The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1843-02-24 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE ALLEGED MURDEROUS ATTACK ON THE REV. MR. RENNETT.—The hopes entertained of the ultimate recovery of this gentleman are somewhat shaken, his mind having, within the last few days, exhibited symptoms of wavering. The following are some further particulars connected with the occurrence :—A crisis had evidently arisen in the family affairs of the unfortunate gentleman. What had hitherto exhausted itself through the safety valve of a brawl had begun to concentrate itself for something more decided. On Friday week, the day previous to the unhappy occurrence, Mrs. Rennett and her son, " Young Clarke," as he was called by the neighbours, applied to a neighbouring magistrate for pro. tection against the alleged violent disposition of Mr. Rennett ; but, as they declined to swear that their lives were in danger, the justice could not take cognisance of the complaint. A policeman, however, was directed to keep an eye upon the household, lest mischief should arise. On Saturday, Miss Clarke, the daughter, left the house, and proceeded to the residence of a friend. One of the servants caused a writ to be served upon her master in the course of the day for a balance of wages, and she and her fellow-servant declined to remain longer in the family. The horses had been parted with some time before, and not a single domestic animal remained. About five o'clock in the evening Mr. Rennett called at the public-house, and had a conversation with Mr. Gramshaw, the landlord. He asked for a biscuit, and then for another, and was of course supplied. He complained of being cold, and the landlord recommended him to take a glass of brandy and water, to which he agreed. Mr. Rennett then complained of having in vain asked for dinner at home. He ordered something, he said, to be prepared for him at two o'clock, as he intended to go to Gloucester on business, but his wishes had met with no attention. He remained talking over his domestic grievances till betwixt eight and nine o'clock, when a respectable parishioner came in and entered into conversation with Mr. Rennett. Some additional refreshment was called in, and the party broke up, all sober, shortly before eleven o'clock, and Mr. Rennett must have reached his house by that hour. The landlord of the public-house went instantly to bed, and was just about to fall asleep when his daughter called to him in great alarm, and asked him if he did not hear a fearful noise ? He said that he did not, and, believing that the girl had been dreaming, he endeavoured to quiet her, and went again to bed. Shortly afterwards, however, he was called up by a policeman, who told him that Mr. Rennett had been shot. The officer, accompanied by the landlord, instantly repaired to the house, and, on the way, the policeman told him that, in compliance with his instructions, he had kept watch upon the house ; that the quarrel began the moment the reverend gentleman entered the house; and that, on hearing a shot fired, he had forced his way into the house. When they entered the room they found Mr. Rennett lying on the floor, but quite collected, and be pointed out the positions in which his wife and son stood when the shot was fired. MediCal  assistance was forthwith procured from Tewkesbury,and young Clarke was removed to the station-house. On Sunday he was committed to the county gaol at Gloucester, and on Monday his mother followed him. Her committal is said to have arisen from something having come to light tending to show that the assault had been premeditated by the mother and son. The young man bears a wound on his head, which he says was inflicted by his step-father with a life-preserver, and that the blow was the cause of his firing. Mr. Rennett g, on the other hand, that the blow was not given till he • be had been wounded by the shot. Clarke was no with the neighbours, his disposition being misand, as to the mother, she seems to have been re chievou  garded with something like fear. Mr.,Rennett, on the Contrary, was beloved and pitied by all. He officiated every Sunday at Norton Church, and discharged his duty in a most acceptable manner. Neither his wife nor any of her family were ever seen within the walls of tke church in which he officiated.  Parliatinntarp lottittebinlst