The Sun. — 1847-11-15 (London, England)

THE, ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE AT READING. In addition to the intelligence respecting this dreadful occurrence which appeared in our Saturday's impression, we take the following particulars from the Observer :—" The name of the wretched author of the tragedy is James Hersey. He has for some years past been in the employ of Mr. Rimell, veterinary surgeon and shoeing smith, of Friar-street, Reading, and until lately resided with his wife and four children (all boys) in a court running out of London-street. About six week s since he removed with his family to a house in East-street, the scene of the horrible occurrence. From the ;testimony of parties well acquainted with the deceased, it appears that for some time past he has entertained a suspicion of his wife's fidelity ; indeed, he has publicly charged her with having had illicit intercourse with an old gentleman on whom she was in the habit of attending as charwoman. His accusations were always emphatically denied by his wife, and it is ascertained that there never was the slightest ground of suspicion against her. However, quarrels have frequently arisen between them, and it is only a few weeks since that the deceased man was brought before the magistrates, and held to bail to keep thepeace towards his wife. During the past fortnight the wretched man has almost entirely neglected his work, stating as an excuse that he was unwell. On Wednesday the keeper of a beershop next door to his own house, having heard that he was poorly, inquired how he was, upon which he replied, There's nothing the matter with me, Mrs. Nutt ; but I have seen things that are wrong, and I have stayed at home to find them out.' Mrs. Nutt told him that he must he wrong in his head to imagine such a thing, on which the wretched man observed, I'm right enough in my head ; there's nothing the matter with me.' Yesterday he visited this same house two or three times, and at one o'clock took home a pint of beer for his own and his wife's dinner. About four o'clock the wretched man and his wife were heard quarrelling by the neighbours ; and during the altercation deceased sent out his son Charles, who had just come home from school, to fetch his brother, then playing in the street. The poor little fellow had just descended the flight of steps in front of the house, when he heard a great noise behind him, and looking back he saw his mother rush out of the front door, followed by his father, who at the same instant felled her to the earth with a poker which he held in his hand. The poor woman fell senseless outside, the wretched man retiring within the house, and closing the door after him. The poor boy ran immediately for assistance, and finding a policeconstable returned with him to the house. The woman wa- found lying on the door-step in a pool of blood, which was found flowing copiously from wounds in her head. A surgeon was immediately sent for, and she was removed to the hospital in an insensible state. The constable, on ascertaining that the wretched man had retired into the house, raised the door-latch, and proceeded into the passage, at the further extremity of which he was horror-stricken at beholding the assassin lying on his face and almost deluged in blood. After groaning heavily twice, he expired in the officer's presence. A medical examination discovered that he had inflicted a frightful gash across his throat, extending from ear to ear. Mr. Houlton, the superintendent of the borough police, having by this time arrived, a careful examination of the premises was made under his superintendence. The first thing discovered was a poker • this was lying just within the passage of the house, and from its bent appearance gave dreadful evidence of the violent manner in which it had been used. In one of the back rooms there was discovered lying on the floor, the deceased's neckerchief, and on a table in the same apartment an empty razor-case. Mr. Houlton then endeavoured to trace, by the marks of blood, the manner in which deceased had effected his object. The appearances were such as to leave little doubt that the- wretched man, after having knocked down his wife, closed the door, and supplying himself with a razor went into a shed or out-house in the back yard, and there inflicted the first gash. From this place he appears to have walked half-way across the yard, where, from the large quantity of blood which has escaped, he is supposed to have made the final gash. The wretched man then threw down the razor on the pavement, and attempted to return into the house, but in so doing he seems to have stumbled against the door-sill and fallen headlong into the passsage, the position in which he was found. The wretched woman, though still alive, has continued in an insensible state since the dreadful . occurrence, and on inquiry last evening, was stated that she was in a very precarious state ; indeed, from the dreadful nature of the wounds she has sustained,r her recovery seems altogether improbable. 'The poor creature is nearly ten years older than her husband, has a hare lip, and is altogether destitute of any personal attractions ; therefore the fatal suspicions which her husband seems to have entertained are the more remarkable. Mr. Blandley, the borough coroner, has appointed the inquest on the deceased for Monday  next, and it is said that some letters have been discovered in the house which wi;l thiow a light on the case when it comes before this functionary. The deceased had four children, the eldest of whom is 16 years of age."