The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1888-09-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MAGISTRATE SHOOTS HIS SERVANT GIRL AND HIMSELF.  An occurrence of a very sensational character ' took place at Wreeliam on Snuday. A wellknown and highly-respected gentleman named Mr Wilson Edwards. a Justice of the Peace and vice-chairman of the Board of Guardians, get I out of bed shoat six o'clock, and, taking a resolver, wont into the servants' bed-room. -Ono I of the girls named Mary Stevens, being awakened by the noise of his entrance, sat up in bed, and asked her master what was the matter, when ho deliberately tired two shots at her, I hitting her on the side. Another servant girl ' immediately jumped out of bed and tied from the house screaming. Mr Edwards then returned to his room and, placing the revolver to his head, shot himself. Medical and pohce assistance was at once sent for, and Mr Edwards was found on his knees at the foot of his bed micronecious, the girl Stevens being in a similar condition in her bed. Edwards succumbed to his injuries. His victim, Mary Stevens, still continues in a critical state. From the statement of the housemaid, Annie Smith, who gave the alarm, it appears that about half-past six o'clock that morning Mr Edwards went into the bed-room where she and Etevons were sleeping, carrying a revolver in his hand. Stevens sat up in her bed and asked, "What's the matter, master?" He then fired two shots at her, both of which struck her in the body. He then went out of the room, and Smith, who had pulled the bedclothes over her head when she saw the I revolver, jumped out of bed when she heard him leave. Hastily dressing herself, she escaped from the house and ran, as already described, for the doctor and the police. Mrs Edwards, an elderly lady of 70, who has been ailing for some time, states that she noticed her husband Come into her bed-room early that morning with a revolver, and on her speaking to him, to her sorrow he placed the revolver against , his, temple and fired, the bullet piercing the , No adequate cause for the tragedy seems to have existed. It is said, however, that Ur Edwards had been much depressed lately, and had complained of money difficulties, which, however, were more imaginary than real. Dr. Davies states that SN hen he saw Mr Edwards on Saturday he seemed to have recovered from his recent depression. Mr Edwards occupied a prominent position in the town, and was highly respected by all sections of society, and the attempted murder and suicide have created the utmost consternation. Ile was a Magistrate ' for the borough, a vice-chairman of the Wrexham Board of Guardians, director of the Wrexham Waterworks CcinT any and the Wreeharn Gas Light Company, a member of the Free , Library Committee, the Wrexham School Board, and other public bodies. The inquest on Mr Wilsou Edwards was held on Wednesday. The Coronor said it was strange that no steps had been taken to place deceased , tinder restraint. A man might take his own life, but other lives should not he endangered. The deceased had been very depressed, and it was singular he had net been carefully watched.—Dr. Davies, who visited deceased, stated that since the occurrence be had beard that deceased previously attempted to commit suicide. Had he known this be should have ordered him to be placed wider restraiut, but, as it was, he should not have dared to have done so. They mast alter the state of the law first. —The jury returned a verdict to the effest that deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.  A FAIR, BEAUTIFUL SEUL —Snlpholitte Soap gives tho natural tint, and makes the:Skin smooth, ripple, healthy, omnfuytabbs.-6d Tebbl,As. I`l4 —.-8 o.v. •