The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-21 00:00:00

NISI PRIIIS COURT.

Pierre Adolphus Augustine Selire was indicted for
having feloniously discharged a loaded pistol at Emma
Hillyer, at Plymouth, on the 12th of December last, with
intent to kill and murder her. There were other counts
in the indictment varying the charge.
Mr. H. T. Cole was counsel for the prosecution ; Mr.
Cox defended the prisoner.
This was a very extraordinary case, It appeared that
the prisoner, who was a fine, sailor-looking young man,
was a native of Jersey, the owner of several vessels trad-
ing from Jersey to Plymouth, one of which he com-
manded himself, called the Medora. In November last
he happened to be at Plymouth with his vessel, and
became acquainted with Mrs. Hillyer, the mother of the
girl he was charged with attempting to murder. Hear-
ing that she had a pretty daughter living with her uncle
and aunt at Devonport, he asked the mother to intro-
duce him to her, and accordingly on the 24th of Novem-
ber he went to Devonport with the mother, and called at
the uncle's, and they took the girl out for a walk. She
is a very pretty interesting girl of between 17 and 18,
and she gave her evidence with great propriety. During
the walk the prisoner appeared to be much pleased with
her, and before she returned home asked her if she should
like him for a husband. She said she thought she should.
He then said he would marry her on the following Tues-
day, and gave her his gold watch and chain, saying it
should be a pledge for the performance of his promise,
and that if he did not marry her it was to be forfeited.
On the Monday he made an excuse for not marrying her
the next day, saying he could not complete some busi-
ness which he had. All went on harmoniously till the
11th of December, when the prisoner called on the
mother of the girl and said he would be married on the
next Sunday ; that he had taken lodgings for them, and
bought the ring, and wished the girl to go out with him
and get the licence. The mother assented, and they
went out together. While out he made an excuse
to go into an ironmonger's shop for some article,
leaving the girl outside, but it afterwards appeared
that he there bought a brace of pistols for 31., and gun-
powder, caps, and balls. He then took the girl to see the
lodgings. She sat down on a sofa, but perceiving that
the prisoner was endeavouring to take the key from the
Outside of the door she thought he meant to lock the door
and take liberties with her, and became alarmed and
madethere
her escape and went home. The prisoner came
also, and in the evening they all went, as had been
her mother sleepin,,
ranged, to the prisoner's lodgings, the girl and
next day they weTntheoount
before arranged,
.af sofa-bed
a wltlkin
andtl r
ept
na rrinoeudr. .
in Thetlie
evening to tea.
their being out without
tsorr seemed. rather annoyed at
um, but nothing particular
passed. While tea was
Mrs. Hillyer to fetch himiaireparing the prisoner asked
Wag absent he said, " pi,,nmar w ill of beer, and while siT
She said she should not go out jioaut tnaikg.het ;
a I walk 9(i '
" Wont you ?" She replied, " No." He then ,
am not ashamed to look at you ;"to which she re lied,
"Nor ani I ashamed to look at you." He then said,
" One for you and one for me—one in each hand." He
then raised his hand, in which was a pistol, and levelled
it straight at her head, and fired. Ile was at this time
.The ball of the •
about 6 feet from pistol passed
just over her head and lodged in the shutter behind her.
The girl, dreadfully alarmed, ran out of the room,
screaming, and just as she went out she heard another
then made his
The prisoner escape,
pistol discharged.
or four days after, when
and was not seen again.till three