The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-31 00:00:00

[LEFT SPEAKING.]

ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A
JEALOUS HUSBAND.
Early on Monday morning one of the most delibe-
rate attempts to commit murder that has for a long
time come under our notice, was made in the borough
of Salford, by a young married man named John
Burton ; the motive assigned for the atrocious act,
which sprang from jealousy, being a wish to inflict
summary vengeance on the seducer of his wife.
Burton is the keeper of a small confectioner's shop on
the Salford side of Victoria-bridge, and has been mar-
ried between three and four years, his wife being about
his own age (SO years). They have only one child,
a little girl nearly three years of age. For some con-
siderable time past Burton and' his wife have been on
terms of intimacy and friendship with a young man
named Giles Hardman, a weaver, who resides in
Booth-street, Chapel-street, Salford, who is a
widower, having (as we are told) buried his wife
some months ago. Latterly rumours haie reached
the ears of Burton that his wife and Hardman
were too friendly, to which, however, he for a
long time appears to have refused credence—
no doubt, thinking such reports arose from
the fact which he seems to have known—namely,
that Hardman and she were sweethearts before their
respective marriages. We may add also that he is
said to have been doatingly fond of his wife and child,
and hence he would be reluctant to believe her guilty.
Unhappily for him, however, he was visited at his
house in Cabel-street, Gravel-lane, on Friday
evening, by a male acquaintance of his, named
Connor, who told him he could furnish him with
damning proofs of his wife's guilt, as he (Connor)
had that night tracked her to a place where she had
an assignation with Hardmae, and where he wit-
nessed sufficient to confirm the rumours in existence.
The effect of this intelligence upon the mind of the
wretched husband was most harrowing, and appears
to have filled him with the diabolical intention of
killing his wife's seducer, for on the day following
(Satureay) he purchased a pistol, balls, and powder,
for the purpose of blowing out the man's brains.
Early on Monday morning he went to Hardman's
house about hall past six o'clock, and knocking
at the door asked the man's mother if her son
Giles was in. " Yes," she replied, "heis up stairs in
bed ;" on which he went up stairs to see him, salut-
ing his intended victim as he entered the bed-room,
by calling out his name. Hardman, on hearing his
voice, exclaimed, " Hulloa, Jack, is that thee 1'
to which Burton replied by stepping forward into the
room, closing the room door carefully after him, and
feeling if he could fasten it inside, as though he had
come to communicate something of importance.
He then pulled off his coat, or jacket, and
took from the pocket the pistol which he had
bought on the Saturday, as above-mentioned, and
presenting it directly at Hardman's head pulled the
trigger. Providentially the priming flashed off in
the pan, and the murderous weapon missed fire,
affording time to Hardman to spring on his assailant,
and to wrest it out of his hand. The struggle was a
short one, as Burton made scarcely any resistance,
but yielding his weapon with a melancholy sigh,
said, " I am sorry it missed, but I have got
another will do the job I intended." After
Hardman had obtained the pistol, he said, "Now,
Jack, I will forgive thee, and say nothing about
it, if thou will promise never to do such a thing
again ;" but the only reply he could elicit from
Burton was a determined threat to take his life, sooner
or later. Finding him so bent on murder, Hardman
raised an outcry for a policeman, when police• con-
stable Hill was soon fetched to the place, and was
informed of the attempt Burton had made, on which
he took him into custody. The unhappy man
again expressed his regret that the pistol had missed
fire, desiring the constable to take him away at once,
and said he was quite prepared for the worst. When
asked what could have induced him to make such au
attempt, he never offered to deny ; but told 0:e officer
he would find a further supp!y of powder and balls in
a drawer, inside his shop. After taking him to the
Town-hall, and delivering up the pistol to the
chief constable, Mr. Neal, the officer, proceeded to
the shop of the prisoner (the key of which Burton
had given him out of his pocket), for the purpose of
searching for the powder and balls mentioned, but
on his arrival he found the shop had been
opened by the prisoner's brother-in-law, who said
there were no such articles in this place. Disbelieving
Ae.derson (the brother-in-law), the officer searched
him, and bound the powder and bullets in his
pockets; and ascertaining that he had heard of
Burton's arrest, and had hastened to the shop and
broke in the door for the purpose of removing the
articles, the officer took him into custody as an ac-
cessory before the fact, conceiving from his conduct
that he must have known what Burton was about. In
the course of the day Mr. Neal, the chief constable,
had the charge which remained in the pistol drawn,
when it was found to be loaded with no less than
three bullets.
Yesterday (Tuesday) morning the two prisoners
were brought up for examination before the mayor
of Salford (Mr. E. It. Langworthy), Burton charged
with maliciously attempting to shoot Hardman and
do him some grievous bodily harm, and Peter Ander-
son as an accessary before the fact.
After the facts of the attempt had been stated, as
they are given above, Burton supplied an account of
the circumstances which bad led him to the act, and
whichta
taking
ng weooo ha as
is)e
nto
animadvert
incorporated i n our r
on tepheo r of the affair,
t
which
Hardman had been guilty of towards him in feeling
and severe terms. He said Hardman had once
accused his (prisoner') wife of having been the
cause of his own wife's death, and asked what sort of
man he could be considered who would commit an
act of adultery with the murderess of his own wife ?
He said he had loved his wife fondly and dearly, but
the prosecutor bad now robbed him of all earthly
happiness, and his only regret was that he bad not
killed him. He should have made the attempt earlier
had it not been out of consideration for his child's,
welfare, but now he was prepared for the worst.
At the request of a person who gave him a most
excellent character for kindness and affection towards
his wife, and who spoke of him in the highest terms,
he was remanded for further examination till the next
morning .—Manthester Courier.

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

BRIGHTON, LEWES, AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS

COMPANY.-WINDING UP.

His Honour Sir W. Horne sat on Wednesday morn-
ing at his chambers, Southampton-buildings, for the
purpose of appointing an official manager to wind up
the affairs of this company, and settle the list of contri-
butaries.
Mr. WILLIAM BOYCE JamEs, solicitor, of Basing-
hall-street, presented an affidavit on behalf of the pe-
titioner, which was to the following effect:—
ThatTunbarillgagy Wells;
in October, 1845, the above-named com-
pasnry was formed for the purpose of establishing
that communicationthe e
°bins tpa 'acne; w a B, rpi
registered on the 6th of September- • -under
previous, the
provisionally
on saint yd
Joint-Stock Companies
and Tunbridge
ge Wells Direct R • ailway Company" (Hal-
le tea line); that a •
shortly after the provisionalpimted prospectus was issued
pro-
moters, in which it was stated registration by the
to be 350,0001., to be
si.. that the capital was
of 20/. each, deposit avi 2esd into 17,500 shares
all the shares had been *air" share ; that
of application to 408 applicants,°wUr on letters
addreses were in the possession of deponent;
. names and
of thrm had paid the required deposit intot,thtehLt many 1
of the company, and the sums so paid amounted in the
aggregate to 3,4861., Is bile the actual amount of
the
deposit payable was about 35,7001., so that there still '
remained 32,2141. of the deposit unpaid in respecct of
the shares allotted. Then follows a statement of the
manner in which the deposit money had been ex-
pended by the committee of management, as appears
by the auditors' accounts, and in which it is set forth
that the amount paid for furniture, rent, salaries,
printing, and sundries was 542/. 17s. 7d.; cash to Mr.
Hallett, 500/. Then follow various other sums, such as
MEssrs. Dawson, for advertisements, 1,1721. ss. 6J.; cost
of action against Mr. Molineux,.. 299/.; &c.—making a
total of 2,965/. 138 7d. To this is to be added
4,280/. 18s. 6d., liabilites incurred by the committee and
still remaining unpaid, and which consists of such items
as 2,0001. for solicitors' costs; local agents, 5411. SJ. GI.;
Sir John Reticle, 2621. 10a; Mr. Hallett, 1,4011. The
deposition concluded by stating that there is now a
balance to the cradit of the company in the banker's
hands of 7001. of the deposit money.
Mr. Henry James Norris, of 13, Soutbampton-build-
ings, and 22, Upper Gower-street, Bedford-square,
having been appointed oillei3l manager, entered into the t

required recognizances. viz., 5,0001. for the due discharge
of the trust reposed in him.

MANCHESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND

MIDLANDS JUNCTIi )N.

This line was inspected on Monday last by Capt. Laf-
fan, one of the Government inspect ;r.5 of railways, on
that section completed from Amtergate (where it
joins the Midland Railway) to ltowsley, when ho ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the very substantial manner
in which the bridges, aqueducts, and tunnels were con-
structed. The opening of this important line will in all
probability take place next Monday, which will furniqi
a direct communication from the metropolis and the
south with the fashionable watering-place of Matlock.