The Express. — 1863-05-15 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. Considerable excitement prevailed yesterday at Woolwich. in coovedueoee of the suicide of Mr. George Richard Roberta, a muter baker, for many years residing in that town, the act having been committed under ciimunMance, of a painful end extraordinary nature. It appears that a young woman, named Frances Eliza Pastas, for some months servant at the residence of Mr. Roberts, surrendered herself to the police, on her own confession, of basing attempted to poison her mistress on the previous Sunday, stating that she bad been instigatee. to commit this act by her master, between whom and herself an improper intimacy had ex;sted. The young woman WU removed to the Woolwich police-station, at noon yesterday, and, subsequently. Mr. Inspector Linvell had an interview with Mr. Roberts, informed him of the serious charge made against him, sod requested that he would voluntarily attend the police court at 3 o'clock, in order to be premot at the examination of his accuser, Paxton. To this request Mr. Roberts readily amented, bat about one hour afterwards he was found suspended to the beam in the roof of his stable, having committed suicide in a determined manner. Yesterday afternoon the you= woman, Frances Eliza Paxton, aged eighteen, was placed at the bar before Mr. Traill, charged on her ownconfession with attempting to administer to Elizabeth Roberts • quantity of vitriol, the same being deadly poison, with intent to commit murder. The only evidence adduced was that given by Police-Inspector Jas. Laird], of the R division, who said that on that morning he went to the residence of the prisoner's father, at 3, Charles-street, Woolwich, and saw the prisoner, whom he asked if it wee true that she bad =premed • wish to make an important statement to the police? The prisoner said it was, and witness cautiowed her in the usual manner. The prisoner then made • statement to the effect that on the previous Sunday evening her mistress was away from home, and her master sent her for two half pints of beer, which she obtained in two separate mugs. On her return she bad her supper and drank one of the half pints of beer, the other being intended for her mistrees. During the time that the prisoner was having her supper her muter was conversing with her, and complained that his wife kept such late bourn. Her master took • bottle from a shelf sad gave to the prisoner, saying, "That will settle her." The prisoner then, in the presence of her mister, poured a considerable quantity of the liquid from the bottle into the mug containing the beer, and afterwards went to bed. The prisoner also stated that her master had seduced her shortly after she entered his service. Inspector imtvill now produced the bottle, which was labelled "vitriol, poison," and contained a quantity of that fluid. He also stated that on returning home Mrs. Roberts was about to drink the beer, but rejected it in consequence of its unpleasant taste, and kept it until the following morning, when it was banded to Dr. Stuart, who at =de stated that it was mixed with poison. The prisoner was then remanded, and the magistrate directed that the beer pm. duced should be subjected to analysis. Mr. Cartier, coroner for the district, will bold an inquiry relative to the suicide.