Widnes Examiner. — 1884-03-15 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE AT -WESTON.  SUOCKING TRAGEDY.  A shocking domestic tragedy took place at Weston, on Monday morning, when a young married woman, named Eccleston, attempted to take the life of her infant 'child, and also to put an end to her own existence.—lt appears filet the woman is the wife of William Eccleston, a weigher at the Weston Chemical Works. For some time the couple, with their family, have lived in a house in Collier's-row, tenanted by Mrs. Jones, to whom all the furniture belonged. Eccleston had no belongings at all, and if rumour is to be believed he provided very little of the necessaries of life for his family, who were in. destitute circumstance', About 14 days ago Mrs. Eccleaton was confined, and during hit prostration she received great kindness from a neigh-. I hour named Mrs. Dawson, the wife el a grocer, who keeps an adjacent shop. On Monday morning Ecclestoa lighted the fire, prepared his own breakfast, and went to his work about five minutes past eight. His wife and child were then in bed. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Dawson sent her servant, Alice 'Butler, to the house with some tea. Mrs. Ectleston was sitting on a chair near the fire Dlr. daily dressed, and appeared to the girl Butler to be in a very ne-,vous and excited state. -Contrary to her want she was anxious to be alone, and told the girl that if she did not go back soon Mrs. Dawson, would be angry. The girl censequently returned to her mistress. A 'few minutes had only elapsed when Eccleston't eldest girl told Mrs. Dawson that her "mamma was had." Mrs. Dayton a,Aain sent her servant to the house to ioqUlre the cause. 'She quickly returned ins, state of great excitement, saying Mrs. Eccleston was dead, and Mrs. Dawson, 'hurrying to the hones, found Mre. Eccteston lying on the Hoer in a pool of blood, which was escaping from an sofa' cash in her throat. A razor 'covered with blood was lying on the floor near by, as though it had dropped from the woman's hand. Horrified, Mrs. Dawson rushed hero the house, and alarmed the neighbours, who arrived en 'the scene in considerable numbers, and rendered every 'resistance to the injured woman. 'A search was then math for the infant, about seven days old, and after some time a man named, Job Wright, who lodged next door, found it lying concealed. in the bed clothes, with its throat eut feces ear to ear. In, the meantime Mr. Percival, landlord of the Prospect KUO,t drove to Runcorn to inform the police and obtain surgicsd, assistance, and he quickly returned accompanied try Dr. MacDougall. The doctor found that the wounds were ; of a serious 'nature, rendered considerably worse by great loss of blood. The gash on the child's neck whilst cutting the wind-pipe was not so deep as the one the woman bad inflicted upon herself; but they were both of a very dangerous character, and the doctor only held out s light hopet of recovery. During the day a clue to the ca use of the woman's rash act was found. Written in•Llack lead en the mantleshelf was the one word " trouble;" and after her wound had been stitched and handl wed by the doctor She continually murmured "It's ala trouble, trouble." The neighbours agree that the demestic4 troubles of the unfortunate woman have been many.and he [ivy, and while speaking of her as a quiet, well-behaved striving woman, they express great indignation against the husband, who they state has cruelly neglected bar. l'hat the strictures of the neighbours are deserved, the following faotei will tend to chow. On Monday afternoon the house did .notcontain a mouthful of food, and Dr. MacHot...gall, who had been assiduous in his attention to the case, told the husband that if the life of his wife and child were to be saved be must make arrangements to provide them with nourishing food and stimulants. About three o'clock, however, Eccleston left the house and did not return, leaving his wire. and child dependent upon the charity of the neighbours., Happily the neighbours have emulated the goo?. Samaritan, and provided every requisite for the sustecauce of the family. Mrs. Gomerville, a neighbour, is tenderly nursing the infant.