The Sun. — 1841-05-21 (London, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE.—The neighbourhood of Bedale, Yorkshire, has been thrown into a state of great excitement by a most melancholy act of murder and suicide, which took place on Thursday last, at five o'clock in the morning, in the gardens belonging to the Duke of Cleveland, at Newton flou•e, Lecrtifmg-lane. The murderer, whose name is Thomas Robinson, was gardener to the Duke of Cleveland, and the place where the tragical event occurred was in the greenhouse, where he had ordered his son to go, under the pretence of doing something in it. When the youth arrived there, his inhuman father struck him a violent blow on the head with an iron tool which he used fur the purpose of pounding ice, and called an ice-beater. He then took a knife and stabbed him in the front of the neck; but this, it would appear, not having bean sufficient to accomplish his purpose, he procured a cord, and, tying it tight round his neck, completed his design by strangulation. The murderer then went to his home (which is situate about two hundred yards from the green-house), with the intention, it appears, of murdering the whole of the family. He told his wife that be had done for the lad, and he would do for her too, and commenced a most brutal attack open her by striking her over the head with the lire-poker. An alarm was then given by one of the family, and he went into an adjoining room, where lie took a gun, which he had pre viothly loaded in the morning, and, putting the muzzle of it to his mouth, blew out his brains, the greater part of which stuck to the ceiling of the room. His wife c.;ntintied in a state insensibility until the following day, and great doubts were entertained of her recovery ; but on Saturday it was thought that she was likely to get better. The lad who was murdered was eighteen years of age, and has been working in the garden with his father. A satisfactory reason cannot be assigned for this horrid event. The man was to leave his situation on Monday, and as he was in embarrassed circumstances, it is thought that that has been the cause. He was natural'y of a vicious, sullen disOn'itinn, and the fact of h:s attempting to kill one of the workmen, about two years ago, appears to confirm this opinion. It has been frequently remarked by the servants and workmen that. he would do something very serious before he left the place. Inquests were held on the body on Friday, when the Jury returned the following veal cts, " We find Thomas Robinson, the elder, guilty of the wilful murder of his son, Thomas, being then in a state of insanity. We further find him guilty of shooting himself with a gun in a state of insanity, which insanity, we believe, arose from his pecuniary embarrassments.-- Manchester Chronicle DEPLORABLE DEATH THROUGH EXCESSIVE DRlNKlNG.—Thursday an inquest was held at the George, Folly-bridge, Bermondsey, respecting the death of Mr. Wm. Hurst, the proprietor of a large school in the parish, who was stated to be but forty-seven years of age, but whose appearance was rather that of seventy or eighty. The deceased had fo,merly been in the naval service, and had amassed a considerable property, the chief part of whichwas wasted to supply his inordinate thirst; but through the interference of his friends phenrscahaas‘aetolfaastlii which produced abut be/. a year. On Wednesday fortnight the deceased's wife was delivered of twins, and since that time he has been in a continued state of intoxication, arid it seems that he sent the boys of his school life annuity, to lay yout his remaining money in the to obtain the supply.' Since last Friday he was unable to eat anything, but would occasionally drink' a cop of tea. A woman of the name of Burnett saw him up to four o'clock en Tuesday morning, when he appeared asleep. She went again between seven and eight, and then she found he was dead. The Coroner inquired of a:r. Slow, the beadle, whether there was any suspicion of any violence having been used, and he stated there was not., lie then informed the Coroner that the deceased's brother had told him on the previous day that formerly the deceased was in the habit of drinking fourteen lints of gin a clay, and he had promised to be pre sent at the inquire. The Coroner and Jury seemed to doubt whether it was possib'e for a human being to take so touch, but the beadle said he was assured of the fact. One of the Jury raid that when the deceased received his dividends he was drunk until all was expended. The Jury returned averdict that the death of the de' ceased was the consequence of excessive drinking. The peer widow and her family are uric almost dostpute.