Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1883-01-27 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A shocking occurrence has happened in Mile Town, Sheerness, a black man named William Brown, about 50 year!, of age, having murdered his wife by cutting her throat with a nwer, violently attacked his stepson, aged 20, with a knife, and then set his house on fire and cut his own throat. The first circumstance which drew attention to the horrible deed was the discovery of Brown's four children standing, early in the morning, at an open bedroom window in Ebrneeer-road, where the family resided, screaming " Murder " and " Fire." Before any one could get to the noose see of them, a girl of about 9, jumped from the bedroom window to the ground. The height was not great, and she escaped serious injury from her leap. A man named 'blown, a watchman in the employ of the London. Chatham, ad Dover Railway Company, assisted the remainder of the children from the bedroom, the house being 0110 w pitch. They made statements to the effect that their father had killed their mother, and had set the house on fire. Humors and Police-constable Jacobs and ether' thereupon burst open the front door. Brown's stepson immediately staggered out into the street, where he fell insertBible from the loss 61 blood, front serious wounds in his thigh, chest, and hefil. It is said that, hearing his mother's shrieks, he went downstairs to her assistance, , and Brown thereupon mmic a most ferocious attack upon hint, "hooking" him about with a razor. The body of Mrs. Brown, who was rather a fine imuscular woman, was found lying in a room which was in flames. She was quite dead, her throat having been cut. The exertions of the police and firemen were sacceasful in speedily get log the ,re under. A search was then made for Brown, who seas found lying in an attic upstairs with his throat cut, and an open rarer lying by his side. This attic was tilled with such dense sineoe that it was expected he had been suffocated, if the gash in his throat had not caused death ; but it was discovered that he was alive, although the wound is an ugly one. It is extremely doubtful wire her the unfortunate stepson will get up again. The tragic occurrence has caused great excitement in Sheerness, where Brown was a familiar figure. Formerly he sens a seaman in the Royal Navy, awl was discharged with a certificate for good conduct and a pension. Since then he has been able to armament his pension by doing odd jobs for contractors and for the Sheern.s Local Board of Health. Some years ago he maariel the niece teed, ho was then a widow, and by whom he has hod four children. She assiated in gaining a livelihood by washing for sailors. The children state that their father and mother had had a frightful quarrel during the night —a not altogether unasual occurrence—and neither of them had been to bed. lkown was a very quiet man in the ordinary way, but had a terrible temper when aroused or when in drink. Mr. W. J. Harris, coroner for the Sittingbourne district of Kent, opened an inquiry at the Victoria Tavern ea the body of the deceased. Ile said that, as the accused man was not in a fit state to attend, and the principal witness was in It very critical condition, he only proposed to take !sufficient evidence that day to warrant him in directing a ostmortem examination to be made ; and also in granting an order for the disposal of the hoe. Daniel Burrows, a rigger, eltployed in Sheerness; Dockyard, do, posed this the decetsed was his sister, and was Ili yarn of age. She was the wife of William Brown, a labOurer, employea by the Sheerness Board of Health. He was also a naval pcosioner. The coroner at this stage held a consultation with Dr. Arrol mid Dr. Bland, and as it appeared front their stateatents that there was very little , prospect or the acetafid recovering, the . °rote r decided to adjourn the inquiry for a few days. Ile also requested ! the medical gentlemen abovementional to make a most minute post-mortem examination of the deceased. The surg oqs afterwards s lofted Alfred Bump, the stepson of Brown, and hold out no hope for his recovery. Ile has three wounds, one of which has penetrated the bit lung in the region of the heart. The othr moods, which were indicted with a large clasp knile, are at the bock of the head and in the thigh. Itump's depositions have been taken. He slatea that he seas aroused from Ida sleep by hearing a quarrel between h:s another and stepfather There was also a quantity of smoke in his hair-urn. Ile went downstairs, and upon entering the back roots he found or portion of it was on fire. He saw his mother lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Ile asked his father what was the meaning of it, when he ached him, and endeavoured to throw him into the tire. He struggled when the latter intlictal upon him with a earns the injuries described. The door was almost immediately broken open, and he made his escape. He fell down in tire street exhausted, and seas conveyed to the residence of Mr. Baker, ilk uncle, iu Chapel-street. Brown was afterwards removed to the Union Hospital, and soon after his arrival fell asleep. His children had preceded him there, and the sc he upon their arrival was of a most harrowing description. They cried most frantically, and would not be comforted, although they were treated by the officials with great kindness. Front the statements made by the stepson it is supposed by the police that when the door was forced Brown ran upstairs aud attempted self-destruction. He had not made the attempt when last seen by Rump. Brown's bedside is watched by a policeman detached for the purpose. At the Sheppey Board of Guardians, the chairman (the Mayor of Queenborough), when the focus were reported, said he knew Brown to be a most industrious persevering man, and he had frequently held him up as an example to his own workmen.  Cosninfara.—Theßesteemeut for Broken Articles, 65,1*., 2s. llostage 2d. Kay Bros., Stockport. Sold everywhere. THE LORD CHANCELLOR has bestowed the vacant living of Whaplode, Lincolnshire, on the Rev. ;fohn Collin,' Great Ayton Vicarage, Northallerton, Yorkshire. The living is worth £lOO per annum and a splendid house and grounds. It was recently offered to the Rev. F. Fenn, Principal of Trent College, Nottingham, and refused. HaVI,