The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-03 00:00:00

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE QUEEN

(From the Evening Papers of Monday.)
We have just been informed, by a messenger who left the
Green Park in great haste, that another attempt was made on
the Queen's life, by a young man of respectable appearance,
about 23 years of age, just as her Majesty was returning in a
barouche and four from her evening ride towards Bucking-
ham Palace. All of a sudden the flash of a pistol was observed
by the bystanders, and instantly the young man was seized.
Fortunately the pistol did not go off, and before a second
attempt could be made he was in custody. indeed he did
not appear to make the attempt, for he put the pistol hur-
riedly into his breast, endeavouring to escape detection. It
does not appear from what we have heard that her Majesty

was at all aware of what had transpired. Singularly enough,
the affair took place about where Oxford made his atrocious
attempt. The prisoner was taken to the Palace Lodge,
under the charge of Colonel Arbuthnot, who was in attend-
ance on her Majesty.
An immense assemblage of gentlemen on horseback and
parties in the Park crowded around the prisoner, and evinced
the most lively anxiety to learn if her Majesty had sustained
any injury, which we are happy to say she did not.
It is also reported that her Majesty was shot at yesterday,
but as the person escaped, no notice was taken of the affair.
The attempt made this evening was communicated by Sir
James Graham to Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons
about half-past six o'clock.

. _
The assassin is a young man not apparently more than 25
years of age, rather short and stout. He is decently dressed,
and his general appearance betokens respectability. It is
stated that he exactly answers the description given of the
miscreant who made an attempt to assassinate Her Majesty
yesterday evening. We were not inclined to credit this story
of a previous attempt on Her Majesty's life last evening,
but, on inquiry, we learn from the highest authority, that it
is but too true that such an attempt was made. It appears,
that previous to Her Majesty's return to Buckingham Palace
this evening from her usual drive, the assassin attracted con-
siderable attention, by making use of the most horrible
language in the Park, saying that the Queen lived upon the
vitals of the people, at the same time making use of the
most abusive epithets. Her Majesty was in the low pony
phaeton, drawn by four greys, and just as the phaeton
reached the spot where the maniac Oxford made his diaboli-
cal attempt on Her Majesty's life, the individual now in
custody, drew a pistol from his breast, and presenting it at her
Majesty, attempted to discharge it, providentially without ef-
fect. The miscreant was instantlyarrested, and amidst the exe-
cration of the bystanders,w ho seemed almost inclined to execute

summary vengeance on him, was conveyed to one of the
lodges of the Palace, and partially searched. The pistol with
which he had made the attempt, and which he had immedi-
ately afterwards thrust into his bosom, was taken from him,
examined, and discovered to be loaded with ball, so that the
same difficulty as to proving the intent will not occur in this
case that occurred in the case of Oxford. He was subse-
quently conveyed to the Gardner's-lane Station-house, where
he was subjected to a most minute examination, but whether
or not any other weapons have been found on him, we were
unable to ascertain, as the strictest orders have been
to the authorities to observe the greatest secrecy on thegsivur-
ject. The prisoner does not present the slightest appearance
of insanity, and seemed perfectly calm and collected. We
understand he refuses to state his place of abode, or, indeed,
any particulars about himself. At half-past seven, he was
conveyed from the Station-house to the Home-office, where
he is at present under examinations before the Privy Council.
Sir R. Peel, Sir J. Graham, Lord Wharneliffe, and all the
Cabinet Ministers, are assembled at the Home-office, for the
purpose of being present at his examination.
Mr. Maule, the Solicitor to the Treasury, and Colonel
Rowan, the Chief Commissioner of Police, are also in
attendance there. We have reason to believe that the
prisoner's name is known, but that it would frustrate the
watching the
ends of justice if it were permitted to transpire for the
present. The examination is a strictly private one, and no
stranger is on any account permitted to be present. We
sent our reporter to the Home-office, for the purpose of
And that a
it is repor
ever, was proceedings. His request to be present, how-
It is rum met by a very polite but a very decided refusal.
rumoured that the prisoner has associates in his crime,
The whole of
clue has been obtained to their discovery ; indeed,
in des company
that one of them, a tall individual who was seen
waiting to catch
undergo an enjaw,in the Park, is already in custody, and will
4iation at the Home-office this evening.
ahitehall is crowded with persons anxiously
glimpse of the assassin on his return from the Home-office.
well-being of the Queen.
St. James's Park al
was made, but
Prince Albert was withll
Palace to make inquiries as to the
towards Buckingham 7is thronged with people, pressing
her
of what had occurred until the.
time th attempt Majesty in the phaeton at the
return to the Palace.
neither of them seemed aware
About half-past six o'clock James Graham was ob-
served to enter the House of Commons, rns, and walk towards
the Speaker's end of the Housern
a face evidently be-
traying anxiety. As he got oppoisiteitlti
beckoned to the Right Hon. Gentleman, I.4awho immediately
Robert Peel he
retired with Sir James Graham. It
poua informed
Right Honourable Baronet communicated then the latter
Peel, the intelligence of which he soon afterwards Sir Robert
the House, when it broke up, the Members
ly into Palace-yard, and dispersing to gather all tteirtant-
gence in their power. atoll.
-

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
(From the Times of Tuesday.)
The principal ministers present at the examination. besides
the Home Secretary and Sir R. Peel, were, the Duke of

The prisoner, John Francis, is the son of a respectable
man of that name, living in Tottenham-court-road. He is
about 20 years of age, about 5 feet 5 inches in height, and at
present rather shabby in appearance. He has a foreign cast
of countenance, though by no means such as to warrant the
belief at first entertained that be was a German. His hair
is very dark, and he has dark whiskers. His complexion is
sallow, and, allowing for the paleness natural to him in such
a situation, rather of a light olive. There is certainly nothing
to indicate ferocity in his countenance. It appears that he
has been absent from his family for more than six months
past. His father bad not heard of him for nearly that time.
The father, who is a very respectable, honest-looking man,
came down to the Home-office in a state of the deepest
anxiety. He was, it appears, at Deptford when he was in-
formed of the fact that a youth, who was believed to be his
son, had committed this crime. Scarcely believing the pos-
sibility of the thing, he nevertheless hurried up to town, and
the first news he had heard of his son for so many months
turned out to be that he was in the hands of the law charged

with this most serious offence. At first an attempt was
made, probably from a humane motive, to lead the poor man
to believe that he was mistaken ; but it ultimately turned
out that his fears were too true. When asked about the re-
sidence of his son, he said he did not know. The last he
had heard of him was three or four months ago, when he
lived in Great Portland-street. _ _ _ _

•••• •-•...••••-•,••
The father was not examined last night, because the evi-
dence already before the council was sufficient for the re-
mand. It is understood that he will be examined this day.
A large square deal box, found, as we understood, at the
prisoner's residence, was brought to the Home-office and
examined ' - what the contents were did not transpire.
From a different source we have received another account
of the prisoner. It will be found to be. substantially corro-
borative of the above :
The name of the prisoner is John Frklacis. He is 20 years
of age, his height five feet five inches. His person somewhat
corpulent; bearing notwithstanding the latter circumstance
a very strong resemblance to Oxford. He was dressed in a
dark frock coat rather too large for him, a light waistcoat,
black stock, with a pin in it, drab trousers, boots, and a wide
brimmed hat.
One particular circumstance observable in the prisoner's
appearance is, that he has a peculiar rolling eye.
He is the son of a machinist at. Covent-garden theatre.
His father, who is a very clever ai,d industrious man,
brought his son (the prisoner) up to the same business, but
some months since he gut into confirmed loose habits, and
deserted his parent. Since then he has had no direct com-
munication with him.
Several of his relations and acquaintances describe him as
being of a very quarrelsome disposition.
When the prisoner arrived at Tuthill-fields the Governor,
Lieutenant Tracey, placed him in a separate cell, leaving a
turnkey to watch him.
It is stated that the prisoner has for some days past been
seen lurking about Hyde-park.

DEMONSTRATION OF LOYALTY AT THE VARIOUS THEATRES.
The news of the attempt on the life of Her Gracious Ma-
jesty was communicated to the lessees of the various theatres
on the evening of the occurrence, and at the Olympic Theatre
the moment it was made known, Mr. C. Baker, the stage-
manager, addressed the audience in the following terms :
" Ladies and Gentlemen.—l have the honour to appear be-
fore you under most peculiar and exciting circumstances, with
feelings of mingled pain and joy—pain in announcing to you
that a fiendish attempt has again been made on the life of
our beloved sovereign, and joy at having the happiness to in-
form you that the miscreant has, thank God, been secured
(here the audience rose and cheered tumultuously, with
waving of hats and handkerchies ); and I have further to
add that the assassin at this moment is under examination at
the Home-office." (Loud cries of `• God save the Queen"
from all parts of the house.) Mr. Baker.—You have but
anticipated the intention of Mr. Wild, the lessee, who,
yielding in loyalty to no subject of her majesty, has desired
me to state that the national anthem shall instantly be sung.
(Loud cheers attended the delivery of Mr. Baker's speech.)
The curtain then rose and discovered the entire company on
the stage. The anthem was then sung, the audience joining
in the chorus in the most enthusiastic manner. At the En-
glish Opera Mr. Vining addressed the audience on the same
subject, and the national anthem was sung with a corres-
ponding enthusiasm by the actors and the audience. At the
New Strand Theatre the band played the national anthem,
without the vocal aid, the singers being absent. At the
Queen's, Surrey, Victoria, and Sadler's Wells, similar de-
monstrations of loyalty were manifested.

(From the Times of Wednesday.)
EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER.
The examination of the prisoner occupied from a quarter
after twelve to a quarter past four o'clock in the afternoon,
and during the whole of that period the crowd in Whitehall
continued undiminished.
What transpired in the council chamber we cannot at-
tempt to describe, so inviolate was secrecy maintained on
the subject by all the officials connected with the Home-
office. We are only enabled to state that the identity of the
pritoner Francis with the miscreant who attempted also to
fire upon her Majesty on Sunday last was clearly established.
About half-past three o'clock the Prime Minister (Sir R.
Peel) quitted the Home-office by the private entrance on the
Parade in St. James's-park, and proceeded on foot at a quick
pace in the direction of Buckingham Palace. The Duke of
Wellington also quitted the council at a quarter to four
o'clock, and, on leaving the Home-office on horseback, his
Grace, who appeared to be in the enjoyment of excellent
health, was loudly cheered by the numerous assemblage.
Sir R. Peel returned to the council at ten minutes past four
o'clock.

Immediately after the return of Sir R. Peel to the Home-
office, two messengers were despatched for hackney coaches,
one of which was brought to the front of the Home-office,
and the other was driven round through the Horse Guards
on to the Parade, and drew up at the garden-gate of the above
building. The policy of calling at the same moment two
coaches was soon made manifest. Hundreds, in fact we
might say thousands, quickly assembled round the one in
Whitehall, the crowd setting it down for certain that it was
to convey the would-be regicide to Newgate, whilst the ap-
proach of the other coach was hardly observed, and not
above twenty persons were collected round it. _

At half-past four o'clock the few persons on the Parade
had their attention drawn to the opening of the wicket-door
of the Home-office, and the prisoner immediately appeared,
having on each side of him one of the turnkeys above spoken
of, and preceded by Lieutenant Tracy, carrying iu his hand
the warrant for the prisoner's commitment. The prisoner
held down his head as he traversed the garden, but still suf-
ficient of his face could be seen to convince all who saw him
that he felt but slightly the highly dangerous position in
which he had placed himself. To place the prisoner in the
hackney-coach was but the work of a moment, and, the two
turnkeys having followed him in, Lieutenant Tracy mounted
the box. and desired the coachman, in a loud voice, to drive
to " Newgate." The progress of the prisoner from the
Park to the place of his confinement was scarcely noticed,
so adroitly had his removal been managed.
The warrant of commitment charges " John Francis with
shooting at our Sovereign Lady Victoria the Queen with a
pistol loaded with powder and ball."
There have been some doubts expressed as to whether the
pistol actually went off; but these misgivings were cleared
up yesterday by the evidence of Mr. Fitzgerald, a highly re-
spectable gentleman, who swore that he was not more than
ten yards off when in'raucis aimed at her Majesty, and that he
distinctly heard the report. This evidence was strengthened
by the testimony of Colonel Wylde and two gun-smiths, who
declared the pistol to have been recently discharged.
The identity of the miscreant was established by Mr. Mark
Russell, a gentleman residing in Great St. Andrew's-street,
Seven Dials, and connected with the establishment of Covent-
garden Theatre. He was on Constitution-hill, and, with
other persons, attracted to the spot on hearing the report of
a pistol, when he at once identified the prisoner as the son of
Mr. Francis, who for above twenty years has been attached
to the machinist department of the theatre. It is a remark-
able circumstance that one of the checktakers, also connected
with the same theatre, was with his wife and family sitting
on a bench among the trees. This individual recognised Mr.
Russell, and they both were of opinion that the would-be
assassin had been employed at the theatre, and was the son
of Mr. Francis. Mr. Russell at once proceeded to Scotland-
yard, when he was referred to Gardiner's lane, and upon
seeing the prisoner there he felt convinced that his opinion
was correct. Upon the circumstance being made known to
her Majesty's ministers at the Council-office, an inspector of
police was forwarded to the theatae, with whom Mr. Francis
returned back to the Home-office, and there found, to his ex-
treme grief, that his son was the person charged with the at-
trocious attempt upon the life of the sovereign of these
realms. The same evening both Mr. Francis and Mr. Rus-
sell underwent a long examination, in the course of which it
appeared from the statement of the latter, that while in con-
ation with some friends, about four hours previous to the
!tension of Francis, he was seen by Mr. Russell, who

voice to him. The royal cortege, when the pistol was dis-
charged, was fortunately proceeding at a rate rather more
rapid than usual, and to that circumstance it is supposed her
Majesty in a great measure owes the preservation of her life,
as Francis was seen by police-constable Tounce to take a de-
liberate aim. The act had been noticed by Prince Albert,
who sat on the right side of his royal consort, and who im-
mediately rose from his seat. He pointed out the miscreant
to one of the outriders, whe❑ the royal servant got off his
horse to assist in his apprehension, but finding him secure
in the hands of Tounce and the soldier of the Fusileer Guards,
again followed the royal carriage. He made no attempt to
escape, and showed no symptoms of derangement.