Northern Times. — 1859-06-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT OLDBU.RY.  The miserable ,woman who murdered her child and attempted her own life, as already reported in the Northern Times, has somewhat ralied, and has been able to take a little liquid sustenance. She is perfectly sensible, and appears to be impressed with a deep sense of the crime she has committed. The excitement in the town continues to be intense, particularly among the mining population, and great commiseration is felt for the unfortunate husband, William Forster. The inquest on the deceased boy was held on Tuesday. The jury, after being sworn, proceeded to view the body, which lay in the same room where the murder took place. On their return the first witness examined was William Forster, who deposed : I am a miner, and live in Furnace-row, Oldbury. The deceased was my son. On Sunday night we all retired to bed about eleven o'clock. Myself, my wife, and four children occupied the same room. The youngest child slept in the same bed with myself and my wife. The other three children slept in another bed. Their names were, Eliza, aged sixteen ; Susan, aged eight ; and John, aged about twelve. I did not go to sleep till about two o'clock, and was awoke about three by my daughter Eliza screaming. I then saw my wife standing in her chemise close to the bed where the deceased had been sleeping. I did not see her in the act of cutting his throat, but with my daughter endeavoured to prevent her doing any more mischief. Before we could get to her my wife cut a large wound in her own throat, and was in the act of repeating the cut when I and Eliza took the razor fam her. Blood was flowing from the deceased's throat, and also from my wife's. I threw my wife down on the floor, and she became insensible. I thought she was dead. I then went to look at the boy, and saw he was dead. I then rushed down stairs and broke open the door with a poker, because I could not wait for the key. I alarmed a neighbour, Mrs. Houghton, and sent her for Mr. Cooper' surgeon. In March last my eldest daughter, aged nineteen, died, and it preyed very much upon my wife's mind. She was always moaning, and saying, " Oh, my poor wench." My wife became very much depressed. She said the neighbours were Italking about her, and wished to raise a scandal about her. On Sunday she was more depressed than usual, and seemed in a sad way. The razor with which the deed was done was mine, and was kept in a drawer in a chest of drawers in the kitchen. I had used it on the same Sunday morning. The drawer was not kept locked. The key was not usually taken out of the lock. My wife never attempted to destroy herself, nor was her mind affected previous to the death of our eldest daughter. My wife was very fond of the deceased, and was an affectionate mother to all her children. Eliza Forster, an interesting-looking girl, aged about sixteen, deposed : John Forster was my brother. I slept with him on Sunday night My sister Susan slept with us in the same bed. About daylight I was awoke by my sister, who thought my brother was sick. My sister screamed, and I then saw my mother standing by the side of the bed, and leanir% over John. At this stage of the proceedings the inquiry was adjourned.