The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-13 00:00:00

MAR YLEB ONE.

DETERMINED A;;;;;;;;iliJiinEa.—Last night John
Wales, a middle-aged man, of athletic frame, having the ap-
pearance of a bargeman, was placed at the bar before Mr.
Rawlinson, charged with the followinc, diabolical attempt to
murder Mr. Thomas Hughes, chief clerk to Messrs. Robins,
Mills, and Co., wharfingers, of No. 5 Wharf, Paddington.
Prosecutor having been sworn, stated that the prisoner
was formerly in the employ of the above firm as Captain to
one_of their boats, but about three weeks ago was discharged
in conseqnence of drunkenness and neglect of duty. He
had frequently seen him since about the wharfs, but had not
spoken to him. That morning, about ten o'clock, he was
in a stable in the adjoining wharf, belonging to Messrs.
Thomas and Frederick Meredith, with whom he was con -
versing, when the prisoner made his appearance at the door,
and, addressing witness, accused him of doing him (the pri-
soner) an injury by procuring his discharge from his situa-1
tion. He only smiled at this accusation, telling him that
if any injury was done he had done it through his own ne-
gligence ; when the pripner, without saying anything
more, drew his right hand from under his jacket pocket,
where it had hitherto been concealed, and, presenting a
pistol firmly grasped in it, at witness's head, drew the
trigger, when fortunately it missed fire, and only flashed in
the pan, he at the same time exclaiming, " I'll be
d—d if I. don't shoot you," and was about to put some
more powder in the pan, when Mr. Thomas Meredith
rushed forward and wrested the deadly weapon from his
grasp, and, assisted by his brother and witness, who had
partly recovered from the surprise and shock his feelings
had sustained, held him secure till a policeman came up,
who took him into custody. The prisoner did not appear
sober, and the inspector at the station-house thought him
so drunk that he proposed to lock him up till the evening
sitting.
Mr. Thomas Meredith, who resides at No. 108, Edge-
ware-road, corroborated the prosecutor's statement, and
added that be was- so astounded at first sight of the pistol,
that be could not move. • On the prisoner pulling the trig-
ger, however, and, wresting the weapon from his grasp, ex-
claimed, " You assassin, deliver up the pistol ; you've done
enough to be hung by attempting to shoot an innocent
man," to which the prisoner coolly replied, " I was born to
be hung, and I don't care if I'm hung for this." Witness
did not consider him drunk, as he acted throughout with
the greatest deliberation, and took a steady aim at the
prosecutor.
Police constable T 9 deposed that on taking the prisoner
to the station-house he said, " By God, I meant to shoot
him. I bought the pistol on purpose." Witness did not
think he was drunk, but he appeared in a very excited
state. He bad since found that the pistol was loaded with
powder and a quantity of small shot. (The pistol was here
produced, and was about the size of a common duelling
pistol.) Witness also found some powder and shot in his
pockets.
There being no further evidence,
Mr. ltAvviatisoN asked the prisoner, who lolled carelessly
in the dock, if he wished to say anything, advising him to
consider the situation in which he stood, as the case affected
his life. •
Prisoner—l did it because I, suspected that he was the
cause of my being discharged from my employers, and I
knew that my family would, in consequence be brought to
poverty.
He was then fully committed to Newgate for trial.