Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1873-11-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

DOC  SHOCKING MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT MIDDLESI3ROUGH. On Sunday, a aLocking murder was committed in one of the poor cottages in Henry-street, better known as Newo rstle-row. About noon people who were leasing the places of worship in the neighbourhood, and the louugers who are always on the, look out fbt "news" were startled by a rumour that a murder had been committed. Of course the I' feelings of the people were at once aroused, and al. though with =tug, curiosity was the ruling motive, still a thrill of horror ran through every one when it was announced that the murderer was a father and victim his own baby. The crowd rushed to the place and filled the house, and the police had some difficuty in getting the plao.c cleared. As soon as the alarm was given, I ,areector Thorpe and Sergeant Harm, who were proceeding up Northstreet, hastened to the spot, and there they found that a child of fourtnosths old had had its throat cut from ear to eV, im determined a manner that the head wee nearly teetered from the body, and , the perpetrator of this horrible action was himself lying exhausted and bleeding from a gash on his throat, which he had inflicted himself. It appears that aboutl3 monthe since the murderer, William Christopher Amor% who is a young man nearly 6, "feet high. *tarried a daughter of an old man named Thomas Onions, who reeides at the house where the murder was committed. It is stated that they have not lived on comfortable terms, and Brown has on two or three occasions broken up the house, and also ill-used his wife. They last lived in Gnisborongh where Brown was employedis an ironstone miner, but in consequence of a quarrel the wife—who is only-18 years of age—left her husband and came back to her father in Middlesbrough, bringing with her the poor little child whose young life has been broeght to such a shocking end. A few days since Brown came to Middlesbrough, and slept at a house next door to his father-in-law's. On Sunday morning he went to see his wife, having in the meantime seen his child of whom he appeared to be very fond. His wife was in bed with the child at the time he went, and he proceeded upstairs, and had some talk with his wife and after the elapse of two or three hours, Mrs Brown left the child when it was washed and dressed with him, and went downstairs and afterwards out into the street to make one or two little purehases. A by who lived in the house had occasion to go upstairs to get some clothes off a line which stretched across the room, and when he saw the horrible soectacle which has been described, he screamed. Mrs Brown and tome neighbours rushed upstairs, and their cries rammed the neighbourhood. Inspector Thorpe assisted the murderer, who had not done his suicidal work effectually, to a cab, and he was conveyed to the Infirmary, where he made a statement to the effect that while .upstairs he heard his mother-in-law cursing the child and saying it should hot stop there, and that determined him to commit the murder. His wounds were dressed by the house surgeon, Dr J. Robertson, and he is progressing towards recovery. A police-constable is stationed beside him. The knife with which the horrible deed was committed is a large buckhat ted pocket knife. The blade is covered with The prisoner when removed to the Infirmary was Very,tralkative. He said that he came from Seaton initutlandshire, and had been about Middleabreugi forupwards of five years. For two years he worked is a slagger at Messrs Gilkes blast furnaces. He had been at Messrs Cochrane' furnaces, and Messrs Swan, Coetes, and 00., and he had worked six months at the Spa ironstone mines, Guisborough. He then went on to say—" Ism sorry my knife was not sharp enough to cut, my own throat. I know I shall have to swing for it; and I wish I may not get better. lam sorry for it now. I would like to see the child.. Her mother has encouraged her to come away from me. I sold up my house about nine days ago. We have quarrelled sometimes. I was teetotal for twelve months after we were married. My mother and father live in Rutlandshire. I west very little at school. I have not been properly sober since last Friday. A few days ago I drunk 4s worth of brandy. On Saturday night had only two Flames of beer, and I felt quite fresh with it. This morning I, got up about half. past seven o'clock and went to the house next door (my mother-iirlaw's) to see my wile. I went upstairs and lay down on the bed beside my wife and child. She asked me what I was going to I told her that I thought I should shift away from  on LW gems of Ack to her fatb