The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-01 00:00:00

MURDER 1N GLASGOW.

About One o'clock On StlaaY morning a fight,
seems to have bean going on an the west side of
High-street, Glasgow, Ohdft distance froZ the
Cross, between two men, one named Wm. Clark,
alias Neil Coyle, the name of the other being tl-
kno*h. Cloyle was knocked to the ground once or
twice, and a young than flamed John Gall, who does
not appear, from anything itd have been able to
learn, to have been in company with either the one
party or the other, but merely one of the crowd,
stepped out to take Coyle's part, saying it was a
shame that he should be so used, and that he was
not getting fair play: Ile then tarried to Coyle,
and putting his hand an hia ahotddet and clapping
him advised him to go home. Coyle; Without any
previous notice, turned abruptly round, tind, lifting
his hand, Was seen by the bystanders to strike Gall
with considerable fort,e about the belly. Gall im-
mediately doubled up, and cried c-Ot, " I am stabbed;
' for God's sake go f)r a doctor !" He tiitt; vrith his
hand on the wound, ran down the street, thron'gh
' the arch under the Cross steeple, and catching a
lamp-post at the corner of the street, swung round
it once, and then fell flat on his face. The
aid of I)rs. Chalmers and Tinlayson Was promptly
procured, and these gentlemen immediately ordelied
the wounded man to be removed to the Royal In-
firmary, where he expired about four o'clock on
Sunday morning. It was found that deceased had
received a blow with a sharp instrument in the
groin, which had severed the femdral artery, and
resulted in his bleeding to death. Immediately after
dealing the fatal blow Coyle made of down Salt-
market, followed by a number of the crowd. He
ran up close No. 18 of that street, where his further
progress was obstructed by an iron gate, which was
locked, and he was then apprehended by- two con-
stables. The close was afterwards searched, and a
clasped knife, much stained with blood, was found
within a yard or two. of the spot where Coyle was
arrested. He is a returned convict, and has only
been at liberty some three months after having un-
dergcne seven years' penal servitude. His charac-
ter and nature may be guessed when we state, that
while he was undergoing that sentence he was the
terror of all in any way brought into contact with
him, both wardens and fellow prisoners, Since his
apprehension Coyle has maintained a dogged
silence, not dropping one word either as to his
guilt or innocence.
The deceased, who was 23 years of age, was an
engine-fitter to trade, and was a quite, sober, inof-
fensive youth, and not given to interfering in street
brawls. He resided in Clyde-street, Anderston,
with a widowed mother, of whom he was almost
the sole support.--North British Mail.

THE EXTRAORDINARY A 2 TEMPT AT
N URDER IN DUBLIN.

The Freeman's Journal of Saturday contains the
following additional details of this extraordinary
affair:—

" In connection with local affairs in Dublin, since
the murder of the Italian boy and the trial of
Spollen for the assassination of Mr. Little, nothing
has excited such an amount of general and painful
interest as the attempt which was made on Thurs-
day evening to deprive an unoffending man of his
life, for the purpOse of gaining possession of some
-.CB or £9 worth of wearing apparel. This was a
thing so foreign to Irish crime, which is generally
characterised by the wild justice of revenge,' that
even the slowest of comprehensions could perceive
that a foreign agency was at work when murder
was sought to be carried on with profit, and re-
duced to the system of a mercantile speculation.
All Dublin was alive yesterday to the horrors con-
tained in the narrative, which was given in the
Freeman's Journal, of the most diabolical attempt
ever placed on record in this country of a conspi-
racy to make an ordinary transaction of mercan-
tile business the means by which murder and rob-
bery could be perpetrated. Men and women were
to be seen in groups in the streets discussing this
occurrence, happily novel in this country. Per
sonages in high places wondered at the terrible
daring of the scheme, which only failed in its
perfect success by the fact of the associates of a
juvenile assassin failing to be present to assist him
in the atrocious deed. It has been already stated
that if the porter (Mulholland) had arrived at the
time when he was expected, his quietus would
have been made, and his body would have been
paved into the pit prepared for it.' Fortunately
for himself he lingered on his way, and thus escaped
the doom of being too early.'
" For some time past a number of the English
swell mob have attracted the attention of the detec-
tive police. These parties have been closely watched,
but notwithstanding the vigilance of the police, a
number of portmanteaus, travelling bags, &e., be-
longing to persons passing to and from England,
have been stolen. Railway companies attributed
to foreign imported genius' the loss of a great
deal of valuable property, which loss should justly
be attributed to a looseness in the transit manage-
ment of luggage traffic. During seine months past
the losses sustained in this way were so many and
so great that the police were induced to exert all
their energies to discover the plunderers, but were
quite at fault in trying to account for the cumber of
railway robberies which were reported to have oc-
curred. Ordinary up and down trains, mail trains,
and express trains, were closely watched with lynx
eyes; hut it was forgotton that the dexterous thief
could dress himself as like a gentleman as possible,
swagger on a platform, or appear hurried and ex-
cited on the street-way as if urged on by honest
business, at the same time his object being to seize
upon and carry off the luggage and goods of un wary
travellers. At length a number of fast' looking
individuals, dressed extravagantly in the prevailing
mode, and wearing a quantity of showy trinkets,
excited the suspicion of the ' detectives,' and, as
has appeared from the police reports, several of
them have been arrested, and a large quantity of
valuable property traced to their poisession. A
young man, the son of a respectable trader in the
city of Dublin (the name it is advisable to suppress
for the present), was remarked to he frequently in
the company of those parties. But the parents of
this young man being known to be so respectable
and above all reproach, he was not suspected of
being in collusion with the dubious persons. In-
quiries were instituted into his character and ante-
cedents, and it transpired that he had received a
liberal, even a collegiate education, and had been
destined for a profession. This fact, in addition to
other circumstances, disarmed all suspicion. This
was the young man who hired the stable off Black-
ball-parade—who dug the grave, and at-
tempted to murder Mulholland. This young
man was of studious habits, and was
wont to pore over the romances of Dumas and
Sue in secret, even
,on the roof of the house
where he dwelt, in order to escape detection. Doubt-
less, imbued with the prurient ideas of this school
of vicious romance, he received the notion of esta-
-1 blishing a novel system of murder and robbery,
perhaps incited by his cosmopolitan acquaintances.
The stable was hired by this young man through
the medium of a go-between' in the person of a
boy who has been arrested, and is now in police
custody. The honest, industrious father of this
youth repudiated him, but his mother, influenced
by kindly and maternal feelings, sought to reclaim
him, and one of the things which led to the dis-
covery of his perpetration of the diabolical attempt
to deprive a fellow-creature of life was a kind and
affectionate letter, written by his afflicted mother,
in which prayers for his conversion were more
apparent than blame for his previous misconduct.
The poor mother besought this misguided young
man to abandon his evil courses. She told him that
his father's house was open to him if he entered in
a proper spirit. The poor woman, well knowing
that her handwriting would be recognised by her
unhappy son, did not affix her signature to the
letter, which was discovered in the morocco-leather
pocket-book, wherein were also found the gun-
powder and percussion caps intended for the de-
struction of the victimi On this letter being shown
to the afflicted woman she admitted at once that it
was written by her hand, and had been addressed
by her to her unworthy son. Two pawn-office
duplicates were also found iu the stable, which, in
conjunction with other testimony, placed beyond
doubt the identity of the assassin, who, it is stated,
"laB spent no small part of his life in America and ,

in England. On the alarm being given on Thurs- '
day night of the attempted murder, Mr. Superin-
tendent Ryan, of the G division, proceeded without
a moment's delay to organise a series of cordons
of police around every passage or outlet through
which the culprit could escape from the city.
Men were placed at every railway station and at
every steamer about to start, either from the
North-wall or from Kingstown, during the entire
of yesterday, but it is feared, from the fol-
lowing circumstance, thl;t the assassin has gained
an Alsatia' amongst his English confederates.
Shortly before the mail-boar started from the pier
at Kingstown, on Thursday evening, the coal-
trimmer, who had been engaged in coaling the
steamer about to start, saw a young mft,rushing
down near the St. George Yacht Club-house.; An the
direction of the pier. He was deadly pale, and in
a state of great excitement. He inquired if a
steamer was about to start for England. He was
answered in the affirmative, and, from the descrip-
tion given of him by the parties who saw him, there
was little doubt that he was the person who had
fled from Dublin after having failed in his projected
attempt at murder and robbery. The electric wires
have been actively at work in the service of the
police, and, doubtless, during the course of this day
or to-morrow, the inventor of one of the most terrible
and villanous schemes for the perpetration of a
series of murders and robberies in the centre of a
populous city, will be in the hands of justice to
answer for his misdeeds."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Dec. 31.

SOUTH WA RR.--SKITTLE
dressed young fellow, of rather gentlemanly ap-
pearance, who gate the name of Joseph Hobbs,
vtas charged with being concerned, with two others
not in custody, in defrauding Samuel Bell of four
sovereigns and a valuable gold watch and chain
under the following circumstances :
_

The prosecutor, a simple-looking man, said that
in July last he kept a beershop in Harper-street,
New Kent-road, which he had a desire to get rid
of. About the 6th of that month the prisoner came
to the bar, and, witness served him with a glass of
ale. While he was drinking it he asked whether
he wanted to part with the house, and on being
ansvveted in the affirmative, he told him that he
knew of a tnistomer, and he could introduce him to
the party if he went with him. Witness consented,
as he believed the -prisoner to be a respectable man,
and they went to a beethouse in Long-lane, Ber-
mondaey. He (the prisoner) said that the party
was not there, -when he quitted that place and went
to another beerhottse at Star-corner. They entered
the parlour and had some ale, the prisoner telling
him that the party would be sure to meet them
there. While they were there two men entered—one
like a- sailor, and the other had spectacles on. They
had some ale, and one of them said he was a good
shot with a rifle, and be would not mind shooting
with anybody for a£s note. The one with spectacles
on said he had just come up from the country, but
he would bet him anything that he would hit the
bull's eye 18 times out of 21. A bet was made for
five dozen of stout, and they asked witness to go with
them to see fair play, and help them to drink it.
Prisoner advised him to go, saying he would be sure
to sell his house for him. He consented to go with
them, and after traTersing several streets they passed
through the turnpike, and went into another beer-
house, in which was a skittle-ground. Witness ex-
pressed his surprise at this, as prisoner said that the
rifle gallery was there, but in explanation he said
that the house had been altered since he was there
last, and he advised a game of skittles. It was
ultimately arranged that he and the prisoner should
play against the other two men, and in a very
short time witness lost four sovereigns. After that
they played several games, and he staked his watch
and chain, and lost them. He played £5 against
his watch, and £5 against the chain.
Mr. Burcham asked if the prisoner lost as well
as he did.
Witness replied that he did, and apparently paid
over money to the others, but he suspected that it
was all flash money, and that they all acted in con-
cert to defraud him. As soon as he had parted
with the watch and chain, the other two men left
the ground, and the prisoner said he suspected they
were skittle-sharpers, and he would go and stop
them. He also went out, and witness 65119 nothing
more of him until Saturday afternoon, when he met
him in the Borough, and as soon as he saw witness
he took to his heels, but the constable pursued him
and took him into custody.
The prisoner here seemed anxious for the appear-
ance of his solicitor, whom he hati sent for.
Mr. Burcham said that if the prosecutor had not
more evidence against him, there was nothing that
he could interfere with. He asked the prosecutor
if he had related all the circumstances to him ?
_ _ _

Complainant replied that he had, but if he was
remanded for a few days, no doubt his companions
could be apprehended. The prisoner was known
to be a notorious skittle-sharper.
Mr. Burcham told him he could not remand the
case under the circumstances, as it was similar to
four men playing at whist, and two losing. He
must, therefore, discharge the prisoner, but he
should caution him to be careful or he would be
caught in his own net.

WESTMINSTER.— MORE MILITARY OUT-
RAGES.—George May alias Harris, and William
Wheeler, privates attached to the Military Train,
were charged with the following various offences :
Henry Emmons, 15, Leader-street, Chelsea, tripe
dresser, said between half-past 11 and 12 on Satur-
day night Harris came up to his shop, dashed his
hand through a pane of glass, and took out from
the window a piece of glass which he threw to
Wheeler, who then also broke a square of glass.
Prosecutor followed them to the house of a neigh.
bour, Mr. Valens. _ _

Alfred Valens, 80 Leader-street, Chelsea, grocer
and cheesemonger, said that shortly before twelve
on Saturday night he heard cries of " Murder," and
immediately afterwards Harris made his uppear-
ance, took up a large piece of bacon, and wantonly
dashing it into a case of eggs broke about 200, to
the value of £l, and the prisoners also broke two
squares of glass. They then laid hold of prosecutor,
and Wheeler held him while Harris struck him
repeatedly, calling out " Kill the ; dash the
front of his
about four years ago Harris came to his shop and
obtained some bacon for which he refused to pay.
The neighbours on that occasion punished him
severely, and one of his comrades received 14 days'
imprisonment ; asd Harris referring to that, said on
Saturday it was his turn now, and he would murder
every one. _ _

Alfred Jones, 20, Leader-street, oil and colourman,
proved that the prisoners also visited his shop, and,
breaking the windows, threw out into the road and
destroyed £2 worth of starch, washing powder, &c.
William Lucker, shoemaker, in the same street,
also proved that they broke his windows.
Mr. Paynter asked if a woman was present who
had been assaulted by Harris.
The police intimated that she was not, but

A witness stood forward and said she had been
seriously assaulted without any provocation what-

. -
ever, and
Police constable Connell said Mr. Valens had
bled copiously from the effects of the punishment
given by Harris.
It having been intimated that Harris had fre-
quently been in prison under the name of May.
A constable from Shooter's-hill station (h divi-
sion) produced a warrant for his apprehension for
manslaughter, signed by the coroner for Kent.
They were remanded till Thursday.

SMASHING EXTRAORDINARY.—Jane Dyer and
Simm Connor were prosecuted by the Solicitor to
the Mint for wholesale uttering of-counterfeit coin.
It appeared from the evidence of Henry Leeson,
barman to Mr. George Eason, the Queen's Head,
Marsham-street, that the prisoners came in together
on the 22d ult, for some beer, and Dyer afterwards
called for some gin and tendered a bad shilling,
which was detected, and she was seen to take out
another, upon which a policeman was fetched.
Dyer then held her hand out to Connor behind her,
but the barman placing his hand there, received a
glove, which was afterwards found to contain 16
counterfeit shillings and a counterfeit half-crown.
They were committed for trial.

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT KIDDERMIN-
STER, YESTERDAY.—An accident of an appalling kind
took place near the Kidderminster station of the West
Midland Railway, by which a platelayer immediately lost
his life. A fast train leaves Worcester at 10.25 a.m., Only
stopping at Kidderminster for passengers booked to the
north. Yesterday morning the weather was rather misty,
and it was perhaps owing to this cause that the accident
occurred. Thomas Smith, the platelayer in question, was
on the Hoo Brook viaduct, a mile south of Kidderminster,
when this train came up. He was evidently aware of its
approach, for he had signalled to another man on the line
below him to get from between the metals. He himself,
however, neglected to do so in time. The consequence
was that the front part of the engino caught him, and he
was hurled on to the line. The train immediately passed
over him, cutting off his head and one of his arms, and
otherwise mutilating his body in the most frightful man-
ner. The train was proceeding at the rate of about 35
miles an hour at the time of the accident, and was pulled
up about a quarter of a mile from where it occurred,
Death was, of course, instantaneous. An engine was sent
from the Kidderminster station to pick up the poor fellow's
remains, and they have been removed to an inn, where the
inquest will be held,