Weekly News. — 1891-04-30 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MOTHER SHOT BY HER MON.  On Monday morning a terrible murder was cme mitted at Boldre, near Lymington, a man named Elwes killing his mother by shooting her, and atee attempting to kill his sister. The place where the crime was committed is in & very secluded spot, the home being about 200 yards from the main rod between the village of Wootton and Lymingtee The house contains about ten rooms and stands in it; own grounds. It was rented about eight months age for occupation by an invalid gentleman, Mr. William' Elwes, formerly of Winchester, aged 74; his wife, Mrs. Sophia Agnes Elwes, aged 76; their unmarried son, Mr. John William Elwes, aged 41; and unmarried daughter, Miss Sophia Agnes Elwes, aged 38. Mr. Elwee, sen , is bedridden, and his son, eh° enjoyed a separate income, came to Boldre with the family, partially on account of the facilities which the I neighbourhood offered for geological research, making many visits to the celebrated Barton and Hordle Cliffs in search of fossils. The family were accompanied by a domestic servant, an ehlerly woman named Collins, who lived with them previously at Winchester. The son occasionally gave way to fits of temper, and at times behaved in a rather violent manner, quarrelling with his mother, but no dangerous symptoms appear to have manifested themselves until Monday morning, when Mrs. Elwes, her daughter and son were at break. fast in the dining room (the father being in bed). A quarrel arose over the breakfast table, and the son got into a violent temper, smashing some of the breakfast things and behaving in an otherwise unseemly manner. Miss Elwes remonstrated with him, aid, it is said, got up from the table, took a plate with soma meat and bread, &c., and left the room apparently with the intention of finishing her breakfast upstairs. /ler brother followed her, taking with him a revolver with which he had been in the habit of amueitig him. self in the neighbourhood of Boldre. When in the hall, he fired at her, and the shot took effect in the right shoulder. Mrs. Elwes, attracted by a scream, went into the hall, and hr son then turned upon her and fired three shots, all of which took effect in her, one in the throat having an immediately fatal effect. Mrs. Elwes fell on the front door mat and died almost immediately. Elwes then put the revolver down in the dining room, leaving two trndiseharged chambers, and sat down in an easy chair until the police arrived. In the meantime, the housemaid, hearing the disturbance, ran out of doors for assistance. A coach. men in the employ of Mr. Lambert, a neighbour, was despatched to Lymington (the Everton policemaa not being at home), and on his way called at the residence of Or. Chinery, who hurriedl with commendable promptitude to the scene of the murder, being the first to arrive there. Several police officials were soon on the spot, and received the revolver from Dr. Chinery, and took Elwes into custody on the chat-go of murdering his mother. The only reply which he made to the charge was, "I am guilty of the capital charge, and would sooner hang than be brought in insane." Super. intendent Fos.er arrived shortly afterwards, and directed the removal of the prisoner to Lymington. Elwes made no objection to being taken into custody, and willingly went with the police. Upon arrival at the Police Station at Lymington, be was formally charged by Superintendent Foster with the rnurclerof his mother, and in addition with the attempted murder of his sister. He repeated that he was guilty of the capital charge, and added, 'For God's sake, don't try to prove me insane."