Above photo circa 2017, showing 206 High Street by Darkstar.

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.