The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-01-30 00:00:00

THE EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT ID

MURDER A FAMILY.

At the Manchester County Sessions on Tuesday, a
young man 'lamed Benjamin Johnson, 21 3ear s of
age, schoolma,ter, living with his parents at Moss-
field, Fliston, was Owed in the dock .chargei with
attempting to murder his father, mother, and brother
by shooting at them with a revolver. The case has
been remanded on several occasions owing to Mrs.
Johnson being unable to attend the court. The pri-
soner was up to a week before Whit-week of 1885
engaged as a schoolmaster at Hamer-street Schools,
Huluie, Manchester. In November last his father
did not think he was in a fit condition to
attend to his duties, and he therefore kept
him at home. Mr. Johnson, senior, came
home to his breakfast one morning about eight
o'clock, and eat down at the kitchen table with his
wife and his son James. The prisoner came out of
the scullery, and went upstairs returning in the course
of a few minutes. He then walked to the kitchen
door, turned round and presented a revolver at the
family. He fired, and the first shot struck the father
in the left hip. The
prisoner again fired, this shot
wounding his father h the right shoulder. A third
shot wounded the mother. Mr. Johnson rushed at
him, and with the assistance of a young woman,
wrested the revolver out of his hand. The prisoner
then drew a razor out of his pocket, and attempted
to cut his throat, but he was prevented from inflict-
ing any injury upon himself. The evidence having
been completed, the prisoner said it was his father
that first struggled with him after he had fired the
three shots. He could not understand from his4isosi-
tiou and the position his father was sitting in how it
was the bullet did not penetrate. He also could not
understand how it was his brother was not injured.
If the shot struck them at all they must have pene-
trated. The prisoner was committed for trial to the
Present assizes.

tion.
" Jan. 26.

STOUBBRIDGZ OIiERVEIt

The following is the reply sent by Mr. Gladstone to
a telegram which he received on Tuesday morning
from the Demarch of Athens: .
"To the Demarch of Athens,—l hare had thei

honour to receive your appeal, and I now answer it
as one profoundly anxious for the welfare of the
Hellenic race as well as for the peace of the East.
Considering the authority which attaches to the
action of the Powers, both on general grounds and
by reason of the intervention in the formation of
the Greek Kingdom, and at various periods in the
concerns of the Ottoman Empire, and especially of
the Balkan Peninsula, I earnestly hope that Greece
will pause before placing herself on this occasion in
conflict with their deliberate and united recommenda-

"W. E. GLADSTONE. 7"

The following is a translation of the telegram which
Mr. Gladstone received from the Demarch :
"The people of Athens, filled with gratitnde to you
and of confidence in the nohle sentiments which have
always led you to defend the liberties of nations,
place in your hands the Hellenic cause, in the firm
hope that it will find in you a generous defender."

The Central News says that further instructions
were telegraphed on Tuesday afternoon to Admiral
Lord John Hay ordering him to proceed with
the vessels under his command to the Piraeus
with the least possible delay, and that it is under-
stood that the warships of other Powers will co-operate
in any demonstration that may be necessary. The Porte
has notified that any demonstration by Greek men-
of-war against Turkish forts or ships would be con-
sidered a caltsus beEi, and Admiral Hay's squadron
will therefore endeavour to blockade the Greek
squadron wherever it may be found.
Her Majesty's ship Cruiser, Commander H. t.
Hughes Hallett, which arrived at Suda Bay, Crete,
on Monday, has been ordered by Admiral Lord John
Hay, Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, to
return to Malta immediately.