The Commonwealth. — 1867-02-23 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE BOROUGH.  At the Southwark Police - court, on Thursday, Thomas clover, 45' described as a hawker, was brought before Mr. Woolrych, charged with attempting to murder Henry Wheelright, by cutting his throat in Kent- street, Borough. The prosecutor, a young man about 18 years of age, whose neck and head wore bandaged up, said that he was a fish- dryer, and resided in Long-lane, Bermondsey, About half•past eleven on the previous night he was passing Castle - court, Kent. street, with another young man on his way home, when he saw the prisoner stooping down on the edge of the pavement, sharpening a large knife on the kerb-stone. Just as they passed him the prisoner jumped up and exclaimed, "Now I'll do it; I'll out the - throat," and at the eame time he rushed at witness and made a thrust at his throat with the knife. Witness warded the blow off, and was running from him, when the prisoner seized hold of him and cut him on the back of the neck and the lower part of the back of the head. As soon as he had dote that he made use of a fearful oath and ran away. Witue.Qs, being nearly exhausted from loss of blood, called out to a man to follow him and secure him, and then he was conveyed to Guy's Hospital, where his wounds were dressed. Mr. Woolrych asked him if he had spoken to the prisoner before ha attached him. Witness replied that he did not, neither did he know anything about him. In fact, he had no recollection of ever seeing him before. The prisoner hero said that a few minutes before, on leaving a pnblic•house close by, he was surrounded by a gang ef thieves, who maltreated him and robbed him of some money. As soon as he got out of their clutches he took out his knife, and used it in selfdefence. _ _ .  Pxosecutor was recalled, and in answer to the magistrate he said there was no one near the prisoner. He was quite alone, sharpening a knife. Had he been surrounded by any persons, witness must have seen them, as he noticed the prisoner some yards before he approached him. John Kendall and Henry Archer corroborated the prosecutor's evidence. DaNid John LQwarre, 239 M, said he was on duty in Kent-street at half-past eleven o'clock, when a lad came running up to him, and told him that a man bad been nearly murdered near the Castle. He proceeded in that direction, and saw a mob of about 50 persons collected round last witness and the prisoner, who was given into his custody for attempting to murder the prosecutor, and the knife produced, covered with blood, was handed to him. The prosecutor was gone to the hospital, but as soon as the wounds were dressed he came to the station-house, and made the charge against the prisoner. Mr. Wo3lryeh asked whether he was in liquor. Witness replied that he had been drinking a little, but he knew what he was about. On searching him he found on him a penny and a bundle of religious tracts. _ _ _  The prisoner, in defence, said he was a hawker, and when in a publie-house a number of fellows insulted him, and when he left they followed him, and knocked him about, and robbed him of le. 6d. He then used his knife in self•defence. The constable informed his worship that there had been no disturbance in the street, as he had passed the Castle only a fox minutes before. Mr. Woolrych asleed if the hospital surgeon was in attendance. _ _  no constable replied in the negative. Mr. Woolrich observed that he Ehould commit the prisoner to th.) Old Dailey for trial for the attempted murder, but as the surgeon could not be in attendance to complete :lie depositions, he remanded the prisoner.