The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1888-02-10 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

LIGHT.  dre!.T;ist and herlia....st name Samuel Hill Derby, is wife, and six children, three boys and three gii s, fLive all been found dead in their cottage, 143, Gaieielcl Street, Salford, under circumstances which lead to the cm:eat:re that Derby had taken poison, af,er ale: ht% hg wind liistered it to the whole of his family, pessibly through inhalation, while they wee a. lie was Lan: on a sota drawn in trout of the Kitchen fireplace, his body carefully tucked in with an overcoat awl 'mackintosh. His wife and two of the caildreu lay in bed in a back room, and the other four in bed in another room. The bodies presented a Onstly appearance, life having been extinct for some days, but there was no sign of violence or disturbance. The discovery was made through the uneasiness of relatives and neighbours, who had seen nothing of the family since Monday or Tuesday. On Thursday the man's father, who lives in an adjacent street, had knocked in vain for admission, and the other morning, after renewing his attempt, he procured a ladder, looked through the window of the back bedroom, and, seeing his daughter-in-law and two children apparently asleep, he tried to awake them. His worst fears being con' raced he sent for the police, and the house was broken open. The supposed suicide and murderer was a quiet and well-conducted man, about 35 yea:s 4 tt,e. He was formerly an assistant at a etandiu's iii If ~seut Road. He is said to have been in failing health, suffering from abscess in the head, and behaving rather strangely, being dissatisf;ed with his prospect, under the will of an uncle in Ireland who died lark year. His father, Mr. Alexander Derby, was formerly a wholesale tradesman well-known in the town, whose business since his retirement has been carried on by another son. The deceased woman is said to have been some years older than her husband. The eldest child was thirteen. The house had no other iumates than the deceased. They had ail appeared to be living in comfort. The cottage is fairly well furnished, and the remains of thud' last supper were still on the table when the discovery was made. Three bottles were also found on tee table, labelled "Chloral Hydrat," "Acid Prus. Poison," and "Morphia." The police have found in the house papers and letters in Derby's handwriting indica.. ive of an intention to commit suicide. They it'..so refer to family disputes about property. A draft will leaving the whole of his effects to a sister, Mrs. Booth, at Eccles, was also found,whiih seems to presume the death of his wife and eaildren at once, and a similar inferenoeisdrawn from trie tol:owing letter, My Dear Sister,—l hope you will not think too much of what you must hear, more or leas, very shortly. I have made a will by which you take nearly all I had. You have always been very kind and affectionate to me, and I wish you every earthly blessing.-1 our affectionate brother, Seat. P.S. --Tell father I entirely forgive him. I would like you to give to Mrs. Cooper the sewing machine, bedstead, bedding, &e., as you think proper; also the eldhirm's clothes, &o.; to Mr. Cooper all the drugs, chemicals, &c., at Garfield Street; to Rialard Seery, my late boy at Dross Lane, such of my clothes that may suit him, and to Mr. Cooper the remainder; also to Richard the bicycle, skates, and such other oddments as you think proper, any book or books which he would like or be useful to him, also the chemicals, &c., at Monmouth Street, and the case containing them. Give something to Mrs. Jones, of Leamington Street. These are merely wislief, and not cominands. If there is anything that Mr. Croos would lise, I beg you will let him have it. S. 11.