The Sun. — 1846-06-18 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER.  Last night, shortly before ten o'clock, the vicinity of Drury-lane again became the scene of alarm, occasioned by another deliberate attempt at assassination, which will, in all probability, terminate fatally to the unfortunate victim. From the particulars collected, it appears that at the hour above-mentioned loud screams were heard to proceed from the kitchen of the house No. 3, Feathers-court, occupied by a man named Hannan, and his wife, Margaret Hannan; and, in an instant after, a woman was seen rushing from the house into the court bleeding profusely from a frightful wound in the neck. The poor creature staggered, and fell into the arms of some neighbours, who, attracted by her screams, had assembled around the house. She was sensible at the time, and exclaimed, " Oh, my husband has stabbed me !" Without loss of time the unfortunate woman was carried to the shop of Mr. Walker, the surgeon at the corner of Blackmoor-street, when, on examination by that gentleman, a large wound was discovered in her neck on the right side, in length upwards of three inches, and completely dividing the external jugular vein on that side. The blood was flowing copiously from the wound, and it was with some difficulty Mr. Walker succeeded in tying the jugular vein, and in sewing up the gash. Having effected this, however, the woman was conveyed in a fainting condition to King's College Hospital, where she was placed under the care of Mr. Duncan, the house surgeon, by whom she is pronounced in a very dangerous condition. The alarm created by the occurrence drew the attention of the police to the spot, and the husband, Hannan, was instantly taken into custody in tha passage of the house, and conveyed to Bow-street station. On the arrival of the accused at the station-house the charge was taken against him by Mr. Inspector Logan, and, in answer to interrogatories, he said his name was John Hannan, that he was a bricklayer by trade, but got his living by selling playbills at the Princess's Theatre, and carrying boards. He denied the charge against him, and said if anything had happened to his wife she did it herself. At the time of the screams he had just come home, and was on his way to the kitchen ; but had not seen his wit's since three o'clock in the afternoon ; that previous to that he pawned his coat, and they spent part of the money in drink together; and that his wife, who is a cripple, and walks with a crutch, had been continually drunk for the last three weeks. He added that searched,(ienera l he was the father of the child known as a.irlll id°if Thumb. Inspector Logan inquired of the constable who took the prisoner if he had been minutely any weapon had been found, to which a reply that he had been searched, as also the house,vas given and that no weapon had been found, nor was there clothes. The accused was then more &nit blood on his the presence of the inspector, butminute y examined in found on him. lie then asked to no marks of blood were be admitted to bail, but was refused, and he was locked up. It appears from the statements of the lodgers • in the same house, that. the man Hannan and his • wife had been quarrelling and drinking all the day, as was frequently their - • and that hehad custom , on several occasions threatened to murder her. The man, however, when brought into the station at Bow-streft,.aPpeared perfectly sober. The last account at the hosiry dial )ital. as to the state of the woman, was that she was hta very her condition. Site persists in the statement husband stabbed her with a white handled knife. but which has not been found.