SAD DOMESTIC TRAGEDY IN BIRMINGHAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

SAD DOMESTIC TRAGEDY IN BIRMINGHAM.

A terrible tragedy took place at Hay Mills, just outside Birmingham, recently. A middle-

aged couple of the working class named Clews were taken home in a cab intoxicated, the woman being the worst of the two. Some two hours afterwards she summoned a neighbour, saying she had killed her hus» band with the poker. The man was found on the sofa with his skull battered in by about five blows. He was insensible, and died almost immediately. The woman, who said the deceased struck her, and she then struck him with the poker, was taken into custody. At the inquest evidence was given showing that the deceased and his wife returned home in cab in a drunken condition, and that shortly after Mrs. Clews informed a neighbour, named Abbott, that she had killed her husband. On going to the house Abbott found the deceases unconscious, and death took place before the arrival of a doctor. On examination deceased's skull was found to have been smashed in, and the brains protruded from several wounds. Mrs. Clews informed a police officer that, after quarrelling, her husbasd struck her, and she then hit him with a poker. The police failed to prodnce Mrs. Clews at the inquest, and the Coroner remarked that she ought in common fairness to be present. He adjourned the inquest for the police to ascertain whether the Chief Constable would allow of her presence, '