The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-25 00:00:00

MARYLEBOIVE.

Yesterday Alfred Stamford, an intelligent well-dressed
youth, fourteen years of age, residing witla his parent,st No.
3, Diana-place, New-road, was brought up in custody and
placed at the bar before the sitting Magistrate, Mr. Shutt,
charged with shooting, at, with a pistol, with intent to kill,
George Scott, a lad about his own age, living at No. 25, St.
Helena-place, Spa-fields.
The prosecutor, on the left side of whose head was a wound
about the size of a crown piece, stated that he worked for Mr.
Belliefield, ornamental presser, New-road. That day, about
two o'clock, he was going along Southampton-street from his
dinner to his employment, when be saw the prisoner in front,
on the same side of the way, and a number of other boys of
whom he (witness) was in the advance running after him.
At the corner of Hertford-street the prisoner turned, and com-
ing up to him said, if he touched him he would shoot him. He
made no reply, and in a moment the prisoner took from
an inside pocket of his jacket a pistol, which he presented at
him and fired, the contents bitting him on the head. He
then ran off, but was pursued and given in charge, as a po-
liceman was coming up. Witness was conveyed to Middle-
sex Hospital, where the wound he had received was dressed.
The prisoner at the time of firing was about three yards
distant, and most of the boys following worked for the same
master as himself. He never saw the prisoner before, and
after firing the pistol he put it back in his pocket and took to
his heels.

After some evidence in support of the charge, the prisoner,
who stood apparently quite unconcerned during the examina-
tion, when called upon for his defence, said, that on the pre-
vious night, about nine o'clock, he went down to the garden-
gate to speak to two of his schoolfellows, whom he found being
pushed about by Ray and other boys. He desired them to
go away, but they would not, and on his proceding with his
companions up the garden, he felt a stone bit him on the back.
He then said to his schoolfellows, " I'll go and put a little
powder in my pistol, and let it off to frighten them." He did
so, but was not aware it caused any injury that afternoon.
While at home from school to his dinner a person came in and
said some boys were waiting for him outside with a piece of
iron to cut his bead open. He then went and got the pistol,
and putting it in his pocket, left the house to go to school.
On reaching Southampton-street he heard a noise behind
him, and, on looking back, saw about eighty boys, and
among them one who carried a piece of iron, about
a yard long, and of some thickness. They called
out to hint to stop, when he began to run, which
they did ; also at the same time throwing stones at
him, one of which hit him on the shoulder. When
he got to the corner of Hertford-street he pulled out the pistol
and said if they came any further he would shoot them. They
then said " You're not going to frighten us as you did last
night." He then fired the pistol, which hit Scott, whom he
had passed, and was a little a-head of. He never saw Scott
before, and could state that he bad nothing to do with his tor-
mentors. After firing be did not see he had hurt any one, and
ran away. What had that day occurred was on his part quite
unintentional.
The prisoner was committed for trial.

On Thursday, Charles Reed, a gentleman's servant, was
summoned before the Magistrates, at the instance of the So-
ciety for Preventing Cruelty to Animals, charged with shame-
ful treatment to a donkey. The defendant, who said that he
accidentally " touched the animal on the raw," was, after a
severe lecture on his cruelty, fined twenty shillings and costs.