The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-12 00:00:00

DANGEROUS PRACTICE WITH A
REVOLVER.

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At the Lambeth Police-court, a young man named
Cook, living with his father in Walworth-road, has
appeared to a summons taken out at the instance of
Inspector Porter, of the P division, for having on
Aug. 26 unlawfully and wantonly discharged a re-
volver in a thoroughfare to the common danger of
passengers therein, and did thereby cause damage to
property. The ease was somewhat peculiar from the
fact that the iveapon was not discharged in the public
street or thoroughfare, but in a garden. Mr. Chance,
however, consented to grant the summons in order to
consider the point. Police constable 11 P stated that
he received information of a pane of glass being
broken at 2, Wansey-street, Walworth-road. On
going there he found a pane of glass in which was a
small hole, and was shown the bullet produced. At
another house in the same direction he found two
windows broken, and a shutter and plaster on a wall
damaged. He found another bullet (produced) with
plaster adhering to it. Witness afterwards went to
the house where defendant lived, and saw him. The
defendant admitted that he had been practising with
a revolver in the back yard, firing at a target fixed oil
the garden gate, which was about 8f t. high. This was
just in the direction of the houses where the bullets
had been found. The bullets, to reach these houses,
must have passed over the thoroughfare known as
Larcom-street. Witness pointed out to the defendant
the great danger there was in practising in such a
manner' and also called his attention to some holes
through the gate. A person passing at the time
the revolver was fired might have been
shot. Mrs. Terry residing at the house of
Dr. Burt, stated that two windows were
smashed there, and afterwards she found the bullet
produced. She heard firing at the time. George
Fielding, 2, Wansey-street, stated that he was assist-
ing a lodger in removing when she showed him a
bullet she had just then picked up. This was on the
Wednesday. The bullet came through a window of
the conservatory, and evidently from the direction of
where the defendant lived. The bullet was hot when
picked up. Mr. Chance said it was quite time such a
dangerous practice should be stopped. It had been
thought that the firing taking place from the garden
would not make it an offence under the Police Act.
He, however, believed the Act was fully intended to
meet a case like the present especially as the bullets
had passed over a public thoroughfare. It was
monstrous for persons to so recklessly use firearms,
and it was a mercy in this case someone was not killed
or severely injured. The defendant had narrowly
escaped beingbrought before him upon a charge of man-
slaughter. There had been several cases of this kind,
and it was not very long ago when a young man
practising in his back garden at Penge with a rifle
shot through a window another young man sitting in
a drawing-room and killed him. The defendant said
the reason the revolver was in the house was that
burglars had been there. He extremely regretted
what he had done. it was done without a thought
of danger or wrong. Mr. Chance said he quits
believed that, and he hoped the matter would be re-
membered by the defendant. The defendant said it
certainly would, and it would not be repeated. Mr.
Chance agreed to accept the surety of the father in
£lO for the good conduit ,-)f the son, and ordered
whatever damage had be done to be paid. The
father of the defendant at ~nce agreed to do this.

EMBARRAOSING.—First Passenger (referring to hit
wife): "She's obliged to give a bit of a lurcn every novt
andthen." Second Passenger (speaking of the ship)
" Yes ; we've been remarking she seems a bit frisky
especially when she meets a swell."