St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-28
1t Is Believed That His Inten-
ton Was to Kill Glad
stone.
His Notebook Contained q
Mass Of Anti-Home Rule
isf RAWLINGS.
Growing Suspicion That Eng
lands Premier Was in
Great Danger.

NdLcGGc IOudy contained mOSJ ScIlSd-
tional article. headed "RumOrs of an
Attempt to Shoot Gladstone" The
type used in the headlines are the larg-
est in use for that purpose. The paper
states that the alleged attempt upon
the prime minister's life was made
while Mr.. Gladstone was walking
through st. James park at midnight last
night, on his way to his home on
Downing street. The accuracy of
the report of the Pail Mall Gazette
is doubtful. 1t is probable that
the story is based upon the fact
charge of firing a revolver in public
thoroughfare had in his pockets note
book containing number of entries
detailing the recent movements of Mr..
Gladstone. The prisoner will be ar
raigned shortly, and his object in max
ing these entries will be learned if pos
sible. The article in the Pail Mall
Gazette causedimuch excitement among
the friends and supporters Of Mr.. Glad
stone, and many inquiries have been
made from all parts of the country as to
the truthfulneSS of the story.
Anti-EaOme Rule rawlings.
1t has been learned that Mr.. Glad
stone, who attended a dinner party last
night, was walking to his home about
the time the man who fired the revolver
was arrested. He saw nothing of the
occurrence, and no one now believes
that any attempt was made to shoot
him. When the shooter was arraigned
in the Bow street police court this morn
ing, the policeman who arrested him
stated that the man had discharged the
revolver in the Horse guards parade,
near Downing street. He evidently in
tended to shoot the officer. An eXami :
nation of the notebook revealed the fact
that it contained a mass of rawlings
against Irish home rule, amid which
WAS a suggestion that the murder of Mr..
Gladstone would be justifiable. Upon
this slender foundation the report of
the attempted murder of Mr.. Gladstone
was constructed.
Notwithstanding the statements that
have been made to the effect that Mr..
Gladstone was IN no danger of being
shot, and that no Importance is to be
attached to the affair, there is growing
suspicion that MIR. Gladstone was nearer
danger than half of his friends are will
ing to admit. The man under arrest is
named William Townsend. He is thirty
eight years old, and is
A Resident of Sheffield.
The officer who arrested him saw him
mount the steps of Mr.. GladStone's resi-
dence shortly after Mr.. Gladstone had
entered. When the policeman ordered
him to descend. he fired at the officer,
and struggled desperately against being
arrested. Townsend asserts that the
discharge of the revolver was accidental.
Some of the entries in the note book
read:
"The Irish home rule bill has passed
its second reading by full majority, in
Guiding Mr.. Saunders. Talking does
not convert. Now is the time for action.
L might wilfulIy murder you. Would
nothing of the kind be justified? Now
to prove it. What says Sir Henry
James? See GladstoDe's speech of last
night. What says Saunderson?"
At this point Sir John Bridge. the
presiding magistrate, refused to read
any further. He instructed the jailer to
guard the prisoner with the utmost
care. An unusually large number Of
people; attracted by the report that Mr..
GladstOne's life ha0 been in danger,
waited for the arrival of the premier at
the house of commons. When Mr..
Gladstone appeared he received cor
dial ovation. In the house of commons
today several questions were asked in
regard to the report of an attempt On
Mr.. Gladstone's life. Home Secretary
Asquith replied that
The Incident of the Arrest
and prosecution of man for unlaw-
fully discharging revolver in public
thOroughfare was now under judicial
investigate and, in the meantime, he
could say nothing about it. Home Sec
rotary Asquith was also questioned in
regard TO the special favOrS extended to
the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland,
now undergoing Imprisonment in Hollo.
way jail for contempt of court In hav-
ing wilfully destroyed a document
which she had been permitted by order
of tine court of probate to examine. In
reply to several questions on the sub
ject. Home Secretary Asquith declared
that the prisons act provided that first
class misdeE:eanauts should be allowed
the privileges enjoyed by the DOWager
Duchess of Sutherland.
William Townsend, the man under
arrest who is suspected Of having had
designs upon the life of Mr.. Gladstone,
went away from Sheffield on Saturday
last without informing his wife or any
body of his purpose to 90 away. His
wife says that he is subject to fits, and
is often absent from home tor days at
time without his whereabouts being
known. He has been subject TO spells
of deep depression, but has never shown
any symptoms of homicidal mania.