The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1869-07-30 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

FANNY MUER. "Come to see me."  SHOCKING MIrIMER OF A GIRL  On Monday morning, much excitement was cruised amongst the inhabitants of Leadgate, Durham, by the report of a murder having been committed by a man named Joseph Whitfield, the victim of his terrible deed being one of his own children, a little girl only seven years of age, named Ann Whitfield. Whitfield was well-known in the locality, steady, and bore a good character. He lived with his wife and three children, two girls and a boy, in Pont terrace, which contains some half-dozen houses. They occupied a dwelling of two rooms, the kitchen being on the ground floor, and a bedroom above, in which they all slept. The boy Wm. Whitfield, 11 years of age, works at the screens at East Castle Colliery, Leadgate, and on slonday morning about half.past five o'clock Whitfield and his wife got up to see the boy away to his employment, when he was gone, Whitfield said he was going to bed again, and his wife shortly afterwards went to wash at the house of a neighbour, named Matthew Willey. She left the two girls, Jane, aged nine years, and Ann, aged seven years, asleep in bed. About half past six o'clock, whilst she was engaged in wringing some clothes out, she heard her eldest daughter Jane shouting for her, and rapping at the kitchen window, and she immediately proceeded to ascertain the cause of the child's alarm. Mrs. Whitfield had locked the door and taken the key with her, therefore the child was unable to get out; but had succeeded in attracting the attention of its mother in the manner stated. The poor woman was horrified to learn that her husband had sent the child to tell what he had done. She rushed up stairs, and found him beside the bed, holding the youngest girl in his arms, and its throat cut. The moment he saw his wife he exclaimed, "I have done the deed," and she remarked, "0, Whitfield, how could ' you do that f" to which he replied, "I wanted her to go to heaven. I could not do without her." The shrieks of the distressed woman brought in the neighbours, and Dr. Renton was sent for, but that gentleman on his arrival found that his services were of no avail, for life was extinct. Police-constable Firn, stationed at Leadgate, was also informed of the shocking occurrence, and proceeded to the house and took Whit. field into custody. The injuries were inflicted with a razor, which Whitfield had got possession of unknown to his wife and concealed it until she left the house. He had then 'perpetrated the terrible tragedy whilst the child was lying asleep, and immediately afterwards had awakened its sister to be the bearer of the heart-rending tidings to their mother. The prisoner is about 47 years of age, and belongs to Roughside near Blanchard. Formerly he had worked in the Derwent Lead Mines, and two years ago last May he came to Leadgate, where he worked in the pit as a hewer up to January in the present year, when he become unable to follow his occupation, and has since been in the receipt of parish relief, his wife assisting to support the family by going out to wash and clean. He frequently complained of his breathing, and was very weak. Seven or eight days ago he showed signs of being affected in his mind.—Newcastle Chronicle.