The Sun. — 1860-02-08 (London, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE AT COVENTRY.  Not two months have elapsed since the extreme penalty of the law was executed at Warwick on the wretched man John Kington, who, it will be remembered, was sentenced to death at the last assizes for the brutal murder of his wife. Another crime has been committed withiu the precincts of the same city, of a nature, if possible, even more revolting than the preceding one. The crime is that of wife murder. Tho murderer, who also put an end to his own existence in a most determined and fearful manner, was a butcher named Henry Fawson. Some 14 or 15 years ago he married the woman whom he has now in so horrible a way deprived of Shortly after their marriage, it appears, they separated, certain circumstances having come to the husband's knowledge which caused him to suspect his wife's chastity previous to their union. The husband went to America ; the wife, we believe, remained at home. Certainly she did not accompany him. Thirteen years, or about that period, elapsed, and the husband returned to his native country—not a wealthy man, for on his return ho seems to have set up a small butcher's shop in a district of the city inhabited principally by the working classes, called Hillfields, in the vicinity' of which is the scene of the recent murder by Kington. About five months ago his wife came to live with him again,:and since then and up to the time of her death she has been sheltered under his roof. Fewson is said to have possessed a very violent and hasty temper, and it is believed by the neighbours that ever since their mullion they have not lived on the best terms. On Monday, from circumstances which came under the cognisance of the neighbours, it was known that he was not so good-tempered even as usual towards his with, though he did not alarm the neighbours by any violent outburst of passion. The unfortunate couple appear to have rettrcd to bed about their usual hour on Monday night. Nothing more was heard of them till betweed 2 and 3 o'clock this morning, when the people in the adjoining house heard some slight groans proceed from Fawson's dwelling, and a noise such as would be produced by sonic heavy substance falling down. Soon after 6 yesterday morning grocer named Wakeman, also a next-door neighbour to Fawson, heard groans and cries of " Murder" proceed from the house of tke latter. He informed a shopkeeper opposite, named Snaps, of the circumstance. Snapp, who knew the viol cut character of Fawson, advised Wakeman to take. no steps in the matter, but to wait and sd"wwabkaet further transpired. Nine o'cloe.: pat: d nhliasnweixfeprveessreedli it)iiicai to n'Fsa:': were anaconfirmed by the fact that neither of them had made their appearance, and the shutters of the shop Were murdered.ihis fil. not removed according to custom at such an hour. by means of a back window, Snap. m conviction jiissus Ten o'clock passed, and, the house still remaining closed, it was resolved to force an entrance. This being the first and a policeman , to enter the house. The bedroom presented a terrible spectacle. The bedstead and bedding, the cieling and the floor, s•as effected were all besmeared and bespattered with blood. The wretched man Fawson lay " doubled up" at the foot of the bed, his throat cut, stabbed in his breast, and his brains scattered about him. It is evident that in the heat of his passion he cut and stabbed himself in ineffectual efforts to destroy life, and then, being unable to despatch himself so quickly as he wished with a knife, he went down stairs and procured a gun, with which he returned and shot himself through the head. Both weapons lay near at hand. On the bed lay the unfortunate woman, his wife, weltering in her blood. Her throat had been cut in a most determined and effectual manner. Both were quite dead and cold.