The Sun. — 1847-03-30 (London, England)

ATTEMPT TO MURDER E. WIFE.— WaS plact d at the bar charged with cutting and wounding his wife with iht,..nt to kill, murder, disable, or do her some grievous bodily hat m. Tile 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 was not deemed proper to put him upon his trial, or call upon him to plead. To day, when placed at the bar, the prisoner presented a collected, ruddy, and healthy appearance ; bu mare than once during the trial he betrayed symptoms ot s ill existing insanity. Sarah Bonney was then called. On her appearance (her tacit still strongly seamed, the effects of the wounds inflicted) the prisoner fixed his eyes upon her, and burst into tears. tike deposed as fidlows:-46 I was married to the prisoner in 1845, and lived at the Rainbow publichouse in High- street, Bordesley, 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 husba.id 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 his hand. When I observed this I got out of bed, and went towards the doer. 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 thro,,t with a knife. When I Kent to the slaor, he wounded me. He said, We have lived together, we have loved together, and we will die together. I found the loot. lock, d. lie 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 my senses, but I recovt rel myself a little, and ran to the window. I broke a pane of glass, and cried out, Murder,' w},en somebody brought a ladder to the window. My husband also called cut, 6 Oh, see what they have done !' When the window was opened my husband got through. It was on the second floor that we slept. Mr. White and Robert Fletcher came, and 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 excited."  Mr. Justice PATTESON asked the prisoner if he wished to ask his wife any questions?—The prisoner (almost laughing outright') replied that he bad none. Mr. John Archer, suro.on, of Deritend, Birmingham, being sworn, stated that he was called in to Mrs. Burney on the morning in question, and found her with a wound 2i inches long on the throat, and an ther wound 2} inches long on the cheek. The wounds were inflicted with a sharp instrument. He afterwards saw the prisoner ut Fletch, r'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, "bee how they l.ave 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 vrisoner 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.