Notes for: Emma Julia Souter
From THE CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT PRESS, November 23, 1900.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
At Cambridge
TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE
A Mother's Awful Deed.
One of the most awful and sad tragedies that has been known in Cambridge was enacted at a small shop on East-road in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The victims were Mrs. Rayner, a married woman, about 31 years of age, and her three children Elsie, aged nine, Gilbert, aged seven, and Sybil, aged four, all of whom were found lying in bed with their throats fatally cut. The evidence clearly shows that the terrible deed was performed by the mother, who seems to have been sorely troubled and must have been driven to the verge of despair before committing this horrible crime. The affair created a painful sensation thoughout the town, and many hundreds of people congregated round the house during the day.
THE DISCOVERY
of the tragic occurrence was made by one of two lodgers living in the house. This young man, William Claxton, a carpenter working for Mr. Banyard of Gwydir-street, went out to work about eight o'clock, and returned just before nine o'clock for breakfast. Upon entering the house he was surprised to find that no fire had been lighted in the living room at the rear of the shop, and that the breakfast was not ready. He therefore went up stairs to call his landlady. There was an outer bedroom leading to Mrs. Rayner's room (which is over the shop), and Claxton knocked at the door, which was closed, and called "Mrs. Rayner" several times. Receiving no response, he opened the door, and then saw that the door of Mrs. Rayner's room was wide open. He called again "Mrs. Rayner" but still no answer came from either the woman or children. He then stepped into the doorway, and a terrible scene met his view. Mrs. Rayner and the three children were lying uncovered on the bed, begrimed with blood and with their throats cut. Without stopping to take more than a hurried glance at the fearful spectacle, he then rushed out of the house to procure assistance. Mr. A. A. Coulson, outfitter, who lives next door (cousin of H. C. Coulson, founder of the building firm), was opening his shop at this time, and Claxton enlisted his assistance. They sent to Dr. Greer and the Chief Constable, and Claxton ran into Burleigh-street to find a police constable. He returned with P.C. Clark. The doctor arrived shortly after, and the party then went upstairs to
THE CHAMBER OF DEATH.
It was a gruesome and overwhelmingly sad spectacle that met their eyes. The mother - suicide and murderess - lay upon the bed beside her children - and her victims - their night clothes soaked with blood. So resolute had been the fatal strokes that their heads were nearly severed. Their life blood had ebbed away and left their faces pale as Parian marble. They were pretty children, and their faces, despite the ghastly wounds about their necks, were beautiful in death. One little girl had a wealthy halo of wavy golden hair. A child's doll had been affectionately placed by her side, probably the little one's last thought in this life. There were, too, some crumbs of chocolate on the crib generally occupied by the boy. These seemingly trivial things added intense pathos to the picture. For the rest, it was a scene of blood. The woman's throat was terribly gashed, and a razor, dyed in blood, lay on the wound, the stroke evidently being scarcely completed, and the handle rested on her breast. The boy lay to the left of his mother, and the girls were at the foot of the bed. Their limbs were drawn up. The doctor found life extinct.
BOTTLES LABELLED "LAUDANUM - POISON"
An investigation of the room revealed the presence of five small bottles labelled "Laudanum - poison". These were in a small hand basket, which was standing on a writing case on a table near the window. The red labels on the phials bore the names of well-known local tradesmen, namely: H. J. Church, 18, St. Andrew's-street; Boots, Cash Chemists, Petty-cury; A. A. Deck, Theatre Pharmacy, St. Andrew's-street; A. Deck, chemist, King's-parade; and J. Yeomans, Petty-cury. On a chair at the side of the bed, the policeman found a tea cup and a glass tumbler, both smelling strongly of peppermint, also a half-pint flat liquor bottle, which smelt strongly of brandy.
LITTLE ELSIE'S LAST CALL.
A singular circumstance is related by the other lodger, John Dellar, a butcher, in the employment of Mr. Coulson. He states that about 10.30 on Tuesday night, when he was in bed, the little girl Elsie came into his room, and woke him up, saying that her mother was not well, and would not wake up. He said he would come and see her. He dressed, and went to the front room. Mrs. Rayner was lying in bed, with her head hanging out, and Elsie and Gilbert were on the floor. Mrs. Rayner was breathing heavily. He tried to rouse her, and after a time he suddenly sprang up, and sat up in bed. She said "Where are my children?". Dellar replied "They are lying on the floor". Mrs. Rayner said "Will you put them to bed for me". Dellar put the boy in the bed, and Elsie in the crib on the left side of the bed. The boy
ASKED FOR HIS PLAYTHINGS,
and Dellar gave them to him. He offered to fetch a doctor for Mrs. Rayner, but she said "No don't. I feel ever so much better now. You had better go to bed and get to sleep, and I shall be all right." He acted upon this advice. Both he and Claxton state that Mrs. Rayner went downstairs about 11.30, but only the latter heard her return to her bedroom. Neither was aroused by anything unusual during the night.
One other circumstance completes the sad story in this connection. The deceased woman, contrary to her usual custom, closed the shop before five o'clock on Tuesday, and informed a neighbour that she was going to take the children into town to get something to relieve her cold. The evidence given at the inquest shows that her purchases at various chemists were some deadly drugs. About eight o'clock a man called at the shop, which was still closed, and he enquired at the adjoining house what time the last post went out. Earlier in the day a woman who did some washing for the deceased told Mrs. Abbs, who lives next door, that Mrs. Rayner was not well, and that she thought she had a touch of influenza. Mrs. Abbs saw a light in Mrs. Rayner's sitting-room about half-past ten, but she also heard no unusual sound during the night.
THE WOMAN'S TROUBLES: A SAD STORY.
The event of Wednesday is the melancholy ending of a woman's sad story of domestic trouble and a pathetic struggle for existence. Mrs. Rayner came of a respectable family. Her father is a stationmaster at Gilston (sic, actually Geldeston), near Beccles. After her marriage Mrs. Rayner lived with her husband at Trumpington, where they carried on a baker's business. Three and a half years ago her husband left her, but she continued to look after the business for some time afterwards, receiving assistance from both her father and her father-in-law. The latter lived at Grantchester, and his death, about two years ago, was a great misfortune to Mrs. Rayner, as, according to some facts she gave recently to a friend, had he lived another week, some negotiations which were being made by her father and Mr. Rayner, sen., with a Building Society would have been completed, and the property at Trumpington would have been purchased to enable her to get a living for herself and her children. Unhappily, these negotiations fell through, and Mrs. Rayner removed to 55, Catherine-street, Cambridge. There she took a lodger, Mr. Claxton, the young man who made the fearful discovery on Wednesday, but she found she could not entirely support herself in this way, and so decided, with the help of her father, to open a small business. Accordingly, three weeks ago last Wednesday she removed to the little shop at 179, East-road. It would seem, from what she told Mr. E. Bolton, who moved her furniture, that this was
HER LAST HOPE,
for she said, "If I don't succeed here I don't know what I shall do. My father has helped me so much I could not ask him again." Last week she wrote, asking Mr. Bolton to call and see her, and when he called on Friday, she appeared to be very worried and depressed. She confided to him much of her history, as recorded above, and her troubles. When he asked her how she was getting on, she replied, "Not up to much, Mr. Bolton. I tried greengrocery, and lost a good bit in my humble way." She added that she had made up her mind to try to do what she could with German toys. She had ordered a stock, and thought that by opening in this line near Chistmas she might do a little in that way. She further stated that her rent was £18 a year and rates, which meant about £22 or £23 a year. "How to make that up," she said, "I don't know, but if I get another lodger I may succeed." Mr. Bolton advised her to do her best up to Christmas, and if she did not succeed to give notice to quit. "I thought her a Briton," said Mr. Bolton when interviewed by our representative. Her regret, he added, was that she did not take a lodging-house. She intended to open as a fish dealer, but as the landlord declined to alter the premises she altered this plan. She carried out her determination of obtaining a stock of German toys. The playthings can be seen behind the drawn blinds to-day. The shop looks spick and span with its fresh coating of paint. "E Rayner" is painted above, and there is a slip of metal above the door conveying the information that Emma Rayner is a licensed dealer in tobacco. She also obtained another lodger, but here another unfortunate circumstance arose. It seems that Mr. Claxton, who had been lodging with her so long, was not informed of the newcomer, and he gave notice last Saturday that he should leave that day week. He says that when he told Mrs. Rayner of his intention to leave she said,
"I AM VERY MISERABLE,
and now there's that," but neither he nor his fellow lodger dreamt that she would commit any rash act. They had never heard her express any such intention, nor saw anything strange about her, but she had complained to them both of pains in the head. Although she had only been in this neighbourhood for barely three weeks, those who knew her speak most highly of her as a very respectable, clean, industrious woman. The home, which is nicely furnished, was everywhere as clean as could be, and everything was in order, even in the front bedroom. The children, who attended the East-road School, were always bright and clean. Similar testimony was given by her former neighbours at Catherine-street, and the only marvel is that she could be brought to do such a deed.
The Inquest.
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A PREMEDITATED ACT.
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REMARKABLE LETTER FROM MRS. RAYNER TO HER SISTER.
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Some startling evidence was given at the inquest, which was conducted by Mr. H. S. French, the Borough Coroner, at the Blackbirds public house, East-road, yesterday afternoon. Mr. E. R. Camden was chosen foreman of the Jury.
The Coroner said he did not propose to go into the details of the evidence, as he thought the Jury would follow the witnesses patiently and with discretion. He asked them to consider only the evidence, and not anything they might have read in the newspapers.
The Jury then viewed the bodies at 179, East-road, which is directly opposite, but the Coroner refused to permit the Press to accompany them.
William Rayner (Albert Rayner's uncle) said: I am a caretaker at the Fitzwilliam Museum. I live at 4, Oxford-terrace, Huntingdon-road. I have identified the body of the woman as that of Emma Rayner, 31 years of age, wife of Albert Rayner, baker.
The Coroner: You don't know his address do you? - No.
Witness, continuing, said: I have also identified Emma Julia (sic, actually Elsie Marguerite), aged 9 years, Gilbert Leslie, aged 7 years, and Sybil Marian, who was four years old last February. They have all been living with their mother at 179, East-road, where Mrs. Rayner carried on a small general shop. I saw her frequently, the last time being on the 3rd of November, and she then appeared to be in good health, and complained of nothing. I asked her how she was getting on in business, and she said “Well.” I asked her if she needed any money, and she said that she had plenty to carry on the business.
You know she has had some domestic trouble? - Yes, I do.
Her husband had left her? - Quite right, sir.
How long had he left her? - Some two or three years.
Has that been a source of great trouble to her? - Yes, it has.
The Foreman: Did she say where she had the money from? - No.
Had she ever complained to you? - Not as to finances; she was
TROUBLED ABOUT HER HUSBAND,
and I interested myself in trying to find him and bring him to justice for leaving her.
Did he contribute to her support? - I believe he did for some little time, and then he left it off.
Did she express a desire to have him back if she could? - Yes, and she used her best endeavours to do so.
What was the cause of his leaving her? - I cannot say.
Sarah Fordham said: I am the wife of Chas. Fordham, coal porter, and I live at 9, Queen-street. I have done washing and charing for Mrs. Rayner for three weeks. I had not known her before then. I went at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and found her sitting in the arm chair, with the little boy beside her. She seemed very queer. I thought she had the influenza; she complained of pains at the top of her head. She said that she had had the influenza twice before. I left about four o'clock, and I saw her leave with her three children about 4.20. She said that she was going to the chemists for something for her cold.
The Coroner: Did she appear fond of the children? - Very fond indeed, sir. She was a very good mother to them.
By the Foreman: I thought she had the influenza because her eyes looked so bad and kept running, and she was sneezing. She appeared to worry about her husband and once told the “baby” that she would never know her daddy.
William Henry Claxton said: I am a carpenter, working for Mr. Banyard, builder. I have lodged with Mrs. Rayner for two years and three months. She removed from 55, Catherine-street to East-road three weeks ago. On Wednesday I got up at eight o'clock in the morning to go to work. Breakfast was not ready. I should have got to work at six o'clock, but did not. I returned at nine o'clock, and again no breakfast was ready. I went upstairs and knocked at the door of the outer room two or three times. Getting no answer, I went in, called “Mrs. Rayner” several times, and, still getting no answer, I knocked at the door of her bedroom. I
GOT NO ANSWER,
and, upon looking in the room, I saw Mrs. Rayner and her three children, with their throats cut, on the bed. I came out and spoke to Mr. A. A. Coulson, of East-road. Upon his advice, I sent for a policeman and a doctor. When they arrived, we went to the bedroom. I left the policeman and Dr. Greer in charge whilst I went to the door. I slept with the other lodger, John Dellar, at the back. I believe that Elsie sometimes slept in the outer room. On the previous night, at tea time, Mrs. Rayner said “You might take your latch key, as I shall be a bed when you come home. I shall send the other latch key to Dellar, at Coulson's.” She also said then that she had a dreadful headache. I went out at seven o'clock, and returned home about 10 or 15 minutes past eleven. When I got to my room, Dellar said “Mrs. Rayner is queer.” I said “Oh, how's that?” He said “The oldest girl and the boy came running into my room saying “I believe mother is dead. Will you come and see her?” I did so.” Dellar then described what took place.
The Coroner: Had Mrs. Rayner been in her usual health?
Witness: Until this week, when she was very low, and complained about her head.
Was she a good mother? - Yes, very good; and affectionate towards her children.
Did you give her notice to leave? - Yes, last Saturday. She said “I'm miserable now, and now there's that.”
Did she take you into her confidence about her troubles? - She told me some, about her husband principally.
By the Foreman: Her health was good in Catherine-street, but she
COMPLAINED OF HER HEAD,
and suffered from neuralgia, which caused her face to swell. She never complained about her finances. Before she came to East-road she said that her money was not exhausted, that her parents and her family had been very good to her indeed, and that what little money she had by her would last for two years without any business of any kind.
Then there was no pressing need for her to do this deed for want of food? She was in no financial difficulty? - No; none whatever.
Was she a woman who would worry over little things? - No; I don't think so.
Another Juryman: Why did you give notice to leave? - Witness: because I was not asked about the young man who was coming to lodge there. I had been used to sleeping alone.
The Chief Constable: When you came in on Tuesday night and heard that Mrs. Rayner was queer, did it not occur to you to inquire if she was better? - Witness: When the young man offered to go for a doctor she said “I am better now,” so I went to bed.
By the Coroner: I heard Mrs. Rayner go downstairs about 11.30 on Tuesday night.
John Dellar deposed: I am a butcher, working for Mr. Coulson, East-road, and I have been lodging with Mrs. Rayner since Saturday night last. On Tuesday night I went to bed at 9.30. Mrs. Rayner and her children had already gone to bed. About 10.30 Elsie came and woke me up. She said “Mother doesn't feel well, and won't wake up. Will you come and see her.” I said I would. I dressed and went to the room. The little boy and Elsie were on the floor crying. Sybil was in bed with her mother. Elsie asked me to wake her mother, whose head was hanging over the side of the bed. I shook her once, and she just opened her eyes. I said to the little girl “I will go and fetch the doctor if you won't make a row.” Just as I was going Mrs. Rayner
SUDDENLY SPRANG UP.
She frightened me by the way she did it. I asked her how she felt. She said she did not feel well. I said “Shall I fetch a doctor to you.” She replied “No; I feel a lot better to what I have done.” I said “All right.” She then asked “Where are my children?” I said “Two are on the floor.” The two were still crying out “Mother.” She said “Do you mind putting them in bed for me.” I put the boy in bed with her and the girl in the crib on the left side of the bed. The boy said “Will you give me my playthings before I go.” I did so, and his mother then said “You had better go to bed and get some rest.” I then left the room. I had been in bed about ten minutes when Claxton came in. I heard Mrs. Rayner go downstairs about half-past eleven, but I did not hear her return. I could not hear the children crying then.
By the Foreman: I saw a cup in the bedroom, but I do not know whether Mrs. Rayner had drunk from it. There was a smell of peppermint in the room. Mrs. Rayner was a very nice woman - not melancholy.
The Coroner: Did the children appear to be playing about or were they dazed? - Witness: They were simply crying.
Walter Clark said: I am a police constable in the Borough Force. At 9.5 a.m. on Wednesday morning I was on East-road at the end of Burleigh-street. I heard a man call out “Policeman,” and looking down East-road I saw Claxton coming towards me. He said “Will you come with me to 179 East-road? I think a woman has cut her throat and those of her three children.” I went to the front bedroom of the house. A woman and three children were lying on the bed. All four had their throats cut, and all were cold, still and dead. The woman was lying on her back on the right side of the bed; her head was thrown back and her limbs were drawn up. Her arms were lying across her body. The boy was lying to the left of his mother, and the older girl crossways on the bed, with her face towards the window. The younger girl was lying on her back. All the children had their legs drawn up. At my request, Mr. A. A. Coulson sent information to the Police-station, and I remained in charge until the arrival of detectives Marsh and White.
The Coroner: Did you find any instrument? - Witness: Yes; a razor was lying across the throat, with the blade in the wound, on the left side of the woman's throat, and the handle on her body. Dr. Greer arrived shortly afterwards. On a chair I found a cup with some brown stain at the bottom, smelling strongly of peppermint. There was an empty glass and a small flat bottle, which smelt of brandy. There was also a cup, upside down, under the chair. This also had a brown stain at the bottom. In a hand basket I found seven bottles
FIVE OF WHICH WERE LABELLED “LAUDANUM,”
and two “Essence of peppermint.” Sergeant Evans then came on the scene and took charge of the place. The children wore nightdresses and the woman a dressing gown.
The Coroner: Had there been any vomiting? - Yes; in two places.
The Foreman: It is a funny thing a woman should possess a razor. Where did it come from? - Witness: I don't know.
Alfred Evans, Coroner's officer, said: About 10 on Wednesday morning I proceeded to the house. I went upstairs and found the bodies as described by the last witness. I took possession of the bottles, the glass, the bottle and the cups, which I produce. I searched the various boxes in the presence of Sergeant Gates and P.c. Fuller. There were 15s. in silver in a bag in the right top drawer in the bedroom, £23 in gold in a small bag, and in another box a threepenny piece and 3½d. in coppers, also 4s. 6d. in a purse, 5s. and 5s. in coppers wrapped up in brown paper. In the left drawer there were:- Two gold keeper rings, two dress rings, a gold locket, a silver watch, and a silver ring. Three shillings worth of coppers were in a dish in the same drawer, and had evidently been brought from the shop. There was a note in the handwriting of deceased, stating that “Mrs. Fordham, of 9, Queen-street, my washerwoman, will be glad of some of my old clothes.” Downstairs, I found the two razors (produced) in the left top drawer. One is marked “J. Rayner.” I have not been able to ascertain where the other one came from. I have made enquiries at all the chemists whose names appear on the bottles. In each case they stated that Mrs. Rayner told them that she was
SUFFERING FROM NEURALGIA,
and that she wanted the laudanum to allay the pain. At Mr. Deck's, on King's-parade, she only obtained 1d. worth, although she asked for 3d. worth. She had 3d. worth of laudanum and 3d. worth of essence of peppermint from Messrs. Boots; 3d. worth of laudanum from Messrs. Yeomans, Beale and Co.; 3d. worth of laudanum from Mr. Church, St. Andrew's-street, and another three-penny worth of laudanum from Mr. Deck's, St. Andrew's-street. All were purchased on Tuesday evening, with the exception of that from Mr. Church's, which was bought on Monday. All the chemists stated that the woman appeared to be self-composed, and they had no suspicions.
By the Jury: It is not necessary for a purchaser of this drug to sign a paper, but the chemist's name must appear on the bottle. I have no idea where the razor came from.
The Foreman: You know nothing of this woman previously I suppose? - Witness: Yes, I have served a summons on her husband once.
Was it likely that her mind would be unhinged? - I thought she would be the last person to have done a thing of this sort.
In reply to further questions by the Chief Constable and others, witness said: I served the summons on her husband for neglecting to maintain her, but she attended the court the next day and
WITHDREW THE PROCEEDINGS.
Another summons has since been obtained by her, but we cannot find the husband, although every effort has been made by the police. The first summons was served on March 16th 1899. Her husband came to Cambridge. I cycled over to Trumpington, and traced him to Catherine-street, and caught him just at the door. He said he would not be forced to pay, but afterwards he promised to do so. I believe he contributed 10s. or ? a week at times. Then he left off and she came and got another summons. That was on the 10th July this year.
The Foreman: Did she state why he left her? - Witness: In a letter to the Chief Constable she stated he got into a muddle with his business, he got into debt, gave way to drink, and did a bit of betting.
The witness Claxton, re-called, said: I have never seen a razor in the house. I always go out to be shaved.
THE DOCTOR'S STORY.
Thomas Greer, M.D., said: I am a surgeon practising in Warkworth-street. I was called to 179, East-road, yesterday morning. Instead of the living person I expected to see, I found four dead bodies lying on the bed. They were all stiff and cold, and I should say they had been dead for several hours. Each of them had a wound in the throat. The razor was still embedded in the woman's throat. On a chair by the side of the bed I noticed the glass and cup produced. The cup contained a few drops of dark liquid, a mixture of laudanum and peppermint, judging by the smell. The woman and the girls were lying on the coverlet, but the boy appeared to have been in bed. I satisfied myself that they were dead, and had been dead for some time. The wounds in the throat were quite sufficient to cause death, and might have been inflicted by a razor.
Do you think the wound in the woman's throat was self-inflicted? - It was quite possible for her to inflict it. The position of the razor was just as the right hand had ceased to hold it. In each case the wind pipe was cut through, and the blood vessels were severed. The pupils of the eyes were not contracted, as is usual after a dose of laudanum, but the sudden loss of blood would have a considerable effect in preventing this. The vomiting would render the laudanum less likely to take effect.
Would the peppermint have any counteracting effect? - No; it would make it more agreeable to take; that would be all.
Further examined: Laudanum would have a more immediate effect upon an empty stomach than a full one. There were no signs of struggles. There was a stool piled up with books by the side of the bed, and they were not disturbed.
The Foreman: What would be the state of mind of a person who would do such a deed?
Witness: The mere fact of her taking her own life and the lives of her children would lead me to suppose that if not actually insane, she was on the verge of it.
The Chief Constable: The lodgers state that they heard the deceased woman come down stairs about half-past eleven. If she had taken a good share, we will say the major portion of the laudanum, would she be in a position to do that?
Witness: If she had taken a full dose of laudanum - probably in that case she would take considerably more than an ordinary dose - she would be in a condition to come down stairs.
You think the effects of the laudanum having to some extent worn off, she would be in a condition to look for this razor and take it upstairs, and having found the laudanum had not taken effect, resorted to other measures? - Yes. If the laudanum were taken early in the evening the effect would pass off after two or three hours. That appears to me to be
THE MOST PROBABLE EXPLANATION.
She had given laudanum to her children and taken some herself, but, finding later on, that the effect was passing off from herself, she concluded she must adopt stronger measures. If I were going to theorise on the matter, that is what I should say.
A Juryman: Is there any possibility that the laudanum might have caused delirium, and that she committed the act unintentionally?
Witness: In some cases it would cause a certain amount of excitement first, but that is quickly succeeded by drowsiness that would prevent her for a considerable time from doing anything of the kind. I should not think a dose of laudanum would excite her in any way.
It would not be like an intoxicant? - It is different; it produces drowsiness.
Florence Soutter (Souter) said: I live at Gilston (Geldeston) Station, Beccles. The deceased, Emma Rayner, was my sister. I received a letter from her yesterday in her handwriting. I have had several letters from her lately, in which she has complained of her health.
THE WOMAN'S LAST LETTER
The Coroner then read a portion of the letter received by the last witness, as follows:-
179, East-road, Cambridge
My dear Florrie, - I hope by the time you get this letter I shall be out of the misery of this world, and take the children with me. Oh, Florrie, I have been feeling so ill this last week. I think it has been influenza, and what with sleeplessness and feeling so bad, I have felt so depressed: in fact my mind is going. I know it is an awful thing to do, but where has there been any woman, left as I have been, who has tried more to succeed than I have, yet I have had no success. Dear Florrie, I cannot leave my children behind. I am going to give them and myself some laudanum, and only hope it may have the desired effect. If one of my children should live, dear Florrie, I leave it to you. Take all there is, and have it sold, and keep my children if any should live. If they should die, I desire the things to be divided or sold, as you may all wish, and the money divided. I leave to dear ---
The Coroner added that there were private matters in the letter which they did not wish to enter into, and he had read enough for their purpose. Deceased sent her keys with the letter. He did not think that if they adjourned the inquest they would get any more evidence. It was a very painful case, and he did not think it would be difficult for the jury to arrive at their verdict. There was no doubt this poor woman determined to kill her three children and herself, and her letter was sufficient to show her state of mind at the time. There was more than £20 in the house, so that there was no motive for the deed except the domestic trouble, and no woman in her right senses could have done such a deed.
The Jury retired for a few minutes, and upon returning the Foreman said they found that the woman took the lives of her children and committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.
The inquiry lasted nearly two and a half hours.