The Sun.
London, England, 1819-08-07 00:00:00

THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE.

GUILDHALL.-This Justice Room was yesterday
crowded to excess, through the anxiety of the
public to witness the examination of Henry Siva,
a butcher, (and not a shoemaker, as stated yes-
terday), residing at N 0.4, Arabella-row, Pimlico,
who was taken into custody the evening before,
at the Saracen's Head, Snow-hill, for an attempt
to murder his wife. The woman had eloped from
him in the month of March, 1818, with a fellow
of the name of Seaton, a broker in that neigh-
bourhood, who had been the intimate friend
Of the husband, and nearly supported by him
and his family. The guilty pair lett the coun-
try for America, and shortiy after their arri-
val at Philadelphia Seaton deserted her, leaving
her in great distress in a foreign laud ; with much
difficulty she procured a passage to England, and,
after encountering great perils at sea, artived at
Liverpool, from whence she proceeded to London,
and wrote to her husband from the Saracen's
Head ; the circumstances that followed are fully
detailed by the witnesses produced-against the
prisoner. Previously to the arrival of the Magis-
trate\ (Mr. Alderman HEYGATB), a messenger was
dispatched from the office to St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, to learn the state of the wife, and whe-
ther 'she was able to make her deposition ; to this
inquiry the following !tote was returned—
" This is to certify, that Mrs. Stent ihas passed a good
night, and is better this niorning, but cannot be considered
out of danger at present ; as rest is a principal object in the
treatment of her ease, it would be better to defer her exa-
mination.

" There is no immediate danger to he apprehended. ,
" Bartholomew's 1-10,pital, " H. BEN\ ELL.
Aug. 6, one o'clock. House-Surgeon." •
The prisoner' was then placed at the bar ; he
is a young marl, about 28 years old, was respect-
ably dressed in black with a white waistcoat, and
appeared perfectly cool and collected.
The first witness called was Thomas l'ithouse,
waiter at the Saracen's [lead, who stated that the
woman came to the Inn by their Liv,rpool crosru
between 10 and 1l o'clock on Thursday morn.
ing, bad breakfast, and desired to be furnished

with paper, &c. to Write a letter ; she Wrote one,
which was sent by a porter- to Pim:ico ; she staid
within (hors the remainder of the day, and about
half-past six in the afternoon, after she hail her
tea, the prisoner arrived, and on inquiring for
Mrs. Stern, was shewn into the room t 4 her ;
there were no other persons in the room but them-
selves ; shortly atter, he (the witness) being in
he passage leading to the backyard, heard it
violent shriek, and immediately a second, and be-
fore he and his fellow servant could get to the
room door, a third ; they both rushed into the
room ; his fellow servant was first, . who im-
mediately called out "Thomas, the man has
got a knife !" the woman at the same time cried
out " Oh, he will kill me !" His comp4nioa made it
snatch to get the, knife, but missed his hold ; tilts
Man altered the direction the knife, and grasp-

ing it full in his hand, stabbed the woman :vitli
Kt eat violence in the throat ; he then said " I
have accomplished my purpose ; I wish for nothing
hut to suffer; r know I shall stiffer." The wits
replied, " yes you have, Henry,
.and -1 freely
forgive' you, come and kiss me 5" the prisoner
then knelt down, and kissed her twice, which she
returned, saying, " .1 hope the law will not take
hold of you, you are the best of husbands, and I
am the very %%mist of wives, and I hope my fate
will be a warning to all bad wives." She was
Own taken on a shutter to the hospital ; on her
way 'thither she was continually calling on her
dear Henry, wishing him to kiss her, and begging
him to give her his hand ; one of the persons at—

tending took hold of her extended hand, which
she then closed most affectionately, saying,," God
bless yon, I shall now die happy ;" mistaking the
stranger's hand for that of her hut•baud.

At this part of the evidence, which was given.
with much feeling on the part of the witness, the
prisoner's fortitude seemed ro be quitting him, his
lips quivered, tears stood in his eves, and his whole
countenance evinced be was greatly agitated and.
affected ; but after a short interval, he recovered.
his composure.

Thomas Turnrer, the porter, said be was the
first person in the room ; le saw the wife on her
back on the floor, and the man kneeling on her
.stomach. On his coming in, the man rose up,
and perceiving he had a knife, he (the witness)
drew back, and before he could get to the pri-
soner to seize him, be stabbed the woman in the
neck, as described by Pithouse. He then said,
don't be alarmed ; I will not hurt any of you
have accomplished my purpose;" he then let the
knife drop from his hand. On the witness observing
to him what a rash man he was to commit such. a.
deed, and that he had signed Isis own death-war—.
'rant, the prisoner replied he was perfectly satisfied;'
she had been a base woman, on which his wife
said, " Indeed I have ; I freely forgive you,'
anti hive no harm will come to yon." This wit-
ness also corroborated Pithouse's account of the
affecting scene that subsequently took place be—
tween the husband and wite, and the expressions
of penitence and affection used by the latter while
being Conveyed to the Hospital.
Hodson, an assistant at thitspor-street Comp.-
ter, was sent for to take the.prisoner. On his
entering the room, Scent immediately said, " I ani

he roan," and surrendered himself- Without making

the smallest resistance. On searching him, there
was found only a few shillings, part of a razor
case, which he had used as asheath for the knife
while in his pocket, and the letter he had receivekl
from his si ife in the• morning, which was in these