The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1875-03-27 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

THE TERRIBLE MURDER OF I WIFE  AND CHILD AT PKNGE. A moat shocking occurrence was brought to light tarly on Sunday morning, in Dulwich road, Purge. The scene of the terrible affair was the house numbered 3, Melbourne terrace, next door to the Queen Adelaide :Tavern, in which resided a Mc. Frederick Hunt, with his family. At about a quarter to six in the marling he maid servant was going down stairs when her attention was attracted to a letter attached to the handle of the door of the room where her master and mistress slept. She was also loraewhat surprised at a written notice "not to go into the bedroom," and on the envelope of the letter, which war addreS,ed to Mrs. Guest, Laurel grove, there was a request to have it delivered at once. Mrs. Guest, it seems, was an intimate friend of the family, and the servant at once communicated the circuinstanee to the resident governess, who went without delay to Laurel grove with the letter. Mrs. Guest, accompanied by her husband, came to the house, and on entering the bedroom they found the husband was absent; his daughter, named Annie, aged seven, was lying in bed looking quite calm, and read; and the wife was outs de the bed in a kneeling position, with her face buried in her bands, and her arms resting on the side of the bedstead. Her throat had been cut in a frightful manner, and there was a great deal of blood about the place. In another room two other ohildreo—Percy, aged five, and Arthur, aged nine—were found in bed, suffering bone the effects of poison. Dr. Longrigg, who re tided only three houses : istant, was soon in attendance. He pronounced the girl Annie, who was quite cold, to be dead, and that the wife, who was gill warm, had ceased to breathe. The poison administered to the two little boys referred to did tot take fatal effect. Whether the perpetrator of Me dreadful acts was disturbed in his deadly purpose is not known, but two other children—a boy aged twelve ane a girl aged 10—escaped. intimation of the occurrence having been communicated to the police authorities, Sergeant Bateman visited the house, where he found a razor, fevered with blood, with which the crime is supposed to have been committed. The first step taken by the police was to ascertain the whereMoots of the husband, and his discovery was made under thngular circumstances. At about kve minutes to eight on Monday morning the fignalman engaged in the box at the Penge Junction saw a strange man walking about the hue. :bmuutntwoatn the boat t to leave trhaiins ipn°"cononnectron. whh the London. c'harham, and Dover Railway, being just due. He, however, watched the tree. Pamir, who, either by accident or intentionally, fell between the six.foot way, and the express passed him. The slgnalman then descended [fern his box, lad asked the stranger what business he had there, ta there was a level crossing lower down. His reply was that he " missed the steps," and he apparently Paid attention to the advice that he had "better go." No sooner, however, had the signalman retorted to his box than the stranger was seen to make his way from the bank and lie down on the 'down" line, with his head resting on his arms. At this juncture another signalman was returning Sow his duty at the its ikenham Junction, and was Shed to look after the man, whose conduct was io extraordinary, and he with some difficulty took him to the Pence Station to charge him with xeepasring and attem Oleg suicide. While on the platform at that station the man said be would go quietly. whereupon the signalman released Una, but no sooner had he done so than the anfortunate man threw himself on the line just before a down train was due, and he was at once taken into fffi,tody. the conduct and manner at he police. stalion were very strange, and his answers *the questions put to him so incoherent that the *vials were coable to enter the charge. It was etimately found that he was under the influence lacdannm, and Dr. Longrigg, who had been * recently called to the if an's ill-fated (one, was sent for and applied the stomach' Pump with hut little effect. His identity was aot discovercd until, on searching his pocket ,a card **l found bearing his name—. Feedo irk Hunt, Per's nrcountent, 3, Me:bourne Terrace, I)flitch re td.'"Ptie unfortunate man had, it is slid, Id a god position in a leading city wa choose, which he left a few week, sin,'.', and started heel *ls on his own account, but did not succeed in it *well as he had cope ted: The letter be addrersed 1,91r5. Guest was a long one, and in it he stated by the tiine that reached her he should he no t**, and coined to the difficulties which led him , f"Ptti ate the crime. It further transpires that ,Q,•lnnrible act had been toontemplab d for several T ...I,