The Sun. — 1840-06-03 (London, England)

SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1540.  HORRID MURDER AND SUICIDE  IN CLERKENWELL.  Yesterday forenoon, between twelve and one, the neighbourhood of Compton-street, Clerkenwell, was involved in the utmost excitement and consternation, in consequence of a most appalling murder and suicide, which were committed by a man named George Gingell, upon himself and his wife. It appears that the deceased persons were observed by some of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood walking along Compton-street, in close conversation, when Gingell seemed to address his wife entreatingly, but she appeared to resist him, until they arrived at the house of Mr. Fox, wheelwright and engineer, situate No. 57, Compton-street, Clerkenwell. Mrs. Gingell rung the bell to alarm her brother, who, with his wife, lodges on the second-floor of Mr. Fox's house, and immediately after she did so Gingell, who was evidently irritated, put his hand into his pocket, pulled out a white-handled razor, and seizing hold of his wife by the head drew the instrument across her throat, and nearly severed her head from her body, and she fell upon the pavement. He then instantly with Ihe same weapon inflicted a wound upon his own throat, and fell upon her body. Mrs. Pohl, the sisterin-law of Mrs. Gingell, who had heard the bell ring, looked out of the window to ascertain who was at the door, when she saw Mrs. Gingell lying down with the blood gushing from her throat, and she distinctly perceived Gingell cut his own throat with the razor and fall upon her. Crowds of persons assembled on the spot, where the bodies were lying on the pavement still alive ; a medical gentleman who was accidentally passing by went to their assistance, but the wounds were so deep that he could render them no service, and information was immediately communicated to the officers of the police station-house, which is adjacent to the spot, when Henry Redman, 224, G division, repaired to the spot with two stretchers, and he, with the assistance of King and other constables, conveyed them to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where they were found to be qnite dead. Sergeant Barton, No 1, E, who was on duty at the station-house in Rosamond-street, as acting inspector, proceeded to the hospital with the parties, when he searched the bodies of the deceased. In the female's pocket be found the following letter, which we —o"Myh Dear Wife—I now write to proini at I have placed my children out, gives t o verbatim inform :yu that but I must say that with parting with my little girl, and losing you, is almost too much for me. If there is anything else that you wish me to do that will contribute to your happiness and comfort I will gladly do it. I hope now my dear wife that you will make up your mind to return home, cr send me a line to come and fetch you, as now there will be only you and me ; for I will do every thing in my power to make you happy and comfortable. I don't leave till this day week, when the month is up. I am now coming to work at Uston (Euston) station, Uston-square, so that I shall be able to come home to all my meals, for then we shall be more happy and comfortable. I shall not look out for any more lodgings until I see you ; you and me shall be now happy and comfortable with ourselves. I have now no more to say at present, but remain your ever affectionate, but, at present, unhappy husband,  "GEORGE GINGELL, 28, Wilstead-street, Somer's-town, " May 19, 1840. " P. S.—Do my dear wife come home now at once--for you and I sIL.III now soon be ably to get things all right and comfortable, and I can go more happy to my work, and you will be able to have more leisure time than you had be:ore. There will be nothing now to confine you at home. " Adieu at present." Directed to Mrs. Gingell, at Mrs. Pohl's, Islingtonterrace, Islington. Scrucant Barton also found the following written scrap of paper from Mrs. Gingell, to her deceased husband : " Gingell,—This is the fourth time of my leaving you, and not with little cause, for I am not agai❑ to be tould that I am a brute to the children, merely leaving them a few cures. So now it is finally tould you it would be when you little expected it. So now I hope you will not trouble me. I have done all that laid in my power to please you but all in vane. So I have nothing on my mind weather you have or not—that you know best about, and i hope that you will get your children better minded, this is the last bit of paper you will ever have from me. "