The Forest of Dean Examiner : — 1875-06-11 (Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England)

THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR NEW.  CASTLE. A WIFE SHOT DEAD.  ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. The fleweasile Mvonicie gives the following parHeiden of this sad tragedy : The victim ia a woman named Sarah Duxfield Charlton, and the murderer is her h strand. Richard harlton, a labourer, who is not expected to recover from the injuries he inflicted upon him. self. From what can be gathered, Charlton, who lived in Diunington, married a sister-in-law, of Mr. Robson, farmer, Gardner'a Houses, Dinciegtou, and for some throe they lived comfortably together, there being apparently nothing to disturb the peace of their wedded life. It is etated that Mrs Charlton possessed some ,e2OO or .2300 in her own right, and that she refused to give it up to her husband. who, in the latter part of his married life, constantly sought its possession. Ma persistent applications appear to have been as persistently refused, and in the end the unhappy cause of dispute led him to treat the deceased with such systematic tyranny and cruelty that she fled to Mr. Robson's farm,, where she obtained shelter. : Here she remained some weeks, and about two ' months ago she was delivered of a child. Her husband, during her stay, constantly sought intervisa a with her in order to induce her to return home, but his wife refused to comply with ho wishes. Repeated disappointments appear to have made Charlton desperate, for on Saturday laot, as early as five o'clock in the morning; he again visited Ha. Itobsou'e farm and asked to see his wife. He was told that she could not then be seen, and that she di.i pot usually rise until eight or nine o'clock in the morning. After this incident the facts as they aubsesuently transpired displayed a determined purpose on the part of the mnrderer. The day wore on, and all the hinds and servants went to their doily employment, leaving in the boons only Mrs. Ann Robson, Mrs Charlton, and Mrs Bennett, of Myth, all sisters. Mrs. Bennett, it should be stated, was ill, and was staying with Mrs. Robson for the benefit of her health. Charlton chose the most favourable opeortunity for the accomplishment of the frightful project in his mind. At two o'clock, when the sisters were still alone, he entered the kitchen, end eels. ing his wife by the arm, exclaimed, "Now, are you going to return, or what are you going to do il" tt No," she answered, "she would never go back :" Thereupon, without more words, he placed the revolver at the back of her head and fired—it is believed two shots—through the base of the skull. The woman fell without a groan or sign of a struggle. Infuriated arid maddened, the culprit seemed bent upon making a slaughter-house of the farm kitchen. Seizing Mrs, itobson by the arm, he deliber tely fired into her face; but fortunately the bullet, in the desperate struggle which res curred, only grazed her left cheekbone. By dint of frantic efforts his second intended victim eluded ills grasp, and with groat presence of mind got into a pantry near, along with her sister, N rs. Bennett, who, from terror and bodily ailments, was unable to lend effectual assistance. The women, in their fearful extremity, screamed for assistance, but none arrived. 'Fine still raging man, baffled for a time, then endeavoured to force the pantry door. With his shoulder leaned against it he pressed until it had almost yielded, but Mm; Robson, with the strength which belongs to a person seeking to avoid a horrid death, held it with her whoe force. Foiled in this attempt, Charlton then, with great sava_tery, fired at the doorway, but the woodwork was too stout to admit of the bullets passing through. Seeing this, and apparently more maddened than ever, he again rushed against the door, and this time succeeded in getting it partially opened. Mrs. Robson, with great bravery, took the lead in resisting, and en. deavoured to again 61030 the door. In doing so, she disclosed a portion of her hand, and the mut deter instantly fired. The bullet slit her thumb, passed (+rough the ton of bet hand, and fell to the pantry floor; Unable to get in by the doorway. Charlton suddenly lett the kitetee, lb° in silenee foe vs ehort space of time. Seri dotty they observed Charlton's face peenng in at a beck window upon them. He fired through the glass, apparently at random, for his shots fell harmlessly. Seemingly not satisfied with this point of attack, he made his way round the build. log again, and meeting with a fourth woman. also named Mrs. Robson, fired at her without assignable reason. Fortunately, his shot did not take effect. Spent probably by the se no of blood through which he had passed, the unhappy man returned to the kitchen, and, placing the revolver against his right cheek, fired into his heed. Shortly afterwards, one of the men-servants entered, and found ' Mrs. Charlton lying upon the hearth, with hothead towards the fireplace. She was still living, though quite unconscious. Her husband lay by her side, ' and at a little distance, on the floor, was his revolver, a five.chambered weapon. Dr. Heath, of Newcastle, and Dr. Jameson, of ronteland, were soon in attendance. All needful steps were taken try them, but from the first the ease of Mrs. Charlton, was pronounced hopeless, and after lingering in an insensible condition throughout. she expired about one o'clock on Sunday morning. Charlton's wound is considered mortal. Mrs. Robson's injuries, though serious, are not dangerous, batik will be long before she recovers the shock to her nervous , ssateno. But it is feared that the consequences to Mrs. Bennett, in her weakly condition, will be critical. The investigations made by Supt. Taylor disclose some startling circumstances. In all, • about seven shots most have been fired by Charlton, and to discharge his weapon that number of times would necessitate its being re-loaded. The Coroner For youth Northumberland held an inquest on Monday on the body of Mrs. Charlton. A verdict Wilful Murder" was returned against Charlton.