The Express. — 1859-11-01 (London, England)

DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT MURDER AND SUICIDE. —One of the most desperate attempts at murder sad suicide which it has ever been our painful duty to mooed occurred at a 'mall village called Bed wick, near Teornbury, Gloucestershire, and, as may be supposed the excitement ia very great In the neighbourhood. The allowing are the principal facts of the case :—A labouring man named James February, about 26 years of age, hen for the lent three years been cohabiting with • widow named Emma Mabeett ; the man also lodged at the house which wag occupied by the motheriin.law of the injured woman, but he having lately got in airier with his paymecte, and having taken to drinking tco freely, incurred the displeasure of his mistress, which resulted in his being dismrded by her about three watt since. February was greatly exasperated, and has frequently remarked that if Mrs. klabbett, the mother-inlaw, left her home fur any time, something dreadful would happen, but it was not imagined anything so horrible was contemplated. Since his being cast off he has led • more dissolute life, and is supposed to have ametandy watched the cottage in which the woman dwelt. He hag also been seen with • vizor in his pownesion for more than a fortnight past. On Saturday morning bat the mother-inilew of Emma Mabbett, having occasion to go to Bristol, left her house for that purpose, leaving her daughteriinilaw at home, when at about eight o'clock the neighbours were horrified by the cries of "Murder I" proceeding from the house, and on their hastening to the spot they found the woman with her bead out of the upstairs window, bleeding most profusely from several deep gashes in her throat, the blood running all down the wall. On their entering the hews they found the room door fastened, which was at once broken open ; she was also bleeding from her hands. The man February wee also in the room lying on Ma face, the blood flowing from • deep cut in the throat, and the razor lying by his side, broken Into several fragments. Dr. Taylor, who resides near, was summoned, and the police were sent for, also other doctors. The woman then ruabed out of the apartment, and several women rendered her ever y assistance. Scon after this police sergeant Ireland, of the dust station, arrived. and on his going upstairs he found the man as before described, and still bleeding on the floor. Dra. Powell and Day were by this rime present, and their attention was directed te the man, their efforts soon reviving him • little, and after the wounds of both were dressed as well as possible it was deemed advieable to convey them to the Bristol Infirmary, where they now remain In • very precarious state. The constable Mut since discovered that February was drinking te excess the previous night, and he is supposed to have been waiting in an outhouse near to be arm& of the absence of the other woman, when he cautiously entered, having first pulled e.ff his shoes, which were found at the bottom of the stairs, and committed the rash acts. On hie way to the infirmary he frequently remarked that ft "was a very Ira job." But slight hopes are entertained of their recovery. THE SCOICII no