Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1895-03-09 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

DEATH DIVELDFUL TRAGEDY IN LONDON. OF SIR HEMS EAWLINEON. WIFE AND SIX CHILDREN ILLOWEBED Sir Henry Rawlinson died on Tuesday at his BY A FATHER residence Charleastreet, London. The deceased A domestic tragedy occurred at Tooting, palter- baronet served his country with great distinction day (Thhrsday), morning, at the house of • in India, Persia, and other Eastern lands, and his t sterer named Taylor, in Fountain Road. baronetcy was conferred upon him in recognition Nelflabours heard sounds of tootling, and the of his great services. The distinguished Oriental pollee were informed. On an entry being made scholar-soldier, who was 85 years of age, was into the premises it was discovered that Taylor I seized with influenza on Wednesday last, and had murdered his wife and six children and rapidly grew worselantil Sunday, when great hopes subsequently committed suicide. He had been wereentertained of hisreoovery. On Monday morn- out of work for-some time. ing, however, there was a relapse; and Sir Henry The boy, Frank Taylor, who is about 16 yam gradually sank, and passed away at six o'clock on of age, states that he heard screams, and the Tuesday morning, in presence of his family, father came in and called out. "Frank, when In you 7 " It was dark st the time, sad when the boy moved, his father eels si hold of him. I did not know what to do," said the lad, "till he pushed my bead b kon the pillow, screwing it round a bit, and then I felt something keen, and then something warm. I managed to wriggle out of bed, and run downstairs to call in the neighbours. The Press Association states that the first report that six children had been killed proves to be correct. The family consisted of Frank Taylor and his wife and family of seven, the names of the children being Frank, aged 14. Maggie 18, Annie 11, Florence 7. Frederick 6, Willie 8, and George aged 1 year and 8 months. Taylor, who was sleeping with his wife in the front bedroom, first cut the unfortunate woman's throat with • razor, and then proceeding to the back bedroom, he deliberately cut the throats of and killed ail his seven children except Frank. Then with . exclamations and moans, whioli betrayed his mental agony, he retreated to his own room and out his own throat, falling across the lifeless body of his wife. The boy Frank, in a later statement, say' he was the first to be attacked by his father. The other children began to scream and he thereupon left him IFrank), and killed the others one by one the last victim being Florrie. Before he killed Florrie, however, there wan an interval, which Taylor spent in sharpening the razor. When the police arrived on the scene the rooms were covered with blood, and were perfect shambles. Taylor was still breathing, but he was suable to make any statement, and expired as stated on the way to the hospital. The bodies of five of the children were found huddled together on the bed, the state of which indicated that they had made a feeble attempt to escape their maddened father's onslaught The tragedy has caused the greatest exoitement in the neighbourhood, and much sympathy is felt for the unfortooate family. No one had beard Taylor threaten to kill either himself or his family, and he was never suspected of being capable of I committing such a crime.