ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SARAH BIRD

Article from the Sydney Gazette 1804 
John Morris, who went a Respite to Norfolk Island, remained for trial when the Union sailed, for inhumanly attempting the Murder of Edward Garth and Sarah Bird. He had been confined in the Gaol owing to his desperate character and conduct, and at 5 o'clock in the morning of Jan 8, he had some conversation with Garth, who acted as  Gaoler for the time being but suddenly drawing from his sleeve a knife 7 inches blade several times stabbed him in the chest then rushing from the prison bolted violently into the house of Sarah Bird, with whom he had for many years cohabited, then in bed, and with the same instrument made a horrible and ghastly incision across her throat from ear to ear. Endeavouring to ward off the monstrous attempt she also received a wound in the left arm, which extending downwards in an oblique direction across the wrist, cut the sinews through : the Surgeon was confidently of opinion, that the resistance by which the latter wound was occasioned had alone saved her life.  Her shrieks brought the constables and neighbours to her assistance, who obliged the villain to take refuge in a morass, where he for some minutes brandished his mischievous weapon, and breathed vengeance on the host that dared approach him ; but when overpowered sank into a timidity that always succeeds an act of brutal violence. From the diligent attention of the officiating Surgeon the wounded persons were declared not likely to die of their wounds, shortly before the Union's departure from the Island, soon after which the Offender was to be brought to trial.