The Express.
London, England, 1857-06-12 00:00:00

TEE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT WITHAM•

At the Witham petty session, on Tuesday, the
examination of Charles Finch, the man who has been re-
manded from time to time for the attempt on the life of Har-
riet Freeborn, took place. Harriet Freeborn deported—l
am a single woman, and on the 24th of May last I was in
the wwvice of Mr. Upson, farmer, of Riveahall. I was
going to church in the afternoon. I went as far as the wile
leading to the church path. Charles Finch came behind me,
caught bold of me suddenly, and cut my throat with a
razor. I don't know whether he threw me down or whether
I fell. I was on the ground. He turned away, and I said
" You blackguard." While I was on the Fround he came
to me again, and cut my throat, saying "1 ou are a deed
woman, and I than be hanged for you, if I don't I'm d—d."
When I first saw him he was coming over the atile,_sad I
said "You made too jump." The prisoner said " Why r.
and I replied " Because I was making haste to church."
The prisoner, who had repeatedly interrupted the witness
while giving her evidenoe, now said " I never said no such
II
she risked me what I waa tntting it for, and I told
hie; I want to ask her what ahe did this for —what she did
time years ago.
The peer creature, who was allowed by the bench to be
elatedwhitsgiving her evidence, epoke in so low a tone as
be sestosly audible; she appeared very ill, and was at-
landed by a female friend.
John Reidestras live at the Rev. H. Dalton's. at
Kelvedoe. I know the prisoner. On Saturday, the 23rd
May, he was working with me, and he spoke about the young
woman, and said, "I'll do fcr her sometime or other.' I
saw him walking with her on the previous Tuesday. On
the Saturday he told me he was jwilous of • young man in
Lifaidon, and that he had • razor in his pocket on the Tuesday
night.
Mr. T. M. Temkin, surgeon, Witham, said—On Satur-
day afternoon, the 24th May, about half-paat three o'clock,
1 was called in to attend the young women. I found her in
a fainting state, with two large gashes in her throat. The
top one was not so extensive as the to one. The lower
such

otie very nearly divided the windpipe. They were er
wounds as in all podmbility wouldd produce death. The
carotid artery wee nut touched, but the wound was close to
it. From my examination of the wounds my opinion is that
they were intended to produce death. The razor produced
would have inflicted the wounds. I have no doubt they was
inflicted with the intention of killing.
Police-constable James Henry Medley, stationed at
Witham, said—On Sunday, the 24th May, I apprehended
inprisoner. I took lout in a field near Ash-wood,
tie parish of Wombat' ; he came out of • ditch,
about • mile from Mr. Upeon's house. I told him the
charge; he said "1 know nothing about it, and I don't know
what you mean." The sheath produced was given me
since
hy •
man named .lepp. I have had charge of the prisoner
he has been at the Motion. I have never held out any in-
ducement to him to make statements to me. I have had
conversations with him. On the 25th May. at night, he was
in my custody. He called to MC 611 1 rated his eel, and I
went to him. He said, "That d—d girl has been the ruin
of me. I laid bold of her and pee her • cut. She then midi
Kim me. Charles, dear, you know I always loved
an yea.
which 1 did, and she kisse gave b
d me, and I then ee other
cut, and she fell down. I then went away. She rolled me
a blackguard. I then came back over the stile and
cut it
again." On the ;fifth of May he said, " I shall havae°
years transportation or for life. I wish I had killed the'—
know what I ahould have to stand to " I did
Ina rid any questions to the prisoner to lead to the cameras-
Mali above stated.
Thepri•oner,who had up to this period of the tomb:olio%
exhibited a perfect air of indifference, suddenly
became
mama, leant his head on his hand, and seemed lost in
thought ; his eyes were tilled with tears, and he wan evidently
suffering great mental anguish ; in a minute or two,
usual
bow.
ever, he recovered himself, and, after receiving the
caution, the chairman asked him whether he iPhed to_!ogy
anything in mower to the charge, and he rep"
" Nothing." lie was then fully committed to the next
ISSiZeil for trial, and the witnesses bound over to proaecute.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO THE MARCHIONESS OE
Wu '0 COACHNAN.-011 Tuesday evening the Mary
chionesa of Westmeath's cosekunan having
the set down he
ladyship at the Opera, was returning past end ofWsk.
liset, when the horse "yew restive, ran away, sad
threw Maudver violently just at 7110 Strand corner. He was
taken to the Charing-erees Hospital, whore he dial, Ova
fracture o the skull, yesterday.