TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT SALFORD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2456, 7 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT SALFORD.

Murder of a Wife and Six Children-

A sTAItTMNti domestic tragedy was d covered on February '24 in Salford.

family named Derby occupied a small, but drrciit, house in Garland-street. The family, consisted of Samuel H. Derby, need 05 ; his wife, apparently a little' older; and six children, Ernest Llewellyn, aged, 13 ; Harold Percy, II ; Fre.lk. Cecil', nine; Clara Elizabeth, seven ; Florence Helen, five ; and Gladys, three. The father wa3 a chemist and herbalist, and there was no evidence of want or grinding poverty in their surronndings. Nothing of an nnusual character took place in the proceedings of the family until Tuesday when it was noticed that none of them appeared. It was remembered that they had been about as usual on Monday, and on the evening of that day one of the children went to an adjoining shop to make a small domestic purchase. On the Tuesday and Wednesday nothing was heard of them, but as their neighbours were useij to their absence little was thought about it. On Thursday morning the first inquiry was made by Derby's sister, who lives in an adjoining street. She called sit her brother's house to inquire as to their welfare, and was surprised at finding it locked up. This circumstance she reported to her father, and he went and tried to get into the house, but failed. Yesterday the aged father and his daughter made another attempt, again failing. He then procured a ladder and, climbTng to the back bedroom window, saw Mrs. Derby and two children in bed, apparently asleep. Bursting into the room he found that they were all dead. An alarm was raised, and further search was made. In another bedroom,lying in perfect repose, and with the bedclothes neatly folded over them, were four other children, alao dead ; and in the kitchen, lyiug on his side on tho sofa, the body of the man Derby was found. All eight members of the family were thus discovered lifeless. The faces of all the dead were peaceful, showing that no struggle ha:l taken place, and no violence had been used. The police were hastily summoned, and their inquiries and researches made it evident that a terrible series of murders had been committed, probably by the father, who had afterwards taken his own life. On the table beside him were two bottles, one marked " prussio acid" and the other " chlorale hydrate." In the bedroom in which the children were lying was a tea cup containing a milk-like fluid. Inquiry from the neighbours show that Derby had been for some time a little queer. His troubles arose not from want, but from other forms of money trouble. He was interested in a will, from which he expected to derive considerable benefit ; but some dispute arose, and the matter caused the man much distress. The deferred hope in connection with his expected bequest, which he j never recieved, seems to have preyed upon his mind and \inhinged it. There seems undoubted evidence that the crime was premeditated. This is made clear by various letters which are in possession of the police, in which he makes reference to his intention of doing away with himself, and says he has told his wife and she is willing to go with him. The moat important letter bearing on the point is one addressed to his sister, a Mrs. Booth, who resides at Eccles. In this he says, "I cannot leave my darling wife and children behind. In fact, Annie often said she did not want to leave them after I went, and when I told her a few days ago that I could not stand this any longer she said she was quite ready to go. I

■wish our bodies to be sent to Owen's College for dissection, &c. ; if they are buried let the funeral be conducted in the quietest way possible, and at the least expense "

There can be no doubt that the man and his victims died from the effects of poison. Being a chemist, ho would be perfectly familiar with the effects of various poisons, and would also have command of any amount of deadly compounds. The cupboards of his house contain many mtdical and drug bottlos. The exact date of the committal of the crime can be only conjectured, but the appearance of the bodies suggests that doath must have taken place several days ago. The commonly accepted theory is that the man poisoned his wife and children whilst they slept, possibly by inhalation, afterwards taking his own life. The only appearance ginni; a hint as to the possible method of poisoning adopted is that the faces are livid, and there is a frothy exudation from the mouths of Mrs. Derby and her children.

Reference was made to the tragedy at a meeting of the Sal ford Board of Guardians, and it was suggested that poverty and lningermay have been the cause. That, however, cannot have been the fact. There were remains of a substantial supper on the table, and no evidence of extreme poverty is visible. Aluch excitement prevailed in the locality, crowds of people surrounding the house.

Tha inquest on the bodies of Samuel Hill Derby, aged 3G; his wife, aged J3; and their six children, wn« held on 27th February, at Salford, when some extraordinary fiicts were disclosed. Evidence having been given as to finding the bodies, Mr JoVin Cooper deposed thnt on Tuesday. 31st. January, Dorby came to Ms shop and a.-ked him mid a Mr Jiibson to sign a will, which Derby would not allow them to rend. He i.hen Ht'tiir.ed to be in a normal condition. In the will, which was read to the jury, thn derpiiscd '.rqueathed to his fiithor iind two brnrlicts, and to his sister Sarah .luiifc, Is each ; to his sister Catherine In: bequeathed the whole of the residue of his property, including his interest uihW the will of the late John Derby, of Magherafelt, and Derry-gar-den, Ireland. The following letter to a Mr Brooke was read, as indicating the state of mind of the deceased man :—" I could not no without saying good-bye, You have been always kind and considerate with me. You know, my boy, how, three years ago, n,y money, health, and friends all went at once. My hopes were crushed, my life became a misery, and barely supportable. I struggled hard for a while against the horrible feelings that possessed me, and I thought that by leaving Crosnlano and taking a good holiday would set mo right, but it was only a temporary benefit. I boeamo worse instead of better. A year ago, as I told you, my attention was attracted by the railway rails, and that certainly roused mo more than I had thought possible. My greedy brothers and sisters have taken care that I should not benefit by it. I have found out that my idea was not a now ono, and was not pntentabln. My dear friends did not know that I only learned it about a fortnight ago. I was disappointed of course, but very litlo compared with tho bitterness I felt at the treatment I had received from those. I had a right to expect kindness from, However, my bitterness will soon be at end. I cannot allow my wife and children to suffer more thiin they have already done." The posteript of the letter, addressed to Mr Win. J. Den by, Miigherafelt. was as follows:—''Yesterday morning I would havo thanked you from my heart. It is nnw too late. My darling- wife and children are now past t.lio aid of innn, and I will coon follow. 'What it terrible ordoal you might have saved mo if you would but havo agreed; but inouey has blinded you to everything." The medical luiin who uiado the post mortem examination expressed the opinion that death in all the cases was caused by poisoning , with prussic acid. The jury found that. Derby murdered his wife and children l»y administering poison, and that he afterwards committed suicide in a similar wanner, while temporarily insane.

Aft or tlir inqnpst tho bodies of Drrby, Jiis wiff, aiirl cix ohildrrri worn conveyed to Salforil cemclcrj in tight roflina and there interi-«d. Thnu.'and.s ol people: ttironaror] the str«*k niul tho vicinity of thf nr;n'P,