Glasgow Courier. — 1848-09-30 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

APPALLING TRAGEDY IN TOXTETH-PARK, LIVERPOOL. SUPPOSED MURDER OF • WIFE BY HER HUSBAND, AND SUICIDE OF THE LATTER.  On Sunday morning, about ten o'clock, the inhabitants of Chester Street, Totteth Park, Liverpool, were alarmed by the rumour that a murder had been oommitted by • man named Robt. Howarth, residing In that street, who, it was stated, bad first killed his wife, and afterwards committed suicide. The circumstances of this dreadful event are as follow :—The supposed murderer, who Is about forty-seven years of age, was a dealer in cattle, and was until recently a whofesale confectioner, occupying a shop in St. James's Street, Toxteth Park. For some time back neither his wife nor family have resided with him, in consequence of some family differences. Since the separation Howarth had made his 'l'M:certain allowance, and on Friday evening she went to the ..ouse for the purpose of receiving the usual monthly stipend him. As she did not return, her friends became alarmed u e evening advanced, and some of them remained about the.. until between one and two in -the morning, expecting het -iitipsy ] minute to make her appearance. She, however, did not de Oh and, not having returned on Saturday morning, they became skill more alarmed, and again went in search of her, but did not succeed in finding her anywhere. The day passed over without any tidings having been heard of the deceased, and her friends because more and more alarmed. The intelligence of her absence vu, on Sunday morning, communicated to a servant in the employ of her husband, and, about seven o'clock, this person, having the key of the back door of Howarth's residence, proceeded there along with three other person,, and, after making a search for a few minutes, they went up stairs into one of the bed-rooms, where the most horrifying spectacle was presented. The unfortunate woman was found lying stretched on the floor of the bed-room gains dead, her head and face being surrounded by a large pool of blood. Her dress wee 'also torn open, and the disordered state of her hair and other general appearances of the body gave evident indications of violence having been used upon her. The body was lying straight out, with the head from the bed and the legs under it. They then drew the clothes from off the bed, where they discovered the body of her husband. They at first thought that he was asleep, but on a closer inspection they ascertained that he also was dead. The body of the husband did not exhibit the slightest marks of violence; neither was there any appearance about the fain to indicate death, the deceased looking as if in a sound sleep. On searching the bed-room no deadly weapon of any description was found; but on again going down stairs into the kitchen, a cup was discovered, containing a mixture supposed to be arsenic, and this opinion was strengthened by there being a considerable number of dead flies upon the table, lyingda drops of what was supposed to be a portion of the same mixtare. lt appears, from information which we recently received from the relatives of the deceased woman, that, on Friday evening, her husband was dreadfully agitated in consequence of having lost a considerable sum of money In • purchase of cattle, and he repeatedly said to his wife's sister, early that evening, that he was almost inclined to deprive himself of his life, at the same moment drawing his hand across his throat, and exclaiming, . Oh, I could do that just now I" It is supposed that the murder roust have been committed, at the latest, on Saturday morning, twenty-four hours before the discovery took place; for the unfortunate man, who, at that time had no use with him in the house but his wife, (his housekeeper having gone from home a few days previous,) went to &neighbouring house about eleven o'clock on Saturday morning, and complained that he was very sick and ill. He then wait into the house again, and was not seen afterwards until he was discovered as already described. During several hours early on Sunday morning the relatives frequently knocked at the house door, but receiving no answer, and, on looking through the key-hole, seeing his hat, coat, &c., they felt satisfied something was wrong, which led to the search by which the dreadful deed was discovered. Whether the murder was effected by poison or by some other means is not yet known; but it appears from the state of the deceased woman's body that towards her great violence had been committed.—Liverpool Albion.  wife house