The Express.
London, England, 1860-05-01 00:00:00

MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A MAIL DRIVER.

Considerable sensation was caused in Rochford,
and also in Rayleigh, on the morning of Thursday last, the
26th ult., from its being stated that Mr. Chapman, the
landlord of the King's Head Inn, and contractor of the
mail, had been fired at on his return journey from Inpte.
atone. It appears that on the mail cart reaching Rayleigh
about balf.past 1 in the morning, it being very dark, in a
narrow part of the road, near Mr. Grout's farm, a gun was
fired from a field by the road side, and the horse at the
same moment suddenly stopped, turned round and backed
illl.O the ditch,when a second discharge from a gun was fired,
apparently close to the driver. Mr. Chapman jumped out to
the horse's head, when the animal immediately sprang for-
ward, drew the nut out of the ditch, and started. Mr. C.
was fortunately enabled to get in again and . proceed on his
journey, and reported the matter to the police at Rayleigh,
On arriving at Rochford he delivered his begs, and met
Mr. Akers, inspector of police of that town, in the street.
Mr. Akers immediately drove to the spot, accompanied by
Mr. Chapman. On arriving there, they found two
ropes, or a rope tied twice, one part of which was waggon
broken,
and the other on the ground, auependeil to elm trees on
each side of the road. Mr. Akers took pyres of it ;
&IA also found some brown paper w riding from a gun.
Suspecting a party at Rayleigh, Inspector Akers proceeded
there, and took possessing of the man's shoes, which, on
comparing them afterwards in a field next the spot, were
foetal to correspond with the footprints, The man's name
is John Philbrook, who WIN formerly driver of the mail, but
was discharged some time ago by Mr. Chapman. He 'nes
been apprehended. The police obtained a clue to • gun
having been lent to a young man, William Britton, a
carrier, who lives with bis mother, at Rayleigh. They
marched her premiliee on Saturday, when • gun was found
concealed in se out-house, under some hay and straw, and
on searching further a powder-flask was found. The ramrod
of the gen was • homemade one, and on comparing the end
of the ease with the wadding, it fitted exactly. This man
has also been apprehended. On examining the cart, on the
aide of the panel, st under where Mr. Chapman sat, there
was food • considerable quantity of shot, some of which
Csthrough the curt and lodged in the opposite side.
Iliorse Mr. Chapman was driving was a very fast one,
travelling at the rate of twelve miles an hour ; from the
impetus caused by the speed at which it was going, and
from the collar striking one of the ropes, it broke it. ne
prisoners were taken before the Rev. W. Twyne, at Ray-
leigh, and remanded till to-day (Tuesday). The poet-oflioe
authorities despatched Sergeant Robinson, a detective offi-
cer, from Scutland.yard, to assist Sergeant Akers. It is
very seldom Mr. Chapman drives himself, and this renders
it evident that the attack was planned.—isser Herald.

Cnian TO THE Big. —The undermentioned gen-
tlemen were yesterday called to the degree of &Meier-at-
law by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's-ins, via :
Henry Wynne Seymour Smith, Es q., 8.A., Cambridge ; I COURT OF COMMON PLlCA£4.—Antn.3o.
Edmund Hsvilaad Burke, Eeq. • Hugh Charles Peur"id• tins in Banco.—(Bstors Lord Chief Justice Erie, and
Esliellf. A., Cambridge ; Charles Baron Clarke, 8.A., Cam- 1
Justices Byles and Keating.)
bri ; Frederick Collins Wilson, Esq.. 8.A., Cambridge ;
William Latham, Esq., 8.A., Cambridge; James Curtis BOMAR r. SOULET—LIABILITIES Or LODGING-HOUSE
Leman, Fag., 8.A., Cambridge ; Lewis Price Delves i ILIEFFIES.
Broughton, Esq. RA., Cambridge ; William Coryndon The question miser,' in this CISoi was, 1,414 1/1111 the lia-
Gurney, Esq., ICA., Cambridge; and Henry Langley, Esq., bility of lodging-hoax, keepers in referenon to the property
M.A., Oxford, of persons to whom they let lodgings; and the question was