The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-05-27 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HACKNEY TRAGEDY.  DOUBLE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Early on Tuesday morning a terrible tragedy took place at a coffee-house, 17, Amherst road, Hackney, whereby two persons lost their lives. It, appears that the hove was occupied by a man named Thomas Morgan, his wife, and stepson. Morgan, who has had ill health lately, was out with his wife on Monday, and returned at about ten. p.m, Some unpleasantness is believed to have occurred, and Morgan almost immediately retired to bed. His wife and stepson followed him some time later. At about half-put one in the morning the servants were aroused by the ringing of belle, and, thinking it was time to rise, got up and went downstairs. They knocked at the son's door, and getting no answer opened it and looked in. A fearful sight met their gaze. Across the bed was lying the dead body of the lad, with a bullet wound in the head. He had evidently been shot while asleep. An alarm was raised, and a police.constable proceeded to the house, and went into the back room on ti,e same floor as that occupied by the stepson. There he found the body of Mrs. Morgan lying on the floor in a pool af blood, with bullet wounds in the neck. She WM quite dead, though warm. On the other aide of the bed lay Morgan, groaning in terrible agony. Dr. White, the divisional surgeon, was called, and with Chief Inspector Bond, examined the surroundings. Morgan was dizoovered to have shot himself in the abdomen, a portion of the entrails protruding from the wound. His condition was so critical that he was instantly conveyed to the German Hospital, but no hopes are held out as to his recovery. Near where the man was found the police discovered a six-chambered revolver, four barrels having been emptied. The names of the deceased are Emma Morgan, aged 48 years, and Arthur Jennings, aged 15 years. It is stated that Mr. Morgan has been depressed lately on account of his unhealthy condition. It appears that last July Morgan had a paralytic stroke, and lost the use of his right limbs, as well as his voice. Since that time he has had periodical outbursts of passionate fits of temper, in one of which a short time bask he stabbed his wife In the waist. She was then advised to have him placed under restraint, but was loath to do so, as she hoped he would recover the full possession of his faculties. In this she was paiLielly advised by the doctor who attended Morgan; but latterly it seems that a change of medical advice had been taken, with the result that the necessary papers had been filled up for MS removal to an asylum, with the exception of a magistrate's signature. It was not an unusual occurrence for Morgan to chase his wife out into the street with a knife in his hand, and the customers in the shop would hurriedly make their exit when he was in one of his dangerous moods. Arthur .!ennings, the stepson, was out on Monday with a number of companions at the Tee-To-Tum sports, Stamfordhill Some of his friends agreed to call for him an Tuesday morning to go bathing in Victoria Park, but on arrival at the house they found a constable on duty at the door, and were then told the sad news. Mr. Harpur is of opinion that Morgan first shot his wife, then his son, and finally himself. The tragedy has caused considerable excitement in the neighbourhood, but to many who knew Morgan it does not come aa a surprise.