The Sun. — 1840-06-06 (London, England)

SUICIDE.  The neighbourhood of Compton-street has within the last few days been visited by hundreds of persons anxious to obtain a view of the place where the unfortunate man, Gingell, perpetrated the two-fold crime of murder and suicide. It appears from inquiry that the quarrel which led to this result was as follows : Mrs. Gingell worked at the boot and shoe-binding business for a large firm on Snow-bill, the rule of which establishment was, that the work should be brought home on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On last Tuesday three weeks Mrs. Gingell took home her work, and returned as soon as able. When Gingell came home in the evening, he learned that she had been out, and demanded to know where she had been. She refused to tell him, and words ensued, when Gingell seized her by the throat, and forced her to tell him by nearly strangling her, which he declared he would do if she did not. On the following morning she showed her neck to the lodgers, and it was much blackened, by the pressure of his fingers. She left the house on the following Saturday afternoon, leaving on the table a slip of paper containing the following :—" Gingell—This makes the fourth time that we have separated. This, however, is the final. You have conquered me—what no man should have done, and what no man shall ever do again. Adieu for ever." Gingell came home at nine o'clock on that evening, and finding her gone, and discovering the paper,. became almost frantic. He cried bitterly, and praised his wife above all women, but took no notice whatever of the children. He went out shortly after, an it has been ascertained proceeded direct to her father's house, where he created great disturbance, and demanded his wife to be given up to him. The father resisted, but Gingell was ultimately permitted to set her. He urged her to return with him, but she positively refused, and it was subsequently arranged that they should all go to Hatton Garden Police-office on the following Monday, and agree to separate in the presence of the Magistrate. They went there, and met Gingell, but he refused to go in, and upon his promising not again to molest his wife, they separated. Notwithstanding this promise, Gingell was continually seen in the neighbourhood of her father's residence, and when she went out dogged her about from place to place. Mrs. Gingell left her father's house shortly after nine o'clock on the morning of 'ruesdai, last, to take home some work to Snow-hill, and on leaving, said to her mother that she should call on her way back, and see John, meaning her brother, residing at 57, Compton-street. The father states his belief to be, that Gingell again followed his wife, and on Ler return towards he: brother's accosted her with a view to induce her to return home with him, when the sad catastrophe took place. Gingell was exceedingly jealous of his wife—so much so, that he would not take her out himself for fear the men should look at her. Gingell worked on the railway, and appeared a very steady and hard-working man ; his wages were 18s. a-week. He occupied a back parlour furnished, and paid up his rent regularly until the last month. The unfortunate children have been received into the St. Pancras workhouse.