IT is with pain that we publish the following account, a inhuman and most unnatural murder, committed by a mentally deranged woman upon her own household. The following is the particulars.

At an early hour yesterday morning (Wednesday, February 5, 1879), the neighborhood of Cheslimont in Bolton, Manchester, was thrown into the greatest state of excitement and alarm in consequence to the HOLBROOK ESTATE, the home of Sir. Howard Holbrook and family, having been burnt to ash killing all save one of its occupants. Due to the circumstances, it is clear to both writer and reader that this family must have been targeted by some sanguinary villain.

It appears that the deceased, SIR. HOWARD HOLBROOK, wife MAUDE HOLBROOK and daughter LORA HOLBROOK were caught in a wicked blaze that engulfed their estate home and neighboring greenhouse. It was the custom for that lady of the house to dismiss her staff early, and on this date the staff left about 9 o'clock that evening. About three hours later, a carriage driver called WELLS passed by the estate gates. From without he could see the faint signs of fire and detected the smell of smoke. Believing it to be no more than a light from within the house and perhaps the smell of freshly lit hearth, he continued upon his way. It was shortly after this occurrence that the neighborhood of Cheslimont awoke to the smell of fire. It was determined by the chief fire marshal that all occupants within the structure must have perished as there were no signs of life and the west wing, the portion of the estate known to house the bedrooms, was completely engulfed in flames.

It was then, after this assessment was made, that a figure emerged from the front of the burning Estate. The figure, discovered later to be the second daughter of Mr. Holbrook, RUTH MERRITT HOLBROOK, aged 13 years, was burned badly, with hair singed and dressing gown turned black. She was bleeding and obviously gravely injured, and yet she emerged from the house without cry of pain or fear. She did not acknowledge or ask after her own injuries, instead she proceeded to sit upon the grass and watch her home burn. When questioned by police, she continued to ignore her own burns. She asked after her family but did not seem entirely concerned with their wellbeing. This detachment was a reaction that was noted both by the attending physicians and investigators as "suspicious." SERGEANTS UPTON and ROSSER, of the BOLTON POLICE, escorted MISS HOLBROOK to a hospital in greater Manchester where she was examined. DRS. O'DONNELL and NELSON tended to the girl's multiple injuries, but found her to be physically unresponsive to even the harshest  treatment. RUTH MERRITT HOLBROOK was deemed emotionally and mentally unstable. After physical evaluation the suspect was then interrogated regarding the fire and subsequent death of the HOLBROOK FAMILY. Although the interviewed staff of the estate stated that they believed the young woman to be of pure character and sweet intentions, the police and the medical staff at present view her under entirely different light. Thus far, MISS HOLBROOK has proved to be entirely uncooperative. The police are still building their case, but they believe that RUTH MERRITT HOLBROOK was the murderess of her own kin.

The investigation into the Holbrook Murder is still ongoing and the public is under duress to report any information they may have regarding the incident.