The Sun. — 1856-01-11 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT LONDON BRIDGE.—Sophia Bishop, a respectable-looking young female, was brought before Mr. Combo, charged with attempting to commit suicide at London•bridge.  91 94 -- 98  E. Un. E. Gt. rt =• E. Count. paldonian_  Police-constable 263 M said that about 12 o'clock last evening he was on duty at the Surrey side of the London-.bridge, .when„he saw the .prisoner rush down the steps. leading to the water. 1-le.-immediately followed her and seized hold of her clothes as she was in.the act of plunging into the river.-. He then with assistance secured her, and took her tq the station-house. Mr. •Coinhe asked whether shii was knovin  .32 • - 1.34  at. Meta: Yk. Now.i & Bey*. Y. klq M ,1  The mistress of the prisoner here stepped forward and said she could not account for the girl attempting to commit suicide, as she was generally well conducted. Yesterday she left the house after having a slight quarrel, and she heard nothing more of her until the constable came and told her she was locked up. The prisoner said she very much regretted having attempted to commit such a rash act, but she promised not to repeat it, if his worship would allow her to be discharged. • Her mistress said she would take her back and attend to her carefully if she was discharged. Mr. Combo accordingly ordered her to be delivered up to her mistress.  [64 1(15  Easte !D0........  13  iPeto lz Ca  L• 3 lio  Norfolk Do  L.& N. W & Midld. Stckton k Darlingt.  2* - 24  Sit - • 0 65 - 57  gn. Conn. It. Count. Do. .... ~.;  Mr. Bodkin, upon hearing these facts, said he should withdraw the count of the indictment that referred to this witness.  Do L. & N. W Do  The counsel for the defendant said he was instructed that the prosecutor was mistaken as to his identity, and he believed be should be able to satisfy them that he was not the man who assaulted the prosecutor. The defendant himself was knocked down by a portion of a hurdle that was thrown at him from the crowd, and the only time that anyth'ng that could be construed into an act of violence committed by him was when he rushed into the crowd to endeavour to apprehend the man wbo had assaulted him, but this happened at a totally different spot to the place spoken of by the prosecutor.  Gt North.: Lancash York sh. T. Braisey If.lllCloan Stockt. bt Darlingt D 0.........  • ••• 130  7i -- 8 3i -- 2U  so 31 81 83  IrltWeetn.  A great number of witnesses, many of whom were constables who were under the orders of the defendant, were examined, and they swore positively that he did not commit an assault upon any one. Several persons, who had come forward- voluntarily from reading the evidence that was given before the Commissioners, also daposed to the same facts. The defendant received a most excellent character. It appeared that he had been twelve years in the police, and that he had, on acoount of his being considered a discreet officer, been employed at races and various places of public amusements to preserve order, and no complaint bad ever been made against him. The learned Judge, in summing up, expressed his opinion that there had been a mistake in the mattter, and the jury, without any hesitation, returned a ♦erdict of Not Guilty. Charles Medgett, who was convicted on the previous day of assaulting Mr. Stevens, was then brought up for judgment, and sentenced to be imprisoned for nine months.