The Sun. — 1847-03-29 (London, England)

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A WIFE.— Bunney was placed at the bar charged with cutting and wounding his wife with intent to kill, murder, disable, or do her some grievous bodily harm. The offence was stated to have been committed as far back as the 24th of January, 1845. He was apprehended at the time, but such was and has been the state of his mind since that period, that it wasrot, d-en.eti prop, r to put him upon his trial, or c,,11 u, on him to plead 'Co-day, whets placed at the bar, tho prisoner pre sented a collected, ruddy, and healthy appearance t more than once during the trial he betrayed symptoms of s ill existing insanity. Sarah Bunney was then called. On ber appearance (her face still strongly seamed, the effects of the wounds inflicted) the prisoner fixed his eyes upon her, and burst into tears. She deposed as follows:—" I was married to the prisoner in 1845, and lived at the Rainbow publichouse in high. street, Bordesloy, Birmingham We lived together for three days after our marriage. We were married on the Tuesday, but I did not observe anything particular in his manner until Friday. On the evening of that day we went to bed as usual. Between two and three o'clock on Saturday morning I was disturbed by finding my husband very restless. He sat up in bed, and appeared much, confused. He took his clothing from under the pillow, and I saw he had a knife in bis hand. When I observed this I got out of bed, and went towards the door. I first of all tried to get the knife out of his hand, but I could not succeed. Before I went to the door the prisoner wounded his own throat with a knife. When I ;sent 10 the door, he wounded me. He said, We have lived together, we have loved together, and we will die Loge' ther.' I found the door locked. He wounded me with a penknife in the throat, the face, and other parts of the body. I fell on the floor. I had not at first wy senses, but I recovered myself a little, and ran to the window. I broke a pane of glass, and cried out, Murder,' when somebody brought a ladder to the window' My husband also called cut, Oh, see what they have done !' When the window was opened my husband got through. It was on the second fluor that we slept. Mr. White and Robert Fletcher came, sa3 also Mr. Archer, the surgeon. The morning after our marriage the prisoner said he thought all his friends were against him. His manner was much ex" cited." Mr. Justice PATTESON asked the prisoner if he wished to ask his wife any questions?—The prisoner (almost " laughing outright") replied that he had none. Mr. John Archer, surgeon, of Deriteed, Birminghain, being sworn, stated that he was called in to Mrs. Bunney on the morning in question, and found her with a wound 2i inches long on the throat, and as-ther wound 2i inches long on the cheek. The wounds were inflicted with a sharp instrument. He afterwards saw the prisoner at Fletcher's. He had a superficial wound in the throat, one of his fingers was slightly cut, and there were several slight stabs on the chest. The prisoner appeared to be in a state of great excitement. He said, " See how they have served me; they brought me three days ago from a distance to be married." Heard him in conversation with other persons, and from his manner thought the prisoner at the time was insane. He attended Mrs. Bunney for several weeks afterwards. The wound in the throat was dangerous. The evidence of several medical men as to the prisoner's state of mind was then taken. They stated that he was decidedly insane. The jury immediately Acquitted the prisoner on the ground of insanity.