The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1880-10-09 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE EPIDEMIC OF MURDERS.  A few days ago the country seemod to suffer from an epidemic of murders. At Bolton, on Saturday, a cabinetmaker named Shelly was charged with having attempted to kill his wife. The pair had not lived happily, and a few weeks ago separated. On Thursday they met and he questioned her as to where she had been lodging. They had both been drinking. Not receiving satisfactory replies to his queries, he threatened to "stick" her, and, as they were walking together, he pulled out a knife and stabbed her under the breast, Fortunately, she had thick stays on, and the wound did not prove fatal. On being apprehended the accused is alleged to have callously observed "is she badly stabbed? If she is not she ought to be for leaving me and the children." He has been committed to take his trial at the Manchester Assizes. A still more brutal crime is stated to have been committed at Lancaster on Sunday, Two men, named respectively Statham and Arnold, having been drinking, had some words about the condition of a shirt collar, the controversy having arisen between the mother of Statham and Arnold. It was suggested that Statham was "the man to pat Arnold out of the house." On hearing this, Arnold at once seized a coal-pick and dealt Statham a terrible blow on the head, using, it is averred, all the force that he possibly could. Statham reeled and fell, insensible, to the floor, but, though blood was streaming from his head, Statham continued to beat him until he was taken away. The latter has since died, and his assailant has been committed to take his trial on the charge of wilful murder. Port Glasgow, also, was, on Sunday, the scene of an appalling tragedy. A labourer, named John Bradley, is accused of having then taken the life of his wife. The poor woman's body was fearfully mutilated, her head, arms, and side bearing ugly wounds, apparently the results of kicks from heavily-booted feet. Then, on Saturday night, Hadfield, near Glossop, in Derbyshire, witnessed a frightful deed, or, rather, it would be more.,orrect to say, deeds. The actors in the grim drama were a man and his wife, named Robinson. They had been married but 12 months. Yet they did not live happily together, she being of dissolute habits and hejealous of her. They had been drinking together and quarrelled about their tea. Mrs. Robinson made a remark to the effect that she "would stand it no longer," and got up to leave the house. This proceeding so exasperated her frenzied husband that, snatching a knife, he made a savage attack on her. He succeeded in completely severing her jugular vein, and death ensued, despite the efforts of a number of doctors. After committing the murder the distraught man went to his father's at Mottram Moor, and there hacked at his own windpipe in such a manner that he is not likely to recover. He is only 20 years of age, and the woman was 12 years his senior, so they would seem to have been a peculiarly ill-assorted couple. To the list of ghastly horrors which we have enumerated must be added two other shocking occurrences. Near Sligo a man named Farrell has been found dead with his head fractured. The object of this diabolical outrage is supposed to have been murder, and an individual named Moffat is in custody charged with the offence. Lastly, the other day, a person named Murphy was, while returning from the Kilkenny races, so ferociously assaulted that he has since succumbed to his injuries. What demon has taken possession of the British people?