The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-04 00:00:00

A BOY KILLED AT A RIFLE RANGE.

At the Hammersmith Police-court yesterday,
Charles Lovejoy and Edward Allen, boys about 14 years
of age, were placed in the dock on a charge of causing
the death of another boy, name unknown, by shooting him
in the head. _ _ _

Sergeant George Lloyd, of the 36th Middlesex Rifle
Volunteers, said about 12 o'clock that day he was at tho
range upon Wormwood Scrubs shooting with a number
of other members of the corps. He gave his rifle, which
was loaded with ball but not capped, to the prisoner Allen,
for the purpose of taking care of it until he had finished,
shooting, as he was using another rifle. When ho gave
him the rifle he told him it was loaded.

.... „_
In reply to the magistrate, the witness said he did not
see the boy shot.
Mr. R. H. Bristow /Mullen, solicitor, residing in Ken-
sington-gardens-square, said he was a private in the 36th
iment. He was in the same range of firing, but in a
different part of the squad, to the last witness. He saw
the prisoners lying down, and the rifle between them.
Allen placed a cap on the nipple, and said something to
Lovejoy. He heard the word "fire" used, and ho
believed Allen said, "You dare not tire it off." Imme-
diately afterwards the pm went off. At that time Love-
joy's finger was upon the trigger, and he had raised the
rifle between three and four inches from the ground. On
turning round to the front he saw blood flowing from the
ear of the deceased, and he called out, "Good graciou
the boy is shot !" The boy was lying upon the pound
between three and four yards off, and the gun was pointed
towards him. The witness added that the deceased never
moved, and death must have been instantaneous. Allen
ran away, but Lovejoy remained, and said he did not put
the cap upon the riffe.
Allen—l put the cap on.
Mr. Ingham—So I understand.
Lovoy—l did not know the gun was loaded.
Mr. M'Mnllen further said that while he was firing
Lovejoy told him that it was loaded. The deceased was
removed to the pavilion.
Mr. Ingham inquired whether any surgeon was present
to give evidence.
The Adjutant of the 36th replied in the negative, and
said the boy was quite dead, his head having been nearly
blown off. . _

Mr. Ingham said he must have the attendance of a
surgeon, as he could not deal with the case. He would,
however, take bail for the boys' appearance, it being •
thoughtless act on their part.
Sergeant Urbin, of the X division, informed the magis-
trate that the name of the deceased was not known, bit
he lived in the Potteries. His brother was with him at
the time of the occurrence, but he ran away. ,
The prisoners were then remanded.
From subsequent information it transpired that the
name of the lad who was killed was Charles Cutler,
whose parents live at 14, Commerce-place, Portobello-
lane.

TEE CATTLE AND TILE DROUGHT.—Tho effect
of the drought upon our cattle trade is becoming serious.
According to an agricultural contemporary the present
season has been a most unfortunate one for the breeders
of live stock. The great heat has caused a heavy defi-
ciency in the supply of water, while the failure of grass
and of the green crops has almost prevented animals from
being kept in condition at all. The scorched state of the
country has caused great difficulty to breeders and gra-
ziers, the result of which has been that the stock has been
forced to market in a premature and half-fat condition.
Very large numbers of sheep have been on sale, having
been forced to market in consequence of the want of pas-
ture and water. The quality of most breeds has been in-
ferior. The large quantities of stock now being forced to
market in consequence of the protracted drought will
have a serious effect upon our future supply of food, and
serious apprehensions are beginning to be expressed on
the subject. The bay crop has turned out a failure, and
the turnips, mangolds, &c., show very little prospects of
any remunerative return. The supply of animal food for
the winter is, therefore, likely to be only moderate.
GENTLEMEN,—The benefits I have received front
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1848. Constantly travelling amid heat and dust, the toil,
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Bat in every instance I found the Pain Killer a Dove-
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Fey. D. T. TAYLOR. jun.-- To Perry Davis and Son, 17,
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