The Sun. — 1849-10-20 (London, England)

THAMES. Joseph _Freeman, the landlord of the Watermen's Arms beer-shop, in London-street, Ratcliff, was brought before Mr. Ingham, charged with cutting the throat of a little boy named Silvey. Mary Silvey, a poor woman, who brought her boy into court in her arms, said that hearing screams of murder she ran into the street, and was met by a young man crossing the street, who said the prisoner had cut her child's throat with a razor. She went into the prisoner's yard and found her boy with his neck bleeding, and took him to a doctor's shop, where the wound was sewn up. The boy, who was in a weak state from loss of blood, said he was eight years of age, and (having been examined as to the nature of an oath) that he was playing at marbles and went into the prisoner's yard, on which Mr. Freeman seized him, threw his head back, and drew a razor across his throat.  Mr. INGUAM, having held the razor shut and open, asked the witness in which state it was at the time the prisoner cut his throat ? Witness—lt was open. Was sure the blade was out of the handle. The boy was frequently dictated to by his mother while under examination, and he was transferred from her arms to a police-constable's, but he did not vary in his statement. He said there was a little boy and a girl in the yard when his throat was cut. The boy's neck was then uncovered, and the strapping on his neck displayed. The prisoner, who appeared in a good deal of alarm and anxiety about the affair, said, he was just on the point of shaving himself, and went into his yard with a soap-dish and a closed razor in his hand to obtain some water, and saw the child playing in the yard. He intended only to frighten him, and he said, " Go and play elsewhere. I'll put you in the water•butt and cut your head off;" and at the same time drew the closed razor across his throat. He let the boy go directly, and was driving him out of the yard, when, to his great horror and astonishment he found his neck bleeding, and said, " Good God, preserve me ! i have cut the child's throat." He hastened with him as quickly as possible to the doctor's, and did all in his power to stop the bleeding. Ile was extremely sorry for what had occurred, but he did not intend any mischief. The prisoner further declared that on the little boy reaching the station•house he said the razor was closed when his throat was cut, and called the policeman who took him into custody, and who confirmed his statement.  Mr. INGHAM directed that the surgeon who attended the boy, and any other witnesses who saw the occurrence, should be sent for; and adjourned the case.  When the hearing was resumed, Thomas Silvey, an elderly brother of the child, said he heard the prisoner say " I'll cut your throat," but he did not see the wound inflicted. Mr. Gill, a medical practitioner, said the wound was superficial, and only the 16th of an inch deep. In answer to questions by the magistrate, who held the razor in different positions open and shut, Mr. Gill said it was but reasonable to conclude the razor was in the handle when the wound was inflicted, and that the prisoner, who held it firmly grasped in his hand, pressed the edge through the handle. He came to that conclusion from the slight nature of the wound. Had the raz z been open the wound would have doubtlessly been a most serious one; certainly it would have been deeper. Mr. INGHAM said he should relieve the prisoner of the more serious charge of cutting and wounding, for he believed he did not intend to inflict any serious injury, but he must say the prisoner had acted in a  most incautious and dangerous manner, and that death might have been the result of his foolish and reprehensible act Fortunately, the wound was not dangerous,