The Sun. — 1863-08-22 (London, England)

STAMPED ...M.  Attempted Murder and Horrible Suicide at  Yesterday morning the vicinity of Bethnal-green was again thrown into a painful excitement through a most determined attempt at murder and a terrible case of self-destruction, which took place at 8, Goodland-terrace, Upper Green-street, Bethnalgreen (only a short distance from the scene of the late tragedy), where a shocking spectacle presented itself.  It appears that the deceased, a man named George Williamson, had been in the service of the London Dock Company, and was a member of their rifle corps. He had latterly given way to habits of intemperance, and lived rather unhappily with his wife, who was an industrious woman. The deceased did not return home on Thursday night ; but at 7 o'clock yesterday morning he entered the house in a state of half-obliviousness, when he found his wife at breakfast. He demanded the money she had in her possession and threatened her. She gave him a portion of the cash she had, and he wished for the whole. He then seized her and threw her upon the bed, when he drew a tableknife across her throat, but she, being a powerful woman, forced him back, but, in the act, her hands were severely cut. She escaped from the house, and left the deceased in the room about seven o'clock. There were no other persons in the house, and she proceeded to the residence of a relative in the neighbourhood. About halfpast 10 o'clock she sent a little boy (her brother) t 6 the house to see if the deceased was there, and when the boy went upstairs into the first-floor front room he discovered the deceased (George Williamson) in a sitting position, with his head literally blown to atoms. The boy rushed from the house, in a state of terror, and hastened back, and when he saw the wife he said, " Oh, he has cut his throat !" The wife lost no time in repairing to the house, and the neighbours, who had been alarmed by a loud report of fire-arms, had collected in front of the buildingPolice-constable Tarri,n t, 122 K, was attracted to the spot, and a messenger ran for Dr. Meldola, of Greenstreet, who promptly hastened to the house, where an extraordinary scene was presented to him. He found that the room was covered with blood, and the deceased was leaning against the wall with the back portion and top of his head blown away, the face being still uninjured. Tne medical gentleman and Mr. J. W. Burrows, the coroner's officer of the district, discovered a rifled gun placed at the height of about five feet across the upright posts of the bedstead. The butt end of the gun was fixed against tie wall and the barrel in two parts was tightly bound round with core. There was a long piece of cord tied to the trigger, and it would seem that the deceased had deliberately placed the right side of his head against the muzzle of the gun, which had been discharged through the head. The brain wasscattered in every direction upon the ceiling, walls, and front window. The teeth and lower jaws were also shattered, and it is a singular fact that a portion of the I charge from the gun had passed through the upper portion of a portrait of her Majesty the Queen which was hanging on the wall. There is no doubt but what the deceased must have died simultaneously.  Mr. Burrows subsequently searched the room and found several percussion caps and a box of blank cartridges belonging to the authorities of the corps be was attached to. The police took charge of the knife which was given up at the station in Bethnal-green-road by the wife, who had the wounds upon her handi, dressed at the London Hospital by Mr. King, the house-surgeon. Last evening Mr. John Humphreys, the coroner for the county of Middlesex, received information respecting the sad occurrence, and an inquest will be held on the body this (Saturday) afternoon.