The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-04 00:00:00

WORSHIP STREET.

Yesterday afternoon, just as Mr. TWYFORD, the Sitting
Magistrate, was about leaving the bench, Mr. William
Dennis, a most eccentric character, residing in Lamb's-
lane, Hackney, was brought into the Office, in custody of
several police constables of the N division, and placed at
the bar, charged with having attempted to shoot Charles
Farrant and William Franks, officers to the Sheriffs of Mid-
dlesex, under the following circumstances :
The prisoner is the same person whose name appeared
in the public prints two or three months since. It may
be recollected that about that time he had a child, who
died, and a Coroner's Jury was impannelled to enquire into
the cause of the death. When the Coroner (Mr. Baker),
and the Jury presented themselves at the prisoner's house,
to take a view of the remains of the dead child, the prisoner
refused to admit them, and appeared at the window armed
with fire-arms, and threatened to. discharge them at the
first person who dared to make a forcible entrance into
his premises. After a great deal of persuasion on the
part of the Coroner, the Jury were ultimately ad-
mitted. . The prisoner, who,
,it appears, is a widower,
kept no servant. He had, he said, since the death
of his wife had a great aversion to• females, and never
allowed any to enter his -house except his children, who
were of tender ages. His place, although it was well-
stocked with very valuable furniture, presented a-scene of
wretchedness for want of proper attention, and the children
were in a most miserable dirty state. Over the fireplace in
every room of the house were suspended several cutlasses
and fowling-pieces. The fire-arms were loaded and ready
for use, and the neighbours were frequently alarmed in the
dead of the night by the prisoner discharging them out of
his windows. The Jury, after a very few minutes' inquiry,
however, found-that the child died a natural death, and not
from any violence ; and some of the parish officers of
Hackney subsequently waited upon the Magistrates at this
office to know whether they were not empowered to give
directions for the immediate interment of the deceased's
remains, as the prisoner, who it was evident was labouring
under an aberration of mind, persisted in having them kept
in a leaden coffin by his bedside.
The Magistrates, however, decided that they had no
power to interfere. There was no law that cowld compel
him to bury the child ; and he and every other man had a
right to keep the body of a relative in their house if they
thought proper, even till it rotted away.
The prisoner, who is a very stout middle-aged man, had
on a great coat and an oilskin cap covering his eyes, and
wore spectacles, and when placed at the bar he. asked for
some writing paper and a pen and ink, that he might take
down the names of the witnesses and- their evidence.

There were several writs out against the prisoner for
heavy amounts. They had been innumerable times to take
the prisoner, but be always evaded them by answering
them out of a window, and pointing a fowling-piece to their
heads, threatening to shoot them if they attempted to force
their way in. Yesterday they were watching his house all
the fore part of the day, and between one and two o'clock
they succeeded in getting an entrance by stratagem. They
then proceeded to a room where they found him washing
himself, and in a " sort of friendly" manner " tapped" him
on the shoulder. The prisoner offered great resistance,
and being more powerful than the officers got to the fire-
place and.took down a loaded gun. The officers perceiving
their danger called loudly for assistance and again rushed
towards the prisoner. The prisoner struggled with them for
some minutes, but got the better of them and discharged
the gun, but its contents fortunately lodged in the wall.
Several police constables were then called in by the officers
to assist, and by taking the gun from the prisoner the stock
was broke off.

Mr. TWYFORD asked whether there were any shots in
the gun, and whether it might not have gone off by accident
in the scuffle ? The gun, the stock of which, as before
stated, was separated from the barrel, was produced to the
Magistrate, and the officers said it had been loaded with
large-sized bullets when it was let off at them. There
were many of the bullets now in the wall. They saw the
prisoner pull the trigger, and it must have been wilfully dis-
charged by him.
Mr. TWYFORD-It is a very serious charge, and may
perhaps amount to a capital offence. Mr. Dennis, what
have you to say ? The prisoner, who expressed himself in
a very incoherent monner, said that all the witnesses had
spoken falsely. The fellows entered his house by decoying
his children away while he was engaged in his domestic
duties. They walked directly into the room where he was
washing his hands, and considering them by their looks to
be thieves, he took down the gun, but it was the wit-
nesses who discharged it, and they afterwatds brel.,e
it over his back, and he had the bruises to show it'. proof of his statement.

The officers again swore that it way the prisoner fired the
gun, and it was broke in taking
n. from him.
Mr. TWYFORD (to the r,risoner)—l shall take time to
consider whether I shall t; cat this as a common case or send
you for trial on the capital offence, and you must be brought
before me again on Thursday.

The prisoner, in a very wild manner, and greatly en-
raged, ejaculated, " If you consider I am not worthy of my
liberty take away my life, I'm ready to die ; only let my
children be with me when I do die."

Mr. TWYFORD asked what would become of his chil-
dren ? Prisoner—Why they must be with me to be sure
in prison, for I keep no servant, and they have only me to
do for them, and they will famish without me.
The gentlemen of the parish undertook to take care of
the children, and the prisoner was then removed to the
lock-up cell, and in the evening conveyed to prison in the
prison van.