The Northern Guardian. — 1893-03-03 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

ATTEMPTED WIFE MURDER.  THE HUSBAND TURNS THE WEAPON UPON HIMSELF.  Last night, a sensational tragedy was enacted in West Hartlepool. Shortly before ten o'clock a report gained currency that Mr Frederick Daughtry, organist of Christ Church, West Hartlepool, had committed suicide, after having attempted to murder his wife and two other , 113mbers of the household. Mr Daughtry, at the time of the terrible tragedy, was living at Heathcote House, York Road, he having come to the town about 18 months ago from Sleaford, in Lincolnshire. Shortly after nine o'clock, Mr A. Hyde and Mr Joseph Wheelwright were passing the house, when their attention was arrested by revolver shots, proceeding from the basement of the premises, and by loud screams from a young woman near. They hastened down the area steps into the kitchen and met with a shocking sight, Mr Daughtry being laid propped up against the scullery door in a large pool of blood, and to all appearance quite dead. A revolver was lying at his side. Mrs Daughtry and her sister, Miss Jackson, were found imprisoned in the scullery, and could only be released by the removal of the body. Mrs Daughtry, who was terribly agitated, was bleeding profusely from the wrist. Dr. Dickenson, assistant to Dr. Davis, who was passing, was summoned, and on arrival pronounced Mr Daughtry to be dead, he having apparently shot himself by placing the revolver in his mouth. Mrs Daughtry states her husband left home rather early in the morning for the purpose of catching a train, saying that he would not come back. 11e, however, returned at about nine o'clock at night apparently under the influence of liquor. He then began to make some rambling statements, and said he would shoot them all. He put his hand into his pocket and drew out a revolver. Mrs Daughtry seized him by the arm, and Miss Jackson also attempted to prevent him from using the weapon. A terrific struggle ensued, the unfortunate man firing wildly as he chased them round the apartment. Mrs Daughtry received one of the bullets in the wrist, and Miss Jackson miraculously escaped with her life by falling down as he fired point blank at her. The domestic, Jane McManus, against whom he appeared to be much incensed, ran out into the street and fell fainting into the arms of a passer-by. Having escaped from the infuriated man, Mrs Daughtry and Miss Jackson shut themselves in the scullery, and the next moment they heard another shot fired and Mr. Daughtry fall heavily against the door, where he was found by Mr Hysle and Mr Wheelwright, as already mentioned. Dr. Moss, assistant to Dr. Bertie Morison, coming upon the scene, attended to Mrs Daughtry, whose injury fortunately was not of a very severe nature, , the bullet having passed through the fleshy portion of her wrist. Under the direction of Dr. Moss and , Sergeant Cruickshanks, the body was removed to an upper room, and laid upon the table. The deceased gentleman, who was well known in thel town and much respected, was 32 years of age, and leaves four children, the eldest of whom is aged six. As might be supposed, when the news of the dreadful tragedy spread a great crowd assembled outside Heathcote House, the services of several 1 policemen being required to keep the apploaches to the house clear.