Widnes Examiner. — 1882-04-01 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SHOCKING MURDER AND SUICIDE  AT ST. HELENS.  A terrible tragedy has this week sent a shock through the inhabitants of St. Helens, more particularly the district of Sutton, where the tragedy was perpetrated. On Tuesday night, about half-past six o'clock, a shocking discovery was made in a house at Mill-brow, Sutton, occupied by Mr. Alfred Rawlinson, manager of the Lancashire Agricultural Chemical Company, Limited, whose works are at a short distance from the St. Helens Junction, and midway from there and Mr. Rawlinson's residence. The house in which Mr. Rawlinson resides is at the summit of a brow, and is one of four new houses directly opposite the residence of Mr. Geo. Parr, who is the owner of them. That portion of Sutton is not thickly populated, being in the suburbs. The Rev. Mr. Vallancey's residence is in close proximity to the scene of the sad event. Mr. Rawlinson's family consisted of his wife (whose maiden name was Mary Ellen Arnold), 27 years of age, who was the daughter of an extensive boiler manufacturer of that name at Barnsley, and a child named Arnold Rawlinson. The couple had been married about two years, and it is stated they lived very comfortably together. On Tuesday morning, at breakfast time, Mr. Rawlinson, who is the son of a Congregational minister in Manchester, left home for business at the manure works, and his wife, who had the child in her arms, accompanied him to the garden gate, and took leave of him in her accustomed affectionate manner. In the course of the forenoon she was engaged assisting the servant in various household duties, and the two were in frequent communication. Between eleven and twelve o'clock in the forenoon she went upstairs informing the servant that she was going to lie down with the child, and about noon she went downstairs for the child's dinner, but partook of none herself, having told the servant to get her own dinner and not to prepare any for her. The girl did not consider this as unusual, and after dinner went about her work. During the afternoon, however, she saw 1 nothing of her mistress and did not communicate with her until six o'clock in the evening when she prepared tea. Tea , being , ready, she went upstairs, knocked at the bedroom 1 door, and announced that tea was ready. There was no response, and she repeated her call, at which Mrs. Rawlinson said "All right, I'll be down in a minute." The girl noticed that the door was loosely fastened by a small chain. About this time Mr. Rawlinson arrived home from business and his wife not coming down he went upstairs but found that the door of the room was fastened by a chain so that he could not open easily. He called to his wife several times, but receiving no answer, he then put his back to the door and burst it open. He was horrified at the sight which presented itself to him. On the floor lay his wife with a dreadful, gash in her throat, and by her side lay a razor with which it had been matte. She was in the midst of a pool of blood, and close beside her was a basin partly filled. From the position in which Mrs. Rawlinson was found it was evident that she had in the first instance knelt over the basin and inflicted the wound from which she intended that the blood should run into the vessel. Through weakness she would be unable to remain in this position for any length of time, and would then fall into the position in which she was I found by her husband. The wound was very deep and long, I and Dr. Twyford gave his opinion that death must have resulted almost immediately after the infliction of the wound. Mr. Rawlinson then looked into the cradle, which was close ,to the bed, and he there found the child quite dead. No I marks of violence were found upon the child, and for some time the affair had a most mysterious laspect. The condition of Mr. Rawlinson, on making these discoveries, can be well imagined. He at once ran out and acquainted Mr. George Parr of the facts, and that gentleman forthwith visited the place and des• patched a messenger to St. Helens for Dr. Twyford. The room was examined, and it was noticed that the bed upon which the deceased lady would have lain, had she carried out her promise of lying down with the child, was quite straight as though it had been unused. If she had used it she must have made the bed again. In due time Dr. Twyford arrived, but said he could not account for the death or the child until a post mortent examination had been made. The sad occurrence has caused a great sensation throughout the district, the family being held in great respect. No reason can be assigned on the part of the deceased lady why she should have committed the rash act, unless it arose from the illness of a brother whom she regarded with great affection. Mr. Rawlinson has only resided in the district about ten months, and during that time she has received letters from her family at Barnsley. These letters contained news of trouble and sickness in the family, arid it was noticed they had a dispiriting effect upon her. Recently she visited her home in Barnsley. Mrs. Rawlinson was not naturally of a melancholy disposition and was not regarded -as a likely person to commit so rash an act. On the contrary she is spoken of by the neighbours as a cheerful person, and kindly dispositioned. She was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, and was always looked upon as an earnest and sincere Christian. She was in the habit of distributing tracts of a religious character amongst the people of Sutton, and regularly walked three miles to her place of worship in St. Helens. On Tuesday morning, the day on which the deed was committed, she sang some sacred hymns, and played the pianoforte. There is nothing to lead one to suppose that the occurrence was due to any change in her husband's circumstances. On Wednesday 4vening a letter was found ; behind a picture in the bedroom, which throws light on the I child's death. The letter was in the handwriting of Mrs. ' Rawlinson, and addressed to her husband. She attaches no blame to anyone, but says that she has had the kindest of husbands. The letter further stated that she could not live any longer, and that she could not pass away without taking the child with her.