The Sun. — 1853-07-11 (London, England)

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO MURDER A FEMALE.  On Saturday night, shortly before eleven o'clock, the quiet inhabitants of St. Dunstan, Stepney, were thrown into a state of considerable excitement, in consequence of a most atrocious attempt to murder a married female named Hannah Sargant, aged 26 years, of No. 11, Edward-street, Limehouse-fields, Stepney ; and from what can be gleaned, very.slight hopes are entertained of the unfortunate woman's life. It appears that the injured female and her husband (John Sargant), a chaff-cutter, had lived very comfort. ably together, but were frequently visited by a man named James Upson, a blacksmith who had known them for many years, and who was in the habit of borrowing small sums of money. On Saturday night, about halfpast ten o'clock, Mrs. Sargant left home alone, for the purpose of purchasing her Sunday's dinner, and obtaining various articles for household use, and while passing the iron railing in front of Stepney Church, she met the man Upson, who said, " How are you ?" " Oh, lam very well." After which they passed on in the direction of the Thames Police-court, Arbour-square, but had only proceeded a short distance when Upson asked her to lend him six shillings until Monday, which she told him she could not spare, as she was going to market. He seemed to be much excited, and when they reached the Edinburgh Castle public-house, he said to Mrs. Sargant " Never mind, I will give you some half-and-half, for you will never drink with me any more." Mrs. Sargant refused to take anything to drink, and told him she must go. She left him, and he followed at some distance fibm her, and when she had reached a vacant piece of ground at the rear of the Edinburgh Castle, he rushed upon her and brandished a large table-knife, which he drew from under the left breast part of his coat. Mrs. Sargant screamed violently, but he immediately put his left arm over her mouth, and with his right hand inflicted a severe cut in the neck, just below the chin. He dropped her upon the ground, and made his escape ; but several females came out of their houses, and discovered the unfortunate woman lying on her back, with a large incised wound in throat, from which the blood was flowing very copiously ; she was also quite insensible and near her was lying her market basket. Her hands were cut, as if caused by her efforts to protect herself against the murderous violence of Upson, who is a powerful fellow. An immediate alarm was raised, and the wounded woman was carried by several police constables and other persons to the nearest surgeon's, where the injury in the neck was temporarily dressed, and the hemorrhage checked, after which she was placed in a cart and conveyed with all possible care to the London Hospital, where Mr. Streetfield, the house surgeon, and other medical officers rendered prompt assistance by sewing up the wound, which was five inches in length. Last evening at eight o'clock, the unfortunate female was in a very precarious state, but only her husband and her sister were allowed to see her. Several officers of the K division from Arbour-square station went in search of Upson, but no traces of him had been gleaned at a late hour last night. It is generally supposed that he has committed suicide by jumping into the Regent's Canal, and steps will be taken by the authorities of Stepney to search for the body with the drags this day (Monday). There were several rumours as to the real cause of the quarrel between the injured woman and Upson, but the truth could not be ascertained.  MR.