Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1847-11-03 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DREADFUL MURDER AT BIRMINGHAM.THE INQUEST.  The circumstances connected with this melancholy event, as detailed at the inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate children, were as follows :  One of the moseappalling and tragical events that has ever occurred' in this locality—the murder of four fine children by their own mother, took place on Saturday last, in Cheapside. The wretched woman, whose name is Ann Wilkes, is a widow, and kept a small shop for the sale of cigars in the above street. About eight o'clock in the morning, it was noticed by some of the neighbours that Wilkes's shop was not open as usual, and up to 11 c'clock the shop still remained closed. •At that hour a man named Edwards, who resides in the neighbourhood, in conjunction with other parties, determined upon ascertaining the cause. Edwards procured:a ladder, and entered through the bedroom window; went up a few (lark stairs, in a small room at the top of which he discovered the unfortunate woman lying on the floor with her throat cut, and at her side her eldest child, a boy about twelve years old, with his throat cut from ear to ear. Mr Edwards then gave an alarm, on which a police constable entered the house, and on proceeding to the room which Mr Edwards had just left, he found three other children lying in a pool of blood, with their throats-also cut in a most frightful manner. It was then discovered that the unfortunate woman was still alive, and Mr Archer, surgeon, having been immediately called in, baniaged her wounds, and resorted to the usual means of prolonging life, and she soon so far recovered as to be able to be removed to the Queen's Hospital. Mr Henry liankes, one of the witnesses, said : I knew all about Wilkes's circumstances, and they were very unfavourable. She was enabarassed in her circumstances, and had to pledge and sell her things. Her husband died six months ago, leaving her with four children; he was a silver plater, and all he possessed died aRh him. She entered into a little huxtry business in Suffolk-street, and she also sold tripe, but:lost money by the attempt. In a short time she opened a tea and coffee-shop in Litchfield-street which also failed. On one occasion I advised her to apply to the parish for assistance, observing that I had no doubt they would give her Is. 6d. a week for each of ;her children. She replied she could aid submit to apply to the parish for relief. She said she could not bear up against it, for rather than come to actual want she would make away with herself and children. Jane Green, mother of Wilkes, said that on behalf of her daughter, she hail applied to the assistant overseer, who had referred her to the relieving officer. She added: My daughter did not receive any relief. She wanted to get her children into the asylum, in order that she might obtain a situation where she would only have to perform light work. Mr Rutherford, the relieving officer, cated that in consequence of an application, he had called on Mrs Wilkes. Aiked her the nature of her application, when she said she wished all her children placed in the asylum, for she wanted to go out to service.  After hearing other evidence, and the coroner summing up, the jury, in a few minutes, returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder against Ann Wilkes," alias Ann Green.