The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1886-05-21 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT NEWINGTON. At an early hour on Monday morning a murder and suicide of a most determined oharaoter occurred in South Loudon. It appears that about twenty minutes past twelve Police-constable Slough, 260 L, was on duty in the Newington Butts, when he was informed by a man named Charles Reynolds, living at 38, Molyoake Road, that a murder Ind suicide had been committed in the house. The 3onstable went to the house, and met another policeman, Walter Coomes, 122 L, who had in the meanlime also been informed of something having happened. The constables went upstairs to the first-floor front room, and on entering a terrible sight met their view. Lying on the floor was • young woman with her head nearly severed from Leer body, and by her side was a man, face downwards, with his head resting on the woman's face, he also having a fearful gash in his throat, the blood from his wound having run over the face of the woman. Dr. Farr, the divisional surgeon to the L division of police, was immediately sent for, and on examining the bodies he pronounced life extinct, expressing an opinion that death in both cases must have been instantaneous. Two table knives were bubsequeutly found covered with blood close to where the bodies were lying. The man's name is James Clark, a butcher, aged about 50, whoa° address is at present unknown; and the woman's name is Annie Ultham' aged 27, who for the past six munths has occupied the room at the house mentioned. The man Clark was . . . . . .  formerly in a god poaition, but failed in business, and for some time past he had worked as a journeyman butcher. The woman was formerly in hie service, and they had cohabited together, but of late he had been in the habit of visiting Ultham ott tsaturflay night and staying with her until Monday morning. The only person able to throw any light on the double crime is a young woman named Susan Armes, a servant in the house, who states that she was In the room when Clark asked Ultham to go out with him. The latter refused, and seated herself up,n a chair, whereupon Clark took up a knife and drew it across Ulthain's throat, and she tell to the floor. Clark next pioked up another kniie from th 3 table, and before the girl Armes could prevent him diew it across his own throat and fell upon 'Latham. Armes then rushed out of th.) room and informed the lodger Reynolds. Inspector Watts and Serjeant Bolding sub. sequeutly arrived, and took charge of the knives and locked tho room. From later inquiries it appears that the man Clark was married, his wile living in Wales. ' lie has three grown-up sons and a daughter aged seventeen, the latter living a stoue's throw from the scene of the murder. Tee servant girl Armes is still suffering from hysterics through the shock, and by the advice of Dr. Farr she is not at present allowed to be further questioned. During the whoa) of the day great excitement prevailed in the ueighbourhood,the house being besieged by a-throng aI people who went to look at it and talk over the occurrence. The bodies were placed in shells and removed to the Newington Mortuary. The crowd which had gathered round the house was si great th' t took several constables to keep it in order.  SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A FIREMAN At Marlborough Street Police Court, London, on Monday, before Mr. Newton, Frederick S. Rees, twenty-six, a fireman, was charged on a coroner's warrant with causing the death of George Hill, a 'Kaman, on April 28th.—Henry William Muller, a dining-room keeper, of 45, Lexington Street, Soho, deposed to noticing an outbreak of fire on the morning of April 28th at the Three Compasses pullio-house, Beak Street. He at once gave the alarm, and ran to Golden Square, but he found the fireteau gone. After about five minutes two policemen and route other people got the escape out.— Police-constable Darby, 314 C, said that on hearing the alarmof fire he at once ran in the direction of the escape in Golden Squ,.re, ani met it on its way in Lower James Street. Ile asisted to place it against the window on the second floor of the burning house, and then ran up the ladder. When near be top he saw a man leaning out of the window on the lett-hand side, but as the escape was s •t against the right-hand window he was unable to reaoh him. He called out to the man to wait a second, and shouted to those below to shift the escape to the other window, but when it was about three-quarters of a yard away from the window a dense volume cf emoko poured out and the man threw himself out head foremost. Immediately af;i.r flames issued from the window. He waited for a second or two but as he could hear no sound from the house he descended from the ladder and picked the man up. With the assistance of the bystanders Hill was placed in a cab aud cotivey ed to the Charing-crosk Hospital, where he was found to be dead. Alexander Gibb, a firemen at the station in King Street, Regent Street, deposed that the alarm was given at Ids station at 2.37 a.m. He at once proceeded to the burning house, where he found two fire escapes already arrived. At twenty peat three he saw the prisoner, and asked him where ho had been, to which he replied, "I have just been over the railings." He at once saspended the accused, and reported him to Superintendent Palmer for being front his post. Inspector Winkler, C. Division, stated he attended the inquest on Saturday last, and took Bees into custody on the coroner's warrant. On being arrested he remarked, "I could not help it." At this point Mr. Newton remanded the prisoner for a week, and directed that the Public Prosecutor should be communicated with in the interval.