A very strange and dreadful fivefold murder was committed by
William Gouldstone, blacksmith, on Wednesday week (August 8th), at 8 Courtney Place, St. James's Street, Walthamstow. His wife had recently had twins, and either this event, or other facts not at present known to us, appeared to have driven the man to desperation. While his wife was still lying ill, he came home and drowned his three eldest bop, and then, going into her room, struck the newly-born infants who were lying on her breast, so that they also died in a day or two. The man makes no attempt to deny or excuse his crime. When charged with it, he said, " Yes, sir, that is right ; I did it. Now I am happy. I did it like a man, too." The coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the father iu each of the five cases, and the Crown has taken up the prosecution. Of course, the only conceivable defence would be a presumption of insanity, of which at present there is no evidence, except,—if that be evidence,—the complete unconcern and stolid self-satisfaction of the prisoner. The man is only twenty-six years old.
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