The Poole Telegram. — 1882-05-19 (Poole, Dorset, England)

TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A shocking occurrence took place on Fri lay in the west end of If nutueramith, in which three children were murdered by their mother, who also inflicted severe injuries upon herself, from the effects of which she died in the West London Hoepit al a few hours af terwar is. The names of the victims are Ellen Gardener, aged four years; Robert Gsrdener, aged two years; and John Gardener, aged three months. They were the children of ilobert Gardener, a gardener, who lived with his wife Elite, oceupyiug four moms over a getaway at 3, Theresa-mews, West-end, Hammersmith. Tee murdered children were discovered by the father en returning home to dinner, shortly after one o'clock. Ho was first met in the mews by another boy, who rooked him if he had seen his methane, 1119 she was not at home. As soon ache got upstairs he 11f4W the clothes of Robert lying one table in the front room. He called "Elea" several times and got no answer. He looked through the keyhole of the door of the back to en, which wins locked on the inside, and saw his wife raise herself up by means of the cot, unlock the door in a staggering condition, and fall on the bed, where she was afterwards found lying between two of her dead cloeldren. The husband went into the room and eat horrified at the sight before him. Two of the childi en were lying across the bed with the mother, their throats being cut in a fearful manner. The children V 1 ere all undressed, and the baby was lying with its throat cut in bed. The husband immediately eeut in search of a doctor, and on the way met Sergt. Willaher, and t uld him that his wife had murdered her children. The sergeant procured the assistance of a constable, woo went with him to the place and found a carving knife, much worn, covered as ith blood. Another knife was found in the bed, also a bottle containing a liquid. The sergeant, with the assistance of Inspector Welsh, coevoyed the mother to the hospital, where she died about four o'clock in the afternoon. At present the bodies of the children remain in the room unending the gathering of the particulars by In p nctor Walters, of the I division, for the informat on of the coroner. No cause can be assigned for the shocking occurrence. According to the information Riven by the husband he lived most happily with his wife, to whom he had been married about twelve years. He left home at nine o'clock in the morning to go to work, and his wife was then in her usual health. She was also seen by a neighbour half an hour afterwards, at which time she spike to her. This appeared to be the last time she was seen before the dreadful occurrence. The deceased woman was 35 years of age, and the neighbours speak very highly of lee.. Oni Menday afternoon Dr. Diplock held an inquest at Hammersmith. London, on the bodies of Eliza Gardner, 35, and her three children, aged four years, two yenta, and thiee months respectively, all of whom were found with their throats cut, in Beaver-street. Hammersmith, last Friday. The woman's husband deposed that on returning home to dinner he found the door of a hack le.drotm locked. On attempting to force an entrance, his wife unlocked the door and then fell back dying on the bed, where the children lay dead. The jury found thee the woman, whilet temporarily insane, killed her children and coin• mitted suicide.