The Sun. — 1850-02-05 (London, England)

MURDER OF TWO CHILDREN BY THEIR MOTHER.  EXETER, MorsDAT.—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 wayFrom 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, Summerland-street. On eturday afternoon, Mrs. Curry, a friend of the family, which consisted of the prisoner, her' husband, and three children, called and took the children with her to her apartments in Castle-street. They were aged respectively about eight, six, and four years, the youngest being a boy, called James, and the two 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 Clooper, Fore-street, who livers 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 up, 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 to the spot. The child was still floating 110 held out his umbrella, and told the chili to catch hold of 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 ; but, upon the recommendation of Mr. Lyddon, 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 basin, 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 to be sold by her brother, whose name is Gandy, a letter-carrier in the Exeter Post-office. After the deeds were drawn some dispute had arisen, and proceedings were threatened. On the way to the station-house the prisoner frequently exclaimed against her brother, " Oh, my treacherous brother, and that wretch" (meaning her brother's wife). Yesterday she said the bailiffs 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 the superintendent of police, and it was decided to brought before the Exeter magistrates by Mr. Steele, hand it over to the magistrates of the county, as the bodies were found in the county. upon the deceased children. Me. F. Leigh, coroner, An inquest will be held this afternoon before