The Express. — 1861-08-02 (London, England)

SHOCKING MURDER OP A WIPE BY HER HUSBAND, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OP THE MURDERER, IN ST. GILEYS.-( THIS DAY)  The neighbourhood of Newton-street, Holborn, abutting upon the end of New Oxford-strost, was throws into a state of great excitement this morning owing to • rumour, which turned out to be but too true, of a murder having been committed by a husband cutting hie wife's throat, and then attempting his own life. At about three o'clock this morning police-constable Wakeham was on duty in Holborn, when he saw a man whom he had some previous knowledge of, named William Oogan, coming towards him covered with blood. He asked him what was the matter with him, when he tried to articulate something, but failing, lifted his right hand and drew it across his neck. The constable then lifted up hie head, and found that his throat was cut. He then askedhim who had done it, when he (Cogan) pointed to himself. Wake. ham then took bold of his arm, and led him to King's College Hospital, where he was at once admitted. On the way to the hospital, Wakeham, who knew him to be • married man, asked him where his wife was, when he again drew hie band across his neck, meaning that her throat was cut. He was next asked where she was, when he turned round and pointed in the direction of his home, and when asked who had cat her throat be pointed again to himself. Superintendent Durkin and Inspector Mackenzie, of the F division of polioe at Bow-street, were at once made acquainted with the occurrence, when they proceeded to No. 4, Newton-street. On their entering the first floor front room • shocking sight presented itself. In about the middle of the room lay the wife, with her feet and legs lying along the Boor, and her head and the upper portion of her body resting on a couple of baskets. Her throat was cut from ear to ear, and as her head hung back the wound presented • shocking spectacle, the blood still oozing from it. On the floor just beneath her was a large pool of blood, and in the midst of it a razor was found with which the murder bad been committed. The room itself presented all the appearance of a comfortable home, and outside the two windows there is a large green board surrounded by little ornamental railings, and on which is a collection of ever. greats and flowers.  From what could be gathered, it appears that the man Cogan and his wife attended the funeral yesterday of his godfather, after which, with five or six more friends, they returned to his place in Newton.street. Here they all sat down and had tea, after which they all went out tog*. ther. Cogan and his wife returned home rather late in the evening the worse for liquor, and be went up and threw himself on the bed. After lying for about a couple of hours he got up, missed a love. reign from his pocket, and accused his wife of taking it, which it is believed she strenuously denied. They had • quarrel together about the sovereign, when he left the room, and going downstairs, went to • lodging-house opposite, where, after conversing in an angry tone es regards his wife towards some penman there, he left and was seen to enter the Queen and Prince Albert public-house in Holborn. On the way to this house he was beard to say that he bad had quite enough of it, and that be would put an end to it that night or to. morrow. After remaining a short time in the public-house, and having bad something more to drink, he returned home, and it is supposed committed the dreadful act. When me, dicel aid was called in to the wife, she was pronounced to have been dead for some time.  Cogan sod his wife, although they quarrelled at times, were considered by their neighbours to have lived very happily together. Cogan was in the habit of earning a good deal of money by going round with a horse sad cart and selling poultry. They had only one child, • boy aged 15, who is away from home. Information of the murder has been forwarded to the coroner, and the police are in possession of the place. Greet crowds assembled round the house from an early hour this morning. From inquiries made at the hospital, it appears that Cogan is at present going on favourably.