The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-05-19 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A shocking occurrence took place on Fri lay in the west end of Hammersmith, in which three children were murdered by their mother, who also inflicted severe injuries upon herself, from the effects of which he died in tbe West London Homit sl a few hours af terwaris. The names if the victims are Ellen Gardener, aged four years; Robert G efieuer, aged two years; and John Gardener, aged three months. They were the children of Hubert Gardener, a gardener, who lived with hie wife Eliza, occupyieg four rooms over a gateway at 3, Theresa-mews, West-end, Hammersmith. Tose murdered children were discovered by the father on returning home to dinner, shortly after one o'clock. He was first met in the mews by smother boy, who asked hint if he had seen his mother, as she was not at home. As soon as he got upstairs he saw the clothes of Robert lying on a table in the front room. lb rated "Eliza" several times and got no answer. He looked through the keyhole of the doer of the back ro which we locked on the inside, and saw his wife raiee herself up by taeans of the cot, unlock the door in a staggering condition, and fall on the bed, where she was afterwards found lying bet ateen two of her dead chldren. The husband went into the room and was horrified at the sight before him. Two of the children were lying across the bed with the mother, their throats being cut in a fearful manner. The children %sere all undressed, and the baby was lying with it throat cut in bed. The husband immediately went in search of a doctor, ansi on the way met Sergt. Willsher, and t sld him that his wife had murdetel her children. The sergeant procured the &assistance of a c unstable, wet) went with him to the place and found a carving knife, much worn, covered &lib blood. Another knife was (ousel in the bed, also a bottle containing a liquid. The sergeant, with the assistance of Inspector Walsh, conveyed the mother to the hospital, where she died about four c'clock in the afternoon. At present the bodies of the children remain in the room pending the gathering of the particulate by In p sctor 'Walters, of the I division, for the informakon of the coroner. No cause can he assigned for the shocking occurrence. According to the information given by the husband he lived most happily with his wife, to whom he had been married about twelve years. He left home at nine o'clock in the morning to go to work, and his wife was then in her usual health. She was also seen by a neighbour half an hour afterwards, at which time sheep Ate to her. This appeared to be the last time she was seen before the dreadful occurrence. The deceased woman was 35 years of age, and the neighbours speak very highly of her. On Monday afternoon Dr. Diplock held an inquest at Hatunsersintth, London, on the bodies of Eliza Gardner, 35. and her three children, aged four years, two yeers, and thiee months respectively, all of whom were (ousel with their throats cut, in Beaver-street, Hammersmith, last Friday. The woman's husband deposed that on returning home to dinner he found the door of a back Li dro)n lucked. Oa attempting to force an entrance, his wife unlocked the door and then fell back dying on the bed, where the children lay dead. The jury found that the woman, whilst temporarily insane, killed her children aad committed suicide.