The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1867-08-27 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE IN LAMBETH.  A terrible tragedy toot plate in Lambeth on Thunday night—viz., the murder of two children by their mother, and the suit:Casa the hapless woman. She wait the wife of Mr. Charles Roberta, a master plumber and painter, living at 51, Chester-street, Kennington-road. They had three children—Charles. aged 12 ; Annie, sged 10; and Frederick, aged 7; and it is the younger two who have met so tragic a fate. About 20 minutes to five o'clock on Thursday slternoon, Mrs. Hill, a neighbour, heard loud cries of murder, end proceeded at ones to the garden in front of Mr. Roberts's house. She there met the boy Charles, who, ins frightened sad elated state, said, "Oh, Mrs. Rill, mother has killed the two, and will kill me." Mrs. Hill at once hestened into the house by the front door, and feend both putout.' empty. She then proceeded to the besement Boor, were in one of the rooms she found Kra Roberts lying noir Oho doorway longing to the book yard, La •  pet of blood, and bleeding tress • frightful gash on the left ann, just above the elbow. gam ndd, "Mrs. Roberts. what have you dont r The unfortunals women bad become so weak from the lan of ideog that she eould scarcely articulate, but vs megammail to make some menticn of bar ohildrea. The dyieg woman hod in h.rrigbt hand • white.haniled table knife Mrs. Hill called in • neighbour, with wised* allietanwe the almost inanimate body was removed to the hearth rue. The alarm having been given, add mealeel serietanee called in, it was found that the poor woman had Waisted • deep puncture in the left are. by which the most important muscles bad been divided. She was then dead. Several tried,Leel gentleman soon arrived upon the mot. I'. polioe and the mediae' gentleman were induced from the expressions suede use of by the boy Charles to make their way upstairs. On through the back bedroom over the Id en, to a small lumber-room opening out of it, lbe lifeline body of Frederick was found. He was lying ea his left side, with his heads clouded end covered with blood. The poor boy's throat was eat from ear to ear, and there was little miasma of any straggle having taken phoe. In the first floor front bedroom, lying on the door upon her left side, was the corpse of the poor child Lanka whops head, neck, and bosom, were besmeared with blood. She was !On& outstretched between the bed and the wuhstand. Her right arm was extended, and her left hand just visible from beneath the body was tightly clenched. The coverlet of the bed was stained with blood, as also the washstand. Here evidently • straggle bad takeu place between the poor child and her mother, who had, as in the ease of the boy, Indicted a severe gash on the girl's throat. The olden boy Charles, who first gave the alarm to Mrs. Hill, was afterwards taken to her house, where, eel heenjreetioned, he made the following statement was playing in the garden with Fred, between four and o'clock this after-nom, when mother came down and said, 'Fred., I want you.' went with her upstairs and then beard • bump. I then ran aerial= te the blob room over the kitchen, and there saw Freddy Rifting in the child's chair. Mother was then in the act of 'Mewing' his neck with the knife. She than threw him off the chair down upon the floor, and the blood Laredall over the pima I tben rushed down. risfollowed by mother. I said, 'What's the matter with Freddy? She said 'He's • Mother then ran upstairs again to the front bsdroem. where sister Anuio was lying on the bed inffering from • Pella In the chest. Mother took bold Of bet. genie said. 'Oh, mother. fro wwwinewefor maybe, art TOO 1101141 to Or r Mother said 'I will you,' end thee drew the knife backwards amt mem Ansie's throat. I was in the doorway and saw this. I was frightened, ' and ran away down stairs, through the front and batik kitchen into the garden, and cried 'Murder,' and 'Help,' Mother stopped in the doorway of the kileivin. and I said, 'Oh, mother, what am you galas to do and she answered, 'l'll stab myself.' I than -am her thrust the knife into her arm, and the blood spurted out all over the place." Mr. Roberts earns home from a contrast be was carrying out in the Borough, pushed his way through the crowd, end mom harmed the fatal news. At the inquest on Friday, the jury returned a verdict" That the deceased, Alum Maria Roberts, having wilfully =ordered her two children, destroyed her own life whilst in • state of unsound mind."