The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1878-07-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DREADFUL TRAGEDY.  On Saturday morning it was found that Richard Lewis Sands, landlord of the Nile beerhouse, Church-street, Greenwich, had murdered his three children in a wood adjacent to the roadside, and committed suicide.—The Times of Monday gives the following particulars : It appears that at eleven o'clock on Thursday morning in last week Sands left home with his three children, Agnes, aged 7i years, George, aged 6i years, and Amy, aged ft. He told his wife that he was going to Bexley-heath, which is a mile and a quarter from Crayford, to see his mother-in-la w. It appears, however, that he took the train to Erith and thence walked to Crayford, for on the same evening he was seen at the Lord Nelson Inn at the latter village, the children being in his company. He there asked the way to the churchyard, and being shown the road went with the children in that direction. At a quarter past eight a postman saw him sitting on a stile near a pond at the roadside; but at that time he had no children with him. At a quarter to six the following morning the body of Sands was found floating in the pond, and when it was got out it was discovered that the throat was cut in such a manner as to sufficiently account for death. In his pockets the police found £l5 in money, a silver watch, gold chain, and a small penknife, having no stain upon it. There was also in his pocket a receipt for 125., paid by R. L. Sands for removing furniture, and this, together with another letter, enabled the police to identify the body. Upon the intelligence being telegrapked to Greenwich, a reply was received that the children had not returned home. A search was accordingly instituted, and soon after daylight on Saturday morning the bodiee of the three children were found in a wood forty yards from the pond. The throat of each was frightfully cut, and a large three-blade clasp-knife covered with blood lay close by. Two of the blades had been broken off, apparently in the commission of the murder; but the smallest one remained. A hat and silk handkerchief, afterwards recognised as belonging to Richard Sands, were found a short distance from the children. The spot where the tragedy occurred is a very lonely one. There is only one dwelling house within a quarter of a mile, and the occupants of that state that they heard no screams. The bodies were removed to the " Bell " publichouse, Crayford. Until recently Sands filled the position of manager of the Fine Arts Exhibition,Burlington-street, London. He made many friends, and his last recommendations were from Sir William Drake and Mr. Tooley, publisher, of 177, Piccadilly. These recommendations were obtained with a view to the transfer to him of the beerhouse already mentioned. For some reason or other Sands desired the ease and income of a beerseller, and it appears to be the practice that when such a tranfer is desired, application is in the first instance made to the police. Accordingly he presented himself at the Greenwich Police-station, and on the question of reference he stated that if Sir William Drake and Mr. Tooley were insufficient he would also give the names of six peers. The police at once proceeded with the usual inquiries as to the character of Sands, which was found to be excellent. Less than a fortnight since Sands left Burlingtonstreet and became the landlord of the Nile beerhouse, and on Saturday week the boatmen at the riverside repaired to the house in great numbers. They drank freely, and in the end they fought freely. Sands called in the police, remarking that it was his first Saturday night in the Nile and that it would be his last.