The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-11-15 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.  In London, on Saturday afternoon, al the Clerkenwell Pal:won* George Wilson, aged 64„ who was described on the chargosheet ea of no occupation, reeldhig at It, Catherine-street, Islington, was charged with feloniously murdering his son, Thomas Wilson, aged 10 years, by striking him on the heed with a chopper, at the above addrees.  Mr. James William Oxley, a clerk in the poet-office at Vero-street, Oxford-street, said : I reside in the next house to the prisoner. This morning about five minutes to nine, I was in my bedroom' about to wash myself, when my son, who was in the back garden, called me. I haetened out, and saw him looking over the rails that divide the two gardens, flocked, and saw prisoner's wife at the back window of prisoner's hon.. She was screaming out, "Come to my husband, Mr. Oxley; he has murdered my son Tom! ' , I jumped over the rails, took up a broom, went upstairs, and in the passage I observed prisoner clutching his little boy, who was on the ground. lie had his arms entirely round the body of his son, and he was right over him, being on his knees. I seized bold of the right wrist of the prisoner, and at that moment he dropped an axe from his right hand. The axe dropped on the right-hand aide of the body the prisoner holding the body up with I his left hand. pulled the prisoner away with great force, for the prisoner still clutched the body, and groaned and cried fearfully. The eldest son, who had ' just previously been haying his bath, came up naked. With his substance I pulled the prisoner away from the murdered child into the parlour and put him on a couch. I thee went bank to the silt and put the axe under the niat to hide it, open the street door, called for aamistance, and seat for a medical man and the constable. WI assistance we put the child into a blanket, and into a cab, when we were met by Dr. Blatez, who had the child removed into a chemiet's shop and examined it. I observed that the child was mom. pletely deluged in blood, end had severe cub on the head. Prisoner when be was placed in the parlour was restrained from leaving. I worked with the prisoner eighteen years since and he was a most affectionate father • In fact, he &LAW on his children, and would not allow a hair of their heads to be injured. The prisoner has been out of his mind for months;  The prisoner, in answer to the ,siagistrate, said be had no questions to auk. Dr. Slater, of 1, Tnorithillerescent, Barnsbnry, said —This morning I wee &lei to the prisoners house, e,nd when I got there the injured boy was being removed. I examined hint, and found him suffering and bleeding profusely from an incised wound just above the left temple, about three Inches long. There was also • fracture of the skull. There was a little posterior to the first wound, a mall lacerated one. There was a fracture of the skull about five or in inches long. The boy lingered until about half-past eleven this morning, when he died. The Magistrate: Nothing could be done for him? Dr. Slater : Nothing, but to keep him quiet and to atop the bleeding. The axe produced • (nearly new one) might have caused the injuries. Both the blade and the back of the axe appeared to have been lased. The bons warn going to school, and his cap was covered with blood.  William Wilson, brother of the deceased, said I wee In the back kitchen of the house this morning about nine o'clock, having a bath, when I heard my mother scream. Immediately after .he ran down to me, and said, "lather has killed Tom." Before that in, mother had locked me in the room, as she was afraid father would do something to me. She unlocked the door, and I ran npsteirs, meeting Mr. Oxley. I saw him trying to poll my father away from my brother Thome, who ws• lyieg in a poet of blood, and beside him was an axe. We got my father away, and he then exclaimed, "I have done it I I have done it I " My Whet has bean in ializsonding state of mind for some time, and ham attempted to commit suicide. We have been in treaty far removal to an asylum, TM Magid:Me : Him be always been • kind father?