The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-23 00:00:00

THE BURGLARY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
AT ISLINGTOH.

A short, thin young man, named Frederick
Strugnell, about 18 years of age, was brought up yesterday
at the Clerkenwell Police-court, charged with being con-
cerned, with others not in custody, in stealing au nos
cheat containing M., belonging to Mr. George Higgins,
butcher, of 47, Chapel-street, Islington, and also with
murderously assaulting a woman named Mary Ana Itedki.
SOIL

Mr. George Higgins was the first witness examined. lie
said—l am a butcher, carrying on business at 47, Chapel.
street, lalington. I have known the prisoner fur about
three years. He was in my service about two years and a
half since, and worked for me about a month at Christmas.
1 saw him last about five weeks lime, when he came and
asked me to give him a character to get another ~ituat-
wo, which I consented to do. Last night about
10 o'clock I returned home, and found an immense 'hub
in front of my house. I went inside and found tbat'inv
vent, Mary Ann Redkisoo, bad been wounded on the bead,
nose, arms, and hands. She was immediately taken to the
hospitaL On the bed at the hospital she stated to me that
the prisoner had been in the house, and had injured her.
I gave information to the polkie, and they took the prisoner
into custody. I have mired a cheat, with a cask-box, coo.
Lining 1061, besides a number of nogg and other articles
of some value, as well as a bank book. All the things
stolen were kept in the first-floor front. From what I have
heard I believe that the prisoner is concerned with others in
committing the felony, and wounding the woman. I bars
not seen the prisoner since I gave him the character, but he
was seen at my house three weeks ago.
The prisoner said he did not wish to ask the witness any
questions, but he should like to make a statement to excul.
pate himself from this charge.
Mr. Barker cautioned the prisoner that what he did say
would be taken down in writing, and might be used against
him at his trial.

The prisoner, who treated the matter with the greatest
indifference, said—l shall make a statement. About three
weeks ago I met this young woman, and she amked me to
come and see her some Sunday. Well, I went last evening
to see her, and stayed there some time talking to her in
the back kitchen. I then went and fetched a drop of gin.
We stayed talking in the back kitchen after this for about
half an hour, when she said she beard some one talking
in the street, and thought the street door must be open.
We went to see, and the door was wide open. She said
some one was in the house. We went upstairs to see, sad
we could plainly see that some one had been there. We
then came down stain, and she said she was going for a
policeman. Before we got to the bottom of the stairs some
one came running down, and that person was a man. That
man struck her, and I ran out of the house frightcued.
That is all I have to say.
the
Mr. Higgins—Perhaps you will say how you got out of
house

The Prisoner—From the front door. As I was frightened
I do nut know what it was that the girl was struck with.
I ran home and got my clean clothes, and went back to my
place, where I remained until I was apprehended this
morning.

Police-constable Tornkins, 315 N, said—l received infor.
mation of this robbery and outrage, and I went to the mi.
loners master's in Buinghalletreet. I told the prisoner
the charge, and cautioned him. I said I have come about
the robbery at Mr. Higgins's, in Chapel-street, and I asked
him if he had been there, and he said, " No, I have not
been there." I asked him if he was positive, and he said,
" Yes, I have not bees there." I then asked to look at the
things be had on, but I found no marks of blood on them.
I then took him to the police-station, and going along
he said he wan never near the place. He knew nothing
about it, for he was at the time with his mother, and bad
been so since he left his master's in Basinghall-street until
a quarter past nine, when he returned back to his place.
On being put into the cell he said, " I did not remain at
home, forl took a walk for an hour or so round Highbnry."
I said, " Well, remember, you have contradicted yourself.
Are you positive" and he said " No."
After some further evidence, Mr. Barker, the magistrate,
Mr. Mould, the chief clerk, and Mr. Baylis, the chief usher,
and the prisoner, proceeded to the Royal Free Hospital.
The unfortunate woman gave her evidence with great
clearness and precision. The only portion of her face visible
was her mouth, the other portion being enveloped in cur-
bandages. Having been sworn, she stated as follows--
My name is Mary Ann Redkison. lam wounded, but Ido
lot know what it was done with. I only saw the knife
that Fred kad in his hand.

Mr. Mould—Who do you mean by Fred?
Witness—l mean that young lad who used to live with
oz. He lived with us just before Christmas. He came to
see me last night, a little before 8, but I am not quite cer-
tain. He came to me and said, " Might I come in?" I
said, "Yee, there is no one at home, but I expect mis-
tress's mother home immediately from church." He said,
"We will some into the kitchen and sit down for a minute
or so." When we bad been there a short time he said ho
was thirsty, and be would fetch something, and I got up
for the purpose of getting him the beer jug. He said be
did not want any beer—be wanted some gin, and I then
gave him the pint jug. So he went out to get it, and I
shut the door after him. I came up to the door just as he
turned the corner of the street. I let hint in, shut the
door,and put the chopper against it, as I always do. We went
into the kitchen, and be mixed the gin with some water.
A little while after that he said be would go into the
parlour and see the time. I did not think anything
of it, for 1 had no suspicion. I forget what time he said it
was. He brought down some of (knell's Bibles, and when
he had been there a moment or so 1 heard some boys calling
out, and I said, " The street door is open ; some one must
have opened it and got in." I took the candle and went
upstairs to my master's bedroom. He took the knife front
the shop and came up after me. When I got upstairs I fan-
cied I saw master's chest was open, and the place turned
topsy.turvy. I said, "I will run down and fetch the po-
lice," and he cut after me ; and when I was going to the
door Fred got before me, but he shut it and lie cut at me
with a knife. I said, "Oh, Fred, it is Mary ;do not hurt me."
Ido not know any more. lam almost sure I fell. I had not
got my senses after that until I was put in a cab and taken
to some hospital, but I do not know which. When I
went to the door to answer the knock, Fred was standing
on the opposite side of the street. He creased over, and I
stared and said, "Lon, Fred, who would have thought of
seeing you." He told me he had knocked at the door the
other Sunday night but could not see me. I told hun I was
out that night. I had not asked him to call.
Mr. Barker—Did you see any man at the house last night
but Fred

Witneet—No, Done but Fred.
Mr. Barker—Did any strange man run down stairs after
you?
....

W3teer—No.

The witness here said she was in pain, thought she should
die, and expressed a wish to see her master who was stand-
ing by her bedside.
Mr. Barker (to the prisoner)—Do you wish to ask the
witness any questions.
The prisoner, with the greatest callousness, said, " No,"
but added, "She asked me to call and see her about Ulm
weeks ago."
The further hearing of the case took place at the police
court, when the prisoner was remanded to Tuesday uest.

LATEST PARTICULARS.—(THIS DAY.)
The unfortunate female, Mary Ann Reukison, was kit
night and this morning reported to be dead ; but it was
ascertained at the Royal Free Hospital that. although still
in a very dangerous state, she had passed a quiet night, and
was if anything a trifle better.
The shop in Chapel•street at which the nssault was com-
mitted was last eight besieged by thousands of persuus,
and this morning the street was nearly impassable.
The police have not yet got any clue to the person or
persons who took the cashbox, but there can be no Ulla.
from the marks on the walls, that the thieves made their
escape from the back of the house.

DREADFUL CASE OF BURNING. On Friday
night Mrs. Seaton, wife of Sergeant Seaton, of the old
Regiment, was fearfully burnt by a fire which occurred
in a room where she lodged near Wood-street, Bromptosi
Kent. When the flames bad been got under,
the woman was taken out by a cabman. She was
lying under a table, and was frightfully burnt quite
black. air. Burton was in immediate miteodentsi, but
held out no hopes of the recovery of the sufferer, who was
young woman only ZS yams of sge. Sergeant Seaton had
married without leave, and his wife was not allowed to live
with him io the Hut Barracks ; he wa. roused in the nifibt
by tidings o! the dreadful disaster which bud befollcu
young wife. When the unfortunate woman was takes up
by the cabman, whose name is Skelton, her flesh came oft
in his hands, her clothes haring been wholly destroral by
the fire. The spectacle was fnghtful, and the sufferer calif
survived the accident a few hours. _

REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF THE SOFTII EA ...TEEM'
EXPREMI4 AND MAIL TRAINS.—On Friday night one of the
most diabolical attempts at wholesale murder that we'll"
ever known was attempted on the South-Eastern Railway
between Edenbridge and Godatone. Indeed, we know of
on parallel, except in the Enniskillen caw, in Ireland,
where an attempt at wholesale death or destruction w.is
made some few years ago. It appear, that on the night
in question, juat after nine o'clock, and but a few minutes
before the arrival of the np.express trait) and the nail
down train, and which generally pass each other between
Edenbridge and Godatone, soma person placed an irm
rail across each of the lines, and bat for Gal's mercy, the
most dreadful catastrophe must have occurred. As
turned out., the express train cut or broke the rail into
three pieces, causing a madden jerk, but nothing further.
Tbe mail was as fortunate, though the result was different,
as in this case, it did not remove the obstruction, but am
over it. It seems really • miracle that mime part of
the train was not thrown off the rails. We are grateful
to Bay that, excepting the shock, very slight damage was
done, so that the hellish designs of the wretch were cow-
pletely frustrated. The mail stopped et Eileuhrolge and
the guard communicated to Mr. Gray, the station ouster.
what bad occurred, and he immediately despatched DOW
of the men to see what it was, and to remove it ; and some
time before the last train left Godatone, parties were lent
down to the spot to see that no further obstmitiei was
placed on the rails. We believe that the officials have a
vague suspicion of the perpetrators of this offence, and we
sincerely hope that the richt party may be found out, end
receive the just retribution which such a wanton act de*
serves.— dams Erma.