The Warwickshire Herald. — 1887-07-28 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE. A SHOCKING THADIEDT. _ _  A shocking— e'Veiti occurred at Southampton. A young man named Dalton Richardson, ago 1 23, a clerk in the Royal Mail Company's office, resided with his widowed mother and sisters in Laura Place, and the other evening, while in his usual health and spirits, he went to the Royal Pier to listen to the band. He ol atted freely with the friends he met,and nothing seemed to be the matter with bun. He returned home close upon half-past eleven, and found the front door bolted, at which he was considerably annoyed, although he had been told by his mother that if he was not in by eleven o'clock the door would be looked. One of his sisters came down suit let him in, and remonstrated with him for :wing so late, when he flew into a passion. He went into a room where his supper was laid, commenced knocking (ho things about, and declared he would murder all in the house. He followed this by going upstairs, getting two revolvers, and making a rush for his mother, who succeeded in locking herself in the bed-room. The other inmates were alarmed by the noise ; his sister Emma went up to protect her mother, and he tired at her, tho shot taking effect in the breast. Ho then attacked a second sister, Ilorenae, who rushed to the drawing-room window and screamLd. " Murder " and "Help." While she was at the window her brother shot her in the ne&c. The reports of the revolver were heard by souse young men who were passing and by Police-constable Boggle's. Mr. Vaughan, jun., burst open the door, and accompanied by the policeman and others, went in, wheu they found the young women in a pool of blood, Emma lying just inside the drawing-room door, and Florence in the same room in a sitting position. The former was evidently dying, but the latter was conscious. ! Bogglen said to Miss Florence, "Who did this ? " and she replied, "Dalton, my brother." Medical aid was at once sent for. Florence, who was shot in the neck, clasped her sister's hands in hers, and exclaimed, "Oh, my poor sister," adding a request to one of the by-standers to cover her. Emma gave one or two slight gasps and died. Search was thou made for the murderer, and he was found on the second landing outside the bed-room door of the servant, who, on hearing his throats and the shots, hail locked herself in, he having tried to get into her room, and threatened to shoot her. Richardson was removed into a back room, where it was found that he had shot hisnself in the roof of the mouth. He had a revolver in his hand and there was another on the floor. Another sister, ten years of age, on hearing the shots, became terrified, and secreted herself in the bedding. She and her other sisters had gone or were preparing to go to bed. Richardson died about 25 minutes to one. Mr. Hoare, who resides next door to the Richardsons, states he had retired to rest, and was awoke by hearing reports which he at first thought were produced by explosion of gas. He commenced dressing, and directly afterwards heard screams, and his servant girl came down staiss and exclaimed that cries of murder were coining from some one in Mrs. Richardson'n house. This announcement caused him to run down to Mrs. Richard,on'e door, which had by this time been broken open. Everything was quite dark in the house, and they only had the light of a constable's lamp to guide then,. He accompainied the other persons present upstairs, and on the floor of the trout room he first noticed Miss Emma Richardson, who was in a sitting position. Some one took hold of her before he could reach her, but he saw she was quite dead. Close by, and in a crouching position, was her sister Florence, bleeding from a wound in or near her breast, and her garments were covered with blood. The young ladies were only partially dressed. Florence was quite o 118CiOUP, and was lifted from near the window and placed on a sofa. Mr. Hoare saw a bullet hole through the centre of the door. After leaving this apartment they ascended a short flight of stairs, and found Richardson lying on the lauding. lie was groaning heavily, and blood was flowing from his mouth. They removed him it) another room, and laid him upon a bed. During the whole of this time they only had the policeman's lamp to assist them; but a gas jet was subsequently lighted. Mrs. Richardson had shut herself in her room, being greatly alarmed, and, while her son lay on the landing, she refused to come out. She repeatedly asked, "Where is he ? Who is it that is shot ? Is it Emmie ? Surely he would not hurt Emmie." When the young man was removed Mrs. Richardson accompanied Mrs. Meldrum to her house, nearly opposite. Mr. Richardson, father of the young mats (who died four or flve years ago) was cashier in the Royal Mail Company's Office. The deceased son, who was a cargo clerk, had been upon a voyage, but a sunstroke prevented his following a seafaring career.