The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1894-02-10 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

COUPLE WERE NOT HAPPY. He was reserved and morose, and they had lived apart. Last Easter they were reconciled. Bestow took the house in Butler-street, where they have since lived. The children included the murdered daughter, Alice, about fifteen ; Tom, seven ; and Janie, nine. They lived while their parents were divided with their grandmother, but the family were reunited. Bestow was employed by Messrs. W. Brearley and Sons, stuff manufacturers, Prospect Mills, Tong-street. Some time ago he lost his work, but was employed by an electrical firm in Bradford. He broke a lot of glasses, and had to work for nine weeks without wages to make up the damage. At the end of that time—three weeks ago—he was dismissed, and has been out of work. His wife, amiable and industrious, did a little washing, The eldest daughter was a weaver at Messrs. Brearley and Sons' mill until the day preceding the murder, and earned from eight to ten shillings a week. The family were in straitened circumstances. Discord again broke out, but the cause is not known, On Wednesday the NEIGHBOURS HEARD A QUARREL during the night. Information was given to the landlord, Mr. Charles Ratcliffe, who lives two doors distant. Bestow owed money for rent. On Monday bailiffs entered the nicely-furnished house, took part of the contents, and little furniture was left the family. Mrs. Bestow then declined washing, having no proper utensils. She determined to leave her husband, and, with her children, reside with her mother at Drighlington. On Tuesday the daughter Alice told a rehow-worker at the mill she was going to leave, but did not like to ask for her wages. She asked for an advance of money, to be repaid out of the amount due to her. The woman told the master, who paid Bestows daughter the amount she had earned-4s, 9d. The family RETIRED TO REST AS USUAL on Tuesday night Between two and three on Wednesday morning a neighbour, Mrs. Brearley, heard a noise in the house as of a quarrel, and one of the children cried "Ma," but no sespicion of a ! tragedy occurred until Wednesday forenoon. The blinds were not drawn up, and a coal hawker found 'the door fast. Mrs. Brearley told the landlord she was sure something was wrong, informed him she had heard the little boy crying for his mother, and none lied come out of the house. The landlord harnessed his pony and trap, and drove to the !grandmother's house at Drigblington. The old I Woman. was ',truck with foreboding when she saw him, and exclaimed, "WHAT Is IT; LET ME KNOW THE WORST?" Mr. Ratcliffe said that he could not give her any information. The blinds at the house bad not been drawn up, and it was thought they had gone to Drightington. Mr. liatcliffe returned to Dudley Hill, and called on Sergeant Simpson. of the West Riding Force, who lives in Butler-street, near the house, and informed him. This was about ball-past three. Sergeant Simpson went to the house. Finding the door fast, he mounted a chair, Looked through the fanlight, and SAW a body behind the door in a nightdress. The body was that of Mrs. Bast3w. He broke the cellar window, and he and Police-constable Chesterton entered through the opening. The officers went up the cellar steps into the living-room. The house includes a cellar, living-room above, and two bedrooms.