The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1872-04-20 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY AT MAIDA-HILL • neighbourhood of the Edgware-road, ra, Is night, the scene of one of the most frightlw tragedies the* has taken place in London. for;; years past. A father murdered four of hie children ;Aid then destroyed his own life, under circumstances that cannot fail to touch the heart and arouse the sympathy of all who read the said narrative, which is short, but melancholy in the extreme. A ehoemsker, named Nicholls, with* wife and six young children, left Plymouth, his native place, about a twelvemonth ago in the hope of bettering his position, by working at hie business for a London house. He took a couple of rooms over a small shop, in Capland-street. Church-street, Edgware-road., He 110011 afterwards obtained employment as boot and shoe maker to a large firm in London, but having been accustomed to what is called a "country trade," he found his deficiency compared with the ability of the London workmen. He, however, owing to his rekability and industry, maintained his situation until last Saturday, when, in consequence of his having apoile I a pair of boots, he was discharged. This appears to have preyed seriously upon the mind of the unfortunate man, whose health has keen declining for some time past. Ou Monday, and indeed for some days past, accordMit to the statement of his wife, he had been very desponding., aul at times almost beside himself. His wife left him at nine o'clock to fulfil the duties of chasing at a shop in the neighbourhood. During the day the unfortunate woman spoke of the sad condition of the husband, and said she did not know what to make of him. While thus commenting upon her misfortunes one of her children—her eldest daughter, twelve year; old—rushed into the house and exclaimed, Oh, mother, do come home; father has killed hsby, and be is killing the other children." The poor woman ran, half frantic, to her house hut in time only to witness a sight of the most heartrending and terrible description. On entering the top floor, where the crime was committed, Mr. Baker, surgeon, who had been sent for, beheld a pool of blood issuing from under the back room door. Upon opening the front room door, a thrilling scene presented itself. In a sort of semi-circle lay three children with their throats cut. The first, a little girl, Louisa, aged three years, lay upon her back, with her arms extended and her throat severed right across. The tip of the left baud forefinger was cut off; in the palm of the hand was a sugarplum and in the right hand a green bead. The next child was Rosins, aged five years ; she lay with her face downwards and had her hands clenched; her throat also being cut. James Henry was the third child. He was a fine boy of fourteen months old, and was found lying half on his back, with his arms extended at right angles, and his throat severely cut and in a pool of blood. Entering the bark room, which was used as a workshop and which was in great confusion, every article of furniture being turned upside-down, near the door lay the body of the eldest girl, Eliza, aged rdne years, upon her right side, with her bead thrown backwards, bawls clenched, elbows bent, and throat cut, from which was issuing a stream of blood. This appears to have been the last one murdered. The unfortunate man had then committed suicide. It would appear he went to his seat, leant over atea chest which he used as a work table, and cut his own throat in a most desperate manner, placed the knife upon the table, and fell under it, the chair falling upon him. The bodies were afterwards removed to the workhouse.