The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-28 00:00:00

EXECUTION FOR ATTE J 1 P TO MURDER

CHESTER, AUG. 27,

This morning Martin Doyle, aged 26, underwent
the extreme penalty of the law in front of the city-
gaol. The culprit, it will be remembered, was con-
victed for attempting to murder one Jane Brogine, at
Church Lawton, near Holmeschapel, in this county,
on the 30th of May last. It is unnecessary to re-
peat the circumstances of the case, which were fully
laid before the public in the report of the trial that
appeared in The Sun of the 9th inst. Ever since
he was sentenced by Mr. Justice Crompton the con-
demned criminal had to a certain extent exhibited
symptoms of penitence and submission, but about
10 days ago a decided change occurred in his de-
meanour, and with the greatest contrition he
frequently admitted the righteousness of his sentence
and expressed his readiness to suffer its execution.
The culprit's brother had an interview with him
yesterday, and the woman to whom he was legally
married aleo visited him. On neither occasion was
there any extraordinary manifestation of feeling.
According to the customary practice here, the
Sheriff applied at midnight to the county authori-
ties at the Castle for the wretched man's body, and
immediately conveyed him in a cab to the city gaol,
where for many years all executions have taken
place. It is situate en thecity walls, which from an
early hour were crowded with a great assemblage
of spectators. The greater part of the crowd were
kept from the old parapet by a strong barrier, as
some doubts of the stability of the ancient stone-
work were entertained. Immediately after his ar-
rival at the city gaol the culprit was attended by
the Rev. Canon Corberry and the Rev. J. Hopkins,
clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church (of which
the criminal was a member), who have been unre-
mitting in their attention to him, and whose minis-
trations he listened to with the greatest attention
and respect. About half-past 5 o'clock, having par-
taken of some little refreshment, Doyle entered one
of the courtyards, and in company with the Sheriff
took sharp exercise for an hour, during which period
he was in animated conversation. He was engaged
in private devotion until a few minutes before 8,
when Calcraft, who arrived at the gaol last evening,
was introduced. When the convict mounted the
scaffold and found he was in the presence of a con-
course of some 1,600 or 1,700 people he wished to
address a few words to the crowd. He was dissuaded
however, by his spiritual advisers and the execu-
tioner. While Calcraft was adjusting the rope the
wretched man uttered a few ejaculatory supplica-
tions. Having shaken hands with the clergymen
the bolt was withdrawn and the criminal expired
without a struggle.
Seldom, if ever, has a case been detected which
exhibited such ferocious brutality as characterised
the culprit's deliberate attempt on the life of Brogine
and it is to be hoped that the just execution of the
sentence in the present instance will tend to repress
crimes of this nature, for which unfortunately this
country has lately become notorious. The unhappy
victim of the deceased is still in very delicate health;
she is residing with her friends in an adjoining
county.
A petition was drawn up and signed by a num-
ber of the Chester citizens, praying for a commuta-
tion of the sentence to penal servitude for life, but
an unfavourable reply was yesterday received from
the Home-office, and consequently the law took its
course.

TEE F.,ITAL ACCIDENT TO A VOLUN

PEER B UTT-MARKER.

Yesterday afternoon, an adjourned inquest was
held at the King's Arms Tavern, Woolwich, before
Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, on the
body of Benjamin Bradshaw, aged 42, a private of
the Woolwich division of Royal Marine Light In-
fantry, who was killed by a bullet shot whilst acting
as marker to volunteers, at target practice, in the
Plumstead Marshes, on Saturday, the 17th inst.
Mr. William Henry Cruise, surgeon, R.N., proved
that a post-mortem examination had been made of
tile body, and it was found that death resulted from
a portion of a bullet, which had broken the deceased's
second rib and entered the substance of the right
lung, wounding one of the blood-vessels. Another
portion of a bullet had lodged under the skin, but
this was not dangerous. The injury to the main
artery of the lungs caused almost instant death.
By the Coroner—From the appearance of the por-
tion of the bullet extracted from the lungs there
could be no doubt that the bullet struck the mant-
let, and that a portion went back and hit the de-
ceased within the mantlet.

Captain S. F. Jacson, adjutant of the Ist battalion
Kent Volunteerßifles, deposed—ln accordance with
instructions from the government on the Wednes-
day after the accident he made a minute investiga-
tion of all the circumstances of the case, with the
assistance of Sergeant Rixon, of the Royal Marines.
On examining the mantlet in which deceased was
placed, whilst acting as a marker for the 900 yards
range target, witness found an indentatim in the
roof of the mantlet, and the appearances indicated
' that after striking this part the bullet glanced off
in two directions, the fragments hitting the de-
ceased. Witness was satisfied that the bullet
which struck the mantlet was fired at a range of
600 yards only, and that the shot was fired from a
considerable angle. He had known many instances
in which parties had fired at the wrong target, and
this had taken place in the regular service as well
as amongst the volunteers. He did not approve of
the construction of these mantlets, which he con-
sidered dangerous. He thought each mantlet
should have the sides near the top enclosed, as the
moment a shot came sideways the marker was at
present exposed to danger. He also objected to
the two staves or supports of the mantlet, and con-
sidered it would be advisable to have but one stave,
and that in the centre. He had just returned from
the Hythe School of Musketry, and had remarked
on the necessity of these improvements to the offi-
cers at that institution. The distance between
each tat get in the Plumstead Marshes was 20 yards,
but at some other places the arrangement was 40
yards between each target. He believed that the
practice of the Hythe School of Musketry and that
of the Royal Artillery differed in this respect.
After some other evidence of a corroborative
nature the Coroner summed up, and commented
upon the strange fact that this description of
mantlets had been in Government use for years,
although it was now proved that they were not safe
for one hour.

The jury returned a verdict " That the deceased
was accidentally shot, that the mantlets now used
are totally unfit, and ought not to be again used
until improved upon, and that the coroner be re-
quested to communicate the opinion of the jury to
the commandant of the garrison, and also to apply
to the military authorities with a view to obtain an
annuity for the widow and family of the deceased."

THE PREMIER AND THE STATION-
MA STER.

At one of the chief stations on the Great
Western Railway (says the Western Morning
News) is a station-master noted for self-conceit
and flunkeyism. His reverence for a person with
a handle to his name is equalled only by the esteem
in which he holds himself. One day he descried
a gentleman pacing the platform with a cigar in
his mouth. Mr.-- at once accosted the audacious
offender, and requested him forthwith to stop
smoking. The gentleman took no notice of this
command, but continued his walk, emitting a
silvery cloud. Irritated by this disobedience, Mr.
-- repeated his behests more peremptorily than
before ; but still the owner of the Havannah main-
tained a provoking disregard. A third time the
order was repeated, accompanied with the threat
that if the obstinate sinner did not obey, he
would be handed over to the tender mercies of
the porters. The strangef took no more heed
than before ; and so at last, enraged, Mr. --
pulled the cigar out of the smoker's mouth and
flung it away. This violent act produced no more
effect than commands and threats, and the peripa-
tetic philosopher continued his walk quite serenely.
Presently a carriage and four drove up—an equip.
age well known to Mr. -- as that of the Duke of
Beaufort's. To his inconceivable horror the refrac•
tory smoker entered the said chariot, and drove off
in style to Badminton. Mr. -- asked in tremulous
tones who the stranger was, and he felt ready to
sink into the earth when he heard that it was
Viscount Palmerston, K.G., First Lord of the Trea-
sury. He did not hesitate long, however; he at
once ordered a chaise and pair and drove off to
Badminton. Arrived there, he sent in his card,
and urgently requested a private interview with
Lord Palmerston. His Lordship soon appeared,
when Mr. -- began a most abject anology for
having "so grossly insulted his Lordship. Had
he known who his Lordship was he would not
have so treated his Lordship for the world." The
Premier heard the station-master out, then looking
down upon him sternly, and with his hands in his
pockets, said, " Sir, I respected you because I
though you were doing your duty like a Briton ;
but now I see you are nothing but a snob." And
thus ended the station-master's interview with the
Premier.

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4 XTRAORDINART AFFILLI27O.k

CASE.

On Saturday the justices of the county of Kent
assembled at the magistrates' office, in Watling-
street, Canterbury, were occupied in disposing of
an affiliation case, in which Lieut. A. %V. L. Mire-
house, of the 64th Foot, was charged with being the
father of the illegitimate offspring of Mary Jane
Taylor, a single woman. Capt. Young presided,
and the following justices were on the bench :
Captains Slarkae and Macky, and William Plum-
mer and George Neame, Esqs. The complainant
was represented by Mr. Delasaux, and the de-
fendant by Mr. Cullen. The complainant (a good-
looking young girl) deposed--I am a single
woman, and reside at flarbledown. The child was
born at the house of Miss Goodwin, in Artillery- street.
I first became intimate with Lieut. Mirehouse on
the 27th of July, 1860, and it continued until the
Ist of January, 1861. In the interim I discovered
myself to be in the family-way, and communicated
that fact to the defendant. I received this medi-
cine from him (produced). He left it at my lodg-
ings for me. The Chairman—lf this medicine is
to be produced, we ought to know all about it, and
of what it consists. Mr. Cullen—We admit
leaving the medicine at the house for her to take,
but not for the purpose suggested. Witness—The
defendant asked me if I had received the medicine.
I said I had. He then asked me if I had taken
any. I replied, " Yes ; two doses." He then said
he knew if I kept taking it that it would do away
with the child. On the return of the defendant,
after his leave of absence, he refused to see me at
the barracks. Between the 10th of March and
the 20th of April I received ss. a week from the
defendant. He sent the money to me in letters. A
fortnight after I was confined defendant came to my
lodging and took all his letters out of my writing-
desk. I ran after him into the street and tried to
get them, but did not succeed. He said, " I have
done you now." I have not seen those letters since.
I had no connection with any other person from the
27th July to the birth of my child. The defendant
has never denied being the father of my child. The
complainant was then cross-examined at consider-
able length. She said—l knew Lieut. Gardener,
and he came to see me in Dover, in May, 1860. Did
not sleep with him on the 19th and 20th July ; it
was in the month of June. I remember Lieut. East.
I knew him in Canterbury. About four months al-
together. I came to Canterbury to meet him, but
met Lieut. Mirehouse instead. The 21st July was
the first time I saw defendant, and the first time I
was intimate with him. The defendant was then
examined. He said—ln July, 1860, I first became
acquainted with complainant. It was on the 21st of
the month. I was intimate with her that night at
the barracks. The intimacy continued until I went
on leave. She occasionally slept with me, but not
every night, at the barracks. On Aug. 30, 1860, I
wrote this letter to her father:—" Sir,—Thinking
that it will be a relief to you to know something
regarding your daughter, I have great pleasure in
informing you that she would be only too happy to
return to the bosom of her family, only that she is
afraid of your displeasure. I think you may find her
living in Havelock-street, No, 3.—1 have the hon-
our to be, sir, A FRIEND." I took some of my letters
from her desk about the time she has stated. I did
so because I had reason to believe that she had
taken letters out of my room that had been sent to
me. Mr. Delasaux wished to put some question to
the defendant about the medicine produced, and
the Bench declined to allow him, unless he
called evidence to show of what it consisted.
The defendant was then cross-examined by Mr.
Cullen—l sent her several sums of money,
but more out of charity than anything else. I
heard from her she was acquainted with Lieut. Gar-
dener, Lieut. East, and Lieut. Harding. Mr. Cullen
called Mary Ann Goodwin, a single woman, who
said—l know the complainant. She stopped at
my house from the 10th or 12th September, 1860,
till the 15th June, 1861. She told me all her af-
fairs. She said she often slept with Lieutenant
East at the barracks during the week, and she saw
a gentleman farmer on Saturdays, who gave her
10s. a week. She said she could not manage on
what they gave her, and she must, therefore, go to
Dover. Her child was baptised on the 30th of May.
She named it Minnie Gardener Taylor. Mr. Cullen
then asked for an adjournment for the attendance
of Lieutenant East, Mr. Delasaux opposed the ap-
plication, and the Bench allowed the objection. Mr.
Delasaux replied on the evidence adduced on the
part of the defendant, and contended that it had not
shaken his case in the least. The Bench thEn re-
tired, and, upon their return, the chairman an-
nounced that they were of opinion that the defen-
dant was the father of the complainant's child, and
they adjudged him to pay all the costs, the attor-
ney's fee, and 2s. 6d. a week for the maintenance of
the child.