The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-07-05 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MURDER BY A PUBLICAN.  A dreadful domestic crime has been committed in the East-end of London by the landlord of the Bancroft Arms, situate in a bye-thoroughfare adjoining the Mile End-road. Mr. R. Barrel! lived there with his wife and four children, three young boys and a daughter of 17. On Monday night his manner was noticed to be very strange; his looks were downcast, and his conversation bordered on the melancholy. After he had retired to rest with his wife, a policeconstable aroused him at a late hour and told him that a window leading to the tap-room was open. Mr. Harrell, who had a horror of burglars, went downstairs at the constable's bidding, and securely fastened thepremises. This occurrence is supposed to have so worried him that his mind, already weakened by failing health, completely gave way. He securely locked the door of his bedroom, took a revolver from a chest of drawers, and shot his wife through the right eye as she lay asleep on the bed. The murderer then shot himself while in an upright position, and fell prostrate on the floor, close to the bedstead. The bullet, by a singular coincidence, entered his right eye. His four children, who slept in an adjoining room, heard nothing of till occurrence, though they were aroused from their sleep by the bark of a dog at the time the crime was supposed to have been committed. The' only daughter, who was serving at the bar of her father's house next day, stated that her parents were devotedly attached to herself and her brothers. " I'm sure father's mind must have been unhinged, or he would never have done such a thing,' said the daughter, who added, "It can't be through drink, for he has been a teetotaler for a long time past. He drank nothing but lemonade." The deceased man was about 42 years of age.  METROPOLITAN BOARD SCANDAL The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the proceedings of the Metropolitan Board of Works sat again on Tuesday at Westminster, Lord Herschel! presiding. The first witness called was Mr. Charles Minch, architect, who said he had seen Mr. Goddard on the part of Mr. Verity, in consequence of the latter having received a very strange letter from Mr. Goddard. He did not make any arrangements for Goddard to go away. He had acted for clam- ants against the Board, but had had no pecuniary transactions with Goddard or Robertson, and had never paid either of them any money.—Mr. Spiers, of the firm of Spiers and Pond, stated that he was chairman of the Criterion Theatre Company, he and his partner, Mr. Pond, having formerly been proprietors of the establishment. The building was opened in 1873, and in May, 1.577, notices were served on him by the Board of Works to the effect that the place was unfit for a theatre. Mr. Haines, witness's agent, had a free hand, and was to spend what he liked. Questioned with respect to the site of the Cock Tavern, Fleetstreet, witness said that £4:50 Was paid Mr. Saunders, but this was done through Mr. Verity, and the witness knew nothing about it. The Cock Tavern was in the City of London, and Alderman Saunders was a member of the City Corporation, as well as of the Commission of Sewers. The cost of the alterations and the loss of rental during the time the theatre was closed amounted in the aggregate to £1i1„527 lie. Mr. Saunders ass appointed joint architect of the Cock Tavern about the time when the qnestion of the Criterion Theatre was pending. Mr. Verity was paid £1,300 by the witness's firm, and Mr. Saunders received from Verity the cheque for £4so.—Mr. Ellis, insmager to Mesmrs. Spiers and Pond, said Mr. Haines, their agent, paid Mr. Lancaster, a clerk in the office of the Board, the sum of 4:10 for his " politeness " in connection with the passing of the plans of the Criterion Theatre.— After further evidence the inquiry was adjourned.