Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1880-03-06 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

ATTEMPPED MURDER BY' A MADMAN.  A miner, named James Cowans, is in custody at Castle Eden Police Station, on a charge of attempting to murder his wife and four children, at an early hour on Sunday morning last. Cowans is a middle-aged man, and has resided in Haswell about nine years, having come there from Raton shortly after his marriage, and five years ago, whilst labouring under a lit of insanity, he cut his throat so badly that his life was for a considerable time despaired of. He has now a family of four children, the eldest of whom, a girl, is about eight yeara of age, and the youngest, a boy, is about two, the intermediate children being a boy and a girl, aged six and four years respectively. On Saturday night Cowans appeared cheerful and all right when he retired to rest at ten o'clock and his wife was awoke by his getting out of bed about four o'clock on Sunday morning. In answer to her inquiry, he said he had got up to make the fire on, and after lighing the micks and matches he got into bed again. He, however, immediately afterwards commenced to toss his arms and legs about, amid said. "It's all over and Mrs Cowahs, becoming alarmed at his movements, got up and lighted the lamp, after which she returned to bed. On his repeating the exclamation, she asked him "What's all over," when he replied, " I am tired of my life, every body's grumbling at me." She reproached him for such thoughts, and reminded hint of his Young children, on which he appeared to grow calmer. Suddenly he exclaimed, "Lord have mercy on my soul," and Mrs Co ;vans had just time enough to see that he wai armed with a rolling pin, about the thickuess of a man's wrist, which lie had evidently secreted beneath his clothes when he was lighting the tire, and had fetched to bed with him, before he dealt her a terrific blow over the mouth with it. He repeated hir. blows as he scrambled out of bed, belabouring his wife about the head. She succeeded, however, in reaching the door after a terrific struggle and the man looked as if about to overpower her, when the cries of the children in a back room attracted his attention, and he allowed the poor worn in to escape from the !louse. She ran and apprised the neighbours, one of whom brought Sergeant Appleton, who was followed to the house by P.C. Dobson. On the arrival of Sergeant Appleton he at once entered the house and saw Cowans in the act of attempting to escape by the back door. Appleton at once rushed upon the man, who, taken by surprise offered no resistance, and merely remarked that he was tired of his life. It was then found that the mad fellow had attacked the four children with the rolling-pin after his wife escaped from the house, and they were all very severely hurt about the head; the eldest boy, whom he had struck three times, having one eye much injured, his nose broken. aud other injuries. It was also found that Cowans had inflicted considerable injuries upon himself by apparently pushing his head into the fire. Dr Fothergill was speedily in attendance, and was for some hours engaged in dressing their injuries, which he pronounced to be severe on ad hands, but not dangerous. Cowans removed to Castle Eden, and Mrs Cowans had so far recoverd on Monday as to be able to give an account of what occurred to Supt. Scott. Cowans was on Monday brought before the Castle Eden magistrates, and formally remanded on a charge of attempted murder.