleman had strap,
passing under the chin and fastened
tightly on the top Of the head, the object being
apparently to prevent tho jaws falling after
death. a vial was found BY tho gentfeman's
side, and also 3 note, apparently in his hand
writing, stating that they blamed no one for
their deaths, asking forgiveness for what they
had done, and saying that they had poisoned
themselves by strychnine. It stated that s5
would be found upon the table to bury them
with, that it was to be done as quietly as posai-
BILE; that s1 was to be given to Mra. Cunning
ham for her kindness to them, and what remain
ed in their trunks besides. The letter contained
q Scripture quotation, not, however, relevant
to the act which WAS in contemplation
Nothing was found in their luggage to give any
clue to their Identification, and quantity Of pa
per ashes in the crate left no doubt that they
must have burned MI letters and documents
likely to give the information. The wearing up
paref is Of foreign make, some quilted petticoats
being apparently German; but, from their pro-
nunciation, Mrs. Cunningham thought the Do
ceased we're French, and their appearance rather
faVors that suppositlon.