The Northern Daily Times. — 1857-04-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

FURTHER PARTICULXRS.  In our second edition of yesterday, there appeared the above brief account of as fearful a murder, or rather double murder (if an insane man is capable of being amenable for the crime), as it has been cur lot, unfortunately, to record. Wiihout stopping to enquire into the causes that led to this desperate deed—a father slaying his own children--or the state of mind in which the wretched man was at the time he perpetrated the horrible crime, the only thing that remains for us is to narrate the facts so far as they have transpired. Heretofore there was nothing to lead any one, who knew the unfortunate man, to the conclusion that his mind was more depressed than would naturally follow a depression in his trade, but it would appear, from a certificate given by a surgeon, that at present, and at the time when he deprived his offspring of life, that he was decidedly insane, but that his mental health is capable of being restored. His name is John Gibbons, and he is by trade a butcher. He kept a stall in St. John's Market. He is apparently about 47 years of age, of low stature, but well built, and stout in physical proportions. It seems that for some time past business did not go on to his liking, although it is said he was a steady and attentive man, and his son says he has been a teetotaller for twenty five years. He tried to make some arrangement with his creditors, but if the story told be true, it would appear the parties refused all overtures for an arrangement. This had c-oisiderable effect on his mind, and it would seem that for the last three or four mnths he remained at home, whether under a dread of personal arrest, or not--but so it was at all events—and his wife managed whatever business was carried during that time. The means of the family, as stated, were net in a flourishing condition, and they took a house in No. 4, Court, Bolton street, Copperas hill, where they resided for some time, and as the whole number, seven in number, slept in one bed, it may be concluded that their circumstances were poor indeed. There does not seem to have been any quarrel amongst the family, nor anything that would lead to a wild burst of fury on the part of the wretched man, as up to half past eight yesterd iy morning, the usual routine of the family was carried on. The children then consisted of John, ten years old ; Margaret, seven ; Joseph (dead), four ; Thomas, eighteen mouths ; and another. The whole were in bed at eight, and shortly after that hour, the prisoner and his wife got up. She was preparing the breakfast, and had some tea things in her hand in the lobby, when the unfortunate man came up to her, and said, " Mary, wait till I kiss you," and whilst in the act he drew a knife or razor (not known which) across her throat, inflicting a desperate wound on her neck. She dropped the things from her hand, and this was the first alarm that was raised. She rushed into the street calling for help, but in the mean time the desperate maniac proceeded to the bed where his children lay, and commenced literally to slaughter them. He cut the head nearly off the bay Joseph, four years of age, and of course death followed immediately. He then prcceeded to the youngest child Thomas, and cut its throat, it is feared fatally, and last of all he got the girl Margaret, between two chairs, and cut her throat also. The boy John, ten years' of age, got out and called murder, and the neighbours, with a couple of police officers coming up, seized on the prisoner. De. Hodson, of Islington, and Dr. Bickerton, were in prompt attendance, and dressed and stitched up the wounds of the wife and living children, and had them conveyed at once to the Royal Infirmary, where the utmost care and attention has been bestowed on hem.  THE PRISONER AT THE PoLICE