New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-22
TOLD OF HIS BOYS CRIME.
THE CHIEF STEWARD OF THE FRANCE
GREETED BY TERRIBLE NEWS.
HIS TWO LITTLE SONS HAD KILLED THEIR
MOTHER AT THEIR HOME IN A SUBURB OF
1ONDoN-rHE ELDER BOY HAS AN ABB
NORMALLY DEVELOPED BRAIN AND
TAKES A MORBID INTER

TAKES MORBID INTER-
EST IN CRIME.
Chief Steward NJ. Coombes. Of the National
Line steamship France, left London on July a
happy and contented man. proud of his wife and
children and his little home but yesterday his
10Y had turned to grief and his pride to sorrow.
for upon his arrival he was greeted with the
news OF the murder of his wife by their two
children at his home in Plaistow. a suburb
Of London The two boys. Robert. thirteen. and
Nathaniel eleven years DID, had stabbed their
mother TO death on July and had occupied the
house alone with the body until discovered and
arrested ten days later. During that time they
had pawned numerous articles and enjoyed
themselves on the proceeds.
According to the cable dispatch published In
The Tribune On Friday. they were playing cards
with a half -witted man when discovered through
an investigation set on foot because Of the odors
that pervaded the house.
Coombes was first told of the horrible affair
by George Waldie. Of the pilotboat Caldwei II.
Colt No. 49, which met the France. Waldie
showed him copies OF newspapers containing
the cabied accounts. The unfortunate man was
almost prostrated with grief and horror and IL
was some time before he was able TO discuss
the matter. When the France reached her
dock. at pier No. SO. North River. at noon yes
terday. a Tribune reporter went aboard to see
Coombes He was found In his stateroom ana
was e,f-possessed enough by that time to talk
~ the dreadful news He Is an intelligent-look-
ing Englishman about thirty-eight years old.
slight of build with sandy sde-whiskers ana
uustache. When asked what he thought was
the cause Of the children's crime Coombes SAID:
Robert, my elder son. has always been some
what peculiar. and had him examined by
numerous physicians years ago. 1t was founo
that he had an enormous brain. much TOO large
for the size Of his skull; consequently his Drain
was compressed and the physicians advised US
~ watch him carefully. While peculiar he
never did anything to lead us to believe that ne
might become dangerous. He appeared to be
6eveloping a morbid sentiment which at times
gave us uneasiness II he happened to read OF a
chastity or horrible murder. his whole mind ap-
naared 70 become taken up by it. and nothing
could divert him. During these morbid spells
no would read sIl the literature OF that character
that he could obtain. When the spell wore OH
he would become natural again and play WIN
his companions as innocenty as any child.
some time ago there was brutal murder
committed by a man named Reed near i>ohuoi'
The papers filled with the story ana my
boy read them and ran away from nome, traVei-
ling miles for the purpose OF seeing the muir
derer.
The physicians who had examined him said
that when he arrived at the age OF fourteen MS
skull would have become large enough iol a., n.s
abnormally developed brain. He did seem TO I'M
prove as the years went by and we were nope
ff Of his complete recovery. he was e~tfeiiiei!
bright ct times. The younger boy was no' o,S "a
blame l think az he Is only eleven years oia
and acted entirely on the suggestions OF tle
older boy. under whose influence he was con'-
pletely -. ,
John Fox, the half-wtted man. who was
found In the company Of the boys. is. have no
doubt responsible for this horrible CRIME. ror-
merly he was employed on Nationa I-'ne s'ea,i ,ia
arc hut he became so irresponsible that ne couiu
NOT he trusted and he not allowed 10 go W
sea. Then he got In the habit OF hanging around
nv house doing chores and running errahus'
but recently forbade him to come 10 my nous.
When I left home more than two weeks ago
everything was all right and Robert came down
to the dock me off. and kissed me eoou-
"I have received q cable dispatch 10 come
home Immediately. and | will probably return
On the France which sails on next saturday.
Coombes mas been with the Natohai i.''u 80 as
twenty yeers and Is highly spoken OF py tnoSe
who know him. He has saved conslderapie
money and owned his little home at i,la~is,oN' ~
where he lived happily with his famiiy. alrs; ;
Coornhes was thirty-two or thirty-three ana
sa,d to no extremely handsome. The chlldren
we're good-locking. and outsiders noticed noun
Ing queer with the elder, who had cohsiue'ao'e
influence over the younger O's' ''D'''N
trim 10 this country with his father about
year ago. -, 49,. IT,
Captain Hadley. Of the France, said that fox
had sailed with him, but had become 80 useless
ina, no was discharged. On one occasion he was
found lurking in a dark gangway with long
knife in his hands. with which he intended 70
kill a animate against whom he had grudge.
The Cantain described him as softy lie
knew the Coomoes boys we'll and spoke highly
OF them, and believed that Fox, as Coomoes
said was responsible for the shocking crime.
Whar the France had been mOored Coombes
was met by friends and accompanied them to
Newark for visit