The Sun. — 1844-07-31 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. On Monday evening great excitement prOYailed in the parishes of Wandsworth and Battersea, in consevence of a woman having attempted the murder of her two children and her own destruction. The circumstances connected with this dreadful affair are these :—On Monday evening, about live o'clock, a woman, about 26 years of age, named Amelia Alfred, left her home at the water-side, Wandsworth, with her two children, a girt and boy, aged respectively six and four years, and proceeded: to Wandsworth-common, where she wandered about for. nearly an hour, and then approached a large and deep pond called the " Black Sea." It would appear that whilst standing on the margin of the pond she tied the two children to her waist, and then precipitated herself into the water. The bank was shelving, and the water was rather shallow at that point, but so determined was the wretched woman upon: making away with herself and her offspring, that she afterwards threw herself on her back, so that the water covered. both the children and herself. At this critical period, Wm.. Alfred, the brother of the unfortunate woman, a lad not more than 14 years of age, ran up to the spot, jumped into the water, and tried to rescue the children. Finding 'that he could not release them, he held their heads above water, and. hallooed for assistance. Mr. Alexander and his lady were walking on their lawn, which is adjoining the pond, and hearing the boy's screams, Mr. Alexander instantly surmised that some one was in the water, and taking his gardener with him, ran to the pond. The lad was still keeping the children's heads above water, but appeared ready to drop from exhaustion. The gardener jumped into the water, and with his knife severed the handkerchief, and released the children from their perilous situation. Police-constable Lee,. 38 V, who was on duty on the common, assisted in getting the wretched woman out of the pond, having previously sent. to the union to request the master and matron to have a warm bath and other appliances in readiness. The children, who, through the valorous, conduct of the lad Alfred, were not seriously injured, were kindly taken charge of by MrsAlexander, and conveyed by that lady to her residence. The unfortunate woman Alfred when taken out of the water was to all appearance dead ; she was conveyed as quickly as paesible, however, to the Wandsworth Union, where Mr. King, the master, and his wife, the matron, were prepared to receive her. The means used in restoring persons from drowning were adopted, and before the arrival of the medical officer, Dr. Connor, the poor creature exhibited symptoms of returning animation. Every attention has been since paid to the wretched woman, but she is still in an extremely precarious condition. There is little doubt that the woman is insane, and that that insanity has been brought on by ill-usage and distress. She had lived for years at Wandsworth, her native place, with Henry French, a journeyman carpenter and caboetmaker, by whom she had her children. This man, in la;a-vember last, was charged at Wandsworth Police-court with stealing a silver watch which had by accident been left ire the drawer of a cheifonier he had to repair, and was committed for trial. The woman Alfred, who was then supposed to be his wife, proved her great attachment for the fellow, for she never ceased petitioning persons to speak for him on t.lke day of trial. The prosecutrix even recommended the prisoner to mercy on her account, and he consequently had but a slight sentence passed on him. At the expiration of his imprisonment French returned to Alfred, who was living with her mother, a washerwoman, at the water-side, Wands,worth, but he had no sooner recruited his strength than he basely deserted her and his children. This cruel conduct was not without its effect. Thepoor creature, who had done all that a devoted woman could to save, and afterwards comfort him, became mad, and was passtd by the magistrate at Wandsworth Police-court, as a lunatic, to the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum, at Garret, where she remained a short time, and was discharged as cured. From that thue up to Monday she lived at home with her brother, and it was generally noticed that she appeared very much dejected.. Whilst the woman was beingitripped at the union, a letter fell from her bosom. It was a wretched scrawl, from the fellow French, and the substance was, that lie never intended to live with her or any other woman again, and she must work and do her best for herself and children, as she could expect nothing from him. Yesterday the superintendent of the V division made Mr. Clive, the sitting magistrate, acquainted with the particulars, and it is understood that as soon as the wretched woman is capable of removal she will be taken to the court to undergo examination upon the charge of attempting to murder her children. The affair has cast a gloom over the neighbourhood. The sympathy of all is in the wretched creature's behalf.