Northern Times. — 1859-07-16 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

WICKHAM, M.P., AND THE BRADFORD  in their annual report just issued, express their gratification that Mr; H. W. Wickham, M.P., has, since the last election, became w member of the association. The hon. gentleman had, previously stood alone upon independent gFounds,  although he was returned at his first and second elections chiefly by Conservative influence and support, united with that of many influential Conservative Liberals. Such registration machinery as the Conservative party had employed of late years was worn out in his service, and there being now an end of that organisation, Mr. Wickham has thus, at length, by uniting himself with the Liberal Registvation Association, declared, in, effect, that he unites himself again actively with the great Liberal party ; the state of political relations in the borough, as well as the ancient political predilections of family and his own progressive tendencies, having all. coarilmted to this inevitable result.  Satuaday, July 16, 1859.  ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE IN  LEEDS  On Thursday afternoon, Mrs. Watts, a widow, 75 years of age, and who resided in Westminster Place, Castle-street, West End, Leeds, rushed to the door of a neighbour, named Miss Tutin, with a towel wrapped round her throat, and told her that her throat had just been cut by one of her lodgers, named Abraham Fawcett. As she removed the towel, the blood started out in a stream.. Miss Tutin ,gave the alarm, and the poor old woman was shortly attended by Mr. Nunneley, surgeon, who sewed up the wound. MrsWatts was next asked where Fawcett was, and she replied, that he was cutting his own throat just as she rushed out'; of the house. The neighbourhood being at once alarmed Mrs. Watts's house was examined, and Fawcett was found on the floor of the old woman's bedroom, bathed in blood The room had the appearance of a slaughter-house. Front the fragmentary evidence furnished at intervals by Mrs Watts ,and other residents in the house, it would appear that Fawcett, a young man of 35, was employed as cloth dresser at Mr. King's establishment, in North. Halt Lane. He has lodged with Mrs. Watts for nearly twelve years, and was generally supposed to cherish towards her somewhat of the affection of a child. On Monday • last, Mr. King entertained his " hands" to dinner, and since then Fawcett has been drinking. He was "fresh" yesterday noon, when he was seen at a public-house. About half-past two o'clock he went to his lodgings, and finding the door fast, entered by the kitchen window. Mrs. Watts had gone to lie down on the bed. The fellow appears to have gone upstairs, and made improper overtures to Mrs. Watts, which she of course resisted. He then seems to have become suddenly maddened ; for he drew his own razor from his pocket and cut the poor old woman's throat She managed to escape from the room, but as she was leaving it she saw Faivcett attempt his own life. The house where the horrible affair occurred, is one of a row of cottages in the centre of a densely populated manufacturing digtnct. Mrs. Watts was last night in a very dangerous condition. the wound having been re-opened by a fit of coughing, and the bleeding having continued for half an hour before medical assistance could be again procured. Fawcett has inflicted a desperate gash on his own throat ; but up to last night he has been asleep, probably from the stnpifying effects of the liquor, almost ever since the occurrence. -Mrs. Watts could scarcely be expected to survive during the night, if the wound again re-opened. The only motive for the attack appears to have been the one given above.