Glasgow Courier. — 1847-04-24 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER OF A WIFE AND CHILD, AND SUICIDE OF  THE MURDERER.  I man may  huuc 'wlicr  the , but could afterhad hie  On Sunday morning., about half-past six o'clock, the quiet inhabitants of Lower Norwood, Surrey, were thrown into a state of consternation by a frightful murder committed by a man named John Young, aged 21 years, an artificial flower-maker residing in High Street, Lower Norwood, who succeeded in taking the lives of his wife and child, and afterwards committing self-destruction. Shortly after six o'clock two policemen, and some of the neighbours, were alarmed by the cry of murder from Young's house, and on one of them approaching the door Young came to the threshold with his hands covered with blood, and a table knife in his left hand, also smeared with gore. He for a mouient stood transfixed to the spot, and the constables, fearing what had taken place, from their previous knowledge of him, drew their truncheons, and followed him into the house. lie dashed up stairs to the first floor, and when the officers reached the first landing-place, a most awful spectacle presented itself. The lifeless body of Mrs. Young lay with her head almost severed from her body. She was lying in a pool of blood which had streamed from the wound completely down the stairs. Her head was on the top step, and her feet were in the bed-room. They pursued him into the front room, and before they had time to secure him, he sharpened the knife, by rubbing it up and down the stonework round the fire-place, and stood before the looking-glass, where lie drew the knife across his throat, inflicting a most frightful and extensive wound. Whilst he was lying on the floor, the officers rushed into the adjoining room, and there discovered the lifeless body of the poor infant on the bed with its throat cut, the head only hanging by a small piece of skin. Several persons by this time caine to the aid of the two constables, who seeing the man Young still alive, and the other unfortunate victims quite warm, instant', despatched a messenger for the aid of Mr. Chapman; surgeon, wb' attended with promptitude, but when he reached the house mother and child were quite dead. The man was still alive, when the surgeon saw the injuries he was of opinion that he not survive many minutes. He died in a quarter of an hour wards. From subsequent inquiry It appeared that Young been under the care of his friends at Hackney, owing to mind being somewhat impaired ; but on Saturday afternoon returned with a relative, who had great trouble with him on t way to Norwood In the omnibus. The whole of Saturday nig .- Mrs. Young sat up at work for the purpose of completing a smt "Bury Jail, April 12, 1847. order, and the supposition is that Young laid down on the be. "To the Governor—First of all I must confess that lam guilty, " Cahlrmoyle, April 14. and at the time of the murder his wife, worn out with labour, wen d very guilty of this awful crime, and well deserve the death "Sir,—ln your report of the proceedings of the meeting held at to sleep_ by his side, when he awoke and committed the dreadfu as lam condemned to die; and as lam soon to stand before Conciliation Nall upon last Monday, I andsthe following egpres. deed. Upon further search of the bodies the fingers on the lef r Heavenly Judge, 1 wish to speak the truth. lam sorry to Mons attributed to Mr. John 0 Connell Mr. O'grlen has hand of Mrs. Young were found to he much out, no doubt in Idbury, I botbillt the poison at the shop of mr. H. Ely, chemist, charged WI with Whig alliance, and with the most terrible eon- endeavouring to save herself from her husband's grasp. Her ulroe days before I mixed It in the druxt, cusb f sequences resulting from that alliance—the death of the people by death must have been instantaneous, from the appearance of the se to my husband. It was served to me by a young man in starvation. With regard to that Whig alliance, r dont wfsh to injuries. There is little doubt that Young meant to make his e shop. Mr. Ely was not present; had he been present he use any term of personal offensiveness to Mr. O'Brien, I will not, I escape, but when he saw the pollee so near, he retreated Into the mid have known we, as 1 had been frequently at his Chop on for every light and unguarded expression which he committed suicide.  •••••6