The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1873-11-13 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.  In London, on Saturday afternoon, at tbe Clorkenwell Police court, George Wilson, aged 61, who was described on the charge-sheet as of no occupation, residing at 36, Catherine-street, Islington, was charged with feloniously murdering hi. KM, Thomas Wilsou, aged 10 years, by striking ham on the head with a chopper, at the above address.  Mr, James William Oxley, a clerk in the post-office at Vere-street, Oxford-street. said : I reside in the next house to the prisoner. This morning about five minutes to nine, I was in my bedroom' about to wash myself, m when y son, who was in the back garden, called me. I hastened out, and BMW him looking over the rails that divide the two gardens. I looked, and saw prisoner's wife at the back window of prisoner's house. She was screaming out, "Come to my husband, Mr. Oxley; he has murdered my SOU Tom I" I jumped over the rails, took up a broom, went upstairs, and in the passage I observed prisoner clutching his little boy, who was on the ground. He had his arms entirely round the body of his son, and he was right over him, being on his knees. I seized hold of the right wrist of the prisoner, and at that moment he dropped an axe f ram his right hand. The axe dropped on the right hand side of the body, the prisoner holding the body up with his left hand. I pulled the prisoner away with great force, for the prisoner still clutched the body, and groaned and cried fearfully. The eldest son, who had just previously been having his bath, came up naked. With his assistance I pulled the prisoner away from the murdered child into the parlour, anii put him on a conch. I then went back to the child, and put the axe under the mat to hide it. I opened the street door, called for assistance, and sent for a medical man and the constable. Wi h assistance we put the child into a blanket, and into a cab, when we were met by Dr. Slater, who had the child removed into a chemist's shop and examined it. I observed that the child was completely deluged in blood, and had severe cuts on the head. Prisoner when he was placed in the parlour was restrained from leaving. P worked with the prisoner eighteen years since,Land he was a most affectionate father; in fact, he dusted on his children, and would not allow a hair of their heads to be injured. The prisoner has been cut of his mind for months. The prisoner, in answer to the magistrate, said he had no questions to ask. Dr. Slater, of 1, Thornhill-crescent, Barnebnry, said —This morning I was called to the prisoners' house, and when I got there the injured boy was being removed. I examined him, and found him suffering and bleeding profusely from an indeed wound just above the left temple, about three inches long. There was also a fracture of the skull. There was a little posterior to the first wound, • small lacerated one. There was a fracture of the skull about five or six inches long. The boy lingered until about half•past eleven this morning, when he died. The Magistrate : Nothing could be done for him?  Dr. Slater: Nothing, but to keep him quiet and to stop the bleeding. The axe produced a (nearly new one) might have caused the injuries. Both the blade and the back of the axe appeared to have been used. The boy was going to school, and his cap was covered with blood.  William Wilson, brother of the deceased, said: I was in the back kitchen of the house this morning about nine o'clock, having a bath, when I heard my mother scream. Immediately after she ran down to me, and said, "Father has killed Tom." Before that my mother had locked me in the room, as she was afraid father would do something to me. She unlocked the door, and I ran upstairs, meeting Mr. Oxley. I saw him trying to pull my father away from my brother Thomas, who was Tying in a posl of blood, and beside him was an axe. We got my father away, and he then exclaimed, "I have done it I have done it!" My father has been in a desponding state of mind for some time, and has attempted to commit suicide. We have been in treaty for his removal to an allylum. The Magistrate: Has he always been a kinorfather ? Witness: Oh, yes; he has been one of the bee:, of fathers until he went out of his mind.  ------- --- --..—. —.-- -- --. Inspector Bavy here asked for a remand. The Magistrate said there was sufficient evidence at present, and remanded the prisoner until Friday next.