The Sun. — 1847-07-17 (London, England)

WESTMINSTER. •  DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE AND CHILD MURDER.—Elizabeth Jopping, a middle-aged woman, was charged with attempting to drown herself and child. The poor woman, whose face appeared much swollen and bruised, had a fine infant in her arms, and a little girl about seven years of age by her side. At about four o'clock yesterday morning, a policeman observing the defendant pass through King-street, Westminster, apparently in a very agitated state, he determined to follow her. Defendant after endeavouring to get into two wharfs in Abingdon-street, quickened her pace, and suddenly entering the Horseferry-wharf, threw herself and child into the Thames. The constable immediately followed, and after the poor woman and infant had been under the water, succeeded in catching hold of her and dragging her out with the child in her arms. Both were taken to St. Margaret's workhouse, where every attention was paid to them, and they shortly recovered. The policeman was of opinion that the defendant had been drinking at the time she committed the act.  Defendant said that the continual cruelty of her husband had driven her to commit the offence. Ike had so beaten her about the head on that morning that she hardly knew what she was about. The sister of defendant stood up in the witness box, and said that the husband, who is a bargeman, was as good a husband as ever lived, when sober, but when drunk, a perfect madman.  Mr. BURRELL asked whether he often got drunk ? The sister said, not very often. Had the policeman who saw him at the time he was drunk that morning, taken him for ill-treating her, she, in all probability, would not have attempted to destroy herself. Mr. BURRELL inquired whether the policeman saw the husband strike his wife ?—A female in the court said she witnessed the whole of the transaction, and the policeman both saw the husband knock his wife's head against the wall, and then kink her. Mr. BURRELL observed, that he grossly neglected his duty then, and inquiries should be made into the matter. On the sister undertaking the care of the defendant, and the latter promising never again to attempt such an act, she was discharged.  Great excitement was caused on the sth in the peaceable town of Ai. A man, named Victor Moreau, his had long entertained a violent hatred against brother Gustave, but it was hoped that his hatred had died away during the period he had served in the army. On his return to Epernay, however, he showed that his sentiments had undergone no change; and he actually bought two pistols, powder, and shot with the remainder of a sum of money which his brother had given him, most of which he bad spent in debauchery. He then went to Ai, it is believed, with the firm intention of killing his brother. Luckily he did not find him at home. He then went to several caf6s, and drank a great many glasses of liquor, after which he proceeded to the house of an uncle and aunt. He burst into the room, and, without any salutation, said he was hungry. His aunt invited him to eat, and whilst doing so, an old master of his, named Roger, came in, and knowing the violent disposition in which he was, tried to calm him. " What do you want here ? " cried the man; " begone and then added, "I must put an end to this; I must kill you I " At the same moment he took a pistol, and fired it at his uncle and aunt, but without touchingl them. M. Roger again entreated him to be calm, but the risoner cried out, " Let me alone, or look to yourself!" and he immediately fired the other pistol at him. Fortunately be was not injured, and au alarm being given, two gendarmes and several individuals appeared, and all the issues from the house were guarded. " Surrender!" cried one of the gendarmes. " No!" said the man, " and if you advance you are dead!" As he spoke he presented the pistol, which he had re-loaded. "Fire, then," said the gendarme, " but take notice," he added, as he drew his sword, " that if you miss me I will run you through the body!" and turning to the people, he courageously said, " Comrades, if you see me fall, never mind, but seize the man, to prevent him doing more mischief." The man immediately snapped thetrigger of a pistol, but it flashed in the pan. In the twinkling of an eye he presented another pistol, but he checked himself, and said, " Why should I fire on you? I bear you no malice, and you only. do your duty. Look there!" and he discharged the pistol at the ceiling. The gendarme then rushed in and secured him. Besides powder and shot, a poniard. was found in his possession. Such was the cold brutality of the wretch, that, after firing at his uncle and aunt and M. Roger, he filled his pipe with tobacco, and tranquilly smoked it.—Galignani.