A Mother murders her two Children.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 311, 27 October 1875, Page 3

A Mother murders her two Children.

A correspondent of the Star forwards the following particulars of the tragedy which took place at Grahamstown last week, and which was briefly referred to in our telegrams last Wednesday The shocking double murder at the Thames is causing great excitement. In a small close between Golden Crown-street and Owen-street there is a cottage occupied by an industrious miner named John Wall, with his wife and two children. About two o’clock on Saturday afternoon some boys playing at marbles in the vicinity observed the mother striking her children with an axe. Both children were then lying on the ground with their mother standing over them with the murderous instrument, making repeated brutal blows at the forms of h«r poor little offspring. A lad named Baxter at once gave the alarm, and a man who was near looked down the close and saw the woman deal two more frightful blows with the axe upon the little girl. Go rushed towads the spot, and a number of neighbors also ran in. The poor children were lying on the ground a few feet from the verandah of Wall's house, covered with blood. The womaa when she saw Elliott and others, laid down‘.ho axe with the utmost coolness and advanced towards them, making some remark about oeing “told to do it.” Information was despatched to the police, and Detective Brennan found the children lying side by side. Tie boy’s head seemed to have been battered n with the thick end of the axe, the skull bchg frightfully smashed, and the brain probuding between the smashed bones. The little grl had evidently been struck with the sharp Sdgo across the temple, splitting open the skill. A second blow had cut open her neck, inlicting a sickening wound. Both children wen alive when found, but beyond the hope of recovery. The little victims were laid sice by side in bed, with their hands stretched out towards each other, and there the boy in about an hour and the girl it about an hour and a-half after. The wrAched mother was at once taken into custocy, but continued to exhibit the greatest callouness. The father on learning the dreadful Calamity that had befallen his house was in a erriblo state of distress. During the eight yeirs ho has resided at the Thames ho has bo,ne the character of a straightforward, hard-working miner. Both he and his wifi are North of Ireland people, and arrived fror, Belfast In 1804. Mrs Wall appeared an inteligent, well-conducted woman, but was given -, 0 drink. She is of very strong build, and took in washing. Her husband has consent work, so they wero not in want, but tlo house was very bare of furniture, and mot of the woman’s earnings were spent by hor*, n drink. She is not known to have procured much during the three days previous to he murder and this stoppage is supposed U have rendered her temporarily insane. He. husband says he went to work as usual on morning, when his wife appeared in her usual health and spirits, but some nighbors state that she had been rather for two days. On being taken to the watch-house her clothes were covered with bi) o d, and in reply to questions from Inspecto Bullen as to die house she said, “ 1 mus be mad.” The Inspector said “Why what imkes you say that V —she replied “ Decays j have

killed my children—but they told me to do it.” It is not clear who was meant, but it is thought that she imagined she heard voices and was in a state of delirium. At the inquest the husband gave his wife a high character, and said they lived very happily. She had never showed any cruelty towards the children.