The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-08-15 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MURDER OF A FAMILY.  A tragedy of a most terrible character was en.icted early on Sunday morning at the quirt little Not nighamshire town of Mansfield, on the borders of Sherwood Forest. Police-inspector Hopkinson was aroused at the police-station by a man carrying a child, and owing to the statement made by the man, who was placed temporarily under arrest, the inspector hurried to a cottage near, which he found in names. On getting into the house the body of the occupier, Mrs. Reynolds, who was 48 years of age, was found shockingly mutilated. In the back bedroom were the bodies of her two sons, William Henry and Charles Reynolds, whose throats had also been cut, and in another room a little grandchild was also found murdered. From the top bedroom a man, named Geolge Reynolds, aged 25, was rescued by means of a lauder. He states that he was awakened by the smoke, and, ru-hing to the door, found it had been fastened with a rope. A lodger, named Wright, who shared his room, had not been to bed on Saturday night. Wright, who has injuries to his throat, was taken to the workhouse infirmary in charge of policemen.  Mr. E. Williams, the deputy-coroner, on Monday opened the inquest, at the Mansfield Police-court, on the bodies of the four persons who,it is supposed, were murdered by a man named Henry Wright The deputy coroner briefly stated that the man Wright was a lodger with Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Reynolds, who lived with her sons, William Henry and Charles Reynolds, and her grandson, William Peck, aged 31, years, all of whom were now dead. There were also in the house another grandson and • stepson, George Reynolds: The man Wright was the first to call the attention of the police to the crime, to whom he stated that lie had murdered , Mrs. Reynolds and some of her family. A police inspector proceeded to the house and found it on fire, and Mrs. Reynolds and three others were found to have been murdered.—George Reynolds, stepson of the deceased Mrs. Reynolds, gave evidence to the effect that Wright always got drink when he had money hi his possession. He saw Wright at about e o'clock on Saturday night. About five or six months ago his step-mother had complained of Wnglit's having tried to force himself into her bedroom. Many times she had requested Wright to leave, but 11, had always stayed on. Ile had never known Wright to use threats towards his stepmother. Vi right was not on friendly terms with the two youths, and he had had quarrels with them; he also shewed great spite against another lad, the youngest, who was living away at the time of the murder. Witness went to bed on Saturday night, but it was not long, h. thought, before he awoke and found his room full of smoke. He found the door fastened securely Irom the outside, so he opened the window and called for help, and %ere rescued by means of a ladder. All the four bodies having been formally blantified, the inquiry was adjourned.  During the thunderstorm on Saturday night William Ford, an agricultural labourer, was killed by lightning at Alfriston, near Eastbourne. e was returning home with his wife, the two being arm in arm, and, as they passed over the brow of the hill, a vivid flash of lightning struck Ford on the head, killing him instantly. The wife was also knocked down by th• ,;hock, but subsequently recovered sufficiently ti ~emmon assistance.  Papa: "Young man, you want to marry my 'laughter, and yet will not give ine a list of your friends for reference." Dunstan: "Nut much. They were all after the same girl."  "You say she tried to stop the us by whistling at it. Did she make a success of it ?" "Yes, in a way. It wasn't her whistling that stopped the 'bus, though; it was the face she made." Mrs. Chatterbox: "Did you ever make any errors In speech?" Mrs. Wordsworth: "Yes; I made one • few years ago." Mrs. Chatterbox: "What was It?" Mrs. Wordsworth: ",i said ' Yes '!"