The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
MADMAN OR INTERNATIONALLY
A NATIVE OF FRANCE THREATENS TO KILL
QUEEN vICToRIA-HE Is LOCKED UP.
rEro,p +ha D,,hIir Ir;ob Mall

from the Dublin Irish MALL
Considerable excitement caused in London on
December IL by the announcement that man was in
custody q charge Of threatening the lito OF the
Queen. The statement proved to be true but there
is this redeeming feature in connection with the
matter, that persons who best acquainted with
the accused aliegc that he is of unsound mind, and
consider his letters nothing more than rrespon-
sible threats The prisoner is named Edward Byrne
Madden, aged ffty-sx, who gives his address No.
10 Duke street. Aldgate London. 1t seems that he
is the son of Irish parents. but that he born
in France. That the accused Is well educated
is shown by the fact that he speaks English without
any broken accent, while his knowledge of French
and German is complete His first advent in London
to tho knowledge Of anyone dates from last autumn,
and at that time he stayed at the house in Aldgate
above mentioned. For long time it considered
that he not responsible for his actions. and at
length the relieving officer of the district to
the house and removed him to the inhrmary of the
workhouse with view of his being confined in the
workhouse lunatic wards. This seems to have
been done. bat after time the pris-
oner went to France, and it was in that
country that he seems TO have made
up his mind to threaten to do injury to Her Ma
icsty his first letter is directed to the British Am
bassador in Paris Lord Lyons, and is dated in May
last. Nothing more seems to have come of this
scrtion. communication TO the Foreign Office
by Lord Lyons, until lew days ago, when the pris-
oner who had arrived in England took upon him.
self to write to A. 4. o. Liddeil Permanent Under
Secretary to the Home Department. In this letter.
which was duly signed by himself and dated from his
lodgings Dakc street, he declared his intention to
shoot Her Majesty
THE LETTERS
Mr. Ldde exhibited this communication to the
Home Secretary Mr. Cross, and "a result the police
nj scotland Yard were communicated with. The
put in the hands of Chief Superintendent viii
hanson who at once issued orders for q thorough
Investigation of the anteccdents OF Madden. while
precautions were taken, for fear that the charge
should be more than idle gossip. for protecting the
person OF Her Majesty by doubling the police force
at Windsor Castle. At first the authorities were of
opinion that reliance could be placed upon the
statements of Madden. who it was discovered had
for the past twenty years been in an IN
sound state .s,,S q mind, VINO haa threatened 20
been placed under restraint. Considerable
coorng given 10 the threats in the possession OF
the police from the fact that when Her Majesty
passing through an intermediate station on her way
from Scotland to Windsor the report of pistol was
heard. Whether there was any intention of firing ut
the royal carriage not Of does not appear.
but the fact of discharge being heard lends consii
cradle importance 70 tho charge now iad against tne
prisoner. Those who have seen tho letters, some OF
which are in French and the others in English state
that in them there was direct threat of violence
against the person of Her Majesty.
THE PRISONER
The prisoner when apprehcnded and charged with
the offence said in reply to tho accusation that the
letter he irst wrote the subject in the French
language, but he would not vouchsafe any further
70 the Officers; INSPECTOR butcher and
endeavoring to ascertain whether the accused
had any acconplccs but notliing has been elected
eliminating other persons and il liz beloved that tho
prisoner acted his responsibility. The
cused was brought before Sir j. Ingram. charged
with "felonously sending threatening letter ~ a.
r. o. Liddo, threatening TO shoot Her Majesty the
Qnccn." No one appeared to conduct the case for
the Treasury, and the prisoner. who has
worn appearance. and looks quite his age, sixty
years, was not represented by counsel Tho case
was conducted 10y Chief superintendent Williamson.
of Scotland Yard, but the proceedings lasted only
few minutes Sir James Ingram said ii would be
desirable to have the letters read by professional
interpreter, In accordance with the UNUSUAL practice
OF the court and he should remand the prisoner for
q week for that purpose The threat understood
to be = demand Tor money or visit TO Balmora to
"change the form OF government" During the
period which will elapse prior to his further exanina
ton every effort will bo made to discover whether
he has accompliccs, whether, those he has
ciated with him declare he Is of weak intellect and Is
mot responsible fol his actions.