The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-19 00:00:00

THAMES.

ATTEMPTED SuIOIDE•—THE STRUGGLES OH LrPH.—
Thomas Keogh, a careworn, elderly man, of respectable
appearance and address, was brought before Mr. Yard-
ley, charged with attempting to drown himself.
Police-constable No. 50 Et, said he was called to the
prisoner at Downes'-wharf, Lower East Smithfield, and
found him struggling with two men who had just taken
him out of the river. The prisoner said he would drown
himself, and again attempted to get into the water, and
was with difficulty prevented accomplishing his object.
The prisoner afterwards said he was tired of his life, and
would terminate his existence.
Mr. Yardley—What have you to say to this, old man?
The prisoner, who was dreadfully agitated, could
not speak for some time, and at last ex-
claimed, " Your worship, my sorrows are too great to
hear ; I have been struggling through difficulties for
years. lam quite incapable of bearing against them any
longer."
Mr. Yardley—lf you have been struggling against
difficulties you have done a manly part. Why destroy
your manliness, your courage, to face difficulties by one
rash aot ? Life is a struggle.
The Prisoner—l could not live to see a family starve.
Mr. Yardley—My good man, how absurd you talk.
Would it add to your family comforts by your putting
an end to your existence Yon should remain with
your family, console them, and hope for better days.
You have done a wicked act and one for which you can
be punished in this world, leaving alone higher con-
siderations.

The Prisoner—l have consoled and comforted my
family years ago. Oh, sir, I am heart broken." Here
the old wan sobbed loudly and the toars ran down his
furrowed cheeks.

Mr. Yardley•—l pity your misfortunes, but reflect,
my good man, on the foolish course you have adopted.
A respectable-looking middle-aged man here stepped
forward and said, the prisoner was a carman and had
been in good circuwetauces, but was now reduced, and
a more worthy man never lived.
Mr. Yardley—He lives in Artillery-place, Bishops-
gate. Has be a family ?
Witness—Yes, sir, 9 children, some of them are in
very respectable situations.
Mr. Yardley—Do they pull well together.
Witness—Yes, sir, they do.
Mr. Yardley—What is the age of the youngest
The Prisoner—Only seven years, sir.
Mr. Yardley did not wish to add to the anguish of
the prisoner's sorrows, but he would send him to the
House of Detention, Clerkenwell, for a week, where he
would have the solace and comfort of a pions and ex-
cellent man, the chaplain.

BRUTAL MURDER IN NORTH _DEVON.

APPREHENSION OF THE MURDERER.

EXETER, Friday..—On Wednesday evening a fearful,
and, so far as we may at present draw an inference from
the facts that have reached us, a most cruel and delibe-
rate murder was committed at Lynton, in North Devon.
The facts, briefly told, are these :—A. young man, named
John Barwick, a sort of jobbing labourer in that town,
had for some months past kept company with a young
woman, named Maria Blackmoor, formerly a dressmaker
in Lynton, but who, more recently, and until within
the last few weeks, bad been living as servant at the
Valley of Rooks hotel, Lynton, but was at the period of
her untimely death again living under her mother's roof
at Lynton. On Wednesday evening she sent a mes-
senger to Barwick, desiring him to come across to her
mother's residence, as she desired to speak with
him. He at once complied—went to the deceased as
requested, and remained in conversation with her
for more than a quarter of an hour in the passage
leading to her mother's residence. What the nature
of that conversation was is not known, bat immediately
following the poor girl rushed into the room in which
her mother was, covered with blood, and after exclaim-
ing, "Good God, mother, I am bleeding 1" she instantly
felt on the floor, and died. It would appear tbat the
man Barwick struck the poor girl in the neck with his
clasp knife, which he bad sharpened the same morning,
completely severing the arteries, which, there can be no
doubt, was the immediate cause of death. After giving
the poor girl her death-blow, Barwick would appear to
have returned to his home directly, on reaching which
he said, "I have done it," upon which his sister said,
" Done what ?" Barwick rejoined, "Done for Maria,"
at the same time brandishing his clasp-knife, with clots
of blood upon it, adding, "And if you don't mind, I
will do for you also." Of course, an alarm bad in the
meantime been given. Mr. Clark, surgeon, was called
in, and pronounced the poor girl beyond all surgical aid •
and in less than an hour Barwick was in custody,
charged with the murder. It is stated that the prisoner
had been drinking in the early part of the day, but that
he was apparently sober at the time of the tragical
occurrence narrated above.