The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-10-25 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE LATE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT DUNDEE.  (Franz the Dundee Courier of Tuesday). In the present state of the case we have no desire to extend our remarks, as our authorities are taking the utmost pains to bring out the true bearings of the case. We may merely mention that Mr. David Cobb, acting as Sheriff in the absence of Sheriff Henderson, took down the deposition of Mr. Duff on Friday, at Baldragon ; and that since then the Sheriff, who was necessarily absent at the Perth circuit, visited Mr. Duff, and brought Mackenzie and himself face to face, when the former, notwithstanding the great weakness of his body, instantly identified Mackenzie as the person who had fired the pistol at him. We have already said that we are cognizant of many particulars connected with this deplorable affair, which we do not think it at the present moment proper to detail. Mr. Mackison, our active and intelligent Superintendent, has been indefatigable in his exertions to trace out the various circumstances which can strengthen the direct proof against the prisoner. Mackison and his subordinate officers deserve great praise. Mackenzie is a married man, with a numerous family. He is apparently about fifty years of age ; his countenance is rather forbidding than otherwise; he has two large buck teeth in front, and his general appearance repulsive. Mr. Duff, we understand, is a man of little stature, and mild expression of countenance. Since the occurrence, Mr. Duff has lingered in the house which he first reached, and little, if any hope has been entertained of his recovery—indeed, the latest reports lead us to believe that it is almost impossible his life can be preserved.  (From the Dundee Warder.) Considerable exertions have been made, since the horrid event happened, to endeavour to discover the pistol with which it was perpetrated, but hitherto, we believe, with no effect. The first thing the officer did when he apprehended Mackenzie, was to put his hands into his pockets to see if there were any weapons, but nothing of the kind was on him. Lord Duncan, who has done everything in his power in investigating the case, succeeded on Monday in discovering Duff's bat, which was found near the place where the unfortunate man says he was compelled to throw it away. On the discovery his lordship came posting in himself for Captain Mackison, who proceeded out to the place. There is one very strong point in the chain of evidence, which will go far to bring home the deed. The shoes of both the parties were taken out to the place. Mackenzie's are remarkably large, while Duff's are quite the reverse. At the break in the wall, where they entered the wood, and for some distance before, the marks in the potatoe field distinctly correspond with the size of the shoes of both parties, both marks pointing in one direction ; the impress of the large shoes is then reversed, pointing backwards, the distances increased, as if the individual had been running home and taking long strides. On Sabbath evening Mackenzie was taken out to the cottage, in order to be identified by Duff. Sheriff Henderson, Lord Duncan, and other officials, as *lso the medical gentlemen attending him, were present. On Duff being asked if that was the man who shot at him, he distinctly said it was. Mackenzie was proceeding to enter into conversation with Duff, but he was stopped by order of the sheriff. The only question be got put to him was, " James, do you say that 1 shot at you?" when he was taken from the cottage.