The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-09-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DREADFUL CASE OF WIFE MURDER AND SUICIDE AT WATERFORD.  A lamthl fate murder toul Suicide has been perpetrated by Dr. Henry helmsmen, of Waterford The following particulars are from the Irish Times;— The murderer and his victim, it appears, were strongly attached to each other, but Dr. Lannagan had become addicted to intemperate habits, and a quarrel arose as to what particular clergyman should baptize the child. Dr. Lannagan had been drinking on the day of the fatal occurrence. The sequel is thus narrated "When dinner was hid, according to their servant's evidence, the question of the christening of their boy was introduced. A slight altercation took place between them, after which he seized the carving knife and in a threatening attitude hel it to her throat. If however, laid it down again on the table ; but no Sla,aar had he done so than he sprang towards a docile. barrelled gun which was in the room, but just as Ire Was presenting it at her the servant's eye caught him. After apparently a moment's struggle with himself, he lai lit down and returned to tie dinner table. No sooner had he done Bo than he put his feet to the table, and upsetting it a attered the dinner utensils about the room. At seeing this Mrs. Lannagan fled from the Waaa' and taking her infant from the nursery she sought the houre of a neighbouring farmer named Hunt.  "After Mrs. Lannagan left the house the doctor sat down aml partook of dinner, and having finished he lifted a newspaper, and proceeding into the kitchen he threw himself on a sofa that was stationed there, and lay down to read it. The servant girl, Bridget Mackey, noticing that he bad apparently calmed down, spoke to him, and he replied. • I will kill Mrs. Lannagan and then shoot myself." She replied that he would be hung if he did that, but he made no reply, and for some tims seemed earnestly perusing the newspaper he held in his hand. She then went down to Hunt's and advised her mistress to go up house as the doctor was calm, but, as she states, she did not tell her of his threats because she had frtquently heard him giving utterances to such threats when he was under the influence of drink. After some titre Mrs. Lannagan returned hone, but she told her servant to keep the infant in Hunt's, and that she would herself go up and order the car at once to convey her to her friends in Waterford, as she was determined not to sleep in her own house again. On going into the parlour the doctor shut the door, and in a few minutes the report of a gun was heard by a lad in the house, and an exclamation from the doctor, 'By she is gone.' ~Th, lad, who is about thirteen years of age, sat on in the kitchen not feeling the least alarmed at the report of the gun, but about three minutes after, as he was passing the parboir door, the doctor opened it, and orders d him immediately to get the horse in the car and dr:ve it to his mottoes residence in Waterford. The lad immediately left the house, and going to the stable, which is about fifty yards from the house, did as he was ordered. He, however, forgot his coat, but on returning to the house to procure it he found the door locked, and heard the doctor groaning heavily within. He knocked for about half an hour, but getting no answer he went down to Hunt's and got assistance, and an entrance was effected by the parlour window, when stretched on the floor, was observed lying in a pool of blood the doctor and his wife. The wife had a gaping wound in lo r face, and the doctor had a horrid gash in his forehead, and a discharged pistol in his right hand.  .... 'lntimation was at once conveyed to the Bailyduff polio-station, and from thence to Dr. Martin, Portlaw. The occurrence took place about half-past six, and about half-past eight Dr. Martin arrived. On examining the doctor he found that the contents of a pistol were lodged in his forehead arid part of the brain protruding; he was still breathing, but rapidly dying. The face of Mrs. Lannagan preFented a shocking appearance, the whole roof of the mouth, the root of the tongue, and the lower jaw being shattered into atoms, from the effects of a gun shot. "The doctor's opinion is that death must have been instantaneous. The unfortunate man succumbed about half-past twelve. The Rev. Mr. Perry arrived shortly after the fi arful occurrence took place. "Theunfortunate couple were aged respectively about thirty-six, and were universally esteemed and beloved by all who knew th "The jury gave as their verdict that Dr. Lannagan wilfully murdered his wife by shooting her with a gun, and that he subsequently committed suicide while under the influence of drink."