The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-30 00:00:00

GREENWICH.

ATTEMPT TO MURDER. —Richard Thorp, a coal-porter,
was charged with an attempt to cut his wife's throat in the
Oxford Arms public-house, Church-street, Deptford, on the
night of Wednesday week.
Jane Thorp, prosecutrix, deposed that on Tuesday week
she went to the Oxford Arms to her husband, to ask him for
a penny to buy bread; he refused to give it her, and fol-
lowed her from the house, and knocked her down. She then
entered into a statement, showing that the prisoner had con-
tinued following her about, and detailed a series of assaults
he committed upon her, and which he repeated at the coal-
wharf where he was employed, on the following morning.
In the evening she again saw 'the prisoner in the Oxford
Arms, and after calling her to him, put his arm round her
neck and stabbed her in the throat with a knife. (A large
clasp knife was produced ; but witness, declared that was not
the one he used.) Witness struggled, and got away from
the prisoner. He followed her out of the house, and said,
"I have done it, and I'll finish you and be hung for you."
James Francis, son of the landlord of the Oxford Arms,
deposed to giving the prisoner into custody immediately after
the assault on his wife, and hearing him make use of the
threats above-named.

Mr. Edward Downing, a surgeon, examined the wound,
which he stated to be incised, and very slight.
Police-sergeant Josiah Vincent took the prisoner into ens •
tody, and heard him threaten to do for Hs wife when he
came out of prison for this attempt, and that he intended to
kill her on the present occasion. Witness produced a clasp
knife, which lie received from the prisoner, who stated that
was the knife with whichle had attempted to cut his wife's
throat.

The prisoner, who, by the advice of his solicitor, de
dined saying anything in his defence, was then fully corn•
mitted for trial.

WANDS WORTH.

SUPPRESSION OF WIMBLEDON FAIU.—A few days
since it was publicly announced that a fair would be
holden at Wimbledon on Monday, and two following
days That the inhabitants of the village might not
have to complain of any nuisance arising from it, it was
arranged that it should take place upon the verge of the
common. A fair was held annually for a full century
in this village, but after the passing of the amended
Police Act, wich gives the Commissioners of Police the
power to suppress other than chartered fairs, it was put
down. An attempt was made about two' years since
to revive it, but on application being made by the paro-
chial authorities at this Court, the sitting magistrate
(Mr. Poynter) declared it to be illegal, and consequently
it was not holden.

On Saturday, Mr. Moson, senior churchwarden, ap
peared at this court, and made a statement to Mr. Clive,
the sitting magistrate, to this effect :—That a notice had
been extensively circulated within and about the parish
of Wimbledon, stating that a fair would be holden on the
common on Monday next and two following days. The
clergyman and resident gentry were averse to this spe-
cies of amusement, as they considered it only tended to
debauch the minds of both sexes, and create a scene of
riot and confusion, as well as bring into the neighbour-
hood many loose characters. He had, therefore, been
requested to wait upon the magistrate, and solicit his aid
in its suppression. He would remind Mr. Clive that,
two years since, his brother magistrate decided that the
fair was illegal.
Mr. CLIVE said he would give the case his fullest
attention, and the applicant, having thanked the Bench
for its courtesy, withdrew.
Subsequently Mr. Busain, inspector of the V division,
had a private interview with the magistrate, the resalt
of which was the issuing of the following instructions to
the superintendent of police of the V division :—" I think
that the fair held in Wimbledon parish is unlawful, and
has been duly declared to be so, and may be dealt with
by the police accordingly, without further notice."
Mr. CLrvE subsequently stated that it was for Earl
Spencer, as lord of the manor, to show that the fair was
legal, and as his Lordship did not choose to attend and
do so, it must be understood as a tacit admission that
there was no claim.