The Sun. — 1842-05-04 (London, England)

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. Sarah Thomas, who, it will be remembered, was charged on Monday last, with attempting to cut the throat of a little boy named John Wilks, and was remanded in consequence of the boy's inability to attend, was brought up to-day bcfure Mr. JAILDINE fur re-examination. She was very clean and neatly dressed, and looked much better than on a fermer examination. John Wilks examined-1 am twelve years of age, and live with my father and mother, at No. 10, Parker-street, Drury. lane. The prisoner lives in an adjoining room. On Saturday, the 23d of April. about half-past three o'clock, my mother was out, and the prisoner asked me to fetch her half a quartern of gin and a pint of beer, which I did. I soon aftewards went into my mother's room, who shortly after returned home. The prisoner then called me, and asked me to mind her place for a minute, whilst she went out. I wont into her room for that purpose. She then told me to sit down, which I did; she locked the door and told use to pour out the gin. She was then drunk. I poured it out, arid she said " Drink it." I drank some and she drank some. She then said " Pull your handkerchief off, for fear the gin should choke you." 1 did so. She then gave me a halfpenny to buy some peas-pudding. I bought some peas-pudding, and asked her to have some, but she would not. She then got the bread butter out of the cupboard, and cut some fur me. As I was eating the last mouthful she called me to her. I went towards where she was sitting, when she laid hold of me by the shoulders, and cut me across the cheek with a razor. 1 shoved her towards the fire-place, in order to get away from her, and screamed out " Murder!" She again cut me across the throat. when some people burst into the room, and I was taken to a doctor's, and afterwards to King's College Hospital, where I have been till now. Sophia Wilks examined—l am the wife of John Wilks, who is a labouring man ; the last witness is my son, and we reside at No. 10, Parker-street. About half-past three o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, the 23d of April, I went home, after having been out nearly all day, and I found my child sitting by the lire quite intoxicated. The prisoner, who was stupid with drink, came into the room, and asked me to let hini fetch her a pint of beer. I told her he should not go. I then lost sight of him, and about twenty minutes afterwards I beard him screaming in the prisoner's room. I ran up stairs, :and called to him to open the door; the door was opened, and when I got in, the prisoner had her left arm round his waist, and was flourishing a razor in her right hand. The child was bleeding very much. I fetched two docters immediately, one i of whom sewed up the wounds n his neck. I then took him in a cab to King's College Hospital. Charlotte Repuke examined—l am a single woman, and lodge with the last witness. About four o'clock on the 23d of last month, I heard the child call out, and I ran up with Mr. Wilks to the prisoner's room, where, when we arrived, I saw the prisoner with one arm round the child's waist, and holding a raver at his throat. Blood was pouring rapidly from his neck and throat. Prisoner did not say anything at the time. She appeared to have beets drinking. Mark Todd examined—l am a medical student and dresser at King's College Hospital. On Saturday, 23d April, Jahn N'ilks was brought to the Hospital, and I examined him. He bad a superficial wound two inches in length upon his throat, andia similar wound upon his cheek. Neither of them were of a dangerous character ; they appeared to have been effected by a sharp instrument. Police-constable It 43 produced the razor. He said that the priscroyer. stated that she intended to murder some one, but not e This was all the evidence at present. Mr. Burnaby said that there was &pan present at the previous examination who heard the prisoner say that she would cut the little boy's throat ; but that man was not in the Court