The Express.
London, England, 1860-11-09 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER AT LEEDS.

The encaternent and horror occasioned by the
recent attempted murder in his own home of Mr. Lupton,
at Arniley-ball, near Leeds, have scarcely passed away, be-
fore another ontrage, squally atrocious, haa been perpetrated
in Leeds. In thin instance, the person attacke dis Joseph
Parkin, an old roan upwards of 60 years of age, residing in
Chadwick-street, Hunalet lane, and the circumstances under
which the attempt to Like his life was made are shortly
these —Parkin is the foreman at the twine and thread ma-
nufactory of Messrs. Inalgsoa and Co., Globe Flan Will,
Hunsletlesd, in whose employ he has been for many yeas.
About three months ago the firm rewired into their service
• youth named David Cockcroft, aged aim:deem, who resides
in Riehardson's.buildinp, quarry-hill, his dirty being to
carry bobbins from one room to another, and otherwise to
assist in the operations of the manufactory.Coakmelt, it
appean, had then only just arrived from America, whither
be had been sent from the Adel Reformatory (in which
institution he had been confined, and also in the Bed
Hill School, as • juvenile offender)._ He sailed for
America with another boy, on the 29th of June, 181 M,
employment having been obtaided for him by the managers
of the reformatory, at Mount Hebron Cemetery, near
(snobs°, under the direction of Mr. Waters. Here he re-
maned for about twelve months, and then returned to Eng-
land. as we have already stated, about three months ago.
Since be has been in the employment of the Messrs.
, Cockcroft appears to have condueted himself,
tiDiVrcrlithin the last day or two, without soy lisgrant
violation of propriety. On Monday, howrner, Park's' called
him into the ot6ee and gave him • sirieg with whack he
instructed him to purchase some beer. Coakt did as he
was directed, obtained the liquor, returned to his work, and
oostinued at the mill until the usual hour far closing. /text
' Partin discovered that Is. 2d. bad bee. stolen out
of the ma from which, on the previous day, the shilling
for the beer was taken, and suspensor Cockcroft of the dis-
honesty, be amused him of having stolen the matey. Cock
croft denied that linhad done so, Parkin repeated the sharp,
and a somewhat envy altercation ensued, the result being
that the latter paid Cockcroft ss. 5d., the amount of wages
to which he was entitled up to that time, and at ones per-
emptorily discharged him. Cockcroft accepted the money
and left the premier, but as he was walJong away he was
beard by John Mann, an overlooks, at the to threaten
Parkin. No notice was taken of the threat, however, and
It was attributed to the angry sad excited feelings under
white he yes &thornier
On Wednesday 'riming, shortly before seven o'clock, Par-
kin left the shop Cl Mr. Do4son, Leeds-
bridge, tad pro'
seeded homewards. His house is situated in a somewhat
dirk and lovely neighbourhood, and he was just approaching
the door when be was shot from behind, the charge entering
his neck • little to the right of the vertebrae.. A man named
John Dena, who wee_ pether at the time, observed the act,
and pursued the would-be assassin, whom he overtook mar
tits workout Ile n. Bray and Waddington, Clown Point-
his• A shawls mimed, and the man was well nigh aisle(
mums, when, most fortunately, DstesMninSear Byres
arrived, sod sueosided in detaining him. Byrne at once
recernimill him as Cockcroft, whom he had previously known.
He searched him, and found in his poseamices • pistol
which had been recently discharged, and on the nipple Cl
whites partite Cl the rap still adhered, *powder-auk caw
Mining powder and • quantity of shot and Informa-
tion was fromedistely despatched to tho and
Mr. English, the chief constable, te the Once
and having taken Cockcroft f y into custody as tin
charge, conveyed him to the town-hall. The prisoner was
of course fully acquainted with the habits of Parkin,
and the 000lnees and deliberation with which he acted is
by the fact that he was seen for some time last night
passed
loitering about the neighbourhood, evidently prepared for
sad determined to revenge his supposed grievaace. Medi-
cal assistance was obtained as moo as possible for Parkin,
and it was ascertained that be had recurred • wound in the
sack • little to the right, the sine of which corresponded
with the diameter of the pistol found in the prisoner's
posmaskm Had the wound been rather more to the centre
nisei hare proved fatal.