The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-09 00:00:00

'THE SHOOTING OF POLICEMEN.

In London, on Friday in last week, at the Worship-
street Police-court, before Mr. Hannay, James
Wright, 38, described as a tailor, and William
Wheatley, 25, labourer, were again brought up on
remand, charged with being concerned in burglari-
ously entering the dwelling-house, No. 36, New North-
road, and stealing therefrom certain art Hes of the
value of £5; and with attempting to kill and murder
Police-constables David Garner and William Snell, of
the G. Division, by shooting and wounding them; also
with being concerned in shooting and wounding
Police-constable William Chamberlain, 416
Division, at Park-street, Islington, on the 24th-25th
June last.

When Wright was put before the magistrate he
commenced the proceedings by saying, "With your
leave. I'll say a few words to the public," and he
turned in the dock to address them. Sergeant
Connell, the gaoler, and other officers forcibly turned
him round again.
Mr Hannaytold him that at a future time he could
state.anything he wished.
Mr. Poland stated that Garner and Snell were going
on fairly well; but whilst Garner might attend in a
week, Snell would not be able to do so. Therefore
the case in which the injured constables were con-
cerned could not be completed. However, be would
open, and try to finish, another charge against the
prisoners for shooting a constable on the 24th of June
in the north of London. They were on that night
watched by Constables Miller and Chamberlain, and
when closely pursued Wheatley called out " Now's
your time ;' and with that Wright turned round and
shot Chamberlain in the stomach, and escaped. The
constable Chamberlain had recognised the prisoners,
and although the bullet in his stomach had not been
removed, he was progressing satisfactorily, and was
able to give evidence.
William Chamberlain, police-constable 416 N, who
gave his evidence seated, said: On the night of June
24—Tuesday night—l was on duty in Highbury-
crescent with Police-c,anstable Miller. I saw about
ten past eleven a carriage standing, and I spoke to
the coachman. While doing so I saw pass, through
the light of the carriage-lamp, two men on the other
side of the road. It is dark that side, under trees,
and leads into fields. I spoke to Miller, and we went
after the men, I ea the same side and Miller on the
dark side. They crossed the road, 'arid I walked by
their side for 300 or 400 Yards. Those are the two
men (the prisoners). They crossed the road again,
and I followed them to the corner of Paul's-road,
and they went on the dark side of the road. Half
way up the road there is a turning, which is the
corner of Highbury-crescent, and there I left Police-
constable Miller, who had been following. I got
over a fence to get-on Highbury-fields. I did that to
see which way they took, and I s,aw they went
back again towards Highbury-place. I ran back
to Miller and told him, and we went back to
Ilighbury-place, and then, just turning out of
Highbury- crescent, we saw them again. We
followed them to the end of Compton-terrace,
and they turned the road towards Park-street, where
I walked sharp towards Wright. Then they com-
menced to run. I put my whistle to my mouth and
blew it, and ran after them. I got five or six yards
from them, and I heard Wheatley say, " Now's your
time," and I saw Wright pull something from his
pocket. I did not see what it was, but he turned
round at me, and I saw a flash, and felt I was shot. I
was then only about fifteen feet from him. I reeled
and fell down. I felt I was shot in the lower part of
the stomach. I shouted to Miller and just remember
seeing him pass me in the direction in which the
prisoners had continued to run. I know some people
came and put me into a cab. I was taken to the
station and seen by a doctor, and then to St. Bartho-
lomew's Hospital, where I remained an in-patient till
last Tuesday. lam now an out-patient. Last Friday
I came to this court and saw in the yard at the back
of the court, a number of men, about twenty, and
among these was a prisoner whom I identified. lam
sure Wheatley was the man who spoke the words,
" Now's your time," and Wright is the man who fired.
It was about ten past twelve when I was shot.
In reply to Wright, the witness said that there was
no alteration so far as he could observe in their facial
appearance.
Wheatley said he wished to state that when he was
identified in the court-yard he was the only dark man
there, and he was naturally enough picked out.
David Miller, police-constable, corroborated the
evidence of Chamberlain, and said that the prisoners
were followed because Chamberlain said "They are
not two policemen; they are two thieves."
James Wood, ironmonger's porter, recognised
Wright as one of two men he saw on the night of the
24th of June going up Park-street, Islington, followed
by Chamberlain and Miller. The witness when about
five yards from Wright saw him shoot Chamberlain.
Other witnesses also identified Wright as the man
who had fired the shot.
Donald Robinson, warder of Pentonville Prison,
produced a certificate of the conviction for felony of a
man named Robert Boot, who, on the 17th of June,
1878, was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude
and seven years' supervision. The prisoner Wright
was the man who underwent that sentence,- but he
was discharged on leave last March. He also pro-
duced a certificate showing that Wheatley was con-
victed on March 22,1880, for stealing, and sentenced
to five years' penal servitude and five years' police
supervision. The prisoner was on ticket-of-leave,
having been discharged in May last.
Mr. Poland asked for a committal in this case on
the charge of wounding Chamberlain with the intent
to murder.

The prisoner Wright, in a long rambling statement,
attempted to justify his conduct on the plea that he
had been, whilst out on ticket-of-leave, "hunted by
detectives as a fox is hunted by hounds," and could
not get honest work. Whilst at Dartmoor he had
seen such treatment that he would rather be put out
of his misery than go back there, In the case of
Chamberlain he pleaded not guilty.
Wheatley said he did not know anything about tho
Ca. Bo.

Both prisoners were fully committed for trial on
the charge of shooting Chamberlain.

The evidence in connection with the Hoxton
burglary and shooting was then proceeded with, and
several witnesses were examined.
Mr. Charles William Toller, a house-surgeon at St.
Bartholomew's Hospital, said: I was on duty when
the Polim-constable David Garner was brought in. I
examined him, and found that on the left thigh, on
the fleshy part inside, he had a gun-shot wound. He
was bleeding freely. I saw that there was a wound of
exit, so that the bullet had passed right through. He
'is an in-patient there. There was never danger, and
I think he will be able to be here this day week. He
is going on well. I was also at the hospital when the
• constable Snell was brought in. He had also been
shot; the wound was in the stomach just below the
liver. I saw that in his case, too, there was a wound
of exit. The bullet had passed right through the
body, having entered at the stomach and passed out
through the back close to the spine. It was just such
a wound as would be caused by being fired at point
blank with a revolver. The man was very seriously
wounded, and may not be able to attend for at least a
fortnight or three weeks.
Mr. Poland intimated that Garner would be called
on the following week, and Snell later on.
Wright was about to enter upon a fresh statement,
but Mr. Hannay said be would have the fullest
opportunities when the prosecution was entirely
closed; and the prisoner answered, "All right,
sir." .
A remand • for one week was then formally
ordered, and the prisoners were removed back to the
cells. . •
At the close of the day's proceedings Mr. Hannay
informed Mr. Poland that he had received a letter
enclosing a cheque for £l4 from a donor who wished
to be known as "H. T.," requesting that the money
should be divided between the Constables Snell and
Garner.