The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-28


LONDON, April 2E-Ihe Pail Null Ca
le'te to-day contaius most Sensational
article headed; "Rumors of an attompt
to shoot GLADSTONE" the type used in
the headlines being the largest in use
for that purpose, The paper statoa
that the alleged attempt upon tho lifO
OF the prime minister WAS made while
Mr.. Gladstone was walking through ST
James park ut midnight, last night, on
sway to his home in Downing street.
The accuracy of the report OF the Pail
Mall GascLe is doubted. 1t is probable
tha. the story is based upon the fact
that a man, who 10 now in custody for
firing revolver in n public thorough
fare, had in one of his pockets a note
book containing number OF entries
detailing tho recent movements Of Mr.
Gladstone.
The article in the Pail Nal Gazette
caused much excitement among the
friends and supporters Of Mr.. Glad
stone, and many inquiries from various
parts OF the country have been made rs
TO the truthfulness OF the story.
Il has been learned that Mr.. Glad
stone, who attended q dinner party
last night, was walking to his homo
about the time the man who fired the
revolver was arrested. He saw nothing
OF the occurrence, and no one now be-
lieves 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 examination Of the note book re-
vealed the TACT that 1t contained o nasa
Of rawlings against Irish homo rule,
which was q suggestion that murder
would be justiGable. On this founda-
tion the report oil the attempted murder
OF Mr.. Gladstone was construed.
Notwithstanding the statements that
have been made to the public that Mr..
Gladstone was in no danger Of being
shot, and that no importance is to be
attached to the affair, there Is grow
ing suspicion that Mr.. Gladstone was
nearer danger than his friends are will
ing TO admit. The man under arrest is
named William Tounsenl. He Is 3S
years old, aud is native OF Sheffield.
The officer who arrested him saw him
mount the steps Of MIR. Gladatone's res
idence, shortly after Mr.. Gladstone had
entered. When the policeman ordered
him to descend he fired at the officer,
and subsequently, struggled desperately
against being arrested. Townsend as
serts that the discharge Of the revolver
was accidental. Some Of the entries in
the note book read, THE Irish home
rule bill has passed It's second reading
by full majority, including Lieutenant
Saunders. The talking does not con.
vert. Now is tho time for action.
might wiliully murder you, What
says Sir Henry James? See Gladstone's
speech OF last night. What says Saun-
derson?" AT this point Sir John
Bridge, the presiding magistrate retus.
cd to read any further. He instructed
the jailer to guard the prisoner with
the utmost care.
An unusually large number OF peo-
pie, attracted by the report that Mr..
Gladstone's life had been in danger,
waited for the arrival OF the premier at
the house of parliament. When Mr..
Gladstone appeared he received q cor
dial ovation.
In the house OF commons to-day SOW
eral questions were asked in regard to
the report OF an attempt on Mr., Glad
stones life. Home Secretary Asquith
replied that the incident OF the arrest
and prosecution Of man for unlawful
ly discharRing revolver in public
thoroughtaro was now under judicial
investigation, and in the meantime he
could say nothing aboutit.
William Tounsend, the man under
arrest who Is suspected Of having de-
signs 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
vile says he Ia subject to Hts, and 10
often absent from home for days ut
time without his whereabouts being
known. He has been subject to spells
Of deep depression, but has never shown
. 4