Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-16
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF JOHN seLLrNeHAM.

The Rt.-Hon- Spencer Perceval. the English statesman, who was premier of England from 1909 to 1872, was as- sassinated in the lobby of the house of commons on May II. 1s12. There was a certain bankrupt named John Bel nngham, a man of disordered brain, who had grievance against the gov- ernment originating in the refusal of the English ambassador at St. Peters burg to interfere with the regular pro- cess of Russian law under which he had been arrested. He had applied to Perceval for redress and the inevitable refusal infiamed his crazy resentment.
 On Monday, May Il, the house of commons went into committee on the orders in council and began to ex- anine witnesses. Brougham com plained of PercevaPs absence and he was sent for. As he passed through the lobby to reach the house Belling- ham placed a pistol to his breast and fired. Perceval was dead before. a. doctor could be found His large fam fly was i'll provided for; but the house or commons voted him monument in Westminster abbey, a grant to his family of s250.00o and s1o,eoo a year to his widow for life.
 The horror and dismay caused by the assassination of MT. Perceval pre- vented any attention being paid to the PCIP PtlIdlOE anu IL was not ulIll the victim was raised from the floor that person exclaimed. Where is the rascal that fired?" when Bellingham who had been unobserved, stepped up to him and coolly replied: T am the unfortunate man."
 to escare. though he had thrown away the pistol by which he had perpetrated the deed. When he resigned himself into the hands of some of the bystand- CTS. they placed him upon a bench near the fireplace, where they detained him; the doors were closed, and the egress of all persons prevented. When the assassin was interrogated as to his motive for this dreadful act he replied: My name is Bellingham; 1t is a private injury-I know what I have done-it was a denial of justice on the part of the government"
 Bellingham was conducted without the slightest resistance to a large room beyond the termination of the upper lobby of the house. where he was ex- amined. During the whole procedure Bellingham maintained the utmost composure- He said he had, for more than a fortnight, watched for a fav- orable opportunity of effecting his purpose; that he had implored for justice in vain; that he had made ap-
 plication to every person likely to procure his redress, and that he had been, at length, driven to despair by
 being told at the public office that he might do his worst. T have obeyed
 them," he said. T have done my
 worst, and I rejoice in my deed'
 Bellingham was a tall, raw boned man, and appeared about AZ years of age, with a thin. long visage, aquiline nose and short brown hair. After committing the murder his principal anxiety seemed to be to persuade the spectators that the act was justifiable from the provocation he had received. Tho assassin was confined in New gate and on Thursday following the bill against him. His trial took place
 at the Old Bailey on Friday. May 15 Upon being called upon to state the | reason for the murder, the prisoner ! rose and bowed respectively to the l court and jury. went into his defence i in a firm tone of voice and without any appearance of embarrassment ol ] feeling for the awful situation ir which he was placed.
 i In part he spoke as follows: "I fee great obligation to the attorney-gen. ! eral for the objection which he made | to the plea of insanity. That I am | or have been insane, is a circumstanct l of which l am not appraised. beg tt | assure you that the crime have com 1 mitted has arisen from compulsior | rather than from any hostility to tht l man whom 1t has been my fate tt 1 destroy. Considering the amiablt character and the universally admitted ] virtues of MT. Perceval. I feel if could murder him in a cool and un' l justifiable manner I should not de serve to live another moment in thil | world
 | Until this fatal catastrophe, whicl | no one can more heartily regret thar ! do, not excepting even the family O 1 Mr Perceval himself, I have stoot l alike pure in the minds of those wh, have known me and in the judgmon | of my own heart. For eight years ! gentlemen of the jury, I have beel | exposed to all sorts Of niiseries whicl l 1t Is possible for human nature to en
 dure. Driven to despair, I sought re | dress in vain. I submit to the fiat O ! my fate. firmly anticipating acquitta
 from charge so abhorrent to ever, feeling of my soul"
 | The prisoners counsel thereupol
 called witnesses to prove a state 0 Insanity. The lord chief justice point