The Sun. — 1854-09-06 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT TO MURDER AT SALFORD.  -- e Yesterday morning information was receiviM at the Salford police-office of an extraordinary attempt made to murder a poor woman living in Evan-street, Springfield-lane, in that borough. The statement was, that at two o'clock in the morning her, house had been entered and her throat cut with some not very sharp instrument, whilst she was in bed, and that the robbers had stolen 31. 10s. from her pocket. The police went to institute the proper inquiries, and found that Mr Holland, surgeon, and Mr. Storey, druggist, of Green gate, had attended to the wound, which it is believed will not prove mortal, the incision having missed the principal arteries and the jugular vein. The unfortunate woman, whose name is Sarah Freel, was found to be a large opium eater, and it was thought at first that her story might be an invention, and that she had probably made an attempt at self-destruction whilst labouring under the effects of the mental excitement to which such persons are subject ; but an inquiry into the circumstances has removed these suspicions to a great extent. She has been in the habit of taking opium freely on account of nervous suffering to which she was subject at times, and a druggist who has sold her the drug says that he has known her consume half an ounce whilst in his shop, and to purchase an ounce per day. The woman's story is that she was awoke very early in the morning by a hand being placed upon her mouth. She was sleeping upon a bed on the floor, in the only bed-room the cottage contains, and the room was totally destitute of other furniture. Her thue children, two boys and a girl, the oldest of whom is 14 years old, were sleeping in the house below —the girl on a box, and the two boys on the floor. On being awoke, she says, and looking up, she saw a man disguised in female attire, and a boy holding a lantern. She asked them what they wanted there, and the man replied " money." She pointed to her miserable room, and asked what money they expected a poor old woman in that wretched condition could be likely to have, but the man said, " Oh, I know you have money, and I must have it." She says she began to cry for help, but the man then placed one hand across her mouth, and with the other drew a knife across her throat, and she became insensible. The raenason she had for believing her t hnaontdt sombeel ta stronglywom shoemakers' wax. wasi his masculine voice, and athsaaatiirs deedbeen found dingin thoerprboepderoroty' in Chancery is said to propertoymlebftyhtehre in Dublin andbyshae ha've states that it relates to relative, but that subsequenhtleyr,-ucrder to relieve herobvye r to trustees,wawas stoeltmfraokme dtehbet s propertyincurred it one ; and that just husband, she was obliged more, but that Jackson, the banker, at Douglas before leaving Douglas, a month ago, that tathat she of whom Mr. Mr. Jackson should advance, her 25 1 subsequently resolved only to have 201 and, paid her by Mr. Jackson in the shop of Mr. Duff, grocer gitroweaser and spirit-dealer, Market-place, Douglas. The woman states that on going to bed, the previous night she left her petticoat hanging behind the door, with 3/. 10s. stitched up in one corner of the pocket. This was the balance left of the 20/. she had obtained from Mr. Jackson, banker, at Douglas. On examining her pocket it was found, yesterday morning, that this money was gone. The threads had apparently been cut with a knife.