The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1875-03-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT PENGE. (From Monday's Daily News.)  A most shocking occurrence was brought to light early yesterday morning in Dulwich-road, Penge. The scene of the terrible affair was the house numbered 3, Melbourne-terrace, next door to the Queen Adelaide Tavern, in which resided a Mr. Frederick Hunt with his family. At about a quarter to six in morning the 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 somewhat surprised at a written notice "not to go into the bedroom," and on the envelope of the letter, which was addressed 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 circumstance to the resident governess, who went without delay to Laurel-grove with the letter. Mrs. Guest, acoompanied 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 dead; and the wife was outside the bed in a kneeling position, with her face buried in her hands, 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 children—Percy, aged five, and Arthur, aged nine— were found in bed, suffering from the effects of poison. Dr. Longrigg, who resided only three houses distant, was soon in attendance. He pronounced the girl Annie, who was quite cold, to be dead, and that the wife, who was still warm, bad ceased to breathe. The poison administered to the two little boys referred to had not taken fatal effect, and under the care of Dr. Longrigg they were progressing favourably towards recovery last night. 'Whether the perpetrator of the dreadful acts was disturbed in hisdeaelly purpose is not known, but two other children—a boy aged 12 and 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 covered with blood, with which the crime is supposed to have been committed. The first steps taken by the police was to ascertain the whereabouts of the husband, and his discovery was made under singular circumstances. At about five minutes to eight yesterday morning the signalman engaged in the box at the Penge Junction saw a strange man walking about the line, but was unable to leave his post on account of the Boat Express train, in connection with the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, being just due. He however watched the trespasser, who, either by accident or intentionally, fell between the six-foot way, and the express passed him. The signalman then descended from his box, and asked the stranger what business he had there, as there was a level crossing lower down.. His reply was that he "missed the steps,"sand he apparently paid attention to the advice that he had "better go." No sooner, however, had the signalman returned 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 from his duty at the Beckenham Junction, and was asked to look after the man, whose conduct was so extraordinary, and he with some difficulty took him to the Penge Station to charge him with trespassing and atten.pting suicide. While on the platform at that station the man said he would go quietly, whereupon the ;signalman released him, but no sooner hail he done so than the unfortunate man threw himself on the line just before a down train was due, and he was at once taken into custody. His conduct and manner at the police-station was very strange, and his answers to the questions put to him so incoherent that the officials were unable to enter the charge. It was ultimately found that he was under the influence of laudanum, and Dr. Longrigg, who had been so recently called to the man's illfated home, was sent for and applied the stomachpump with but little effect. His identity was not discovered until, on searching his pockets, a card was found bearing his name—" Frederick Hunt, draper's accountant, 3, Melbourne-terrace, Dulwich-road." The unfortunate man had, it is said, held a good position in a leading City warehouse, which he left a few weeks since, and started business on his own account, but did not succeed in it so well as he had expected. The letter he addressed to Mrs. Guest was a long one, and in it he stated that by the time that reached her he should be no more, and pointed to the difficulties which led him to perpetrate the crime. It further transpires, we understand, that the horrible act had been contemplated for several days. He had not quite recovered from the effects of the poison late last night, when his aged father visited him while he was still under the care of Dr. Longrigg.