Ambleside Herald & Lakes News Issue 110 28 APR 1882 Page 4 Murder Suicide Shocking Tragedy Near Appleby - Murder and Suicide The inhabitants of the ancient and usually quiet borough of Appleby and neighbourhood were, on Saturday last, thrown into a state of considerable excitement through a report being freely circulated that at woman had been shot dead, and that the murderer had himself committed suicide. The rumour, alas, proved too true, and the sad event has been the subject of grave conversation, in fact the almost absorbing topic of the day throughout the Vale of the Eden since the terrible occurrence took place. The tragedy, which is one of the most melancholy and distressing that has occurred in Westmorland during the present century, happened about three o'clock in the afternoon at the little hamlet of Burrells, about two miles from the county town. The family in which the sad affair took place, we may state, consisted of two brothers, named JOHN and THOMAS WAISTELL (the last named being the murderer), an older half-brother, called MATTHEW BURRA, and HANNAH WILSON, their housekeeper (the murdered woman). The house in which the dreadful tragedy was enacted is the second on the right hand side of the highway leading between Appleby and Kendal; it is situate close by the roadside and to the passer-by it presents the appearance of a quiet and unassuming farmstead. The facts connected with the tragic event are very brief. About three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the housekeeper and THOMAS WAISTELL had a quarrel in the kitchen of the farmhouse, respecting a matter of very trivial import. The brother of the murderer was the only other occupant of the house at the time; but unfortunately, he is not able to stir about very quickly, being afflicted with rheumatism, so that he was unable to prevent the dreadful affair which ensued. The murderer, it appears, was of an excitable temperament and occasionally worked himself up into such a violent rage that he had often to be restrained by his elder half-brother. He was, however, of sober and industrious habits, but was of a somewhat weak intellect, the incoherent manner in which he often conducted himself having frequently attracted the attention of those who were acquainted with him. On this occasion he took umbrage at a mere trifle, and, on its being hinted by the housekeeper that he was not sane, he became very much exasperated, got up his double barrelled muzzle-loader, and fired two shots, the first missing the object of his aim through the gun being diverted by his brother John. The housekeeper then fled from the house, but she had not proceeded many yards, before the desperate man fired a second shot, and this time with fatal effect. He then ran down a field at the back of the house, and, entering what is known as the Lime Kiln Close, endeavoured to put an end to his existence by shooting himself. When found he was suffering the most intense pain, his cries being heard all over the village. Medical assistance was sent for immediately after the woman was shot; but on the arrival of DR. DINWOODIE and his assistant, and DR. DICKSON of Appleby, the woman was breathing her last, and the murderer did not live many hours after her. In his dying moments he confessed to committing the murder, and to shooting himself, and passed away with the prayer on his lips "O God, have mercy on me!" An inquest was held on both bodies Monday. David Leverton Leverton, Stevens, Clibborn, Dodgson, Hird, Stalker ulpha@telus.net