The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-14 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

James Illackiin, a tall muscular young man, was
placed at the bar before Mr. Tyrwhitt, charged with
a determined attempt to murder his brother, Mr.
Edward Macklin, a painter and glazier, carrying on
business in James-street, St. Luke's.
The complainant stated that the prisoner, who had
filled various respectable situations, from each of
which he had been successively discharged in conse-
quence of his violent temper and irregular habits, had
resided for some time past in his house, and occa-
sionally afforded him assistance in his business. On
the preceding afternoon he entrusted the prisoner
with sufficient money for the purchase of two pounds
of hair of a peculiar description which he used in his
trade ; but observing when the article was brought
home that it fell considerably short of the quantity
he had ordered, he mentioned the circumstance to his
brother, who insisted upon having it weighed, which
was accordingly done, when it was found to be at
least half a pound deficient. Without making
further allusion to the subject, witness proceeded into
the parlour, after intimating that tea was waiting, and
was followed there by the prisoner, who instantly
rushed towards the table, from which he caught up a
long, sharp-pointed knife, and exclaiming with an oath
that he would have his life, made a violent thrust at
his left breast. On seeing his arm raised witness rapidly
dropped down on his knees, and the point of the knife
passed over his shoulder and struck the door behind
him with such force as to bend the blade as it now ap-
peared. The moment he recovered his feet the pri-
soner, who had placed himself between him and the
door, made a second blow at him with the knife, and
having no other means of escape, he hastily threw up
the window, and, leaping out into the street, made the
best of his way to the station-house to procure assist-
ance. On reaching the end of Featherstone-street he
encountered a policeman, to whom he was communi-
cating the particulars of the outrage, when the pri-
soner suddenly presented himself, with the knife in
his hand, and declaring, with an oath, " that he would
plunge it into his heart," made another stab at him,
but his arm was arrested in its descent by the con-
stable, who succeeded, with some difficulty, in wrest-
ing the weapon from him, and took him into custody.
Police-constable Ashly, G 228, fully corrobated
the latter part of the complainant's evidence, and he
added that when the charge was taken down at the
station-house, the prisoner exhibited the most ranco-
rous and vindictive feelings towards his brother, and
since his arrival at the court he had repeatedly
threatened his life, and declared " that he should die
for him upon the scaffold."
On being asked if he wished to say anything in
answer to the charge, the prisoner sullenly replied,
that he should reserve what he had to say for another
occasion.
Mr. TYRWEIITT directed the depositions to be at
once completed, and the prisoner was fully committed
for trial.

THE LATE MURDER
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Carter, the coroner for
•
East Surrey, held an inquest at the Three Stags IN LAMBETH.
b d f Elizabeth
Tavern, Kennington-road, on the 0 5' °
Wheeler, aged 44, the unfortunate woman was mur-
dered by her son on Saturday last.
The jury having been swornproceeded to the house
ay. It remained in the same posi-
head
severed
tion as when first discovered, and the
still lay upon the table. The body was
face, with the arras doubled under it, lying
on
its
floor
, p
where the body l
and the
around it was covered with blood. The head was so
covered with blood that the features could not be
recognised, and the appearance altogether was hor-
rible.

Eliza Thompson stated that
who came to reside at the she resided at No. 1,
Durham-place, Lambeth
about nine months
ago.‘ Her son resided with
on the first floor,
olfhaogmea.s CoaothiesaltVuhredealyer,
alarm, and said
o'clock, a Mrs. Phillips,
at
came down stairs in a tate of
lodgedaout half-past twelve
that she was afraid that some mischief
wholaasnthd,°uallislbeeekwr.naeswilabitshouet named2egc eyaewsaeards;
Witness listened at the foot of thee stairs,lefhad
a person moving about from one room and
oocurred.
heard
and talking, but she could not distinguish to
.fhe other
was said. She afterwards heard the voice
What
landing. She knew that both Mrs. Wheeler and on
the
son were at home at the time. A few momenatasonddaftheerr.
wards she heard a person come down stairs
retired into the parlour, whence she saw' Thomasshe
Wheeler, the son,. leave the house very hastily, throw_
ing a coat over. his shoulders as he went. He had
blue bag in his hand. Witness went up-stairs, and
a
saw Mrs. Wheeler lying on her face on the floor
about a yard from the door. She shook her to rouse
her up, and in the act she observed a quantity of
blood on the floor, and that the body was without the
head. She gave an alarm. She sent for Mr. Hut-
chinson, the surgeon, and on his arrival she followed
him up-stairs. She then saw a head lying on the
table, but the features were so covered with blood that
?Ole could not recognise them. She saw Thomas
‘Vheeler at the police-court when in custody. She
thaw Mrs. Wheeler on the morning of Saturday, and
she remarked that her son was very bad, and that he
had been standing in the room for some time with a
flat-iron in his hand. Witness advised her to send
him to some asylum, and Mrs.
Wheeler said that she
would. 114Tness had beard the son threaten to chop
his mother's bead ofi; and he had the hatchet in his
hand at the time-
She had no doubt that the act was
committed by the son, and not by any other person.
Eliza Phillips stated that she resided at No. 1;
,Durham-place, Lambeth. On Saturday last, at half.