The Northern Daily Times. — 1857-03-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

TEMPTED ASSASSINATION ON THE NORTH LONDON RAILWAY.  A horrible act of attempted assassination took place late on Thursday night, on the North London or Camden Town Railway. About nine o'clock, a gentleman named Stephens took a second class ticket at the terminus of the line at Hampstead road for Poplar, where he resided, and got into a second class carriage, about the middle of the train. He was the only passenger in the carriage at the time, but as the train was starting, a man in the garb of a costermonger opened the door of the next compartment of the same carriage and got in, the porter shutting the door after him. The moment the train Was in motion the man leant over the compartment and asked Mr. Stephens if he could oblige him with the time. Mr. Stephens took out his watch with that object, when, in an instant, the fellow sprang over the compartment, and seizing Mr. Stephens by the throat, plunged a knife into the back of his neck, and then twice into his throat, inflicting three frightful gashes. Mr. Stephens grappled with the villain, and shouted out " Murder, murder !" as loud as he could, and being a very powerful man, succeeded in getting the better of the fellow for a time, and got him down, it is supposed, on the seat, and then on the floor of the carriage, when, from a great loss of blood, Mr. Stephens became exhausted. The fellow escaped from his grasp and again plunged the knife (a new butcher's knife with a bla'le five inches long) into Mr. Stephens' shoulder, and again into his bosom. By this time the train had stopped at the Camden road station (only two minutes is allowed for the trains to travel from Rampstead road to that station), and the porters on the platform hearing,' as the train passed, faint cries from the carriage in question; ran up to it, and seeing a man apparently hurrying out of the carriage door with his face covered with blood, they stopped him, while others got into the compartment to ascertain what had occurred. By the faint glare of the carriage lamp they saw Mr. Stephens apparently dying, with blood gushing forth from various wounds. The porters, however, observing his gestures, secured the man, and calling in the assistance of the police, handed him over to their custody, and he was con• veyed to the Camden town station. He there refused to give his name, or any particulars of his residence or business. ,Nlr. King. the superintendent of the railway, happened to be in the railway station when Mr. Stephens was brought in. Several medical gentlemen were immediately summoned, and, having dressed his wound, a special train was got in readiness, and Mr. Stephens was at once conveyed to his residence, at Poplar. On enquiring this morning, the company ascertained that he was in so critical a state' th it it was dangerous to have him removed to Marylebone Police court, where the assassin is to be brought up for examination. There can be no doubt that plunder was his object in attacking Mr, Stephens. The knife was found in the carriage. Another account states that the prisoner has given the name of Webb, but this is supposed to he fictitious ; also that the name of the injured ,perfon is Buckler, and that he is an assistant to Mr. Willeck, linendraper, High street, Poplar, The prisoner says he is a sailor, but he has the appearance of being a butcher.