The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-30 00:00:00

MARLBRO'-STREET-(THIS DAY.

John 2111Pherson, a young man of respectable appearance,
evidently in a very delicate state of health, who was described
on the charge sheet as residing at No. 14, New Millman-
street, Brunswick-square, house-painter and decorator, was
placed at the bar, having been taken into custody under the
following circumstances

Between eleven and twelve o'clock last night the prisoner
was partaking of some refreshment in the parlour of the
Carpenters' Arms public-house, in John-street, Tottenham-
court-road, when he suddenly drew from his pocket a small
steel-barrelled percussion pistol, and clenching it in his hand
and placing himself in the attitude of discharging it, said,
" I'm resolved to do it this night, although I lose my lifeby it.. "
He thea called for more liquor, which Mr. Read, the landlord,
who had heard what had passed, refused to let him have.
Presently afertwards he left the house, evidently in a very ex-
cited state, and was followed by two tradesmen who
knew something of and had been drinking with
him. Mr. Read directly gave information of what
had transpired to police-constable John Bruce, No. 84 of the
E division, who went after the prisoner, and came up with
him at the end of John-street. He then had the pistol in his
hand, and repeated the threat several times, that he would
do it that night if he lost his life through it. The pistol
was wrested from him, and the police took him in charge.
The pistol was not loaded. At the station-house he repeated
the threat several times, and on the inspector on duty asking
him whom he meant to shoot, he replied, " My brother ;"
and added, " If I'm imprisoned, when I'm liberated I'll do
it before I sleep." No powder or ball was found in his pos-
session, at which he himself manifested some surprise. The
constable has since succeeded in tracing out that he pur-
chased the pistol yesterday afternoon at a sale-shop in Tot-
tenham-court-road, and that yesterday morning only he was
discharged from one of the metropolitan hospitals.
Mr. HARDWICK asked the prisoner what account he wished
to give of himself? Prisoner (whose manner was very cool
and collected)—The statements the witnesses have made are
very correct.

HARDwICK—But what do you mean by having this
pistol about you? Prisoner (with great composure)—l
meant to shoot my brother.
Mr. HARDWICK-Why did you mean to shoot him? Pri-
soner—Tnere was some difference between us.
Wilks, the gaoler, asked the prisoner if he still intended to
shoot his brother? Prisoner (after some hesitation)-011, I
don't know.

Mr. HARDWICK, having elicited from him that his brother
was residing at Mary-street, Hampstead-road, ordered a
constable to procure his attendance as soon as possible.
The prisoner is detained for the present.

IRELAND.
DISTRESS OF THE PEOPLE.
Dunux, APRIL 28.—There is no part of Ireland where
distress is more severely felt than in the county of Clare.
In the assize town, Ennis, disturbances are apprehended.
The Clare Journal says--" We understand that a party
of Dragoons have been applied for by the High Sheriff to
preserve the peace of the town, a large concourse of people
from the surrounding neighbourhood being expected to
march into the town during the day."
The same journal contains the following :--" Kilmurry,
Ibrickane, April 24.—Memorials from about two hundred
poor housekeepers, averaging about one thousand souls, have
been forwarded, one to the relief commisioners, and another
to the Lord-Lieutenant, praying for relief. Memorialists, who
are cottiers, on the Ploughlands of Clennagarnane, and Clo-
hannes, in the parish of Kilard, and barony of Ibrickane, state,
That in consequence of the mysterious affliction of an Ali-
wise Providence of the potato crop, memorialists (from
the swampy nature of the soil of these localities) have, by the
potato rot, been deprived of all means of subsistence for
themselves and families, and are at present the most miser-
able beings on the face of the earth' Corroboration has
been given to the statements of the memorialists by the
following gentlemen :—Burton Macnamara, J.P. ; Francis G.
•Morony, J.P.; Thomas H. Morony. J.P. ; Thomas Morony,
sen., J.P."

The Marquis of Conyngham and Mr. Westby have sub-
scribed very liberally towards the relief of the destitute people
in Kilkee and other parts of Clare.
The reports from the otherdistressed districts, received thig
day, aze of the usual heartrending descriptions. Some court•
ties have comparatively escaped the potato disease, for in•
stance Wexford and Kerry, and in both the distress is not at
all so severe as in other districts.

The Commissioners of Public Works, acting under the
Drainage Act of the present session, have issued a notifica-
tion that they are ready to receive loans for the execution of
drainage and other works. The amount required for the pre-
sent year will probably be 200,0001. The sum at present re-
quired for the works in Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Cavan'
Tipperary, and other counties, is 92,0001. The maxima'
rate of interest is 5 per cent. The security is a first charge
on the lands to be drained or improved.
The Evening Post says, " We have great gratification in
announcing that Lord Cloncurry has received a letter from
Mr. Peel, dated Calcutta, March 7, intimating that an addi-,,
tional sum of 2,000/. has been transmitted to the Bank 191',
Ireland, for the relief of the distressed Irish, from the Bengal
Presidency, with an intimation that more money may be e%-
pected from the same benevolent source."
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
LIBEL CASE—THE QUEEN CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY. _

The Attorney-General was heard in demurrer against
plea of justification put in by the defendant against an in-
dictment charging him with the publication of a seditious
libel in the Nation newspaper, in the month of November
last.

Mr. Barry and Mr. Holmes replied to the Attorney-Gen-
ral, alleging that the defendant had published the artiell
complained of in reply to some articles which were published
in the Herald and Standard newspapers, in London, in %villa,
it was urged that the agitating of the repeal of the union
ought to be deemed high treason, and showing the great
facility which railways afforded for the transmission of trooP9
to Ireland.

The Court were unanimous in allowing the demurrer for the
Crown.