A MURDERER'S PITIFUL STORY.

♦ The inquest on the eight victims of ths Tooting tragedy was opened on Saturday (March 9 th) afternoon at Tooting, before Mr. Braxton Hicks, Coroner. The Coroner, in opening the inquest, said this was one of the most painful and dreadful affairs that had happened in England for many years. It was alleged that Prank Taylor had murdered his wife and six children and killed himself, and the question was whether he was insane. The jury then viewed the bodies. Evidence of identification having been given, Richard Henry Hocken said that Prank Taylor, the father of the family, was a respectable, s>ton.dy nifin. A week ago he was looking ill. About six o'clock on Thursday morning, tho boy, Prank Taylor, came to his house with wounds on his throat and hands, saying, "Father has cut mother's and all the children's throats, and mother is dead." The witness called the police. Policeconstable Smith spoke to visiting the house. Witness found the mother and children dead. The man opened his eyes and tried to speak. A razor was found near him. Dr. Aulad said the mother had evidently struggled for life. A police officer spoke to finding on the husband a letter addressed to Mrs. Taylor, also a knife recently sharpened, copies of Psalms xxii. and xxv , aud a hymn from " Sacred Songs and Solos," beginning. "We shall all meet in the morning." The following letter from Taylor was read : — March 3rd. To my dear beloved wife and children, — People have accused me of many wrong things, but the Lord has washed them away in His precious blood. Can't bear the shame that I am accused of. May God protect you and my dear children when I am gone. I know the Lord will provide for you, because you are full of grace, and that is everything in the eyes of the Lord. May God bless you all and keep you from all shame. lam going to a better land, and hope to see you in Heaven. I am broken-hearted. — Frank." The letter is written in ink on a half- sheet of paper. The above portion, which is crowded into one side, concludes with representing kisses. The back of the sheet is filled with the following, which was evidently written a day of two later: — "To night we depart this life of trouble. Oh, Lord! have mercy on us, and consider mine enemies, for they the man/. Oh, Lord ! remembor not the sins of my youth,- and receive us round Thy throne of grace. My life has been destroyed by mine enemies, but in Jesus is my help. Lord, have mercy on my enemies. I forgive them. I have been hunted down. Amen ! It is finished." This letter was addressed to Mrs Taylor. On the back of the envelope were two notes in pencil, the first being: — "I love my wife and children too dearly to allow people to jeer them. They are all pure." The second note ran : ■< Jesus, let us all be washed in Thy precious blood. Thy will be done." The jury found that Taylor killed his wife and family, and afterwards committedjsuicide, while in an unsound state of mind.