The Sun. — 1861-06-27 (London, England)

MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  Yesterday a rumour spread in the neighbourhood of King's-cross that a married woman residing at 15, Northampton-street, near the Old St. Pancrasroad, had murdered her three children by poison, and had subsequently by the same means effected self-destruction. It proves to have been so far well founded. The unfortunate woman, Jane Palethorpe, aged 37, occupied the first floor back room of the house, 15, Northampton-street. She had three children, Richard, aged 6, Thomas 4, and Harriet 2, whom she supported by slop work, for which at the most she derived a miserable pittance of ss. a week ; her husband had deserted her about twelve months since. On Monday evening some one informed her that her husband had a few days ago sailed to America with another woman. This appeared to have a depressing effect upon her mind, as was observed by her fellow lodgers on Tuesday morning. She went out and returned home shortly before 11 o'clock, and nothing more was heard either of her or her children during the day. Shortly after 6 o'clock Mrs. Falkner, the lodger in the front room, not having heard anything of the mother or children for so long a period, made her owing Mrs. Palethorpe a penny an excuse for knocking at the door, which she did several times, but, receiving no reply, she tried it and found it locked on the inside. This made her knock the louder, but still without effect. She called her husband, and, after his repeating it some time, they heard the faint voice of the elder child say his mother and the other children were very ill. They called to him to come and try and unlock the door, as they found the key was in it; this he ultimately succeeded in doing. On entering a piteous sight presented itself. On the bed lay the unfortunate mother perfectly insensible, although still alive, with the youngest child, Harriet, clasped to her breast in a similar condition, and the boy Thomas lying by her side apparently lifeless. There were evidences of some one having vomited on the floor, and on being questioned the eldest boy said that his mother gave them something out of a bottle, and that when she went to sleep it made him sick. An alarm was raised, and Mr. H. Sutherin, surgeon, of Aldenham-terrace, as also the police, were sent for, and arrived in a few minutes. The moment Mr. Sutherin examined the mother and children he pronounced them to be labouring under the effects of some narcotic poison. The child Thomas was found in a comatose state, and, notwithstanding all efforts to rouse and restore him, expired in about threequarters of an hour. By dint of strong applications the unfortunate mother and the female child were brought to a state of consciousness. In the meantime Mr. Skinner, assistant-surgeon to St. Pancras Infirmary, arrived with a stomach-pump and other appliances. As soon as the mother was sufficiently recovered some questions were put to her, and she confessed that she had administered laudanum to the children and taken it herself. On search being made two bottles were found, one having thereon a label on which was written " Laudanum' poison." The other had the label scratched off, but both had contained that poison. It was subsequently ascertained that the unfortunate woman had purchased some of the drug at the shop of Mr. Griffith's chemist, of Albion-place, King's cross, but it is believed that she had purchased small quantities of it at different chemists, and had then placed them altogether in the two bottles discovered. In consequence of the death of one of the children, Inspector Stokes, of the S division of police, said he should feel it his duty to place the mother in custody. She was, however, as well as the little girl, in so prostrate a condition that the removal of the family to the Infirmary of St. Pancras Workhouse was deemed by Mr. Sutherin indispensable. They were, in the course of the evening, removed there, and a constable was appointed to sit in the ward during the night. The deceased child was removed to the dead-house of the workhouse. On making a search in the apaitments a letter was found addressed to Mrs. Kent, of Northampton, which stated that she (the unfortunate woman) was in great distress ; that she wanted all her goods sold, as she was about leaving this world, and the proceeds she wished to be applied towards paying her bread bill and other little incidental expenses. The unfortunate woman was yesterday in too prostrate a condition to be taken before a police magistrate, but she is gradually recovering, as is also the female child and the elder boy, whose sickness, no doubt, saved him. Mr. Murray, the coroner's officer, has been communicated with, and although the poor woman will not be able to attend for some days, the inquest will, it is stated, be held to-morrow.