The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-08-19 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

CEDER AND SUICIDE TN NEWCASTLE.. —Early on Monday a woman named Bridget M'Laughton, the wife of Samuel M'Laughton, a furniture broker, residing in the Dog Bank, Newcastleon-Tyne, cut her husband's throat with a razor, and then cut her own with the same weapon. The bullhead has been twice 'carried, the unhappy woman being his /mooed wife, and she is much younger than her husband. They had no family. The woman, Dl'Laughten, has been for a lengthened period of time addicted to intemperste habits, and the neighbours also affirm that she was no worse in that respect than her husband. It appears that on Sunday night, about nine o'clock, M'Laughton's wife was standing at the door of her own house. He asked her to go to bed, when site made some sort of evasive reply. He was then in bet himself. She did notgo to bed till about half-past twelve o'clock. at which time her husband was lying awake. He was lying on the outside of the bed, and his wife next the wall—or rather, we should say, his wife was at the side of the bed, but was not in a recumbent position, She was on her knees, unnovered by the bed clothes. Her husband tried to persuade her to lie down and fall asleep, but she persisted in keeping that strange position. Ho confessed to • feeling of surprise at her actions, hut took no steps to compel her to take bee place by his side. Whatever his cogitations may have been upon the subject of her strange conduct they do not appear to have kept him awake, for lie fell asleep; but a little after 4 o'clock be was aroused by his wife asking him to got up and get her a drink of water. He complied, and gave her • drink, at the same time taking one himself. He then lay down again, and appears to have immediately fallen into a slumber, in which he remained till about halfpast 4 o'clock. About that time he was suddenly awoke by • keen sensation of pain. His horrors may be imagined on finding his wife bending over him in the act of cutting his throat with a razor. The razor WM an old one, which ho was in the habit of using as a knife in operations connected with his business. To make it more effective he had taken it out of its proper handle and stuck it in • piece of wood, fastening it securely in with twine. It was thus • much more formidable weapon than it could have been if in its original state. It generally lay about the house, and on the Sunday night had been left on the window sill, near the bed, and within reach of the unfortunate woman. It is surmised that she must have determined upon the commission of the crime before retiring to rest, and for that purpose had taken the razor to bed with her, to be used upon the first opportunity, or she had, whilst her husband was asleep, reached over him to the window, and obtained possession of the murderous weapon. He found his wife on awaking, as already stated, in the very act of tutting his throat. With the Instinct of self-preservation lie jumped an, shouting " Bridget, you are cutting my throat," defending himself as hest as he could against her frenzied assault. Before, however, he could offer any opposition to her, she had succeeded in cutting his throat abnost from ear to ear, close under the chin. The blood welled out in torrents, and saturated his night dress. In the struggle between them he received a very severe cut upon the right arm, and another wound of a trifling character upon his left hand. At last he managed to escape from her, and, rushing to the door, unfastened it, and ran rapidily up the street, calling loudly, "Murder I"" Police I" Porta.nately it was found that none of the principal arteries were severed. In the meantime a policeman went to li'Laughton's house. In the bedroom he discovered Mrs. M'langhton in the act of cutting her own thrast, sawing away at it most determinedly. She presented a horrible appearance, the blood pouring from the deep wounds she had succeeded in inflicting upon herself. The officer at once seized her hand, and prevented her doing any further injury to herself. He only obtained possession of the razor after • severe struggle, the unhappy women holding by it in the most determined manner, but he at last succeeded in wresting it from her after a considerable exertion of strength. She was conveyed to the police station, and medical assistance was procured. Her injuries appeared to have been much more severe than those she Lad inflicted upon her husband, but she was conveyed to the Infirmary, and hopes are entertained that she may recover.