The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1886-10-22 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TERRDLE DOMESTIC TRAGEDY I, LONDON. • MoTRRa AND Rolla CHILDREN DROWNED• A Mathieu° tragedy of a must heart-rending character has been enacted at the quiet village ut Fulham, on the banks of the Thames, in whieh it married woman sacrificed the lives of four of het children and committed suicide herself. The Dunn of the woman is Frances Leader, and she was tin wife of a butcher residing at Camberwell, a animal of Lonch n. She was a native of Erika, and fornteu tie acquaintance of bet husband when alit was barmaid at a fadnunable hotel in Itivare. For several y. ars Mr. Leader act.ii La saliqlnt It to Beieral large firma, but alitta twelve lee itlis since he omrinenced businesa at Ca an t•er eI. The titoested wt luau was of delicate build, and livochtldren wete Loris as di° resut of the marriage. Of late their life bid not been a particuittriy happy one, and various causes aro assigned fur this. Mrs. Leader wan confined five months since; and although after this event she became desponding, her friends never aura` limed she would commit suoh a terrible deed. The facts leading up the terrible tragedy are theset—On Thursday morning the husband of the unhappy woman went to a neighbouring pucliehouse to get a glass of ale, and on his return he found his wile and the five children ready unsaid to leave the house. A painiul scene followed, the nwilirr, father, and children weeping pit oualy. she would team* the husband took the children into a bedroom, but they cried so for their mother that he let them go. According to the story, he begged her not to leave, but she persistently refused ; and, thinking she desired to go to her mother's offered her £4 for their fares. This she declined and immediately left, taking with her lienty aged nine, Robert seven, Charlie four, Frank three, and the baby live months. The husband did not follow, but what transpired is learnt from the lips of Robert, the survivor of the party. lie says they all walked to Vauxhall liridge, where his mother and brothers got ona steamboat and travelled au 1-r as Chelsta pier. They then had some tea, and walked about until dusk. Their mother then lock them down to Broomliouse Dock, where the terrible trug dy was enacted. The boy Robert states that when they leaohed the water's edge his mother had the baby in her arms, and Charlie and Frank wart on each side. His mother said she wanted to and so did his three brothers. lii. mother, the Itahy, and two young brothers quitikly disappeared, anti Henry caught hold of his hand and dragged him in. Be roasted, and henry said to hum "IL you are going out, I am going in to be drowned with mother." Isle then rushed down the sloping path, and, like his parent and brother, was quiekty os flied by the tide around .he chalk corn.r. towards Putney. lie then scrambled on the bank, aid was found by a man named Wilcox, about eight o'clook. he thou said he had been thrown into the river by a big boy, and gave several wrong tore-see. About ten t.'tilook the same nigh he watt taken t the Fulham Police Station, and hawlug be. is was.med, the harrowing truth was gradually elicited from him. Wind was sent to Mr. Lea Lier, and on Friday mornteg dragging operaliens were commit:toed. Ott Friday Hatry's body was brought tip, krauk's was ie.:vested on Saturday, and on Sunday the police iouud Charlie's remands. Thu ponce state there is some toundalion for the repert that the woman gave the children rums ithiaity be.ore they mite, ed the water. A..other ai count says :—The husband ot the deceased woman, on heartng about the affair, war leirildy out up. lie never dreamt she had thouglite of killing heraeli, for they had always lived happily together. Some people with whom Mr. an.. :lire. Leader had been living, say that they never knew them to quarrel. Mrs. Lead,,r, it is elated, was a dud, use aneholy woman, and wou,d nt epeak except when spoken to. She alaa3 a seemed very f• nd of her elulda en, and kir. Li der had been heard t. say, "There is no a more ti0V0(43.1 wife and mother than