The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-21
REMARKABLE CRIMES.
Desperate Assault Upon London Jewel Merchant
Two Old Stories Revived.

Desperate Assault Upon London Jewel herchAh'
Two Old Stories Revived.
A daring attempt at murder was made
in London not long since. 1t seems that
in Woodbridge street, Clerkenwell there
resides Mr.. Hamburger, who is in bus
siness with his two sons as jewel mer-
chant. One Of the two sons was on the
afternoon in question walking along
Holborn Viaduct, when he met a gener>
al dealer with whom he had some slight
ACQUAINTANCE. After little conversation,
his friend asked to be allowed to see
parcel Of pearls. "Where can | show
them?" was the reply. "At my office,
lust here, was the answer, and the speak
er took young Mr., Hamburger across the
road and led him up several pairs OF
stairs into back room in one OF the large
houses which have recently been built
on the Holborn Viaduct, The moment
Mr.. Hamburger had nteredthe room his
companion slammed the door, fred a piss
tol at him, and drawing large bowie
knife made a murderous attempt to stab
him. A desperate struggle followed, but
Mr., Hamburger managed to overpower
his assailant, unlock the door, get down
into the street, and had sufficient strength
left to hail a cab and drive to his own
residence. Medical assistance was
promptly called in, and it twas found that
Mr.. Hamburger had been severely cut
on the wrists and face, and that a bullet
had lodged in the left side of his head.
His own opinion is, that his assailant,
knowing that he carried with him con>
siderable amount of valuable jewelry,
and also of cash, had determined to
murder and rob him.
This crime recalls to mind two other
desperate attempts at murder in the
British metropolis. Some fifty years ago
gentleman named William Howard was
sentenced to transportation for life for
an attempt to murder. The clrcumstan'
ces of the case were very singular. Mr.
Mullay, an Irishman, had come up to
London in search of employment, and
had offered, by advertisementin the news
papers, loan af [ 900 to any one who
might be able to introduce him to a situ>
alton such as he wished In reply to this
announcement he received a letter re-
questing him to call upon Mr.. Howard,
No. 60 Red Lion Square, Holborn, be-
tween midday and four in the afternoon.
He went to the house indicated and saw
a person purporting to be Mr.. Howard,
and it was arranged between them that
on a certain day appointed Mr. Mullay
should come with the bI,ooo mentioned
in his advertisement. Although he had
his suspicious, Mullay provided himself
with the money, and attended at the ap,
pointment, which was held in a small
room at the back of the house, on the
third floor. No sooner had he appeared
than Howard locked the door and made
a murderous assault on him with clasp
knife in one hand and heavy cricket
bat in the other. A terrible struggle en-
sued. Mullay, however, being the strong
er of the two, managed to overpower his
assailant, the neighbors rushed in, How
ard was given into custody, and, as we
have said, he was convicted and sent,
according to the custom in those days,to
the Colonies. Mr.. VIM. Howard has
been long forgotten. His bold attempt
to rob and murder stands upon record in
the "Newgate Calendar" and in Captain
Benson's Remarkable Trials. But
such interest as attached to him was sur>
passed by the public excitement caused
by the celebrated Northumberland
street Tragedy" About seventeen years
ago a man named Roberts, commonly
reported to be an usurer, occupied chamN
bers in the street above mentioned. For
certain reasons, Roberts conceived vioN
lent hatred against an officer in the army,
Major Murray, and resolved to take his
life. The Major one day met Roberts,
who had hitherto been stranger to him,
and was induced to accompany him to
his chambers. Roberts pretended to be
looking for some papers, and while Muir
ray had his back turned shot the Major
in the neck, and again in the head, with
a revolver. Murray fell to the floor stun
ned, and as soon as he recovered con-
sCiousness found Roberts kneeling over
him and feeling his heart. Hereupon he
grappled with his assaiIant, and, seizing
a pair of tongs, literally beat Roberts
to death with them. At the inquest which
was held a verdict was returned to the
effect that Major Murray had committed
justifable homicide in self>defense.