The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-12 00:00:00

The Brentford magistrates wore occupied for a
considerable time on Saturday in investigating a singular
case, in which Mr. Philip Lugard, a retired surgeon,
residing at Defiance-cottage, Hounslow, was charged
with tiring a gun at Miss Ellen Wiesner, • young lady
living at 3, Hayden-villas, Hounslow (next door to the
accused's house), with intent to do her grievous bodily
harm. From the evidence tendered by !Ins Owner, it
appeared that on Friday afternoon, abut half-past three
&dock, whilst the and another young lady, Miss Lucy
Coles, of 10, Malcolm-villas, Hounslow, were playing to-
gether in the garden adjoining the defendant's, several
stones were hurled over the wall, one of which struck
the complainant, from ,the direction of Mr. Lugard's
house, and that Mr. Lugard made use of abusive
language towards Miss Susaanah Scotney, another
young lady also staying at 3, Hayden-villas. The females
then retired indoors for awhile. Half an hour afterwards,
however, Miss Garner and Mias Coles again went into
the garden for a walk, when they observed Mr. Lugard
peeping through the Venetian Wanda of one of his upper
windows; he then drew up the blinds, threw open the
lower half of the window, pointed a gun at the young
ladies, and fired ; after which he closed the window, and
lot down the blinds. Immediately after the gun was
fired Miss Owner felt that she was wounded on the right
temple, and she bled profusely, and fainted; and her
young companion, with the help of Miss Sootney (who
heard the report of tire-arena, and on looking out saw that
Miss Gamier was shot)), assisted her into the house, and
sent for Dr. Whiarsh, who extracted from the wound
several shots. The evidence of Mies Sootney went to
show that Mr. Lugard had on several occasions threa-
tened to shoot bur, and that she felt herself In fear
of baying sonic grievous bodily harm done to her.
Mr. Lugard, in cross-examining the witnesses, tried to
show that he had been systematically annoyed by the
young ladies and their companions, who had called him a
" nasty, wicked old man," and other irritating appella-
tions: but they all denied having ever vexed or called
him harsh names, or having thrown stones into his
garden. Mr. Lugard, however, asserted that he had been
for a long time subjected to the annoyances of which he
had complained, and said he had been so greatly provoked
that he could stand it no longer, and accordingly de-
termined to frighten the young ladies. The mother of the
young lady who was shot told the bench that Mr. Lugard
had, on the contrary, annoyed and frightened her
daughter and her playmates for some time past, and she
now appealed to the magistrates for protection. Dr.
Cooper, one of the justices, examined Miss Gasmer's
wound, and said it was a merciful and
remarkable thing that her eye had not been shot out.
Mr. Glossop, the chairman of the bench, addressing the
accused, said this was a very serious charge. So far as the
evidence went, which Mr. Lugard had itfit itt all rebutted
or disproved, it was clear that he tired the gun by which
Miss Gassner had been wounded, and by which she might
have lost her eyesight, and even her life. The magis-
trates did not wish to take Mr. Lugard by surprise. but
would give him an opportunity of considering his line of
defence, hut they must remand him in order to obtain the
evidence of Dr. Whitmanh, They must, however, send
Mr. Lugard to the House of Detention. and they con-
sidered that they should not be doing their duty if they
admitted him to bail. Under the circumstances, which
had assumed a very serious complexion, they could net
allow him to go at large. Bail was consequently refused ;
and Mr. Lugard, who appeared greatly surprised at this
decision, was accordingly taken away in the custody of
P police-officer.