The Sun. — 1861-08-10 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT TA MURDER A FATHER.  A frightful attempt at parricide formed tire subject of magisterial investigation at Great G,eimsby, Lincolnshire, on Thursday last. It appeared from' the evidence that a young man, about 28, a shoemaker, named Benjamin Betts, living with his father, received J someohn B religiouse t ts, the "impression"sexton of the a t he parish, having a baptistneus of chapel on Sunday, laboured under a highly nervous state of excitement, betraying evident symptoms a deranged mind, but from which his familydid not apprehend any serious results. However, on Friday night, he told his father that he would not sleep in the same chamber with Hollingshead, a lodger, for he was a "fiend," but would sleep with him, to which the father assented, and about eleven he retired to his father's chamber, leaving the latter up reading, At one o'clock the son came down stairs to his father, who was still sitting up, and said he was hungary. After eating something both went to bed, the son taking with him two of his shoemaker's knives. The father, not fearing any danger to himself, did not offer to take them away. Both then undressed, and got into bed. The son did not betray any ill-feeling towards his father, or say anything to lead to a suspicion of his inten tion. After lying a short time, the son got out of into bed, locked the chamber door, and returned to bed. He afterwards got out twice, and gettingont arweesatkaobe'lloinhckge quiteupo upon atrhke, theold fatherula, a n being e. i nbegang both bed the last time, which was about him with one of the knives. saenidzed fell closed struggle isntrugghleichwas eanusduetdh,e' out of bed, continued on the floor,. the son making his stabs at random. The father, at last, getting the uppermost, obtained a mastery by seizing his son s arm and wrenching the knife out of his hand. Both then got up and sat on the bed. The old man .. opened the chamber door as soon as possible, and ran down stairs to a neighbour's house, John Mumby's, for assistance. There being no light in Bett's house, Mumby obtained one from his own, when a fearful spectacle presented itself, the house being like a slaughterhouse and the old man being literally covered with blood, which was running down from several severe wounds in his side and legs. Seeing that he was beginning to faint from loss of blood, Mr. Mumby asked forsome brandy, which the son (who had come down stairs) got, and gave to his father, showing every anxiety to render him assistance. There being a frightful cut in. the thigh, from which the blood was flowing rather fist, Mr. Mumby took off his garter and tied it tightly above the wound, which stopped the hemorrhage. Mr. Cupiss, surgeon, was then sent for, who shortly arrived and dressed the wound. On examination he found several stabs in the side, which, taking an oblique direction along the ribs, were fortunately not of a dangerous character, also several stabs in the thighs and legs. Th,e andol old man lost a great quantity of blood, and is, in a very weak condition, hut is now progressing favourably. The son, whilst attending to his father,, let the devil out of him, and if he hadl) said he had .ot done so he would have gone to hell; but if he hr ,d only killed that " fiend," pointing to the cat, he w(Juld have been.. saved. Mr. Mumbv took him into the road, and walked about to calm him until the arrival of two policemen, into whose custody he was given. On being locked up he Commenced whLitling and singing hymns. He was remanded.