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On Saturday morning an avfal murder—one of a cin-fold da- Faster—was dicovered I have been perpetrated in a course at Westand, chuste about a mile west of Esher, and on the bordero of the royal domains of Clesemont. Some workmen peaching by the cot tage about six o'clock, a.m., cawe pillow tines with blood outside one of the windows. Their ampicions were excited, and they knocked at the door, but received no answer. As soon ca passible they ob tained a ladder, and effected an entrance through the window. They found in the room they entered a woman with her threat ext, but not altogether dead, and lying by her child, tvvo young children dead from wounds in the throat. On searching the other bedroom, they dis covered four more children murdered. Their throats were covered, and the weapon, a razor, was found. Mr. Izod, a purgeon, of Esher, ran 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, comewhat older than herself. Her nea ioe be on . ~ aomee of ae miedite ae vag iret Ure 9 Rogboaes the rinco © , but was dismissed before the prince woo ngmed—como caid at the time, because she had been detected drinking ardent spirits; others because she lied, contrary to medical restrictions, received visite currep titiously from her husband. Her place was supplied by a woman named Botebelor, who, having discharged her duties properly, now enjoying her reward. The midtable woman Brough wes, come twenty years ago, kitchen maid at the palace of Claremont, and her husband was then and afterwards employed there co lamplighter, watchman, and porter. He is now employed as the dion of the ornamental waters and fish ponds of Claremont. His father was cochman many year ago to Prince Leopold, now the King of the Belgiano. The marriage of Brough ond and his wife took place at Cleremont, and the result won a large family. First ,a girl, now nineteen years of age, living with friends in Yorkshire. Then carefns children who died of natural causes young, and, finally, the victims murdered by their mother yesterday morning. Their name are, Georgina, the eldest, aged 11, Caroline aged eight, William, seven years old, Henry and Hoerrvich, twins, born in March, 1851, and George, the youngest, aged 21 months. The murdered chil dren were well known in Esher, and the two oldest girls were remark able for their pretty exterior and more than oldi intelligence. Their parsons were familiar to the royal French aisles of Claremont, and the Prince de Joinville used often to mest with them in hio fishing ex cursions to the ponds over which their father watched, and freqently conversed with them. When told yesterday of their fate, he exclaimed, T¢ 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 oro mony. Jealousy, or noval, is alleged to have been the promoter of this shocking tragedy. The husband be lieved her faithless, and three or four doyocgo quarrelled 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 yesterday. He had been to his cottage more than once, and is described as one like to make ‘‘ 5 hole in the water.’”’ He appears to be respected by the vil lagers of Esher, of which, though long resident, he is not aative. The cottage to his freehold, and he was above want. The homicide hao recovered from the effects of her self-inflicted wound, and there is a probability that she may survive. To a female neighbour who visited o? yesterday 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 tomorrow.
Newspaper Details
London Observer
London, Middlesex, GB
Mon, Jun 12, 1854
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Mallary S.
