Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1882-12-16 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. A somewhat peculiar case of attempted murder and suicide has occurred at York. The parties concerned were sweethearts, the attempted murderer and suicide being a farm labourer named William Archer, of the age of twenty-one, a native of Romford, Essex ; and his victim, Annie Emmitt, a domestic servant, of the age of seventeen. For the twelve months ending Martinmas, just passed, the former had been in service at Oswaldkirk, in the North Riding ; and the latter had also up to the same time been in the employs moot of Mr. Seymour, of Newton Grange, near the same village. During their twelve months' service the two had contracted an attachment for each other, and on leaving their reepeetive places, the girl went to the bowie of her mother, a widow, at Newton, near Hemsley, whilst the prisoner accompanied her to the earns village, and took up his quarters at a public-house in the place. There the courting was continue I, Archer visiting his sweetheart at her mother's home. Subsequently the two came together to York, and proceeded to a boarding-house, kept by Mr. Morgan, in Tanner-row. There they had dinner, and, as the weather was intensely stormy, they stayed in the haul the rest of the day, and took a bed, which they occupied under the representation that they were 111:111 and wife. They breakfasted together the next morning, and went out without any understanding that they would return. They, however, came back in the evening, and having stated that they had been to see same friends at Hopgrove, and were weary, had refreshment, after which they sat in one of the rooms, apparently in most friendly conversation, from eight until ten, and then retired to rest.. Nothing further was beard or known of them until the morning, when, acconlng to the girl's own statement, she war awoke by feeling blood running down her side, and simultaneously she discovered that her throat had been cut. On looking towards her companion she saw that he had a bloodstained racer in his hand, and at once s,id to him, " / never thought you would do such a trick as this to me," to which be replied, "I am sorry I have done it." They both then got out of bed, and Archer having pourel some water into the wash-hand basin, she attempted to wash the blood from her, and immediately after went out on to the landing and thence into an adjoining sittings room, where she alarmed the house by the ringing of a bell. Mrs. Morgan was the first to come to the wounded girl's assistance. The latter exclaimed to Mrs. Morgan, " See what he has done with me," to which Mrs. Morgan said, a Has your husband done it?" and received for an answer "Yes ; he has cut my throat with a razor." Mrs. Morgan alarmed her husband, who at once dressed ant went for a surgeon, and next for a policeman. In the meantime the girl Emmitt satin Mrs. Morgan's bedroom ; whilst Archer, who had locked the door upon himself, remained in that in which he had committed his murderous act. The consequence of the latter proceeding led to the neceseity, on the arrival of a policeman, named Ellerbeck, by the are of a ladder, of niaking an entrance to Archer's bedroom by the window fronting theendof Railway-street. It AVM then found that Archer had cut his throat in a couple of places. Archer and Enimittwere removed to the York County Hospital. The wound upon the throat of the latter is not so serious as are those upon Archer. At present nothing is known as to what may have provoked the murderous act noon Emmitt.