The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1874-04-11 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN LONDON.  A sad case of homicidal mania in a woman occurred on Saturday morning at Hoxton, resulting in the murder of her daughter, a little girl, the wounding of her husband, and an attempt of the murderess to commit suicide. The woman's name is Newman. She is forty two years of age, the wife of a respectable shoemaker, carrying on business at 43, Brunswick. place, and the mother of a large family. Her mind appears to have become affected by grief at the loss of her children, of whom the fifth, an infant, died about a year shire. Her condition appears to have been known to the medical man who has been in the habit of attending her, but he did not think it a case calling for physical restraint. So lately as Good Friday evening there was nothing unusual in the woman's manner, and after a walk with her husband the pair partook of supper and retired to bed. About eight o'clock on Saturday morning she rose, according to custom, and went down to the ground floor to light a lire and prepare breakfast for the family. Her son, a boy of eleven, hail risen, and was taking down the shutters of the shop, when his mother reproached him for not having done so before, and threatened to murder him. Her wildness of manner excited the boy's apprehension, and when she shortly afterrushed through the shop at him with a carving knife in her hand, and her intention plainly indicated in her distorted features, he fled for his life. She did not pursue him far, but rushed upstairs to a room occupied by her brother, whom, with menacing gestures, she theeatened to murder. A brief struggle ensued between them; but her strength wns so great that he was unable to secure her, and breaking away, she ran into another room, where two of her daughters had been sleeping. The elder girl had risen and gone downstairs, an act which no doubt saved her life; but a younger child, Jane, four and a half years of age, was left still asleep. The unhappy woman immediately cut the poor; little creature's throat, almost severing the head from the body. Going again downstairs she was followed by her -husband, who had become alarmed by the nois of the struggle between the woman and her brother, and by her frantic rushing about, Directly the murderess saw her husband she flew at him, wounding him in the arm. Only then realising his wife's condition he closed with her, and tried to obtain possession of the knife. A struggle ensued ; but he found himself 'mane to cope with the unhappy woman, who, after inflicting several other wounds on his hands and arms, broke away, and, her paroxysm taking a fresh direction, she cut her own throat, and fall to the ground insensible. The cries of "Murder" while this horrible scene was being enacted reached the ears of Police-constable Perritt, who was on duty near, and he ran to the house, but too late to prevent mischief. He at once sent for Inspector Ramsay, wino, seeing the condition of the wretched woman, sent her off at once to St. Bartholomew's HospitaL She has hitherto borne the character of a kind and affectionate mother; but out of a family of eight children, she lost five within a comparatively brief period, and her grief is known to have affected her mind, though no one of her friends ever anticipated it would show itself iii so terrible a fonn. On her arrival at St. Bartholomew's Hospital she was in a very excited state, and it was found necessary to place her under restraint. Mr. Jepson, the house surgeon has stated that the wounds inflicted on herself were merely superficial, none of the important arteries having been severed ; and although in a very desponding state it was thought that two or three days' quiet. nese might lead to a great improvement.  An inquest was held on Tuesday iipon the body of the unfortunate little girL The jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict of wilful murder, and a warrant was made out for Mm. Newman's committal to Newgate. She remains in Bartholoniew's Hospital, and is progreaeing favourably, though still requiring care and watching.