New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-28
WAS GLADSTONE IN DANGER!
SENSATIONAL RrNOES or AN ATTEMPT
UPON Ills lFE.
MAN ARRESTED FOR FIRING 4 EENoL' l."
NEAR THE rEEMIrR'S HOME HAD NOTE

BOOK CONTAINING EAVINGS
AGAINST HOME RyLE.
london. April o7.-"Thc Pail Mall Gazette TO- ay
contains n most sen a onal article headed "E"mor'
OF an Attempt to shoot Gladstone The type III '"e
headlines being The largest in use for tha' purpose
The newspaper states thst the alleged acH'PI "'p"
the Prime Minister'S life was made whilc Mr. "i'u-
stone was walking through 81. Jamcss Park az ma-
night last night. on his way 10 his home IN Downing
St.
II Is probable that the story II based upon the fact
that q man who IS now In custody on the charge c'
firing a revolver in public tho'oughfare had N one
Of his pockets notebook containing number Oh
eat1es detailing the recent movements OF Mr. 'lad'
stone The article in The pnl Mall Gazette caused
much excitement among the friends and supporters
OF Mr. Gladstone and many inquiries from various
parts OF the country have been made as to the truth
fulness of the story.
tended o dinner party last night was walking TO his
home about the timo the man who fired the revolver
was arrested. lie saw nothing OF the occurrence
Notwithstanding the statements that have been
made 70 effect that Mr.. Gladstone in danger
OF being shot, and that no importance Is to BE- at
tached to the affair, there s a growing suspicion that
Mr. Gladstone was nearer being fired at than his
friends are willing to admit Tho under arrest
Is named William Townsend. lie Is Thirty eight years
old and Is q resident Of sheffield. The officer who
arrested him him mount the steps of Mr.. Glad
stones home shortly after Mr. Gladstone had en-
tered. When the policeman ordered him to descend
he fred at the ccer and subsequently struggled dcs-
peratey against being arrested 1ounsrnd asserts
that the discharge Of the revolver accidental
When the arrsigned in t1e Bow Street
Police Court this morning the policeman who
rested him stated that he had discharged the revolver
in the Horse Guards parade near OOwningst. He
evidently intended to shoot the officer.
An examination OF the notebook revealed the fact
fhnt AZ a
Home Rule, amid which was suggestion that the
murder Of Mr. Gladstone would be lustifable. Upon
this slender foundation the report OF The attempted
murder OF Mr.. Gladstone was constructed. some OF
the entries In the notebook read: The Irish
Home Rnle has passed It's second reading bv fan
majority including the eur saunders. Talking does
not convert. Now Is the time for action. might
vilfully murder you. Would nothing Of tho kind be
iustfedi Now to prove II. What says Sir Henry
Jamesi See Gladstone's speech OF last night WHAT
says Saundcrsonl'
At this point Sir JON Bridge, the presiding MAIDS
trate refused to read any further. lie Instructed
the TALLER guard the prisoner with the utmost care
Townsend went away from Sheffield on SATURDAY
last without informing his wife or any one Oh HIS
purpose 10 60 away His wife SAWS that he ~ s"o'
ject fits and IS often absent from home lor oa.S
at time without his whereabouts being Known. Ie
has been subject to spells OF deep DEPRESSION ou Ids
never shown any symptoms OF hcmiddal mania
1.-The Daily Chronicle" says that the a''enlp' u
shoot Mr. Gladstone suggests the murder OF lres'uo'
Garfield and warns the Cnonist statesmen VIII
indulge in abuse OF Mr. Gladstone that 'here "'o
peop,e in Ireland and England ready TO translate SUCH
abuse Into actions" am
1.-The Daily News" says: The incident mas en-
barrassed Unonist circles and has encourages man!
Unionists to protest openly against the incehu'"r'
speeches OF their leaders,
An unusually large number OF people at'rac'eN
by tho report that Mr. Gladstones hfe had oeeh III
danger waited for the arrival Of the Premier al 'he
Houses of Parliament When Mr.. Gladstone npp'areu
he received a cordial ovation.
In the House OF Commons several questions "'re
asked m regard to ne report Of an attempt Oh MI
(iladstones nfe. Home secretary Asquth replied 'ha
the incident If the arrest and prosecution OF M"
for unlawfuliy dischargng n revolver IN p"pno
thoroughfare was now under judicial invesueanoh'
and in the Inean time he could say nothing about "'
Mr. Asouith was also questioned in regard TO 'he
svAcIaI fsyors extended 10 the DowdGcr DUCHESS Of
sutherland now undergoing Imprisonment IN Holloway
Jail for contempt of court in having wiiiuly de
stroyed a document which she had been perhh''o
nv order OF the Court Of Probate to examine. III
renly Mr. AsGuitl declared that the Prisons act pro
xtded that til. privileges enjoyed By the DoWa."r
duchess OF sutherland should be allowed 10 hrst
class misdemeanants