The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-16 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A. CHIEF CONSTABLE.—At the
Derby Assizes, James O'Connor, a labourer, was indicted
for shooting Willoughby George Fox with intent to murder
him. The prosecutor said he was in Station-street, Lit-
church, on the evening of the 7th March, when he heard
some one say " I'll shoot you," and he replied, " What
for?" He knew the voice to be the prisoner's, and on turning
round he saw O'Connor standing in the middle of the road ;
it was raining at the time, and the prosecutor had an um-
brella, which he held before himself, moving it up and
down, to baffle the prisoner. The prisoner fired ; his
umbrella was riddled, and some of the shot lodged in the
leg, but none lodged in the flesh. He arrested the prisoner
and took the pistol from him, and believed that O'Connor
said " I did not intend to murder you." The prisoner.
who made no attempt to get away, was handed over to a
county policeman. The prisoner had been in the county
police force ten years, but had been discharged. The jury
found the prisoner guilty with intent to commit grievous
bodily harm. Sentence was deferred.
BREACH OF PROUISE.—At the same assizes an action
was brought by Mrs. Percival, as next friend of Ellen
Percival, to recover damages fr'.'m Mr. Finney, the son of
a wealthy farmer at Buxton, for a breach of promise to
marry. The plaintiff, who is twenty years of age, lived
with her mother, who keeps a lodging-house at Buxton,
and on the 24th of Jnne, 1867, the parties got acquainted,
and became lovers, and he gave her an engaged ring,
They went to balls and tea-drinkings, and arrange.
ments were made for the wedding—the wedding ring was
bought, bridesmaids were selected, but all of a sudden
defendant said he was too poor and could not marry her.
He put the wedding off three months, and then declined
altogether. From the evidence of Mrs. Percival it appeared
that every preparation was made for the wedding—the
dresses made, the ring bought, &c. For the defence it was
urged that Miss Percival was really engaged to a man
named Barber without the knowledge of the defendant.--
The jury awarded £5O damages.
BELIEF OF BAIL FROM RESPONSIBILITY.—An important
application was decided by Mr. Justice Blackburn when
at chambers with regard to the relief of sureties from
responsibility. A man named Samuel Israel was com-
mitted to the Central Criminal Court for trial, but
at his request the case was postponed to the August
Sessions, and bail was taken for his appearance.
The sureties soon afterwards heard that Israel intended
going to America, and they then took him into custody,
and applied to the judge for him to be surrendered. Mr.
Justice Blackburn held that the bail had acted legally,
and the prisoner was lodged in the lock-up.

THE " CAPTAIN " OF .A GANG OF THIEVES. —At the
Middlesex Sessions Timothy Sullivan, aged 15 years, was
indicted for a daring highway robbery. Mrs. Wiilimott
was the prosecutrix, and was in the Whitecliapel-road
when the prisoner snatched two gold chains from her neck
and ran off with them. Having been found guilty, the
chairman asked if anything was known of the accused.
A policeman gave the prisoner an extraordinary
character considering his youth. He said he was
"captain" of a very bad set of young thieves, who were
really the terror of the neighbourhood. Some six
months ago he kicked an old lady down and robbed her;
but the evidence before the magistrates was not conclu-
sive, and he was discharged. On the 30th January the
prisoner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment,
with hard labour, at Worship-street, for felony. He was
known to his companions as " Captain Tallard." The
prisoner was sent to prison for twelve months, and ordered
to receive twelve strokes from a birch rod.