Infanticide

Murder of Four Children by their Father. - The inhabitants of the village of Old Basford, two miles north of Nottingham, were, at seven o'clock yesterday morning, horror stricken, by a report that Thos. Greensmith had strangled his four children. On being admitted into the house, we proceeded up stairs, and there, in one bed, lay the oldest child, and in another the other three, their  countenances having that remarkably livid appearance peculiar to those who die a violent death; there was not the calmness of innocence, but rather the expression of horror, written upon their countenances, which appalled every one; and that there had been a very violent death was evident, for the cord or whipthong with which it was supposed they were strangled - one having been found in the room had not been properly placed, and had nearly separated one of the ears of the oldest child; the neck, too, of the youngest was very much lacerated; indeed, they were all so much marked, that their sufferings must have been horrible.

It appeared that the father, Thomas Greensmith, is a labourer employed at the bleach-yard of Mr. George Brown, of Basford; that his wife, after being ill a considerable time, which involved him in debt, died some time ago; that on Tuesday he received about 5l. out of a money club, and had since then been very much harassed by persons to whom he owed money; that about eleven o'clock at night his landlord called upon him, and they went out of the house together; on his return he told the woman who looked after his children she must not sleep there that night, but get another place; she accordingly left the house.

Next morning a neighbour went to call the eldest child to go to work, and finding the door open, she entered, and called at the bottom of the stairs; and not receiving an answer, went up, and on turning down the blanket which covered his face, she discovered, that he was strangled; and on examining the other children, she found they were also strangled, and the father gone.

The neighbours say, he was remarkably fond of his children, but not of a communicative disposition, keeping his sorrows to himself; and that he has latterly been very fearful of being compelled to go into the workhouse, which he dreaded, and hence arose this dreadful act of infanticide.

The names of the children are John, ten years old next September; William, eight years old next November; Ann, five years old this month; and another, two years old also this month. It is believed he took the children out of bed and strangled them separately.