The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-09 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

At the Woolwich Police-court, yesterday after-
noon, Emma Sophia Shepherd was placed at the
bar, before Mr. Maude, charged with cutting and
wounding, with intent to murder George Drury
Austin, a man with whom she cohabited at 26,
Lower Wood-street, Woolwich. The sufferer had
been conveyed to Guy's Hospital, and a certificate
from the house surgeon was handed in, to the effect
that the injuries were so extensive, some of the
arteries of the neck having been severed, that it was
considered impossible the man could recover.
Mr. Maude said under these circumstances he
would hear some of the witnesses present, and im-
mediately proceed to the hospital and take the
deposition of the sufferer.
From the evidence now taken, it appeared that
the wounded man (Austin) had cohabited with the
prisoner about three years, and that the latter had
recently been jealous of him. Yesterday morn-
ing several lodgers in the house were alarmed by
loud screams proceeding from a room occupied
by the prisoner. On entering the room it was
found that Austin had a frightful wound on the
back of his neck, extending from ear to ear, and it
was ascertained that whilst the man was in a
stooping posture the prisoner approached him
stealthily from behind and committed the act with
a razor. Medical assistance was procured, and the
sufferer was removed to the hospital. The prisoner,
when apprehended, said she intended to take Aus-
tin's life ; she hoped he would die, and that she
should be hung for him.
At about half past six o'clock Mr. Maude, accom-
panied by Mr. Rousted, chief clerk, and the pri-
soner in custody of Mr. Inspector Linvell, proceeded
by train to Guy's Hospital, for the purpose of tak-
ing the deposition of the wounded man.

THE LATE FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE IN
ALDGATE.

Yesterday an inquiry was held at the committee
room, Fountain-court, Aldgate, by Mr. W. Payne,
the coroner for the City of London, respecting the
death of Mrs. Catherine Ryan, aged 70, a school-
master's widow, residing at No.lo, Somerset-street,
Aldgate, who was burned to a cinder in a fire which
broke out in her room on Friday afternoon last.

John Sandell said that at 3 o'clock on the after-
noon in question he saw volumes of smoke issuing
from the window of the house, No. 10, Somerset-
street. An alarm was given, and three engines were
soon Upon the spot, but the fire had by that time
been got pretty well under, through the exertions
of Mr. Saunderson and witness.
Mr. Saunderson said that about the time in ques-
tion he noticed es he was going upstairs a strong
light under the door of deceased's room._ He opened
the door and the flumes burst out, but he instantly
closed it again and called for water, which was
plentifully supplied, and he was able, with assist-
ance, to get the fire so far under that he could enter
the room. Deceased was found lying on her face,
with her legs against the door and her body partly
under the bed. Her arms were nearly burnt off, and
her stomach and the lower limbs were completely
consumed. Her head was partially burnt away,
and hardly any trace of clothing remained. The
heat and the stench of burning flesh were frightful.
A portion of the flooring was burned away, and
when one of the firemen put his foot on a 9-inch
rafter it gave way under him. A portion of the bed
and all the bedclothes 'were burned, and it was clear
that if the fire lad been undiscovered for 5 minutes
longer the whole house would have been burned
down.

Other evidence having been given, and the Coro-
ner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict
of accidental death from burning.

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