The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-02 00:00:00

ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION.

Bishop, the old and active officer of Bow-
street, returned a,few days since from assisting
in a long and laborious investigation in which
the Magistrates of Canterbury have been en-
gaged, in endeavouring to bring to justice the
authors of a daring and deliberate attempt to as-
sassinate a respectable individual some dine ago
in the neighbourhood of that city. There is a
place about two miles from Canterbury; on the
road to the village of Chartham, called Cocker- ,
ine.b -bottom, situated between two hills, and bor-
dered partially by a wood—a spot, perhaps, of
all others, most peculiarly calculated for the com-
mission of an act of the kind we are recording,
from its very retired situation, and the facility
afforded for escape by the wood. Cockering-
bottom, when highway-robberies were more fre-
quent than they are now, was famous as the scene
of acts of violence, and several murders have
been committed there many years ago. On the
evening of Saturday, the 12th of May, about
half-past nine o'clock, Mr. James Ashenden, a
miller at Chartham, and an overseer of that place,
was returning home on horseback from Canter-
bury market, and as he approached Cockering-
bottom, he saw two men standing by the bank-
side of the turnpike-road. Feeling somewhat ap-
prehensive that they were there for some evil
purpose, he spurred his horse into a -brisk
pace, a circumstance which, perhaps, saved his
life, for, as he was passing them, one of them
presented a shed gun or blunderbuss at him,
fired, and wounded him in the left arm,
which Mr. Ashenden had instinctively raised
when he saw the piece levelled. In a moment
after the other villain fired a pistol at him, but
without effect. Such an atrocious act of course
created a great sensation in the neighbourhood,
and an investigation commenced immediately be-
fore the Canterbury Magistrates. Several per-
sons were apprehended on suspicion at different
times, but no decisive proof could be obtained,
and they were discharged. After a lapse of some
weeks Bishop was sent for from Bow-street, and
he, in the course of his inquiries, came to a eon-
elusion that murder only must have been the in-
tention of the villains, as he was informed by
Mr. Ashenden that one of the men was near
enough to him to have seized his bridle, and
could easily have stopped him without firing.--•
The officer learned that two men named Smith,
father and son, labourers, and men of loose and
daring character, at Chartham, had quarrelled.
with Mr. A sliendcii, in his capacity of over-
seer of the poor. He went t o their
house, and found a short gun concealed in a
curious place, seemingly made on purpose,
and that gun was pronounced 'by Mr. Ashenden
to resemble closely the one discharged at him.
Upon further inquiry it was ascertained that the
barrel of the gun had been shortened not long
before the act, and that subsequent to it one of
the Smiths went to a gunsmith and wanted him
to lengthen the barrel again, and to endeavour to
do it so that it would not be easily perceived.—
Bishop apprehended these two men, and they
underwent several examinations, in the course of'
which suspicion strengthened materially against
them. They were remanded to St. Augustin's
gaol fior a week, on the last occasion, and in the
course of that week the father put an end to his
life, by hanging himself to a bolt in his cell. No
decisive evidence could be obtained against
the son, and he was discharged. On Friday
last Sir Richard Birnie received a letter from the
Canterbury magistrates, thanking him for sending
Bishop to their aid, and speaking in high terms
of the exertions of that officer. The occurrence
has had such an effect•upon Mr. Ashenden, that
he has, expressed his determination to sell his
property, •and retire altogether from that part of
the country.

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE.—The new Sus-
pension Bridge at Hammersmith, will be opened it is said
for passengers towards the end of the present month. The
platform, which is nearly finished, consists of fir planks
three inches thick. It was in contemplation a few days
since to erect a mansion on the road a short distance be-
yond Hammersmith, for her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kan.