The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-29 00:00:00

THE THREAT TO SHOOT THE PRINCE
OF WALES.

On Saturday Mr. W. Norris Nicholson, master in
lunacy, held an inquiry at the Bristol Lunatic Asylum
at Stapleton concerning the alleged lunacy of William
Cooke Doone, who was ordered to be removed to an
asylum by a warrant of the Home Secretary, after
having been charged at the Bristapolice-court with
threatening to shoot the Prince of Wales on the
occasion of his Royal Highness's visit to Leigh Court.
Doone is a farmer, of St. Woonards, near Ross. The
inquiry was held under an order of Lord Justice
Bowen, dated February 25, made on the petition of
Mr. Thomas Doone, an uncle of Mr. William Cooke
Doone.

Mr. Clifton appeared for the petitioner? and Mr.
Symonds, of Hereford, was present on behalf of
Doone, who, in the course of a long written statement,
denied that he intended using the revolvers found in
his possession against the Prince of Wales, but made
no secret of his desire to see his Royal Highness, to
whom he had written asking an interview.
In answer to Mr. Nicholson, Doone expressed his
belief that he had been mesmerised by the Prince of
Wales at Ross Races.
Dr. Shaw, Clifton, stated that he first saw Doone
at Horfield Gaol after he had been brought before
the magistrates. From his examination he came to
the decided conclusion that he was labouring under a
monomania. He was under the idea that he had had
a "masonic shock "through his heart by the Prince
of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh at an hotel at
Ross; and he mentioned that six weeks afterwards,
when he was riding along the road, another shock
was sent into his horse, making it leap into the air,
and so injuring the animal that he had to sell it at a
great loss. The second shock, Doone stated, was
given by the Duke of Edinburgh. Witness came to
the conclusion that the man was of unsound mind.
Doone asserted his intention of being revenged on the
Prince of Wales.

Mr. Superintendent Thatcher statod that on the
23rd of January he proceeded to the house of Mr.
Pavey, at Clifton, where Doone was living. He had
received information that Mr. Doone had threatened
to shoot the Prince of Wales when he came to Leigh
Court. He told Doone that he held a warrant for
his apprehension. He said, "What for ?" Witness
replied, "For making use of threatening language
towards the Prince of Wales—in fact, attempting to
shoot him." Doone at once became agitated, and
put his hand into his coat pocket behind. Witness
had two detectives with him, and when Doone
put his hand into his pocket one of the detectives
caught hold of his arm, and said, "What
have you got there?" Doone replied, "They
are not here, but upstairs." Witness said
"What?" and Doone answered, "My revolvers."
On opening a portmanteau and carpet bag belonging,
to Doone he found two revolvers—one with six cham-
bers loaded with ball cartridge. There was also a
powder-flask, containing a quantity of powder. The
portmanteau also further contained a large number
of letters addressed to the Prince of Wales and other
persons, in all of which he charged the Prince with
using his "Masonic Art" to his damage. In the
carpet bag were 111 b. of cartridges. During the whole
time they were at Davey's Doone was talking about the
Prince of Wales, stating that he had given him a masonic
shock through the heart, and that he felt it for more
than a month. He also charged his Royal Highness with
having inesmerised his horse, and said that both the
Prince and the Duke of Edinburgh had " masonically
shocked him" one night and drove him nearly mad.
He added that he meant to have satisfaction and
damages for all that, and that he had written to the
Queen. He added that he might have threatened to
shoot the Prince, but that he was in a passion when
he said it. Witness then apprehended him. Wit-
ness handed in a copy of the letter which Doone sent
to the Prince. In it he accused the Prince of having
mesmerised him, and asked, him to meet him and give
him damages.
Dr. Thompson, medical superintendent of the
asylum, stated that Doone was admitted on the 17th
of February, and having examined him he found he
was of unsound mind. He had delusions of such a
nature that the person subject to them would be led
to injure others.
Doone said he must have written to the Prince of
Wales whilst under the influence of chloroform,
which he was in the habit of taking.
After further evidence, the Master decided that the
patient was of unsound mind.