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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 25 June, 1859.
ATTEMPTED MURDER AT CHATHAM.
A most determined attempt at murder took place at a house in
Skinner-street, Chatham, at an early hour on Sunday morning last,
by, as it is supposed, a man named Burgess Masters, who has been
occasionally employed as a collier on board ships frequenting the
port at Chatham, the intended victim being a private in the Royal
Marine Light Infantry, named James Wilkins, who has but recently
returned home from foreign service. From the circumstances attending
the transaction, it appears that Masters had been cohabiting for
some time past with a woman of disreputable character, who passed as
his wife and assumed his name, but who is known to have a husband
still living and serving with the Royal Marines at a foreign
station. Before her intimacy with Masters, this woman had been
living for some time with Wilkins; but on the latter being ordered
to embark for service at sea, Masters picked up with her, and they
appear to have lived very comfortably together until recently,
although they were both of very drunken habits. A short time since
Wilkins returned to Chatham, when he immediately sought out the
woman and prevailed on her to return to him, which she seemed by no
means reluctant to do. On the woman leaving him Masters was filled
with most deadly animosity towards Wilkins, and has frequently been
heard to make use of threatening language towards him, and on one
occasion he is stated to have uttered a threat that he would kill
him the first opportunity that presented itself. Notwithstanding
this, however, Wilkins continued on comparatively friendly terms
with Manors, though they have often been seen quarrelling and
fighting. On Saturday night Wilkins, Masters, and the woman were at
the "Brewers’ Arms" public-house, High-street, drinking together in
a friendly mood, Wilkins and the woman leaving about nine o'clock,
at which time Masters was still there. After leaving the "Brewers'
Arms," Wilkins and the woman went to a beerhouse in Skinner-street,
and remained drinking there for some time until both were
intoxicated. During the time they were there Masters was seen
standing outside the back of the house, as if waiting for them to
come out, although he had parted from them on apparently friendly
terms. Nothing more was seen of Masters, and Wilkins and the woman
retired to bed. About three o'clock in the morning the woman was
awakened by blood trickling over her, when to her horror she
discovered Wilkins lying by her ride in bed with his throat cut, and
apparently dead. The window of the room in which they were sleeping
was wide open, and it was evident the person who had committed the
act had entered by that means and left the room the same way. The
police were soon on the spot, and Wilkins, who still showed signs of
life, was at once removed to Melville Hospital, where the wound was
sewn up, but from the nature of the injuries he has received only
very small hopes are entertained of his recovery. On the room in
which the attempted murder took place being searched, no razor other
instrument with which the deed was accomplished could be discovered,
and from an examination of the wound the medical gentlemen believe
that it was effected with a not very sharp knife, such as that used
by sailors use, had a razor been employed death would have been
instantaneous. It is somewhat remarkable that, although there are
numerous lodgers in the house, not one was aware of the attempted
murder, and there is no doubt that Masters availed himself of the
circumstances of his intended victim lying in a drunken sleep to
effect his object.
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