The Sun. — 1845-03-28 (London, England)

HOCKING AFFAIR AT WHIT TINGTON. (From the Derbyshire Courier.) On Thursday morning, about ten, the village of Whit tington, two miles from Chesterfield, was the scene o great excitement, in consequence of the rumour that a Mrs. Green, who resides there, had either been murdered or had committed suicide. It appears that, shortly before the hour named, she had been seen by several neighbours to enter the gate of her own premises, leading one of her grandchildren by one hand, and holding the other hand to her throat. One of the neighbours going to the place, she found Mrs. Green reclining upon a stone in the yard, and bleeding profusely from a frightful wound in the throat. She was unable to speak. The alarm was at once given, fled a messenger dispatched to Chesterfied for medical aid. Mr. Boddington arrived in a very short time, but life was extinct before his arrival. Tire wound was exceedingly largo and deep, extending from " ear to ear." The oesophagus and jugular vein were partially severed, and the carotid artery was laid bare, although not cut. A razor marked with blood was found lying on the hearthstone. It is stated that she was seen to rin out of her house, holding her hands to but throat, and to go to .the door of the Cock and Magpie public-house, and then to another neighbouring house, but it appears that she failed to make any person hear her. Her house adjoins that of her son-in-law, Joseph Hawksley, and it is stated that he was the only person about the premises beside the deceased at the time; Mrs. Hawksley having gone out shortly before, and a boy aged six years, named Green, a grandson of the deceased, who was staying with her, having been sent away from her house the same morning. The farm belonged to the deceased Mrs. Green, of whom Hawksley holds it as tenant. Many disputes have arisen between Mrs. Green and her sonin-law of late, and it is not long since they appeared before the magistrates, on which occasion Mrs. Green applied for Hawksley to be bound over to keep the peace. The application was refused by the magistrates, who reprimanded both parties. At the same time, a son of the deceased was fined for wilfully damaging a plough belonging to Hawksley. The origin of the melancholy affair of Thursday last is at present a mystery. Deceased was in good health and spirits at eleven on Wednesday night, previous to which hour Hawksley attempted to force his way into her house, but was prevented by Sydney Green, her son. Hawksley states, we learn, that on the Thursday morning, he was working in one of the fields, when he heard a scream ; he immediately went towards his house, thinking that soma of his children had set their clothes on fire. As he approached, he saw his mother-in-law run out of her house, holding her hands to her throat. In going to his own door he met her, and immediately sent a boy for assistance. The statement of one of the children is very different to this. An inquest was opened before Mr. Hutchinson, Coroner for Scarsdale, on Thursday afternoon, at the Cock and Magpie, but immediately adjourned to Friday next. The circumstances to which we allude have made very great sensation throughout the district.