The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-31 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND
SUICIDE.

On Monday evening great excitement prevailed in the
parishes of Wandsworth and Battersea, in consequence of a
woman having attempted the murder of her two children and
her own destruction.
The circumstances connected with this dreadful affair are
these :—On Monday evening, about rive o'clock, a woman,
about 26 years of age, named Amelia Alfred, left her home at
the water-side, Wandsworth, with her two children, a girl
and boy, aged respectively six and four years, and proceeded
to Wandsworth-common, where she wandered about for
nearly an hour, and then approached a large and deep pond
called the " Black Sea." It would appear that whilst stand-
ing on the margin of the pond she tied the two childt en to
her waist, and then precipitated herself into the water. The
bank was shelving, and the water was rather shallow at that
point, but so determined was the wretched woman upon
making away with herself and her offspring, that she after-
wards threw herself on her back, sO that the water covered
both the children and herself. At this critical period, Wm.
Alfred, the brother of the unfortunate woman, a lad not more
than 14 years of age, ran up to the spot, jumped into the
water, and tried to rescue the children. Finding that he
could not release them, he held their heads above water, and
hallooed for assistance. Mr. Alexander and his lady were
walking on their lawn, which is adjoining the pond, and
hearing the boy's screams, Mr. Alexander instantly surmised
that some one was in the water, and taking his gardener
with him, ran to the pond. The lad was still keeping the
children's heads above water, but appeared ready to drop
front exhaustion. The gardener jumped into the water, and
with his knife severed the handkerchief, and released- the
children from their perilous situation. Police-constable Lee,
38 V, who was on duty on the common, assisted in getting
the wretched woman out of the pond, having previously sent
to the union to request the master and matron to have a
warm bath and other appliances in readiness. The children,
who, through the valorous conduct of the lad Alfred, were
not seriously injured, were kindly taken charge of by Mrs.
Alexander, and conveyed by that lady to her residence. The
unfbrtunate woman Alfred when taken out of the water was
to all appearance dead ; she was conveyed as quickly as pos-
sible, however, to the Wandsworth Union, where Mr. King,
the master, and his wife, the matron, were prepared to re-
ceive her. The means used in restoring persons from drown-
ing were adopted,and before the arrival of the medical officer,
Dr. Connor, the poor creature exhibited symptoms of return-
ing animation. Every attention has been since paid to the
wretched woman, but she is still in an extremely precarious
condition.

There is little doubt that the woman is insane, and that
that insanity has been brought on by ill-usage and distress.
She had lived for years at Wandsworth, her native place,
with Henry French, a journeyman carpenter and cabinet.
maker, by whom she had her children. This man, in No.
vember last, was charged at Wandsworth Police-court with
stealing a silver watch which had by accident been left in
the drawer of a cheffonier he had to repair, and was corn.
mitted for trial. The woman Alfred, who was then supposed
to be his wife, proved her great attachment for the fellow,
for she never ceased petitioning persons to speak for him on the
day of trial. The prosecutrix even recommended the pri-
soner to mercy on her account, and he consequently had but
a slight sentence passed on him. At the expiration of his
imprisonment French returned to Alfred, who was living
with her mother, a washerwoman, at the water-side, Wands-
worth, but he had no sooner recruited his strength than he
basely deserted her and his children. This cruel conduct
was not without its effect. The poor creature, who had done
all that a devoted woman could to save, and afterwards
comfort him, became mad, and was passed by the magistrate
at Wandsworth Police-court, as a lunatic, to the Surrey
County Lunatic Asylum, at Garret, where she remained a
short time, and was discharged as cured. From that time
up to Monday she lived at home with her brother, and it
was generally noticed that she appeared very much dejected.
Whilst the woman was being strippedat the union, a letter
fell from her bosom. It was a wretched scrawl, from the
fellow French, and the substance was, that he never intended
to live with her or any other woman again, and she must
Work and do her best for herself and children, as she could
expect nothing from-him.
Yesterday the superintendent of the V division made Mr.
Clive, the sitting magistrate, acquainted with the particulars,
and it is understood that as soon as the wretched woman is
capable of removal she will be taken to the court to undergo
examination upon the charge of attempting to murder her
children.

The affair has casba gloom over the neighbourhood. The
sympathy of all is in the wretched creature's behalf.

HERRING FISHERY.

BERwICK.—The take of herrings this week has been
very good, averaging about four crans a boat each day;
but some boats have had as high as eight or nine crans.
This morning, however, the take is very poor—highest
boat three crans; and the fishermen think that the night
was too smooth to have a good fishing. Prices are about
13s. to 14s. per cran. Many boats are now out each
night. The other night we saw about 100 boats near
our harbour, and the scene is most animating. As
yet no strange curers are here; and the French vessels
might be supplied next week, in all probability, at a
moderate rate, as the tides are beginning to set in when
the fish will multiply.
NORTH SUNDERLAND.—The fishing of the present
week has been a little better than the last. Some few
boats went off on Monday night, and returned ,on Tues-
day morning with a few hundreds, On Wednesday some
two or three boats had each from two to ten barrels,
and some quite clean. Prices, 275. per barrel. It is
expected there mill be a general trial to-night (Wedgies-
day), and it is anticipated there will be a good take, as
there is a good appearance on the coast. No boats are
yet engaged to any of the curers ; and only three Yar •
mouth luggers have as yet arrived to buy herrings. If,
therefore, herrings should be plentiful, prices are tied to
be very low.
DUNDAR.—Since our last report the herring fishing
has been rather improving upon the whole. On Thurs-
day the boats ranged from three to six crans. The fish
are of excellent quality, and are principally purchased
by the cadgers, none of the curers having commenced.
Indeed, from the great take on the west coast, and the
quantities already shipped to the Continent from the
Lewis Islands, curing (unless the fish are very cheap) is
considered to be anything but a safe speculation.—Bre-
wick Warder.

ABERDEEN, JULY 25.—The fishing here for last. week,
as was stated before, was very poor. The Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday's fishing this week has been
attended with ratherlmore success, the boats generally
returning with an average of I to 2i erans. As the
nights are now getting darker there is every reason to
hope that the returns will be much greater during the
course of next week.

BANFF, JULY 22.—The fishing during the last week
was not so good as during the previous week, which was
partly to be attributed to stormy weather ; but as the
weather is now settled, there will be a general turn out
of all the boats to-night. The contract price for fresh
herrings has declined ; and several boats at Fraserburgh
have been engaged at Bs. 6d. the cran, in full, and, in
some instances, even less money has been accepted. The
foreign letters received this morning mention further
arrivals of Lewis herrings, which could, with difficulty,
be sold to leave about 10s. to lls. the barrel, according to
quality.
PETERHEAD, JULY 24.—Our herring fishery is now
fully commenced ; the number of boats is 417, being
nearly 50 more than last year ; the average take up to
this date being nine crans, this day's fishing alone being
seven crans.