The Sun. — 1862-07-04 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A MAN AND HIS WIFE AT WALLASEY.  On Tuesday night, between 11 and 12 o'clock, a most distressing calamity happened at Wallasey, resulting in the untimely deaths of a young man named John Howard and his wife, Anna Howard. It appears that during the evening the deceased man was at a beer house at New Brighton, kept by a Mr. Copeland, and that about 11 o'clock his wife went to the house in question, and after some persuasion prevailed upon her husband to go home. A boy about twelve years of age, the brother of Howard, was in company with the latter and his wife as they were on their way home. A few minutes before they arrived near to a field in which is a deep pit called the " Captain's Pitt," some words took place between the husband and wife the hus, band being heard to say, " Well, you had a share of it ;" when the wife replied, "No, I had not." The husband rejoined," Well, I will see about that when we get home." Some further altercation having taken place between the unfortunate couPl.e' husband said he was determined to drown him self, and immediately after makingran g 4 11l away from his wife and brother, exclaitne aimme_ drown myself in the Captain's Pit." Hafathoms diately in the direction of the pit, sv-yhim, with the deep. His wife and brother folio wcearrying out his intention of preventing him from overtake him he the threat rash design ; but before they c. had arrived at the moment his distracted his coat and hat. At this moment him, and endeavoured wife and brother came P uthe pit, but he succeeded pit, and deliberately threw off to drag him away friufTrom their grasp, and, rushin extricating hinifsethe pit, threw himself in. The in a fit of frenzy and despair, ing to the edge fit o w,l, eoh, my God, he has drowned himunfortunate screamed out, ga is believed, with the intention of saysag his life,',, !" .7E,', if possible, herself dashed into the pit j The poor boy, as may well be imagined, himself with grief. After listenwas almost few moments (it was of course quite dark) ng for a after ihe beard astruggle and a few faint groans, and il. beside convinced that the unfortunate couple were both drowned, he ran to the public office—it being near 12 o'clock at night—and gave information btheaintghisbrother and sister-in-law had both just  been drowned in the Captain's Pit, Two of the officers, assisted by three men belonging to the Eg remont Ferry, want to the pit, taking with them a number of grappling irons, and after drag' ging for some time both bodies were drawn ou ence t' and ultimately taken to their resid, where they will remain till after the coroners inquest, which will take place at the Black Horse Inn, this afternoon, at five o'clock. deceased man (who was 28 years of age, and his wife 27) he very We hignlype thated in I thevanas unfortunateey, understandresetand enjoyed -u confidence and esteem of his employers. The Per; ties had been married about four years, and leave threa behind them one child, between two and years of age. The wife was considerably advance in pregnancy. Although to all appearance the ion ~, ceased lived very comfortably together, somethlfor must have been preying on the husband's mind', a we learn that about three weeks ago he attenciPbe suicide at New Brighton.