The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-09-30
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
lFrom the vicksburs Commercially

From the Vicksburg Commercial.l
On the 11th of May, 1881, the Rev.
Honorable Spencer Percival, chancellor
of the Exchecquer of England, was
entering the lobby of the House of COM
mons, in company with Lord F.
Osborne, when he was shot with a
pistol, and expired, uttering only the
words, "Oh! / am murdered ~ \
person was standing between tho assas-
sin and Percival at the time the pistol
was fired, consequently the assassin was
obliged to raise his hand over the
shoulder of the Intervening Individual,
and the bali rs in President Garfield's
direction. The murderer like Guitteau
threw down his pistol, but on his
person was found another with a steel
barrel seven inches in length with a
bundle of papers. The assassin made
no attempt to escape. Horror and dis
may at first prevented any attention
being paid to the assassin but when tho
question was asked, "where ia the
rascal that fired ?' John Bellingham,
who had been unobserved, cody stepp-
ed up and replied, ssI am the unfortu-
nate man." When asked the motive
Of the horrid deed, lie replied, "It was
a private injury; know what I have
done it was denial ofjustice on the
part Of the government"
On the preliminary examination be-
fore magistrates, it appeared that he
had the previous day been watching
the entrance of every member closely.
General Gascoyne, member from
Liverpool, testified that he had received
many memorials from the prisoner
respecting his claims on the govern
inent, based ON his alleged service in
Russia, and for which he had received
no remuneration. These representa-
tions had been made to Percivat and
Lord Tarleton, OF our revolutionary
fame, and then speaker Of the house of
commons.
Bellingham, during the examination,
was perfectly composed. He said that
he had for more than fortnight
watched for a favorable opportunity to
to effect his purpose; that he had implor-
ed for justice in vain; he had made ap-
plication to every person likely to
procure him redress, and that he had
at length been driven to despair by
might do his worst. "I have obeyed
them," said he; NI have done my
work, and l rejoice in the deed.'
Mrs. Percival was on a visit to the
Hon. Mrs. Ryder, in Great George
street, when the sad catastrophe hap
pened, and was apprised of it ON her
return to Downing street. She and her
children, rs II matter of course, were
plunged into inexpressible grief.
The culprit, like Guitteau, only
evinced anxiety to vintlicate the justice
of the act. He said if he had shot Mr..
Percival from personal malace he
would have been worse than a brute.
1t was the minister, not the man, that
had led him to commit the deed and
it he had million of lives he would
do the same way. He bought the
pistols, proved them, {those were the
for the purpose.
Bollingham was brought for trial on
May 18th before Lord Chief Justice
Mansfield, Baron Graham and Sir
Nash Grose. He plead not guilty, and
after the evidence was in and he was
called upon for his defence, he asked
whether his counsel had nothing to
urge. On being informed that they
were not entitled to speak, he said that
his documents had been taken from
him and not returnel. Thereupon
they were handed to him and he de-
libcrately examined and arranged
them. lie then rose and bowling res
pectfully TO the court and jury went
into his defence with Il firm voice and
without any embarrassment or feeling
for the awful situation in whici, he
was placed.
We can only quote the opening sem
tences, which will show that insanity
was the ground on which his counsel
relied for his defense:
81 feel great obligation' he said, uO
the attorney general for the objection
he has made to the plea OF insanity. ]
think it is far more fortunate that such
plea as that should have been un-
founded than it should have existed in
fact. / am obliged to my counsel,
however, for having thus endeavored
to consult my interest, as 1 am con-
vinced the attempt has arisen from
the kindeSt motive. That l am, or
| have been insane, is a circumstance of
which 1 am not apprised, except from
the single instance of my having been
confined in Russia. How far that may
be considered AS affecting my pre-.
sent situation is not for me to de.
termine.
beg to assure You that the crime
which l have committed has arisen
! from compulsiOn rather than from any