The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1915-07-07 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PRISONER BOUND OVER.  The Woodohurch shooting affair came to a conclusion on Tuesday with the.Crowit Court at the Chaster Assinea, when Mr. Justice Scrutton and a jury heard a charge against Charles Cartwright the younger, of Eseenastreet, Birkenhead, of shooting Dora Gahan with a pistol with intent to murder her on 30th May, at Woodchurch. Mr. Trevot Lloyd, barrister, prosecuted for the police, and Mr. R. 0. R, hrrts, barrister, defended.  I 31r. Trevor Lloyd told in brief the story, I I how the prisoner pulled out a 08'01 whilst' , in company with Dora Cohan and with I it. On his arrest be said, "I intended, to Ido it. I wanted to make a esse of it. ' There is a lot to come out on both sides., Is she much injured?" Prior to the affair , the two went to Blaokpool and whilst on the beach he said " Let us etay here until the tide comes up and washes us away." Be suggested to the jury that the prisoner had intent to do away with the girl and himself. The girl had since married the ' prisoner, and it was probable that she • would say as little as possible against him. She said in the deposition tha, he shot, and the bullet went through her het. He would produce letters written by the prisoner .which showed what his intentions I were: In one letter to the girl's parents be wrote they would no doubt be wondering what had become of Dora and himself; that he could not do what he would wisli for the girl, and they had lecided to die together; that they most not upset themselves as they -ored each o:ritr too affeLtiouately -for my more both-sr. The letter was signed "Charlie and Dcra." In a lette:- to his own parents he expressed how much he loved the girl and what they rere going to do. He asked them to torgivo him for the aot, and to let his manager at Camiinow. • That was signNl "Charlie." after which were the wort-. "Good-bye." He had-since writ'.en a letier in prison to the girl asking her forgive,,ss and to come over to the prison to see him. He would ask the jury to :ay that the prisoner was guilty of attempteil murder. The first person called into the box fir the defence was Mrs. Cartwright, see Dora.oahan, the wife of the prisoner. Before the Clerk administered the oath slit stated that she wished to say she had no evidence to give against the prisoner, Who had become- her husband.  His Lordship and Mr. Trevor Lloyd discussed the situation, and finally held that though a wife was a competent witness, yet she could not be compelled to give evidence against her husband. The facts of the ease were then told by the two soldiers, Charles .Williams and .George Jordon. and P.C. Wm. Barrow, dergt. Kennerley, Inspector •tindlow, and Henrietta Heath. sister of Mrs. Cartwright.," The prisoner then went into the-box On his own behalf, and stated that he was". 3. years of age, and had known his wifr 11, months, and had kept company with- hew that time. He admitted that while they were sitting together in the field at Wood. church lie became a little strange, and that he fired the revolyer near the girl's head while she was on the ground, but he did not do it with any intention of doing harm. Cross-eiamined as to why he toot the pistol iith ohm, h^ said he did not really know; he was a little distracted that day. He admitted to his Lordship that he wroie the letters before he went out, but did not answer when he asked him what he meant by writing that they eould die in each others embrace! _ _ _ . .  -.31". R. 0 Roberts. addreeeed the jury for the defence  His Lordship summed up. and after a few minutes eonsideration the jury returned a verdict of guilty of attempted murder. but made a recommendation that mercy should be shown on account of pri• toner's youth.  • Hue lordshlp said that the prisoner would have done better to have made a dean bremit of she matter. He hoped ha realised what a &illy thing he had done They were a couple of fools, and prisoner did a very silly thing, and he hoped that the pain that he had suffered In the courts would be enough punishment. He hoped he binseelf was doing his duty. in binding him over in .eto to be of good behaeimq. _ _ _  'FlTlTlWl7iiiemer agreed to be bonnet over.