The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-10-08 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY NEAR WINDSOR.  on Sunday afternoon the inhabitants of the qoiet 311.1 picture-41re little village of Old Windsor were horrified by the discovery of a dreadful crime—involving the deaths of four persons—which had just been committed in the house of a man named John Cook, a barl!er, at Old Windsor Green. It seerna that a man went to Cook's house for the purpose of being shaved; but, on knocking, could not obtain any answer. This attracted the attention of the neighbours, who then recollected that they had not seen or heard anything of Cook or his family during the morning. The assistance of a policeecouatable was at once obtained, and on the house being entered, and the various rooms searched the evidences of a frightful and cold-blooded murder were revealed. In the front room the bodies of three little girls, aged respectively about 4, IL and 7 years,- -children of the man Cook, who had, it is believed, poisoned the little innocents with sulphuric aid or vitriol, diluted with tea—were discovered undressed and laid out. These from the appearance of the bodies hail been dead oeveral .lays, probably a week. In the front room upstairs--a bedroem—Cook isimaelf was found with his throat cut in two large gashes; he was still alive and undrsesed. Lying by his side, with her throat cut, wawa little girl, his daughter, eight years of age, also alive. Proceeding to the upstairs bark room the party found the eldest ! daughter, a girl 12 years of age, who had been poisoned ' with the sulphuric acid, but was still living, while in the downatain? back room was discovered a pail con taming blood, over which Cook had evidently held his head while attempting to commit suicide. The discovery of the murder was made about three o'clock, and a messenger WV immediately despatched ' to Windsor for the assistance of Dr. Pearl, Highstreet, who shortly hurried over to Old Windsor, and !did all that medicat sofenee could administer for the ! surviving sufferers. The girl whose throat had been cut was removed to the Windsor Infirmary, and the eldest girl remains at Old Windsor. Cook, who Was about 38, expired about seven o'clock on Sunday morning. Although the three youngest chillren would appear to have been murdered nearly a week back, it seems that Cook did not attempt to take away the lives of the two eldest children till about Friday last, while the murderer himself was seen out in the village, an it is understood. on Saturday, so that it would appear that Cook had hesitated till the last moment before he at. tempted to commit suicide. The razor with which the miserable man cut his own throat and that of his child, together with a vessel containing mixture of vitriol, tea, and treacle, the remainder of the poison which bad dear...vs d the three youngeet children, have been found. No motive has as yet been ascertained for the commission of the murder. The house bore signs of poverty, though food—bread and butter— was found. A subscription had, it is understood, been raised in Cook's behalf, which, it is stated, was not exhausted. Several county court orders and a " notice to quit" were, however, discovered, and this, coupied probably with the death of the unfortunate marrs wife, which occurred in July, tray have affected his mind.