Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1886-03-20 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MURDER BY A MADMAN.  A domestic tragedy of a moat painful and shocking character has occurred at Quudon, a picturesque village three miles from Derby. The facts me as follows : William Wagstaffe, a farm labourer in the employ of a Mr. Kidger, has for some time past had a , son at home suffering from brain fever, and has sat up at nights with the youth. The worry and fatigue consequent upon these vigils would arena to have affected his mind. His cousin, Mary Ann Morrell, a married woman whose home is in Derby, was sent for to assist in attending the son. In the evening, after the usual family prayers, Wagstaff° (who seemed to be in his customary health and spirits), his wife, and five children retired to rest in one large room, the youngest, an infant, occupying the same bed as the parents. Mrs. Morrell and an elder daughter, Lizzie, aged 20, sat up to nurse the invalid. About two o'clock in the morning Wagstaffe got up and went into the sick-room. The young man was then raving, and his father asked him to be quiet like a good lad, and not to disturb his mother. Wagstaffe then sought his own bed. About half-past four Mrs. Wagstaffe was rudely awakened by her husband striking her violently and seemingly attempting to force her out of bed. Snatching up the child, she jumped out of bed and can into the next room, crying, "Poe God's sake let somebody come to father! He's going crazy." Mrs Morrell attempted to quieten her, and went into the room to Wagstaffe, who was sitting up in bed with his hands clenched, nods frenziedlook in his eyes. Seized with terror, the woman rushed back to the sick-room, and Wagstaffe followed. Dashing past the three affrighted women, the madman sprang like a cat on his son, and, kneeling on his chest, attempted to strangle him. Mrs. Wagstaffe and her daughter ran downstairs, but Mrs. Morrell stayed and endeavoured to pull the man away front his son and off the bed. The last thing Lizzie Wagstaffe saw was her father turning from her brother and seizing Mrs. Morrell by the throat. The son was quite conscious, and cognisant of much of what subsequently transpired. Mrs. Wagstaffe and her daughter hearing cries of "Murder!" from above stairs, called a neighbour named Shipley, who, in the urgency of the case, came to the house in his shirt. He endeavoured to force the door of the room, but failing, went out for further assistance. When he returned with two other men, named Cooper and Payne, he found that the son had come downstairs and was lying unconscious on the floor. Going upstairs, a horrible sight met their view. Mrs. Morrell was lying dead, and most terrible injuries were at once apparent. Wagstaffe appears to have broken a leg from a chair, and to have battered the poor woman's head with it. In his fearful frenzy, too, he seems to have seized her by the jaws and tore open her mouth, the right jawbone being broken. Other injuries lead to the surmise that he threw her to the ground and placed his foot on her throat, and it is thought that death actually occurred from suffocation by this means. When taken into custody by Police-constable Allen, Wagstaffe coolly remarked," You were here to find snares [alluding to some snares his son had net in the garden], but why weren't you here to prevent me doing this ? " The prisoner was taken to Derby in a cab, and there brought before Mr. Schwind, J.P., at the County Police-office. After his arrest he developed further symptoms of derangement, but afteswards became more calm. The magistrate remanded him. The son, it may be added, lies in a very precarious condition, owing to the rough treatment he received in his weak state, and fears are entertained as to his recovery. Naturally the tragedy has caused much local excitement.