Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1873-08-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SHOOTING NI ITH INTENT TO KILL. —William O'Brien was hron,at up under remand, charged with firing a pistol, with intent to kill, on the 2nd August. Mr Archer prosecuted, and Mr Fawcett appeared for the defence.—Sergeant Thornthwaite said : On Saturday lard, between six and seven o'clock, I, in company with P.C. Patterson, went along Joseph-street. I saw the prisoner standing upon the footpath opposite the house No. 20, Joseph-street, with a revolver in his hand. I saw him rest it on his left arm, and lower his head as if taking aim in a slanting direction at something on the other side of the street. I looked in that direcrion, and saw three men standing in the line of fire. They were about 14 yards from tho prisoner, standing at the house No. 32, on the Opposite side of the street. I saw smoke come out of the pistol, and heard a report when it was fired. The prisoner then want into the house again. I sent an officer to watch the back door of No. 20. I followed prisoner into the house, and found him standing in the middle of the kitchen floor, near to the back door. I took him into custody, and handed hint over to P.C. Paterson. I then went and searched for the revolver, which I found in the yard of an adjoining house. The pistol had evidently been discharged, rued the hammer was at full cock, one chamber of the pistol was empty. There were two full and three empty cartridge in the chambers of the pistol. I came to prisoner and charged him with discharging firearms with intent to kill. He replied "I did not." I searched his box, and I found a leaden bullet there, which I produce. I afterwards went to No. 32, Joseph-street, where 1 found the bullet produced embedded in the door, in a slanting direction. The hole was 5 feet 14 inches from the bottom of the door where the men were standing. I also produce the pistol.— By Mr Faweett: The prisoner had nothing on but his shirt and stockings.. The men were standing in the dooms) of No. 32, and the door was open when I saw prisener fire.-P.C. Patterson corroborated Sergeant Wnornthwaite's evidence. John Meredith, puddler, No. 39, Joseph-street, Portrack-lane, said: Between six and seven I come out of the house to lock at the prisoner, who was walking about the street with his clothes off, sad with a revolver in his bond. I saw the prisoner pointing the revolver round the street, and then the three of as nipped into a hones. Prisoner pointed the pistol at the three of us. I saw prisoner at the door of his own house, and he fired the pistol at us. I heard the ballet enter the door near which I .rae standing, just above our heads.—By Mr Fawcett : I can't say whether I .have ever seen the prisoner before. I did not know him. He is a perfect stranger to me. I did not say anything to the prisoner before he fired. Before prisoner fired the pistol I saw him fall down and get up again.—Wm. Whitney and John Thomas also gave, corroborative evidence.—Prisoner, on being formally charged with shooting at the men, with intent to kill them. pleaded 'Not guilty," and said that he should not call any . witneeses now.—Mr Emmett admitted that it was a very serious matter to fire a pistol in the public streets, but submitted that no jury, after hearing the evidence, would believe that he intended to murder the men. The prisoner was drunk, and walking about undressed with the pistol, and he did fire it bff, but the men would say that they did not see hint intentionally aim at them. The Bench said it was too grave a ease to be dealt with there, and committed the prisoner for trial at the next assizes. Bail refused.  present. The adjourned enquiry as to the cause of the railCwaapyttinaceiTydenietr,aotf WthiegalarwdasofresTuramdeed, wonasTuesday, Several witnesses were examined, but no light was thrown upon the cause of the catastrophe.  Printel at the "Gazette" Steam Prmting Work, Zetland-road, Middleabrough, in the North 'Siding of the County of York. Published at the same place, and at 164 High Street, Stockton, iv the County of Durham, by H. G. REID, (4 Newlands, lifiddlesbrough-on Tees.