The Sun. — 1859-10-08 (London, England)

VIE DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE.  WORCESTER, FRIDAY EVENING. From what has transpired to-day there can be little d. übt that the surmise, that the unfortunate woman (Mrs. arris) drowned both herself and her two children, as des ribed in court, is correct. Only one body—that of the e dent child—has been recovered ; but it is expected that the mother and infant were carried some distance down the river by the flood water .  i An examination of the husband (Harris) has taken place -day before the magistrates ; and from the evidence ven, it appears that the poor woman had been shamefully t eated by her husband and his relations, and that driven a most to madness by their cruelty, she had declared her d termination to drown herself and her children. The husbh.nd was charged occasionally with assaulting the wife, abd the following is a summary of the evidence taken : j William Roberts, neighbour of tho Harris's, spoke to the ti husband of the supposed deceased Mrs. Harris quarrelling stout one o'clock on Tuesday. Witness saw the prisoner seice his wife by the threat. Sho screamed out that he was throttling her, and on witness calling to him he desisted. lie was boating her with his clenched fist, while he held her by the throat. Soon after Harris's mother came and used the deceased, and between two and three, o'clock s e again abused her, the woman being then occupied in aching her children's crothes. Mrs. Bradley, another neighbour, corroborated Roberts's stimony, and added her belief that Mrs. Harris would have been alive at that moment but for her husband's rtmther and sitter. Mrs. Hopkinson, a relative of Harris, lodged with Mr. d Mrs. Harris, and also spoke to the ill-treatment which trs. Harris had experienced at the hands ofher husband's other and sister. Harris stayed from work on Monday d Tuesday. The witness corroborated the testimony of oberts as to the prisoner taking his wife by the throat. Mrs. HAatrritseahatdimsteruecnk herTu Tuesday evening, thHesprrtokse,sr before this. sister, Who was present, said she would wash her hands in her OMrs. Harries); blood, to which Mrs. Harris replied, " Then it would be cold." About half-past nine o'clock that night (Tuesday), the prisoner's sister came again, and on Mrs. Harris opening the door she struck at her, but witness stopped the blow, and took hold of the sister and held her down. While so occupied Mrs. Harris made her escape from the house with her two children, and no doubb ran across a field at the back, and plunged into the river. She had just before declared her determination "to go and do it," and had kissed her children fervently. She had that same evening told her husband of her determination, and his answer was "do it, and be —." The story of 'Mrs. Harris's disappearance got abroad, and Harris's mother came about midnight, but she said they had hidden her, and expressed a hope that " she should see her swimming." Mrs. Hopkinson said she went into the house, where she found Mrs. Harris in a very excited state, and she held her back, as she declared she would go and drown herself. She had a child in each arm. They had to pacify her, and had partly succeeded, when Harries sister entered, and was about to attack Mrs. Harris, but witness prevented her. While- engaged with her I%lrs. Harris stepped out pf the house. Witness at once followed her across the field towards the river, but could see nothing of her. They searched about all night but could not find her. The body of the boy was picked up on Thursday by a fisherman. The magistrate decided to remand the prisoner for the present, and the coroner has also issued his warrant for an inquest.