The Sun. — 1862-01-27 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A FEMALE.—Ruth Elsden, an unfortunate, who has several times been charged at this court, was brought up, charged with attempting to murder Thomas Foskett, potman at the Duke of York, Unionstreet, Oxford- street, by stabbing him with a knife. The prisoner had once before assaulted Foskett, and was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment in default of paying a fine, and there is little doubt that it was a feeling of revenge for his having appeared against her that induced her to commit such a desperate assault on him—it evidently being her intention, from the threat she made use of, to take his life.  The following certificate was handed to the magistrate : " Middlesex Hospital, Jan. 27. " I hereby certify that Thomas Foskett is a patient in this institution, suffering from a severe punctured wound of the ear, and is not in a fit state to be removed. " Wm. N. MARSHALL, House Surgeon) James Harrold, 207 C, said—On Saturday night I was called to the " Duke of York," and there saw a man bleeding from the head. I asked who had done it, and before the landlord could speak the prisoner said, " I did it and meant to do it." I then took her into custody. Joseph Reed, 60 D—l was called to the house and saw the prisoner there and the man Foskett sitting on a form bleeding from the head copiously. Prisoner said, "Look hero fatty (the constable is a stout man), so help me God I did it and intended to do so." I then asked where the knife was, and the landlord said he had put it away, but he gave it to me. It is the knife produced. The prisoner had been drinking, but well knew what she was about. The knife had blood on it at the time. I then took Foskett to the Middlesex Hospital. Mr. George Atherfold, landlord of the Duke of York Union-street, said,—l have known the prisoner as a desperate character for some time past, and had forbidden her to come to my house. On Saturday night she came in and annoyed my customers, and I told her that if she did not keep quiet I would turn her out. She then said, "If you do, it will be a bad job for you, for I've got something in my pocket." She then said she wanted to speak to him, but I would not allow it. She then went into the tap-room, where Foskett, my potman was, and he came out in about two minutes bleeding and stabbed through the ear. The prisoner put the knife on the counter, and I took it up. She then said she meant to do it, and hoped she had " killed the —." She also said, " I meant this for you, and will do it when I come out." The prisoner has also threatened my daughters. Foskett at the time was in the taproom about his business.  Edward Clements, stable man, at 68, New Bond-street, said—l was in the taproom at the time, and was a little distance off. I saw the prisoner put ber hand into her pocket and take the knife out, and open it, and then say, " There, you —, take that ; you have given me 7 days." She then made a downward stab at Foskett, his back being towards her.  Mr. Atherfold—l have not the least doubt that she meant to have stabbed me, as I am told a person saw her with the knife in her hand when she tiled to speak to me. Mr. Tyrwhitt—l shall remand her to see the result of the wound, which I trust will not prove fatal. Prisoner was then remanded.