The Sun. — 1839-10-07 (London, England)

MURDER OF A WOMAN BY HER HUSBAND AND SUICIDE OFTHE MURDERER.  It this week falls to our lot to I.ly before our readers the details of one of the most distressing and shocking occurrences which is to be found in the annals of crime, an occurrence, the bare thought of which cannot but impart a feeling of terror and dismay to every mind. As soon as we heard of the circumstance, we took pains to obtain the fullest particulars of the barbarous and hloody tragedy.  On Thursday evening last, the villages of Rufford and Tarleton, and the neighbourhood, were thrown into a state of intense dread and consternation, by the report that a man, named Robert Dawson, a labourer, in the employ of Sir T. D. Hesketh, Bart., of Rufford Hall, had murdered his wife, Phoebe Dawson, and had afterwards put an end to his own existence, The report unhappily, proved too true, as the following circumstantial particulars of the tragical event will show. The wretched man resided with his wife and five of his children, in a cottage, in the hamlet of Holmes Wood, in the parish of Rufford, about twelve miles from Preston. On the evening in question, Dawson came home about nine o'clock when his wife was undressed, preparing to go to bed, all the children at home being at the time asleep, in a bed adjoining the one in which Dawson and his wife usually slept. He inquired for some senna, which he bad requested her to send for to Ormskirk, by a neighbour, and on her acquainting him that she had forgotten to send for it, high words, and ultimately a violent quarrel ensued. From the appearance of the wounds, and other circumstances, it is highly probable that there had been, on the part of the wife, a stout resistance, and that a severe struggle took place, before the wretched murderer accomplished his horrid purpose. It is most likely, indeed, that they had been quarrelling, and perhaps fighting, for some time, and that the husband had somewhat gradually worked himself up to a state of infuriated rage, nothing short of madness. The children were awakened by the scuffle, and they gave an alarm, when a sister of the murderer entered the house, followed immediately by other persons, relations and neighbours of the deceased. When these persons entered, which was about half-pest nine o'clock, they were affrighted by the horid spectacle of both the husband and wife walking about in the kitchen or " house" with their throats cut. Dawson, alarmed, it is supposed, at his wife's approaching end, and his own wound not being sufficiently deep to cause death, escaped during the consternation and went immediately and hanged himself in the shippon adjoining the house, with a cow-tie. When Mr. Barron, surgeon, of Tarleton, arrived shortly afterwards, the woman was not quite dead. She was perfectly sensible, knew her relations and friends, and told her mother that the quarrel was simply on account of her not having sent for the medicine to Ormskirk. The poor creature asked for something to drink, and some water was given to her, but as not only the windpipe was cut, but also the passage to the stomach opened, the water ran out of the aperture down ber neck. The bed on which she lay was completely saturated with blood, and there were several cuts on her chin, and on the lower part of her throat, inflicted, it is supposed, in the course of the struggle, and before the mortal wound was given. Her right eye was also black, and much swollen, as if from a blow. Search being made for Dawson, the miserable man was -found sus pended in the outhouse, as already mentioned, and quite dead. The age of the man was about thirty-seven, and that of his ill-fated wife about forty. They have left behind them seven children, the eldest of whoa► is a girl about sixteen years old, and the age of the youngest child is about eighteen months. The unfortunate women was at the time in a state of pregnancy. They had resided all their lives in the neighbourhood, the father and mother of Dawson occupying a farm near the cottage in which the appalling tragedy occurred. Dawson has also five brothers, and two sisters. The mother of the murdered woman lives in the neighbourhood, and she has left six brothers and three sisters. Her father (whose name was Caunce) was killed about two years ago at Rufford, by falling from a cart. The unfortunate couple had previously borne good characters, and she is spoken of by her neighbours as having been a woman of a very wild and patient disposition. Dawson was a favourite servant with Sir T. D. Hesketh, Bart., as a preeaf of which, we may state, that when, a short time ago, he was sick, he was visited by the worthy Baronet, and although he had an allowance from an Odd Fellows' Society, of which he was a member, Sir Thomas kindly paid him his wages during the whole period of his sickness. He was an active member of the Wesleyan Methodists' Society, and had frequent prayer meetings at his house. He had also been, for about two year!, a member of a temperance society. They had, as his wife had recently asserted to a friend, lived very comfortably for the last six or seven years ; but we are informed that at the early period of their matrimonial career they had frequent Quarrels, and were supposed to live very unhappily.  The neighbours do not speak of the murderer as having be.-n a passionate man, nor was he at any time subject to inso. nity or melancholy. An inquest will be held on the bodies this day at Mr.Worthi.:gton's. Hesketh Arms,  R,4ord, before Al r.Palmer,Coroner. We:understand that the bodies of the ill-f.ted pair are to beinterred on Sun:lay next at Ruffird. The transaction, as may be well iina;:ined, has excited an intensely painful sensation throughout the whole neighbourhood, and scarcely anyelse is talked about.  Next week we shall l,y before our readers any further particulars of the melancholy affair which may transpire at the inqu,,st, or that we may learn from other sourcs. -;--Preston Chronicle.