The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--Tan. 2.

MARYLEBONE.—MELANCHOLY CASE OF AT-
TEMPTED SUICIDE.—Jane Higgins, aged 24, who
gave the address of 12, Cambridge-mews, Padding-
ton, married woman, was placed at the bar charged
with attempting to destroy herself.
Henry Kirby, 355 A, stated that about 7 o'clock
on Tuesday evening he was sent for, by Dr. Mayne,
to Cambridge-mews, where he saw the prisoner sit-
ting on a chair in an exhausted condition. After
Dr. Mayne had sufficiently restored her he took her
to the hospital, where she has remained up to the
present time.
Dr. Mayne, of 7, Upper Southwick-street, Hyde-
park, said he was sent for in a great hurry to a per-
son that had taken poison, and when he got to the
mews he found the prisoner lying on the floor ap-
parently asleep. After some considerable exertion
he managed to rouse her, when she said she had
taken laudanum. He applied the usual remedies
and got it from her stomach.
Margaret Garratt stated that the prisoner was
her sister. She came home and sat down on the
chair. She shortly after got up and went and
opened the loft door, and returned again, exclaim-
ing, " I have done it, I have done it," and placed a
bottle in her hand, labelled " poison." She at once
sent for Dr. Mayne, previous to which she gave the
prisoner some salt and water.

Mr. Mansfield—Has the prisoner been in any
rouble ?

Witness—She has been in a great deal of trouble.
Mr. Mansfield—ls she married ?
Witness—Yes, Sir, she is.
Mr. Mansfield (to prisoner)—What have you to
say to this charge ?
Prisoner, who was allowed to be seated, and wept
greatly, said I have no home to go to, and do not
know what to do. I hare been staying at my
sister's and brother's place, and they said they would
keep me there no longer. I done it, and I don't
know no more.

Mr. Mansfield—You are married—where is your
husband?

Prisoner—My husband left me, and be has been
twice t. London lately, to see his relations, and
would not see me. I am in distress, and do not
know what I do. My head seems to lose itself. lie
ouxht to be a good husband.
Mr. Mansfield remanded her for a week, in order
that the chaplain at the House of Detention might
commune with her.

DREADFUL FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE,

Yesterday morning between 4 and 6 o'clock a
mounted police officer arrived at the London fire-
engine stations with intelligence that a fire was
raging in the parish of Putney. Mr. Henderson, the
chief officer of the D district, at once ordered his
engines to be got ready. Upon reaching the Upper
Richmond-road he found the premises belonging to
Mr. J. T. Mitchell, a boot and shoe maker, in flames.
The parish engine which had previously arrived
had prevented the flames from reaching several
other buildings. Upon the police discovering the
fire they raised an alarm, and, after repeatedly
knocking at the door, they managed to arouse the
inmates, who upon jumping out of bed found the
flooring so hot as to nearly take the skin off their
feet. Fortunately, with one exception, they managed
by some means to get out of the house, but nearly
suffocated with the heated smoke in making their
exit down the stairs. It was not until an advanced
hour that the conflagration could be extinguished,
and not until Mr. Mitchell's premises and the stock
in trade, with the furniture and other effects, were
destroyed. The two upper floors and roof of the
premises belonging to Mr. Wm. Smith, No. 2, are
are burnt out; the attics and roof of No. 3, belong-
ing to Mr. W. Cnant, painter and glazier, have also
been consumed. The premises of Mr. F. Churley,
No. 4, are also greatly damaged. After the ruins
were sufficiently cooled to allow of a search being
made, the firemen entered and found the body of a
boy, aged 15, burnt iu a shocking manner; life
being of course extinct. As to the origin of the cala-
mitous event, not the least information could be ob
tained. Mr. Mitchell was insured in the General
Fire-office ; Mr. Smith was not insured; Mr. Chant,
the painter, and also Mr. F. Churley. were unin-
sured. A strong body of the V division of police, at-
tended and kept the crowd out of the way of the
firemen. About half-past 4 o'clock yesterday morn-
ing another fire broke out in the premises belonging
to Mr. It. Offord, cabinetmaker, No. 1, Graham-
street, City-road. Tho discovery waa made by a
police constable of the N division. The parish en-
gines, the Royal Society's fire escapes, and the
engines of the London brigade were shortly in
attendance, but the building in which the disaster
commenced was burnt down and the contents
consumed. Mr. Offord was insured in the Unity
Fire-office. Another fire happened in the premises
belonging to Mr. H. Middleton, a chymist and
druggist, No. 81, Church-lane, Whitechapel. It,
was also discovered by an officer of the II division
of police. He aroused the inmates, who all ma-
naged to escape in safety, with the excep-
tion of a Mr. Middleton. He made his appear-
ance at the second floor window, crying loudly for
help. The engines of the London brigade promptly
attended, when 'Weidman, the engineer, made an
attempt to reach himby means of ladders, but they
being too short he was unable to do so. He was so
much affected with smoke as to loose his voice.
At that critical juncture Samuel Wood, the veteran
conductor of the Royal Society, arrived with the
Whitechapel escape, he ascended and brought down
in safety the imperilled man, amid the cheers of the

spectators. The greater portion of the preOisel
and their contents were destroyed. The origin °3
the fire is unknown. Fortunately the sufferer was
insured in the Royal Exchange Fire-office. Shortly
before 8 o'clock yesterday morning a fire that
caused great excitement among the passengers on
the South-Eastern Railway, happened in one of
the railway arches, numbered 218 in Russell-street,
Bermondsey, belonging to 51. r. M. Sharp, a ja-
penner. The outbreak was caused from overheat-
ing the drying stove. Owing to the inflammable
nature of the japan and prep red leather the flames
spread with more than usual violence, and ascended
so high as to cross the greater portion of the rail-
way. The contents of the drying house belong-
ing to Mr. Sharp wore destroyed. The property
was uninsured.