The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-11 00:00:00

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SHOOTING AFFRAY IN NEW YORK.

representations on the part of Leon to break their
contract with Sharpley, and to sign articles of agree-
ment to appear at Kelly and Leon's establishment.
Had those clog dancers acted in good faith
towards Mr. Sharpley, and fulfilled the conditions of
their contract with that manager, the unfortunate
occurrence— which has resulted in the death of one
person, and the wounding of others, and plunging
several families into the deepest distress--would have
been avoided. The non-fulfilment of a bona
,fide con-
tract on the part of the two dancers has led to a
terrible tragedy. Sharpley felt nettled at the &had,
dealing of these men, and, when told that Kel y
and Leon had instigated them to it, he naturally
became embittered against them, and this feeling
was not lessened when he was told that Leon hail
given publicity to the report that he (Sharpley) widf
bankrupt, or that his property was mortgaged,
Smarting under the pain caused by such reports, he
determined, as soon as the opportunity offered, to !
have an interview with Leon, and make him retract '
the words imputed to him. This opportunity did not
offer until Wednesday, December 11, when Messrs.
Sharpley and Kelly and Leon attended at a matinje
of the Fifty Avenue Opera House. At the close i
of the entertainment, and as the audience was !
passing out, Sharpley and Leon met on the
sidewalk, whereupon the former charged Leon
with having put false repirts into circulation; Leon
denied that he had done so ; Kelly, observing
the threatening attitude assumed by Sharpley, inter-
posed in-behalf of his partner, who is quite a delicate
young man. At this juncture, Thomas Sharpley,
Sam's brother, appeared on the scene, and at once the
parties became engaged in a fight, Sam making short
work of Leon, and Tom worsting Kelly in the fist
fight, when the latter, drawing a revolver from one of
his pockets, fired at Thomas Sharpley with deadly
effect, the first shot pr iliably taking effect in a vital :
part, as Sharpley immediately fell, and as belay dying
and helpless, the infuriated Kelly fired again at his
victim, who died almost instantly. In the meantime
Sam Sharpley—who had been in pursuit of Leon, :
who fled at the first note of danger—hearing
the reports from the revolver, turned, and be-
held his brother down, with Kelly still firing at the
prostrate man. Sam immediately drew a revolver and
fired at Kelly, the ball taking effect in the latter's
head, producing a painful, if not dangenium wound.
He Was about to fire a second time at Kelly, when his
arm was arrested by a policeman, and the ball wounded
Sam in one of his fingers. All this took place within
a few minutes, and while the street was filled with
men, women, and children. Kelly Wal afterwards ad-
mitted to bail in the SUM of 5,000 dols., to await the
action of the grand jury in January.

BRAWLING IN A LONDON CHURCH.
Mr. Charles Pembridge Langeton, who was stated
to be resident at Dalston, and therefore could not
claim to be an "aggrieved parishioner," has been
summoned before the Lord Mayor of London, for
" violent and indecent behaviour" in the panel, church
of St. Ethelburga, Bishopsgate, during Divine service,
on the 29th of December, by which he "molested,
disturbed, and vexed" the Rev. J. M. Rodvvell, the
rector, and the preacher on that occasion.
The case was proved by the testimony of the rector,
who said that the behaviour of the accused was so
scandalous and embarrassing that at the time the Ten
Commandments were repeated " he actually frightened
the fifth commandment out of the rev, gentleman's
head, who did not repeat it at all." At other parts of
the service, and during the sermon, his conduct was
grossly irreverent and disgusting. Evidence was 81140
given of similar indecorous conduct at St. Matthias
Church, Stoke Newington, on the part of the de.
fendant, who appears to have adopted this mode of
showing his contempt for ritualistic development. „
The Lord Mayor (who is a Dissenter, and could not,
therefore, be suspected of any special leanings towards
high ritual) sentenced the accused to a month:s
imprisonment, and to pay the costs of complainant
Eventually, on being appealed to for the sake of
defendant's wife and children, the appeal being warmly
seconded by Mr. Sleigh for Mr. B'.odwell, the Lord
Mayor reduced the sentence to a fine of £5., and in ss.
costs. The defendant then paid the money and
departed.