The Sun. — 1845-03-21 (London, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE.  MANCHESTER, THURSDAY.—A most distressing ease of murder and suicide by the murderess, took place on Tuesday, in the neighbourhood of Oldham-road, in th's town. It appears that about half-past four o'clock in the afternoon a neighbour called at the honse of the deceased, whose husband is a respectable working-man, named John Fairhurst, and finding the door locked, she peepei through the keyhole and saw Mrs. Fairhurst standing in the middle of the floor with the child in her arms, and a long piece of rope. .She opened the door, and then threw the rope into the cupboard. After some conversation the neighb:mr left her, and in about half an hour afterr:ards a person who had occasion to call at the house, opened the door and saw Mrs. Fairhurst hanging by a piece of rope attached to a nail which had been driven over the staircase. An alarm was instantly made ; she was cut down and carried up stairs, and upon the parties getting into the bed-room the infant daughter of the deceased was seen hanging from the tester rail of the bed. The _infant was quite dead, although warm. No cause can be assigned for this shocking act, but it is thought that the circumstance of the husband having threatened to put the child out to nurse had preyed ul:K,n the mind of the mother, who, it appears, determined upon putting it to death, and then terminating her own existence. An inquest was held upon the bodies yesterday. Hannah Law•renson, sister of the deceased, said—The deceased, Sarah Fairhurst, was the wife of John Fairhurst, maker up, cf Hampson-street. She was forty years of age. The child's name was Elizabeth, and she was fourteen months old on Monday. My sister appeared during the last month to have changed in her mind, and had been making complaints about her family. About three weeks before she had been seen walking round a coal-pit, as was supposed with the intention of throwing herself in. Iler husband was in cmployintnt, and she was not in want of anything. Her husband was a kind husband to her, and the infant was her only child. She was a passionate woman, and latterly has been very desponding and low spirited. She had frequently said that she had been an undutiful mother to the child, but I do not believe tha►.. John Fairhurst stated that lie was a maker up. Oa Monday morning be left home at eight o'clock, leaving his wife and child at home. lie had never heard her threaten to destroy herself, but had heard that she had dune such a thing. Ile had occasion to speak about taking the child from her if she did nut get better. She overheard the conversation, and she bsgged that the child 'night not be taken from her. Witness promised that the child should obt be taken away, and she appeared to get better. She was of a covetous disposition. The CORONER said he thought there could be no doubt that the deceased Sarah Fairhurst bad committed the act while in a state of temporary insanity. The jury returned a verdict accardingly.  Mr. A. J. Baker (Tresswell, M.P. for Northumberland. has just added to his extensive estates in that county by the purchase of the large and beautiful estate of Ellington, near Morpetb!