Glasgow Courier. — 1850-02-09 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

TWO CHILDREN ET- THEIR MOTHER EXETER, Moamtx.—Yesterday morning public attention and horror was excited by the rumour that a woman had murdered two of her children by throwing them into the canal, and had attempted the life of a third in the same way. From inquiries instituted this morning we have obtained the following information relative to the sad affair :—The prisoner, Elizabeth Bradford, is the wife of a carpenter and joiner, living in Wood's Court, Sumrnerland Street. On Saturday afternoon Mrs. Curry, a friend of the family, which consisted of the priaoner, her h usband, and three children, called and took the children with her to her apartments in Castle Street. They were aged respectively abont eight, six, and four years, the youngest being a boy, called James, and thelwo elder ones the deceased, named Elizabeth and Harriett. Between six and seven in the evening the prisoner came and took them away. She did not remain more than a minute or two, but Mrs. Curry observed that she looked very agitated, and therefore offered to accompany her home. Mrs. Bradford refused, saying, "I know you are very poorly and you shan't come with me." A few minutes before eight a person named Edmund Palmer, an assistant to Mr. George Cooper' Fore Street, who lives on the Haven Banks, was returning home from his work, and when he had arrived at the first drawbridge on the canal he heard a splash in the water. He proceeded on to the drawbridge and then heard the cry of a child. He called out for assistance, and a woman came op, apparently from the bank, which, is lower than the bridge, and said, " That is My dear child—my poor Jemmy." Palmer obtained a light from a neighbouring houSe, and returned tothe spot. The child was still floating. He held out his umbrella, and told the child to catch hold of it, which the little fellow did, and was thereby saved. Mr. Lyddon, a surgeon, attended upon him, and he soon recovered. The mother was taken into custody on the spot; hut, upon the recommendation of Mr. Lydrion, she was taken home. It was not then known that she had three children with her; but as soon as the police ascertained that the two girls were missing, they proceeded early yesterday morning to drag the river and canal. Inspector Stuckes discovered the body of the youngest girl floating very near the drawbridge on the canal side, and the body of the other was found in the basis, or wet dock, so that it seems probable the eldest girl was pushed or fell into the water at a different spot. It is said that the poor woman had been in a great deal of trouble. The house in Wood's Court had been left to her by her father, and she came with her husband from London a short time ago; but since their residence in Exeter he had little or no work, in consequence of which they had suffered great privations. The house was agreed tube sold by her brother, whose name is Gandy, a letter-carrier in the Exeter Post-office. After the deeds were drawn 00E08 dispute had arisen, and proceedings were threatened. On the way to the station-house the prisoner frequently exclaimed against her brother, i Oh, my treacherous brother and that wretch" (meaning her brother's wife). Yesterday she said . the bailds were coming to take all her things, and it was owing to distress that she did it. There seems little doubt of her being quite insane, and the precaution of keeping a female turnkey always with her has been very properly adopted. At eleven o'clock this morning this case was brought before the Exeter magistrates by Mr. Steele, the superintendent of police, and it was decided to hand it over to the magistrates of the county', as the bodies were found in the county. An inquest will be held this afternoon before Mr. F. Leigh, coroner, upon the deceased children.