The Sun. — 1834-11-06 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER.  On Friday last about half-past nine at night as Mr. Larh ter, who is a miller, living at Ford's-row, Battersea, with his wife, was on his return home across Battersea-fields, proceeding from Vauxhall, when near Long-edge Farm, a go-cart having the curtains drawn all round passed them in the same direction they were going. After the cart had got some distance it stopped, when on Mr. and Mrs. Larter approaching it they saw three or four men get out of the cart, and distinctly heard one of them say « your eyes, Jack, do not do that." In consequence of that explanation they did not advance further, when soon after the cart passed them at a rapid rate on its way back and the men went forward toward Battersea. Mr. Larter was induced to go on, when on arriving at the spot where the men got out they saw something lying on the ground, which on closer inspection by Mr. L. proved to be a man, and from his motionless position be concluded he was dead. Mr. and Mrs. L. retraced their steps and went in search of a policeman and found Read. V 33, when the man was discovered lying on his face, and on turning him over he was nearly throttled from the bloOd which had collected in his throat. He was not able to speak, and was so stupified, apparently from drink, as also from something deleterious having been* given him, that he was not able to stand. The policeman sprung his rattle, when another policeman came to his assistance, as also some of Mr. Matson's men, who is the proprietor of Long-edge Farm, and he was carried to Dr. M'Kellar's, surgeon, of Battersea. On his way thither, when the men who were carrying him stopped to rest themselves, for which purpose they put him on his legs, he then exclaimed, "Pray, for God's sake, Tom, do not use me ill." They had to carry him a mile and a half to Dr. M'Kellar's, who had examined the injuries, and found a desperate wound across the nose, which was slit down the middle, and severely cut on each side. The under-lip was completely cut through. In Dr. M'Kellar's shop, as the man was dressed in the uniform of the Royal Marines, he was asked if he belonged to that corps, which he admitted, and added that he had a month's furlough, being then on his way from Woolwich. He also stated that ho had been attacked by a man, but he had served him out. His name, he said was Edward Culley. The poor fellow had lost his military cap, which was shortly after found not far from where he was seen ; he was without a knapsack, and the strong leather belt by which the knapsack is fixed to his back was cut in two. After his recovery, about eleven o'clock he was taken to the station-house of the V division in Milman-row, Chelsea. At the station-house he repeated what he had narrated at Dr. M'Kellar's, but would give no further account of himself. He said he received a severe blow, but could not recollect anything that occurred afterwards, nor how be got into the go-cart, nor if he had been drinking with any one. The next morning his knapsack was found by one of Mr. Matson's men, some distance from where the man was found on the road, which was taken by the man who came out of the cart, the contents of the knapsack being scattered about the road, and he had beer* plundered of money and a watch. The knapsack and the clothes were left at the Milman-row station-house. Information was sent to the Commanding Officer at the Military Hospital at Knights-bridge, where Culley was subsequently removed in a very precarious state. The Commissioners of Police have been made acquainted with the circumstances, who have ordered the most active inquiries at the respective station-houses in the V division at Wandsworth, Battersea, &c., to trace out what go-cart was seen in that neighbourhood on the night in question.