The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-01-14 00:00:00

MALICIOUSLY SHOOTING.

William henry Reynolds was capitally indicted !for
maliciously shouting at Oeneral Napier, Christie Burton,
with a certain loaded pistol, with intent to murder ur do
him souse grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Aimee stated the cafe fur the prosecution.
Napier Christie Burton stated, that he was. a lieneral in
his Mojesty's service ;.was oncein command ufa battalion
in which a man of the name of . Halideley wag # Sergearri
a line's advanced bins to an ensigncy. He died in Jamaica.
Witness pructired a pension for the widow and took a
child under his core. The pension was derived from the
Commissariat fund. Had nut 'teen the child for some time
previous to Sept. 102. Saw her frequently afterwards,
between that time and the following January. The
prisoner married the daughter of liaddeley. He called and
requested Some infairmation relative to hi. wife. She was
at his hmise on the let January last year. The prisoner
came that day and followed the servant into the
room As so in as he Caine in witness ordered
him to take a chair, which lie did, and plisced it about two
' feet from the table with his hick against the will. The
table was between him and witness; the bile was tilting
on the opposite side of the fire place; witness asked
prig iner to Ws* a glass of wine; be replied, he would
witness leaned across the table and placed doe before him
by this time the prisoner bad drawn two feet nearer to
witness, and placed his bands under the table—at this
moineut he heard something lick,. as if pistols were cock.
iug ; almost immediately prisoner raised his aria and
filed; but wittfess felt tio bodily hurt at the
found afterwards that a ball bed pasird through the
lower part of the lappel of his under coat, between the ribs
and the groin. After the firing, witness went round the
table to the prisoner,' and remonstrated with Min, and told
him that if he did tint moderate his passion, he would,do
something that would be seriods At that time witness
thought that he fired at the wife and not at him. Alr.
Reynolds and witn•ds were sitting near each other. The-
prlsoaer then prodttced a perdnal pistil which he fired.
By this time the wife had altered the pbsition of her chair.
It was not likely that the pistol was directed to (lie wifron•
less the ; risoner I htendid that the ball should first petrol-late
his (witnesses) body. Witness enquired if the pistols were
loaded with ball; prisoner answered, he was sure of flak
f.ir he lead. J them himself ; Witness then enquired where
lie bought the pistols; he replied, lie bought theui iu
Norton Falgate, two days before, and added, be was Sure
the bullets were in, and lie hdped they were Jar in his
(witnesses) guts. He said freTtentlyi "1 ant now happy."
Witness then told him, that one dt the shots hail taken
a particular etfect. Ile said " I had a good aim at you "
Witness said, "you heal a good oppurtuni ty."The wife of the
prisoner being alarmed, left the room, & called the set vanis
'file c.stut les were at this tithe extinguished. Otte df the
servants fetched al`Lock, a neighbour, who came immeili•
ately,as watchman. Witness again asked prisoner if the
pistols were loaded with ball, Ile said," they were, and
tney are now in you." He put the pistols os the table.—
On making search afterwards, it was discovered that the
halls head passed through the tire screen, and rebounded to
the opposite side of the room. Witness found one in his,
brteches; it having passed through all his clothes. The
prisoner laid on the table a lecer, which his wife caught
up, but afterward laid it down again. Witness proceeded
to read it. Prisioner said. sneeringly. " 1 sup.,
pose you never saw that before." Wituess replied
"No : So help me, Hod ; I never dill.
'f be Prisoner then said, be supposed he shenld suffer for
what he had dune, and added, " yon are a serpent,who have
wounded me in the most vital part." IVitnese, in ansaer
Los question by Mr. ANDMVS, said, " upon my honour,
as a gentleman and a soldier, I never had Any illicit inter
course with his wife ; nor ever took any liberty with her
whatever, so help me, Hod."
The sarranta of the General were then called, and core
roborated the foregoing testimony.
The prisoner made no defence, but called a great many
very respectable witnesses, who gave him an excellent
character, for humanity and general good conduct.
The Jury:retired for a short time, and returned into
Court with a verdict of Huilty—Death ; but recommended
him to mercy on account of t.is previous good chars ter.