The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-03-08 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER,

Nathan Booth was again placed before the Magistrates on
Tuesday, for final examination under a charge of having ma-
liciously fired two pistols at Timothy Parkinson, with intent
to murder him.

Timothy Parkinson stated, that he kept a public-house in
Roe-street. On Saturday night last, about half-past ten,
the prisoner entered his house, and stood at the counter,
which runs the whole length of the room. He (Parkinson)
was behind the counter when the prisoner went up to it. He
exclaimed " twopennyworth of rum, on trust." Witness
had his hat on, and was going out. Without addressing the
prisoner, he said to his assistant " I shall be back again in
about five minutes." He (Parkinson) then had his face to
the prisoner. Just as he was moving to go out he heard the
report of fire arms, and felt a stunning sensation on his
cheek. He fell down, and put his hand to his head, but
finding that he was not wounded; he got up and run towards
the snug, which is partitioned off from the room. Just as
he was going into the snug he saw the flash of a second pistol.
The gas with which the apartment was lighted went out.
Witness remained in the snug, till the prisoner was secured.
After the second pistol was fired, he heard the prisoner say,
" Stand off—l have got more." The prisoner and he had
married two sisters, and had had some disputes latterly about
money matters, but about a week ago, the differences were
settled, and he (witness) had not seen the prisoner for three
or four days, before yesterday night. He was in the house
about two hours before the time, when he entered and fired
the pistol. Witness had himself served him, at that time,
with some run. After the prisoner was taken to Bridewell,
witness saw Flockhart find a pistol ball behind the pier glass
in the bar, and another in the ceiling of the room. The ball
had gone through the glass.
A. plan of the premises was produced, which Mr. Parkinson
said was correct.

Mr. Bardswell, solicitor, who attended for the prisoner,
declined asking Mr. Parkinson any questions.
William Flockhart, constable, said, on Saturday night last,
he was in Mr. Parkinson's house. lie was standing at the
counter. He saw the prisoner enter the place. He knew
him very well. He went up to the counter, and stood on the
left hand of witness. He said, " two pennyworth of rum, on
trust." Witness turned to him and said, Well, Nathan,
how are you ?" He replied, "I am very well." He seemed
perfectly sober. The prisoner had a great coat on, with outside
pockets. He had both hands in the pockets. Witness was
going out with Parkinson, who was standing behind the bar,
about four feet from the prisoner. Witness said to Parkin-
son, " Come, Tim." At that moment he felt the prisoner
lift up his right arm. He turned his head, and saw that the
prisoner had a pistol in his hand, which was pointed towards
Mr. Parkinson. He fired the pistol, exclaiming—" There,
you , that is for, you." Parkiu.on fell. Witness saw
him get up, with his hands pressed against his head, and he
went towards the snug. The prisoner exclaimed—" Stand
back !" and witness saw him take another pistol from his left-
hand coat pocket, and cock it. He pointed it towards wit-
ness, and again said " Stand back." Parkinson was then at
the entrance of the snug, and the prisoner held the pistol with
both hands, and pointed it towards Parkinson, and fired. He
said—" Missed again !" and dashed the pistol' on the floor.
The first pistol he had returned to his pocket. Not more
than a second or two elapsed between the firing of the two
shots ; and the whole transaction did not occupy more than
a minute. Witness had retired back when the prisoner fired
the second pistol. He said, " For God's sake, Nathan, don't
fire any more." He said, " Stand off, I have more." Wit-
ness went forward to the counter, and the prisoniz was turn-
ing round towards the door, when he seized him and secured
him. He searched him, and found the pistol he had just dis-
charged in his coat pocket. Upon the floor he found the
other pistol, with the cock broken off. The gas went out
when the second pistol was fired. He took the prisoner to
Bridewell, and afterwards returned to examine the premises.
He found that the pier-glass over the fire was broken, and
took it down, and behind it, under the plaster and against
a brick, he found a ball (produced.) It was flattened. Wit-
ness looked for the other ball, and saw a hole in the ceiling.
He went up stairs, and took up a board of the floor of the
room over the bar, and there he found the other ball (pro-
duced.) This ball also was flattened. Parkinson, at the time
the first pistol was fired, was standing in a line between the
place where the ball had gone and the looking-glass. The
hole in the looking-glass was five feet nine inches and a half
from the floor. The prisoner's hands trembled very much
when he fired the second pistol. The room was about ten
feet high.
Mr. Parkinson stated his height to be five feet nine inches
and a quarter.
Charles Nasely stated, that he went into Mr. Parkinson's
house about half-past ten o'clock on Saturday night. He
saw the prisoner standing at the counter. He did not know
him. Mr. Parkinson was behind the bar. Witness saw the
prisoner pull a pistol from his right-hand pocket, and point
it towards Parkinson, and fire it. He did not know what
became of the pistol. He saw Mr. Parkinson fall. Imme-
diately afterwards he saw Mr. Parkinson moving towards
the snug, and the prisoner took another pistol out of his
pocket. He presented the pistol over the counter, and fired
it. Witness thought he held it with both hands. The place
was partly in darkness when he fired the second shot, the
explosion of the first having extinguished sonic of the gas-
lights. All the lights went out when the second pistol was
discharged. Witness saw him throw one pistol on the floor.
The prisoner said something when he threw down the pistol,
but witness could not say what it was. Some one cried out,
" Seize him !" The prisoner put his hand into his pocket,
and said, " The first person that attempts to seize me I will
shoot; I have got something left." He was ultimately
seized and secured. He appeared perfectly sober and col-
lected. Witness saw the hole in the looking-glass. Parkin-
son stood on the line between that hole and the place where
the prisoner stood.
The prisoner's attorney still declined asking any questions
from the witnesses.

William Richardson stated, that he was at Mr. Parkinson's

house on Saturday night last. He was in a lobby leading
from the bar to the kitchen when he heard the report of a
pistol. He went into the bar, and saw the prisoner, whom he
knew before, take a pistol from his pocket and fire it towards
Parkinson, who was then moving in the direction of the snug.
Before the prisoner fired he exclaimed, " Stand off." Not
more than two or three seconds elapsed between the two
shots being fired. The prisoner threw the pistol down.
Some one cried " Seize him." The prisoner exclaimed,
" Stand back ; I have more left." The prisoner was seized
and secured. Witness saw the ball taken from behind the
glass by Flockhart. It was flattened.
Thomas Stuart stated, that he was at Mr. Parkinson's
house on Saturday night. He had been sitting in the snug,
and as he got up to depart, he saw the prisoner enter. He
culled for two penywornh of rum on trust. Witness was
standing behind the counter, about a yard from Mr. Parkin-
son. He saw the prisoner take a pistol from his right-hand
pocket, and present it at Parkinson, and fire. He (witness)
ran into the lobby leading to the kitchen, and he there heard
a second report. He went back into the bar, which he found
all'in darkness. He saw Flockhart seize the prisoner and se-
cure him. He afterwards saw Flockhart take a ball from
the wall behind the looking-glass. The ball was flattened.
Mr. Bardswell did not put any questions to any of the
witnesses.

The prisoner having received the usual caution, was asked
if he had anything to say. He replied, " I do not wish to say
anything now."
The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next
assizes.

LIVERPOOL INTERIM

The intermediate sessions fc
Tuesday, before James Clarke.
The calendar contains the na
and 2 for misdemeanours and
The following gentlemen wei
Wm. Potter, Esq., Foreman
Thomas Rouch, Esq.
Daniel Buchanan, Esq.
Isaac Cooke, Esq.
Edward Chaloner, Esq.
Richard C. Dawson, Esq.
Hewson Dutchman, Esq.
George Dickson_, Esq.
John Stewart, Esq.
John Haselden, Esq.
. . .