The Sun. — 1870-03-09 (London, England)

TRAGEDY IN THE METROPOLIS.  A shocking discovery has been made at Old Ford. Eor some time past a man named Edward Banks and his wife Emma Banks; have occupied the house No. 12, Gretton-terrace, Old Ford-road. The man was a builder, but in consequence of failing in business had been c aupelled to become a jounieynian bricklayer. He let au upper room in his house to a respectable woman, who states that she had not noticed anything very peculiar about his manner, but Mrs. Banks frequently complained of the way in which her husband treated her. Mr. Flint, the landlord of the house, lived next door, and he took a dislike to his tenants in consequence of the way in which Banks treated his wife, and he on Monday week gave them notice to quit. When Banks received the notice he appeared to leeecine very much affected, and called upon Mr. Flint three times, and asked him whether he really wished that he should leave his house. Mr. Flint replied that he did, and Banks returned to his home. He then requested his female lodger to remove her goods and give up her apartments, and on Monday evening she did so. Banks and his wife were seen occasionally until Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday several persons noticed that all the blinds of the house were drawn down, and at seven o'clock on Saturday evening a young man named Edward Banks, a plumber, the son of the deceased, who resided in another part of the city, called at the house and knocked at the front door several times without receiving any answer. Ire then returned to his home, and determined to call again on Sunday evening. On Sunday night lie accordingly did so, and after having knocked at the door for half an hour he became alarmed, and called a policeman who was passing by, and told him he was afraid something serious had happened. Au entrance into the house was accordingly made, and on proceeding upstairs the young man found a bedroom door locked. This door was pushed in, and a horrible scene presented itself. The body of Emma Banks was found stretched across a bedstead, and that of her husband under the bed. A pan, in which charcoal had been burned was on the hearthstone, and all the air vents in the room were pasted over with paper. In the pocket of Mrs. Banks's dress was found a bottle containin,, laudanum and a letter, which was addressed- "To my mother." The letter was opened by the police, and inside, written by a female hand, were the words, "I can bear it no longer." The medical examination tended to shew that the unfortunate woman had been dead four days, and it seemed probable, from the appearance of the remains, that she had expired before her husband, and from this circumstance grave suspicions of the latter having been her murderer have been aroused. Some persons believe that the woman herself committed suicide with the laudanum, and that Banks afterwards thought of getting charcoal and ending his own. existence ; but of course conjectures of this kind must be extremely doubtful till further particulars are known. Ina cupboard in the room was discovered a ticket-of-leave declaring that the holder of it, Edward Banks, had been granted a licence after having been sentenced to five years' penal servitude for an assault with intent to murder upon Emma Banks, his wife. Up to the time of the discovery it was never supposed in the neighbourhood that Banks was a ticket-of-leave man, but he has now been recognised as such by the police. It would appear that some years ago Banks made by his business as a builder a considerable sum of money, and that he took premises in.Whiteoross-street and opened a linendraper's shop. In a few mouths he lost by that and other speculations all the money that ne had made as a builder. He had to sell off evnrything,• and having no capital to commence business with again was compelled to become a bricklayer. His altered circumstances appeared to prey upon his mind, and he was often known to have been in an irritable stated for days. It was -.line in this state he had formerly attempted to kill las wife by striking her with a piece of iron. Since _auks was allowed out of prison his old melancholy had returned, aml h.i was constantly behaving in a cruel manner to Mrs. Banks. It has been supposed that his landlord's notice to quit may have led the deceased •to imagine that his secret relating to his convict life was becominc, known, and that 11) therefore resolved to put au end Co his own and his wife's existence.  REMOVAt OF A LEGAL GRIEVAiTCE.—The new Act abolishing imprisonment for debt has incidentally removed what to debtors was regarded as a " legal grievance," by getting rid of all proclamation of outlawry. Since the days of Alfred, debtors after judgment have been proclaimed at county courts for five months, and in many cases the publicity or exposure has led to arrangements. By abolishing imprisonment for debt, the parties, if they surrender, cannot be taken to prison. On the last court day there was not a single case called, and it is expected that the cessation at the Sheriffs' Court will be Pf kinF pclutinauviae, WA.: • -tAk21,4a..,,