The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-06 00:00:00

FRIGHTIUL ATTEMPT TO MURDER A

WIFE AT CLAPHAM.

John Gay, aged 34, a shoemaker, living at No.
4, New-road, Clapham, was placed in the dock of
Wandsworth Police-court, before Mr. Daymat,
yesterday, charged with feloniously cutting the
throat of his wife, Mary Ann Gay, with a razor, in
the passage of No. 5, Park-place, Clapham, with the
intent to murder.

The following medical certificate was attached to

the police-sheet :
" This is to certify that Mary Ann Gay was brought to
this hospital this morning with her throat cut. There was
one wound on the left side about four inches in extent, ex-
ternally round the front of the neck, meeting a shorter one
of two inches on the right side of the neck. The trachea
and other lame vessels were uninjured.
" Guy's Hospital, April 5." " E. W. COLEMAN.

The prisoner presented a very dirty and dissi-
pated appearance, and his hands still bore the
colour of blood upon them.
Sergeant Newman, 25 V,'deposed that about ten
minutes to six o'clock that morning he was on duty
in the Old Town of Clapham, when he saw the pri-
soner about twenty yards off walking as fast as he
could towards him. There were between eight and
ten men following behind holding up their hands
and calling out to stop the prisoner. He then ran
to witness, who said he did not want any stopping.
He also said that he had done it. At that time the
mob came up and said the prisoner had cut his
wife's throat. The prisoner replied that he had
done it, and that lie was going to the station to give
himself up, Witness took him to the station, and
he afterwards returned to No. 5, Park-place, where
he found the prisoner's wife sitting on the floor in
the back room. Dr. M'Donald, of Clapham, was
present, and had dressed the wounds before he
arrived. The wounds were in front of the throat.
The doctor recommended her removal to the hos-
pital, and he at once proceeded to taka her there,
where she was admitted. He remained there
for an hour and a half, and Dr. Coleman, the
house surgeon, gave him the certificate. The witness
added that the prisoner and his wife were not living
together.

Mr. Dayman asked the prisoner if he had any
questions to put to the witness, and he answered in
the negative.
Sergeant Newman said that when at the station
a razor was handed to him, and both the blade and
the handle were covered with blood.
Sarah Clements, a married woman, said she oc-
cupied the house, 5, Park-place. She had known
the prisoner and his wife for about four years. The
wife had been lodging with her a fortnight next
Saturday, apart from her husband. He came on the
previous night and was watching about in front of
the house. She went out for an errand about half-
past 9 o'clock, and the prisoner asked her where
Polly was. She told him that she did not know, as
she had not come home from her work. She then
left him, and as she returned she met the wife, who
said her husband was in the house and she was
afraid to go in, as he had threatened her before.
Witness persuaded her to go in, and they found him
sitting with her husband. The prisoner pressed
his wife to have some beer, but she refused at first,
and upon witness persuading her she consented to
have some. He then took a mug and went out for
a pot of beer. When he retuned they all partook
of it, and both her and her husband wished him to
go. He hesitated, and wanted to fetch some more
beer. The wife refused to have any more, and they
then had a word or two about his leaving her in
debt, but they did not appear to be in any way
angry- with each other. then wished her good
night, and asked her to shake hands. She con-
sented, and he then looked at-her and asked her to
allow him to stop with her the night, but she re-
fused. He then rushed up stairs after her, and
with au oath declared that he would stop there
that night, Witness told him that his wife was
only a lodger, and when he saw that her things
were in the room, he returned down stairs. Wit-
ness's husband told him to leave the house, and not
to come there again. The prisoner then left, and
she heard nothing more that night. About 20
minutes to six o'clock this morning witness
was lighting the fire, when she heard a terrible
noise in the street, and upon running out she saw
Mrs. Gay bleeding frOm wounds in her throat, and
covered with blood. She had a razor in her hand.
Witness asked her what was the matter,•and she
said that her husband had cut her throat. Witness
ran for a doctor, and some persons took Mrs. Gay
into her room. As she went for the doctor shesaw
the prisoner in the lane behind her. He called her
by most offensive epithets, and said she kept a
brothel, because she sheltered his wife when no
other person would take her in. He also said that
if she belonged to him he would serve her in the
same way as he had done his wife, who he called
by an improper name. She returned with the doc-
tor, and he dressed the wounds. Witness's little
boy saw him (the prisoner) kneeling upon his wife
at the bottom of the stairs. The wounds extended
from ear to ear, and she had both her hands cut in
wresting the razor from the prisoner.
he prisoner said he had nothing to ask the
witness, but part of her statement was false.
Mr. Wm. Young, a builder, of Park-hill, said that
shortly before 6 o'clock this morning he was in his
garden, when he heard fearful screams. He went
out of his gate and turned down the street through
King's Head-passage, followed by some other per-
sons. Upon turning an angle he caught sight of
the womai sitting upon the kerb stones, about 100
yards from her home, rolling about fearfully. He
observed that she was covered in blood, and as she
was holding up her hand, with the razor in it, to
her head, one person remarked that she had cut her
throat. She denied the observation, and imme-
diately said that her husband had done it. She was
so disfigured that witness was unable to recognise
her at first. He then went in search of a constable,
and on the way saw the prisoner. He followed him,
and saw him cross over to the pond in front of the
Cock public-house, where he stooped down and
washed his hands. The prisoner then walked away
very orderly in the direction of the police-station,
but he saw the sergeant and gave himself up.
Witness gave the razor up at the station, upon
which the prisoner pulled out the sheath and said
that belonged to it. The razor was dripping with
blood when he took it out of the wife's hand. There
was no one near her when he first saw her sit-
ting.on the kerb stones.
Inspector Proctor said that was all the evidence
he had to offer that day, arid he asked his worship
to remand the prisoner.
Mr. Dayman said he saw by the certificate that
none of the large vessels of the throat were cut.
Inspector Proctor said they were not, and he was
happy to say there was no immediate danger.
Mr. Dayman said he should remand him for a
week.
The prisoner was then removed to the cells
without saying a word.
It appeared that the prisoner had been in custody
several times for his violent conduct to his wife.
He had broken up the home three or four times
which she had provided through her industry. It
also appeared that shortly before six o'clock yes-
terday morning the prisoner knocked at the door,
which was opened by his wife. He then made an
excuse that he had come for a little bag he had left
there over night, and afterwards that he wanted
some water to drink. Upon getting into the pas-
sage he rushed upon her and cut her throat. There
was a desperate struggle, and as she was a tall,mus-
cular woman, she was able to wrestle with him,
and to take the razor from him.
It is expected that she will be able to appear in
court in a week or two to give evidence against the
, prisoner.