The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1880-05-08 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

BRUTAL WIFE MURDER IN  LEICESTERSHIRE.  SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER.  The quiet and secluded village of Thurmaston, Leiceatershire, was on Thursday morning the scene of a terrible tragedy, a farmer's son killing his wife and then committing s4eide. It appears that a widow named Woodward there occupied a nicelyfurnished house in Church - street. The eldest daughter. who was aged 38, took in dressmaking. In November last there came to lodge with them a young man of 28, named Henry Davis, the son of a farmer at Ruling, near Much Wenlock, Bhaop shire. He took employment as a shepherd under Mr. Grundy, at Normanton Turville, an adjoining village, and was considered °laver in his calling. He soon afterwards left his employer, and took service with a carpenter and timber merchant, but afterwards returned to Mr. Grundy, where he remained to the end, lodging with Mrs. Woodward. He began to pay attentions to her eldest daughter, and was married to her on Karen Bth last, the wedding of her brother taking place on the same day. The newly. married couple appeared to live on the best of terms, both bearing an excellent character. The , husband's chief weakness appeared to be an excessive, but unfounded jealousy of his w,ife. On this point he was always " sore," and at length became the subject of chaff upon the part of his mates. On Wednesday night, at the close of the day's work, he was accompanied part of the way by a man named Hawkins. In the course of conversation be showed that be harboured some to another young man, and intimated that if he met him at a certain public-house that night he would assault him. Before they parted, Davis bade Hawkins " Good night," adding, " fhis may be the last time you will see me alive." But Hawkins tieated it as a joke. Davis thsn went home, and in Hid course of the evening, for the first time, an altercation was heard. About four o'clock next morning Mrs. Davis went downstairs in her night-dress to light the fire. Her mother heard her husband follow her, and soon afterwards she heard a scream, a scuffle, and then a fall, as if some one had dropped on the floor. She at once ran downstairs, and was paralysed by the appalling spectacle that presented itself. Her daughter was lying in the living room across the flaor, face downward, with her thriat and face cut, and blood gushing from the wounds. Her husband was kneeling over her, but on observing her mother he cut his own throat, and then sank to the ground. The widow, on being able to regain the power of utterance, which had been hitherto lost through indescribable terror, raised an alarm. The loud cries at that early hour in the morning soon collected the neighhours, and messengers were despatched-to adjoining parishes for medical assistance. Dr. Fulcher, of Earl Shilton, who arrive ci about six o'clock, was the first on the scene. But on examining the bodies, which were eaten led across the floor, he found that life was quite extinct, that death had taken place atom an. hour before, and had apparently been almost instantaneous. The wounds on Mrs. Day a proved that she had not met her death without a struggle. The shocking trigedy created great excitement throughout the district, and large numbers visited the scene in the course of the day. Inquiries with respect to Davis showed that his family connections were good; and, as he enjayed in some things intellectual capacities above the average of his class, it is evident that in early life he received a good education. In his manners and habits he was quiet and urobtrusive. It was more the exception than the rule to find him in the public-house, and yet, if all accounts are accurate, he was exceedingly credulous. Davis entertained doubts of his wife's fidelity, and it is stated that on one occasion he actually took practical steps to test the veracity of the rumours 'au the subject. However, on the very eve of the murder he charged her with inconstancy. The bodies have siace been placed side by side to await the 'inquest, which was opened yesterday (Friday).