The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

TEE 5171'4, LONDON, TIJESDA APRIL 5, 1864.

Experiments at Shoeburyness,

The long expected contest between the Whitworth
and Armstrong systems of artillery commenced yes-.
terday afternoon at Shoeburyness in the presence of
most of the members of the Select Ordnance Com-
mittee and a large number of noblemen and gentle-
men interested in the subject.
Sir William Armstrong is represented by three
12 pounder breechloaders and three muzzle-loading
shunt guns of the same calibre, and Mr. Whitworth
by three muzzle-loaders of the same size. These nine
guns are already on the ground, and three 70 poun-
der Armstrong breech-loaders, and three 70 pounder
Whitworth muzzle-loaders are on their way from
Woolwich to Shoebury.
The details of the trial are kept secret at present,
but it is pretty well known that a minimum of 3,000
rounds will be fired from each gun. The contest will
extend over a period of two or three months, if not
more. At first sight this seems to be an unneces-
sary expenditure of time and money, but the com-
mittee are desirous of testing these arms to their
very utmost capacity, at every range, with every
variety of projectile and against every kind of de-
fence. They will also be tested with reference to the
quickness with which they can be charged and fired.
After the 3,000 rounds have been fired, it is believed
that the guns will be subjected to a series of proofs
with gradually increasing charges of powder.
The trial commenced yesterday with one each
of the three descriptions of 12 pounders. Seven
rounds of solid shot, three of dead segmental shells,
and five of dead common shells were fired point
blank, to test the exact range of each gun. Six
rounds of solid shell were then fired at 1 degree of
elevation, and the contest was prematurely stopped
by a violent storm of rain and wind, which swept
across the marshes from the south-west. Up:to the
last three or four rounds the weather had been most
balmy and spring-like, there being hardly a breath
of wind stirring to interfere with the practice.
As so much work has to be gone through, it will
hardly be possible to get even a glimpse of the re-
sults of this most important and interesting contest
before at least seven or eight weeks have elapsed.
The results of the more interesting experiments
will be given from time to time, but it must be re-
membered that they will only form units in the
figure of merit that is to decide the contest.
Since last the Whitworth 12-pounders were tried
at Shoebury Mr. Whitworth has strengthened them
with an extra coil at the breech, making them
nearly 20 per cent. heavier than the Armstrongs of
corresponding calibre, which weigh rather more
than Bcwt. He also, at the suggestion of the Ord-
nance Committee, opened a vent through the top of
the breech as well as through the caseable, the
method of firing the gun through the °seeable vent
being thought dangerous to the gunners. The gun
tried yesterday was fired through the breech vent,
but the caseable vent can be easily unplugged and
used, if necessary, as the danger incurred from the
flying pieces is obviated by the vent being pro-
tected by a tube attached to the caseable.

Extraordinary Outrage on a Liverpool

Surgeon.

Oa Saturday night an outrage unprecedented in
its impudence and atrocity was commited upon Mr.
William Palmer Rowe, surgeon, Pembroke-place,
Liverpool. The facts of the case appear to be these :
Mr. Rowe some time ago corresponded with
a Miss Beaty, who afterwards married Mr.
James Brice, of the firm of Brice and Com-
merce, of Liverpool. The correspondence took
place prior to her marriage, but Brice appears
to have supposed they were still in commu-
nication, and to have taken summary action in
the matter. O❑ Saturday night, a few minutes
before 8 o'clock, two gentlemen, afterwards found to
be James Brice and James Scott, an Irish farmer,
called at Mr. Rowe's house, and asked to see Mr.
Rowe. They were shown into a front room, and
Mr. Rowe shortly joined them, and the door was
closed. Shortly afterwards cries of " Murder" were
heard by the ostler in the yard, and Mr. Rowe's
assistant heard his master say, "How dare you do
this in my house ?" Supposing something was wrong
he rau tout, without lufuriniug the family, and
brought in a policeman, who was accompanied by
Inspector Crawley. The inspector heard the cries
of " Murder," and was about to enter the room,
when Mr. Rowe's mother and sister desired him not
to do so, as they believed that Dr. Rowe was per-
forming an operation. He accordingly delayed a
short time; but as the cries continued, he at last
knocked at the door, and was about to force it, when
it was opened by Scott ; and on entering they found
Brice and Scott in the room, and Mr. Rowe lying on
the floor, bleeding profusely from the mouth and
nose, and quite insensible. Brice and Scott were
given into custody on a charge of assault and at-
tempted robbery, and they were taken to the main
bridewell, where they were released on bail. In
the meantime medical assistance was called in. Drs.
Pennington, Barnes, and Parker examined Mr.
Rowe, and found his injuries is) be much more seri-
ous than was at first supposed. In short, they
considered him to be in an imminently dangerous
state. There had been excessive strangulation, the
lungs were gorged with blood, and the heart much
oppressed. The breathing was very difficult, there
being thirty respirations a minute. On a more care-
ful examination it was found that the inner bone of
the left ancle was broken, and that the ancle was also
dislocated. The medical gentlemen recommended
that the injured man's deposition should be taken.
This was accordingly done by superintendent Ryde,
Mr. Superintendent Boyd being present. The
attendance of a magistrate was not deemed neces-
sary for this purpose. The nature of this deposition
was such that it was thought desirable to have the
men re-apprehended ; and they, being met in a cab
in the street, accompanied by Brice's father-in-law,
Mr. Beaty, were brought back again to main bride-
well, where they are now in custody, and will be
brought up before Mr. Riffles this morning. The
particulars of what took place in the room appear
to be, so far as can be ascertained, as follows :—On
Mr. Rowe entering the room both gentlemen ap-
peared unknown to him, though he afterwards
thought he had seen Brice before. Mr. Brice an-
nounced himselt; the other man was not named.
Mr. Brice demanded certain letters and a locket from
Mr. Rowe. Mr. Rowe refused to give them up.
Thereupon Scott walked to the door of the room,
bolted it, and in turning round drew from his sleeve
a riding whip, which was afterwards found to be
heavily loaded, and said, " I will now do what we
do in Ireland." He advanced towards Mr. Rowe,
flourishing it, whereupon Mr. Rowe stepped back
and took up the fire shovel. Brice immediately
took up the poker, and together they closed upon
Mr. Rowe; Scott seized him by the handkerchief
and thrust him into a low chair, placing his other
band over his mouth and his knee upon his chest.
The violence then used was so great that blood
gushed from his mouth ; Brice, meanwhile, held
his legs. Mr. Rowe, however, being a strong man,
partly reef vered himself, and seizing the poker
which Brice had dropped, struck Scott on the fore-
head and rushed to the other side of the room,
Scott again closed with him and kicked him on the
leg, and broke it. He fell to the floor, and Brice
then called out, " Now, use the whip; lay on him
well." Mr. Rowe, in the meantime, cried " Mur-
der" several times, but the blows now received made
him insensible. The prisoners then appear to have
removed his watch in searching for the locket, when
they were disturbed by the police inspector.
The accused were brought up at the Liverpooi
Police-court yesterday (Monday).
The only evidence offered was that of Dr. Parker,
who said that Dr. Rowe was in a most dangerous
and critical condition, and could not of course ap-
pear. Mr. Cobb, who appeared for the defence,
applied for two other medical men to see Dr. Rowe,
but Mr. Raffles said he could not interfere. e Bail
was also refused, and the prisoners were remanded
for seven days.

Great sympathy is felt in Liverpool for Dr. Rowe,
who is a most popular and rising surgeon, and
whose recovery is exceedingly problematical.

Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against
imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release
from all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application
to Messrs. Marshall, solie tors of the Court of Bankruptcy.
Charees under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices—
(established 1830), 12, Hatton-garden. City branch---6, Moor-
gate-street, Bank.—.inti•T.