The Sun. — 1854-06-12 (London, England)

MOTHER. ; On Saturday morning an awful murder, one S fold character, was discovered to have been perpetrated in a cottage at West-end, situate about a mile west of Esher, and on the borders of the royal domains of Claremont. Some workmen passing by the cottage about six o'clock a.m. saw a pillow stained with blood outside one of the windows. Their suspicions were excited, and they knocked at the door, but received no answer. As soon as possible they obtained a ladder, and effected an entrance through the window. They found in the room they entered a woman with her throat cut, but not altogether dead, and, lying by her side, two young children dead from wounds in the throat. On searching the other bedrooms, they discovered four more children mm dered. Their throats were severed, and the weapon, a razor, was found. Mr. hod, a surgeon of Esher, was sent for. He pronounced all the children beyond the power of human aid. The woman was not so, and he dressed her wounds accordingly. The name of the wretched creature is Mary Ann Brough, aged 47 or 48, the wife of George Brough, somewhat older than herself. Her name must be familiar to some of our readers. She was first nurse to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, but was dismissed before the prince was named—some said at the time, because she had been detected drinking ardent spirits ; others, because she had, contrary to medical restriotions, received visits surreptitiously from her husband. Her place was supplied by a woman named Batchelor, who, having discharged her duties properly, is now enjoying her reward. The miserable woman Brongh was some twenty years ago, kitchenmaid at the palace of Claremont, and her husband was then and afterwards employed there as lamplighter, watchman, and porter. He is now employed as the guardian of the ornamental waters and fish-ponds of Claremont. His father was coachman many years ago to Prince Leopold, now the King of the Belgians. The marriage of Brough and his wife took place at Claremont, and the result was a large family. First a girl, now 19 years of age, living with friends in Yorkshire ; then several children who died of natural causes young ' • and finally, the victims murdered by their mother on Saturday morning. Their names are—Georgiana, the eldest, aged 11, Caroline, aged 8, William, 7 years old, Henry and Harriet, twins, born in March, 1851, and George, the youngest, aged 21 months. The murdered children were well known in Esher, and the eldest two girls were remarkable for their pretty exterior and more than ordinary intelligence. Their persons were familiar to the royal French exiles of Claremont, and the Prince de Joinville used often to meet with them in his fishing excursions to the ponds over which their father watched, and frequently conversed with them. When told of their fate, he exclaimed, "It is truly a terrible catastrophe ; it is enough to make all the children of the village afraid of their mothers."  The causes assigned for this wholesale infanticide and for the present, successless suicide are many. Jealousy, as usual, is alleged to have been the promoter of this shocking tragedy. The husband believed her faithless, and three or four days ago quarreled with her, left his cottage, and took up his residence at Esher. The inhabitants could only talk, wonder, guess, and commiserate. The father of the murdered children was seen frequently in Esher on Saturday. He had been to his cottage more than once, and is described as one like to make "a hole in the water." He appears to be respected by the villagers of Esher, of which though long resident, he is not a native. The cottage is his freehold, and he was above want. The infanticide has recovered from the effects of her self-inflicted wound, and there is a probability that she may survive. To a female neighbour who visited her on Saturday afternoon, she said, " I cut the throats of the five oldest easily as they slept. Baby was awake, and he gave me most trouble. An inquest will be held at three o'clock this afternoon.