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The Murders at Monkwearmocjth.—On Tuesday evening a coroner's inquest was held on the bodies of the wife and daughter of William Ferry, whom iu a fit of mad-ness he had killed. The following evidence was adduced: —Christopher Duncan deposed: I have lived in the house of deceased for six months. Ferry said he had escaped from the asylum at Gateshead. His wife told me he had been away about 13 months, and came home yesterday morning, f was awoke out of sleep by !n-«irihg him strike Hannah Ferry his wife. I jumped up, and went in my night clothes to knock up. her father. I then went to Mrs. Clark’s, and stayed there until 6 o’clock in the morning. John Nipper, brother of the deceased woman, state *: I was called up by Christopher Duncan, who said Ferry was murdering his wife. When I went to the house i saw Ferry standing at the top of the stairs with a poker in his h*ind. I got oue at the bottom of the stairs in another person’s house. When I went up stairs. 1 called “ Han-nab,” and he shut to the door ; I thrust it open by putting, my back to the door, and my feet against • • opposite wall. He then aimed a blow at my head, which i parried off by the poker I had in my hand. I then got hold of hiir. by the throat, and endeavoured to throw* him down. The candle had been blown out, and oiJy the fire light remained. Dalton, a neighbour, came in about this time. Fern* jdaced his foot on hi* wife’s breast and struek at her with the poker. She was lying behind the door, and there was a water skeel and log of wool near. A man named Snow-bell soon afterw'ards came ni, anti we secured htrry by tying his feet together. 1 hey saw the daughter Hannah lying oil her face, with the young child (nine months old) under her. [The poker, 22 inches long, which the murderer had used, was then produced; it was covered withblood.] Ferry said to me, “ Jack, you b , I can finishyou and whilst fastening him he said, M ! have finished them both.” Dalton said to me, “ Does he know what he’s done ?” Ferry answered, “ I know nicely what I’vedone; I’ve served the b right.*’. I did not hear himever express regret at what he bad done. He was sent to the asylum about 14 months ago, because he was very violent. He then attempted to choke bis wife, and^l took him off her. William Ferry, the son, whs then brought forward. He said he was nine years old; he could not read, and had not learnt the Church Catechism. He said,I slept in the desk bed in the front room with Duncan. I was awoke by a noise, and then saw my father lick (strike) my sister Sarah, who was in the back room, with a fire shovei. He had the shovel in both hands. 1 did not Hear him speak. My mother ran‘towards the brewery g ttes, but when at the top of the stairs father threw a skeeiat her which knocked her down.: He next hit her with a clog, which he held with both 'hands, and dashed it upon her head. She did not speak. He then took the poker and hit her about the cars five or six times. He stood upon her breast. Before doing this he tossed me under the table, and said, 11 I won’t kill ye, because your name in Widiam. ’ The jury then returned their verdict in th*‘ following terms : —“ That the deceased came to their deaths by the blow:* inflicted by William Ferry.” Great blame is attached by many persons to the keepers of the Gateshead Fauper ; Lunatic Asylum for not retaining this dangerous maniac in safer custody, and also, for not making a more active • search for him.
Newspaper Details
London Magnet
London, Middlesex, GB
Mon, May 01, 1843
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NV, USA 19 Mar 2025
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