The Sun. — 1848-09-25 (London, England)

SUPPOSED MURDER OF A WIFE BY HER HUSBAND, AND SUICIDE OF THE LATTER.  Yesterday morning, about ten o'clock, the inhabitants of Chester-street, Toxteth-park, were alarmed by the rumour that a murder had been committed by a map. named Robert Howarth, residing in that street, NI ho, it was stated, had first killed his wife, and afterwards committed suicide.  The circumstances of this dreadful event are as follow :—The supposed murderer, who is about forty-seven years of age, was a dealer in cattle, and was, until recently, a wholesale confectioner, occupying a shop in St. James's-street, Toxteth-park. For some time back neither his wife nor family have resided with him, in consequence of some family differences. Since the separation Howarth had made his wife a certain allowance, and on Friday evening she went to the house for the purpose of receiving the usual monthly stipend from him. As she did not return, her friends became alarmed as the evening advanced, and some of them remained about the house until between one and two in the morning, expecting her every minute to make her appearance. She, however, did not do so, and, not having returned on still Saturday morning, they becamemore alarmed, and again went in search of her, but did not succeed in finding her anywhere. The day passed over without any tidings having been heard of the deceased, and her friends became more and more alarmed. The intelligence of her absence was, yesterday morning, communicated to a st rvant in the employ of her husband, and, about seven o'clock, this person, having the key of the back door of Howarth's residence, proceeded there along with three other persons, and, after making a search for a few minutes, they went up stairs into one of the bedrooms, where the most horrifying spectacle was presented. The unfortunate woman was found lying stretched on the floor of the bedroom quite dead, her head and face being surrounded by a large pool of blood. Her dress was also torn open, and the disordered state of her hair, and other general appearances of the body gave evident indications of violence having been used upon her. The body was lying straight out, with the head from the bed and the legs under it. They then drew the clothes from off the bed, where they discovered the body of her husband. They at first thought that he was asleep, but on a closer inspection they ascertained that he, also, was dead. Tho body of the husband did not exhibit the slightest marks of violence; neither was there any appearance about the face to indicate death, the deceased lookingut,on as if in a sound sleep. On searching the bedroom no deadly weapon of any description was found: b again going down stairs into the kitchen, a cup. I.lsiwne considerablean esi crd,o p;ncs odovfet wrh ei what an, otucontaining des dead dttmro efli xnbi egteust bra; ppnsupposed be tt table, b the ,el be beingian aur ge mixture.  It appears, from information which we last evening received from the relatives of the deceased woman, that, on Friday evening, her husband was dreadfully agitated in consequence of having lost a considerable sum of money in a purchase of cattle ; and he repeatedly said o his wife's sister, that evening, that he was almost inclined to deprive himself of his life, at the same moment drawing his hand across his throat and exclaiming, .6 Oh, I could do that just now!" It is supposed that the murder must have been cornwitted, at the latest, on Saturday morning, twenty-four hours before the discovery took plaoe, for the unfortunate man, who, at that time, had no one with him in the house but his wife, his housekeeper having gone from home a few days previous, went to a neighbouring house about eleven o'clock on Suturday morning, and complained that he was very sick and ill. He then went into the house again, and was not seen afterwards until he was discovered as already described. During several hours, early yesterday morning, the relatives frequently knocked at the house door, but re ceiving no answer, and, on looking through the key-hole, seeing his hat, coat, &c., they felt satisfied something was wrong, which led to the search by which the dreadful deed was diacoyered.