The Potteries Examiner : — 1872-01-20 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

SHOCKING MURDER OF A W.L.KE Y A BURSLEM MAN. _ _ . . .  The Boston —Guardian of Wednesday, in introducing its report of the inquest, says:—" One of the most horrible and tragic events in the annals of our Borough took place on Monday afternoon last, which has evolved an amount of misery and self-imposed degredation painful to contemplate. A young man named William Fred. Horry, shot his wife dead with a revolver in his father's house. Accused is the son of parents moving in a respectable sphere of life, and highly esteemed by all who know them." The leading features of the case are these The deceased had, it appears, for some months past, lived apart from her husband, residing with his friends in Boston. On Sunday evening last he came to Boston from Nottingham. Nothing unusual was observed in his manner. On Monday morning his father left home on business; in the afternoon young Horry (it is said) called his wife to him in the , 'passage, and after some conversation asked her ' to live with him again. She, it is said, refused; upon which he exclaimed. "Then I'll shoot you," and drew a revolver from his pocket and fired at her. The unfortunate woman made an attempt to escape, but fell dead in the doorway of an adjoining room. His mother and the servant maid—the only parties in the house at the time—were attracted to the spot by the report of fire-arms, and on becoming aware of what had occurred, immediately called the assistance of the men employed on the premises. Dr. Arthur Tuxford was immediately summoned, but all human aid was of no avail. On examining the body, it was found that the ball had entered just below the left shoulder-blade and lodged in the, interior of the chest-piercing the left lung: and heart; death, therefore, must have been instantaneous. Prisoner never made the slightest attempt to escape,—on the contrary, when assistance arrived, he himself directed a man to go for a cab and the police, and awaited their arrival in his father's office. On searching him, after his arrest, four chambers of his revolver were found still loaded.  The event took place about three o'clock in the afternoon, and shortly afterwards began to gain currency in the town; the first intelligence created the greatest consternation in our usually quiet borough; the people, halfstartled, assembled in the streets in little groups, and were some time before they could realise the full extent of the fearful deed that had been committed. In the course of an hour (about 4 o'clock), the prisoner was brought to the police station in a cab in the custody of Supt. Waghorn and Sergt. Glover, which fully confirmed all that had been previously reported. Such are the particulars of this fearful act, so far as can be gathered with anything like authenticity, in the absene 3 of any official enquiry having taken place; there are many rumours abroad, but the following will be found an authentic and full report of the evidence adduced before the coroner at the inquest, and contains the fullest particulars of the shocking occurrence. The prisoner was formally brought up and charged before the Borough Bench yesterday (Tuesday) morning. He maintained a cool, indifferent demeanour, apparently taking no notice of any one, and only raised his eyes to the Bench on being informed by the Chairman that he stood remanded till Thursday.